Outdoor Ethics Guide POR - thoughts

[Armymutt]

Our SM asked me for my opinion on appointing an Outdoor Ethics Guide.  Looking into the job description, it seems kind of a low threshold of responsibility position.  It's not clear what the job does.  I don't foresee any changes to our program based on LNT inputs.  We already do that pretty well.  Has anyone utilized this position?

[InquisitiveScouter]

We have tried, but, like most of these positions, you usually wind up with a Scout doing little more than wearing a patch and doing some "low threshold" tasks during their tenure. (to use your words.)

Big picture, for each SPL tenure of office (for this unit it is every six months), the SPL must appoint a slate of PORs.  Many often continue in their role, and that is fine.  Shortly after installation into his office, the SPL organizes and leads an Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST).  During ILST, the PORs learn about their jobs and SMART goals.  They must use that information to develop three SMART goals for their tenure, and the goals must be approved by the SPL (and the SM)

I am the adult in our unit who mentors the OE Guide.  The three goals we see are along these lines:

1.  By the end of my tenure, I will complete the Outdoor Ethics Orientation Course, S1110.

( An alternate to this is, by the end of tenure, I will assist in teaching an S110.)

2.  By the end of my tenure, I will complete the Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award.  (Or alternate, I will complete  my OE Action Award.)  

3.  By the end of my tenure, I will give two 5-minute presentations on an Outdoor Ethics topic or principle at a Troop meeting, both of which must include teaching and practicing a hands-on skill.  (How to hang a bear bag, how to deal with dishwater after a meal, how to measure 200 feet so you know where to dump dishwater, how to erase the evidence of a fire using Leave No Trace techniques, etc.)

The Scout should come up with these goals, but often, the Scout does not "know what right looks like."

I view these as all low threshold, but it seems over the last decade or so, even these have become significant challenges for Scouts.  And, we have not had an OE Guide for the last year.

We try to use the job descriptions from the Scout Handbook to create the SMART goals, as those list specific tasks of the position.  Creating and approving the goals is a chore, and we often fall short on doing the work necessary to ensure accountability for the goals, unless the Scout needs the position as credit for advancement. 

Our Scouts generally avoid PORs nowadays, unless needed for rank advancement... a sad state of affairs if you ask me, and one of the signs that our unit is on a downward trajectory. (I see this dearth of effort to drive accountability  [by SPL and adults] as a contributing factor to the downward trajectory.)

 

[Tron]

It can be a good position if the scout is on the outings and mentoring the rest of the scouts through the LNT process; they can also be used as a LNT specific Troop Guide for crossovers. The biggest problem with the outdoor ethics guide position is Scouting America licenses the LNT program from LNT.org and LNT.org has stopped providing their certification to people under 18. There was a time when you could get a willing Outdoor Ethics Guide to step up and go take LNT and come back with a serious case of saving the planet but now it's not an option.