Venture and Hazing (Was Hazing -what next)
Alan Houser (troop24@EMF.NET)
Tue, 23 Sep 1997 23:10:22 -0700
Zimmermann <tczim@PACBELL.NET> wrote:
>Our High Adventure BS Troop used to have a Venture Patrol. Last year we
>put together mixed ages of experienced scouts together and disbanded the
>Venture Patrol. The reason was that the older boys were being too mean
>to the younger boys, not just hazing, but all around brutality. The
>feeling was that isolating the older boys contributed to that
>situation.... [snip]
>Now the older boys want a Venture Patrol again, but the ASM who
>originally was instrumental in disbanding it says he may have to pull
>out if this happens. He, also, is a great guy and valuable to the
>troop. Very few people in the troop know WHY the patrol system was
>changed.
>When asked, we deduce that what the older boys REALLY want are more high
>adventure activities. The Troop plan got derailed b/c of Jack's
>untimely death and we are just about now starting to recover as a
>troop.
We have found the Venture program to be a valuable resource in keeping
the older Scouts involved in the program. But we do not have a standing
Venture Crew. All of the older Scouts are part of existing patrols and
must be active in the regular program to be eligible for Venture Crew.
Venture is a reward for helping to train the younger Scouts and for
supporting the troop program. Perhaps your ASM can buy into the program
if it is not structured as the "older Scout patrol."
When they choose a Venture activity, those interested in that activity
will plan it and carry it out as an ad hoc Venture Crew. We have some
who hate backpacking, but enjoy biking or water, and vice versa.
>So, my actual questions are these:
> [snip]... What I want to know is, do you do a formal "training" with the
>boys re: hazing or just deal with it as it comes up. I see too many
>older boys STILL picking on the younger boys. I'm thinking we might
>need to define this with consequences at the beginning of each year.
>Your thoughts on this.
We have not done any training on hazing. We just flat out said, "It will
not happen!" You may define the consequences, such as you will not
participate in Venture if you are hassling the younger Scouts. Period.
>How do we deal with progression and giving each age level the
>opportunity to do more challenging things as they go? Do we let the 7th
>and 8th graders do the same as the 9-12th graders? Can we have a
>Venture patrol and still have the older boys as part of the experienced
>scouts patrols?
Since you have defined yourself as a high adventure troop already, the
program for the older Scouts must be one of degree. Again, we have the
older Scouts mixed in patrols with the younger ones (except for the
Senior Patrol - which is not a permanent assignment - and the New Scout
Patrol) so that the younger Scouts will have the benefit of their
experience.
>Should they meet seperately during the troop meetings, on another night,
>or never?
Ours will meet separately, or before or after a regular meeting. Heaven
forbid that they should use game time!
YiS,
Alan R. Houser ** troop24@emf.net
** Scoutmaster, Berkeley, California, Troop 24 **
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
Scoutmaster, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council Jamboree Troop #637
** http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/9637/ **
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
