A few thoughts on Scouting in the United States and New Zealand
There are many similarities between scouting in New Zealand and the United States. Both are still clearly based on Baden-Powell's vision - developing teamwork and leadership in young people through outdoor activities and the patrol method. A lot of the ideas in training and emphasising this are similar, although the detail is different. I believe this is the one thing we should never lose sight of - our goal is to turn young people into better members of the community. The patrol system is a key to that, and outdoor activities an effective way to attract and retain young people into the programme. That is what scouting is all about.
There are also, of course, many differences, and it is those I am going to
focus on.
(A comment on the award scheme - I have criticised New Zealand's award
scheme and favour a less structured approach, rewarding achievement and
participation rather than imposing unnecessary prescription. The United
States has a scheme which is much more detailed than the New Zealand one.)
I was asked whether I had changed views on the award scheme, given the focus on merit badges which is so pronounced in the United States. I think I probably see more value to them than I did 2 years ago, but I haven't changed my mind about the drawbacks. In fact I think the US shows clearly how bad they can be.
There are a number of people for whom such a scheme works, and who respond to the challenges and rewards offered. However, there is certainly a problem here retaining youth, and getting them interested in the program. Scouts see and leaders present badges as very similar to school work, whereas it could be presented as fun and recognition of effort, skill, knowledge and ability.
BDSR (the camp I spent the 1997 US summer at) actually prided itself on being about more than merit badges. It offered COPE, High Adventure, Rock Climbing, patrol cooking and a scenic paradise.
Even so, it was very badge-focused for young age groups, and explicitly so - and, it seemed to me, turned some off before attempting to retain them with the more varied adventurous stuff.
There are lots of things the US does well though. Scouting has a much better image publicly. You see scouts on TV, and in uniform at football games etc.
I remain undecided on the use of same age patrols (common in the US). I think it has the benefits/detriments I expected. It does create the teams and working together BP talked about, and possibly aids with retention and transition between sections. The "dens" of webelos (older cubs) move up together to form a new scout patrol. NZ encourages movement together, but actually keeping the new scouts together in the troop works well. But same-age patrols creates lots of problems too - skills and knowledge aren't passed on as well, and it makes more difficult development and increase of responsibility and use of the patrol method in running the troop.
Another difference here is the almost universal use of SPLs, which does make up for that last point somewhat.
An interesting difference is how the BSA charters of organisations to provide its program, so troops meet in churches, schools, community centres etc, and there are no scout halls at all. This is a much better use of resources than the NZ system. It also has a number of positive side effects. It encourages community participation, and inevitably means scouting is a part of the community, not a secret organisation hidden away somewhere - as it often feels in New Zealand.
Of course a lot of the detail is different. Badges, rank requirements and advancement procedure, devotion to the flag (we merely respect it), uniforms ... and interestingly the scarf seems to be the first part of the uniform dispensed with, not the last, as it is in New Zealand.
The age ranges are different too. New Zealand has keas (6-7), cubs (8-10.5), scouts (10.5-14.5) and venturers (14.5-18), although with the recent increased flexibility all those ages are guidelines only, with individuals to move when they, their parents and leaders consider it appropriate. Here they have cub scouts (7-11), divided into dens by age. The pack as a whole meets only once a month (unlike in New Zealand where all sections meet once a week), while the dens meet weekly. Boy Scouts (11-18) has a huge age range and it is inevitably difficult to keep the older ones interested and involved.
However, there's also a range of options for the older age group (15+) here - Ventures, Varsity Scouts and Explorer Posts. Explorer Posts seem most successful - a combination between our Venturers and Rovers - but often with considerable focus on one thing (similar to ideas for scouts I've heard talked about in New Zealand). They are for the 15+ age group, and different posts focus on a range of things - normally one per post - first aid (service) - possibly affiliated to an ambulance service, law enforcement - affiliated to a police service, horses, veterinary service ... or within scouting - service to the local camp etc.
Some of the difference in detail we could certainly learn from. For example, there are a couple of simple and interesting universal safety ideas we would do well to copy:
1. The Totin' Chip - a kind of licence to use knives, axes etc, without which a scout may now handle such tools. A scout must demonstrate basic skills and knowledge to receive one (a business card sized piece of paper with the rules written on it), and if seen misusing them has a corner removed. If the scout loses all four corners he (I am tempted to write s/he, but don't need to here) cannot use the tools until he re-demonstrates his understanding.
2. The circle of safety and use of ax-yards. Two simple rules - when using a sharp object, you must ensure no one is in your circle of safety' - ie within your reach. You demonstrate this by swinging your arm around in a circle. Scouts instinctively just say "circle of safety" when someone carelessly or unknowingly gets too close to someone using their knife. Ax-yards are just fenced in areas for the use of axes / hatchets. Only one person may be inside one at a time.
Then there's the money, use of professionals, summer camps, monthly magazines (plural! - one for leaders and one for youth) here, which are certainly interesting. It seems like a scouting paradise sometimes. Each district has a paid scouting executive, and most councils have one or more summer camps with paid staff. It's certainly an attractive idea, but the resources to create it are a rather large barrier. The advantages of a big population and large membership are clear. Summer camps are brilliant, and just what New Zealand needs. Too many troops these days have given up the tradition of a long camp in the summer. It's also harder in the southern hemisphere though with Christmas interfering and shorter school summer holidays meaning the could operate for less weeks - affecting their financial viability.
And of course the american litigation mentality, which creates an
incredible amount of paperwork and restrictions.
Back to my main page
Email me at andrew-hawke@oocities.com - or click on the envelope at the top of the page
Get your own Free Home Page