RE: Advisor training (Exploring "Districts" & conventional districts)
Amick Robert (amick@spot.Colorado.EDU)
Mon, 27 Jan 1997 14:43:45 -0700 (MST)
Exploring typically is operated either within the purview of a regular
Scouting District of a Council which services all programs, or it can be
operated as an Exploring "District" (formerly Council Exploring Division).
In conventional districts with Exploring programs,
the Exploring Chair reports to the District Chair or possibly the
membership chair, depending on how the District is structured.
Most Councils that do not have Professional Exploring Executives assigned
exclusively to Exploring will operate their programs in conventional
Districts where Professionals administer all programs. In such cases,
there is usually a professional staff member assigned to oversee Exploring
in all Districts and to serve as a liaison to volunteer committee chairs
and organizations involved in Exploring at District levels.
Councils with Professional Exploring Executive(s) assigned
usually have an Exploring "District" where all the council's Explorer
Posts are operated under one District, independent of conventional
Districts and reporting structures. In either case, whether the
Council has an Exploring District, or operates the program as a
part of conventional district strcuture, there is a volunteer
district/council Exploring Chair, and Vice chairs for Service Team,
Sales/marketing, Training, Public relations/Communications, Program Chair,
EOA Advisor, etc.
Service teams can either be independent or integrated with the District
Commissioner's Staff. It is important for Service Team members to be
trained appropriately. Commissioners who work with Explorer Posts will
find that their regular Commissioner Training needs to be supplemented to
be effective as Service Team members.
An excellent document to have is the Council/District Exploring Operations
guide. This material is prepared in loose-leaf form, and covers
"everything you ever wanted to know about Exploring." The second document
is the Explorer Leaders guidebook which is written for both youth and
adult advisors/committee in loose leaf form, and has a wealth of
information about how to do planning, forms needed, etc.
An excellent training experience is the week-long Exploring Seminar at
Philmont, conducted each summer usually in July or August. Councils can
nominate candidates for this training, and Philmont will send them an
invitation to participate. Graduates of the program are certified as
National Exploring Training Instructors, and are excellent resources for
their local councils. The program is taught by key National Exploring
Professionals, National Committee chairs, and Explorer
National/Regional Youth Representatives. The
opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and information from Exploring
volunteers from throughout the Nation is exceptional.
Some very useful Exploring video tapes are available such as "The
Exploring Challenge," "Post Officer's Seminar," The Exploring Advanced
leadership Development Workshop (with syllabus for training," "Moments in
Common," and promotional videos about the National Exploring Leadership
Conference and National Law Enforcement Explorer Conferences.
Explorers should also be encouraged to earn the new Explorer G.O.L.D.
award; applications and requirements are available from Council offices.
Eight of our Explorers have earned this award since it was released late
in 1995. Explorer Leadership Awards are also available to recognize those
Explorers and Advisors who contribute outstanding leadership at the
Council, Region, and National Level. Many Scholarship programs are also
offered for Explorers and in particular, Law Enforcement Explorers.
Bob Amick, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72, Boulder, CO
Council Exploring Training Chair, Longs Peak Council
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