Re: Crazy downtime!
golden cliff (c60clg1@CORN.CSO.NIU.EDU)
Fri, 26 Jan 1996 12:52:49 -0600
Charlie's post was very well written and very thoughtful. Based on his
assumptions, it is a very logical argument. Of course, assumptions aren't
alway true in every situation.
Many troops have more than one activity per month. Some boys in Scouting
might not enjoy camping as much as the next Scout. While boys in a boy
run troop plan their own program, they often may feel they want to include
downtime activities. Do we say no, you can only plan activities that the
adults feel are important, or do we give them greater latitude? There
could also be a very indepth discussion about the definition of "down time
activity".
I think it is much safer to step back and look at an overall annual
program, thereby putting the individual activities into context. It
makes a difference.
For instance, my own situation with my troop. We did two day trips to Six
Flags Great America in 1995. Is that excessive? Well you have to balance
things out. Also in 1995 we did 6 bicycle trips, 7 canoe trips, 3
ski trips, 3 horseback trips, 1 raft trip, 13 fundraisers, 20 service
projects, some misc. trips, and had 36 overnight locations. Included in
that list were the ingredients for 3 high adventure trips and summer camp.
Obviously we do more than 1 trip each month, sometimes we do more than one
trip on a given weekend.
Our hyperactive schedule allows boys greater choice. If we have a small
group of boys that love canoeing but hate biking, no problem, there's a
program for them. We have 57 boys in our unit, there are enough boys with
various interests to support all of our activities. If a boy can't go
camping this weekend because of schedule conflict with sports, church, or
he's out of town visiting his divorced parent, no problem, there's always
next week.
The important question to ask is, are we delivering the aims of Scouting
to the boys? Not, are we delivering the aims of Scouting with each motion
and breath we take. A few "downtime" activities sprinkled into the annual
program doesn't hurt anything. You want balance, just like a diet.
Cherry pie is OK once in a while, but not an exclusive diet of cherry pie.
Treat downtime activities as dessert. As long as your offering your boys
a diet of substantial Scouting activities that provide a strong
foundation, a few fun events won't hurt the program or the boys.
I do agree with Charlie that the strength of Scouting is through the more
traditional Scouting programs. I recall a past trip to Florida where we
spent two days at Disney World. That was fun, but not the highlight of
the trip. The best part was the overnight sailing, coral reef snorkeling,
night fishing, and other events. At Disney World you are passively being
entertained, the fun is prefabricated for you. On the ocean you're
creating the fun, discovering through active participation. There is
something challenging your abilities. That creates growth. You're using
your imagination, not Walt Disney's. That has much more substance and
creates something stronger and more enduring. As a group we evaluated the
trip afterwards. The boys recognized those things in the discussion.
I believe Scouting is something that is not taught, or presented, but
rather instilled within a boy. That process takes time. A few fun
downtime type activities interspersed with an active program of meaningful
Scouting experiences doesn't hurt boys. If that extra fun helps to keep
them in the program longer, than we have a greater opportunity to instill
within them that which is most important about Scouting: citizenship
training; character development; and physical, emmotional, spritual, and
intellectual fitness.
Sorry for such a long post. I'm climbing down off my soapbox now before
I fall and get hurt.
YIS, Cliff Golden First Lutheran Church
Scoutmaster Troop 33 DeKalb, Illinois
Three Fires Council cgolden@niu.edu
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
