Showando survey
Ron Raab-Long (raablong@VOICENET.COM)
Thu, 14 Aug 1997 08:50:50 -0400
Scouters,
At our training committee meeting last night I was asked to pose these
questions to the vitual roundtable.
First, how many councils are still holding Showando's? A week or
two ago there was information posted about a course being held in Georgia (I
think), but I didn't see much follow-up discussion. By your silence am I to
assume that most of you here at least know what a Showando is?
Our training chairman, who says he's old enough to be P-B's Den
leader, (no one argues) says the Showando used to be mandatory. It was at
least as important than the outdoor session of SMF because it went into so
much depth in teaching Scout skills. He believes that making it optional
was a mistake, and would like to start a movement to bring the requirement
back. Part of his reasoning is that making it a requirement would
drastically increase the number of attendees. The flip side of course is,
if they don't think the training is valuable to them now, why make them take it?
The third concern is, for those councils still holding the event,
where do you get your syllabus? We have a Showando manual within our
District that was published in 1974. As far as I can tell, there haven't
been any further printings, and BSA no longer carries it. We use the book
as a general guidline, but develop our own sessions based on what we think
is needed, and what will be fun for the attendees.
I would also like you to explain your general format. In our
Council we traditionally run the program on a Saturday, starting around 8:00
AM and end with a campfire program around 9:00 PM. Makes for a very long
day, outside, and we're concerned about people driving home 1 - 1-1/2 hours.
Last fall our Council tried moving the event to our Council camp, combined
it with a high adventure training for older Scouts, and allowed everyone to
stay over. Attendance skyrocketed from 30 to 50 Scouters. :-\)
Any thoughts?
YIS,
Ron Raab-Long
Two Bays District, Dover, Delaware DelMarVa Council
District Recognition Dinner Chairman Used to be a Bobwhite, NE-VI-35
Boy Scout Training Coordinator Problem Captain, Delaware OM
E-Mail: raablong@voicenet.com CC, Troop 903
Of all the jobs I do, I like Dad the best!
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
