Here is a movie the representatives created to show the UN Delegates that scouts around the world are actually doing things… not just talking about it.

I believe adults are responsible for three things: mentorship, safety, and administrative tasks. The ideals of Scouting should be taught through actions. They are something youth see in how an adult lives. Morals are not something for classroom lectures. The Millennials are lectured to all day in school and Scouting should never be on par with the current American education system. Not only are the teachings of Scouting vastly different, but they should be communicated differently. Wood Badge teaches the Explain, Show, and Enable method of teaching. This method works well when done correctly. The correct way is to have an older youth explain the task. Then have the same youth with 1 or 2 others demonstrate the proper technique. Once everyone understands, all the youth should plan an outing where the task is practiced. This is all done with the mentorship of the leaders. If none of the youth know the proper technique, then an expert in the field should be asked to help out. No adult leader should also be the teacher, unless they are also an expert in the field. Keeping the adult out of the primary teaching role moves the adult out of the authority figure and into a mentorship role.
The second adult responsibility is safety. All too often youth and adults are injured or killed on Scout outings. These stories make headlines and place doubt in the public’s eyes as to the integrity of Scouting. Adults should be willing and required to invest the time to be properly trained. This includes those week long courses such as Wood Badge, Powder Horn, and Philmont Training Center classes. How can an adult be willing to take a week off to go hiking when they are not willing to take a week off to become a better leader? Scouting needs to be more strict on training for the safety of our youth and the quality of the program.

Lastly, adults are responsible for administrative tasks. Collecting medical forms, registration, rechartering, and advancement should be tasks left to adults. I specifically left out keeping financial books, creating itineraries, and maintaining communication trees. These tasks should be the responsibilities of the youth leadership with the mentorship of adults. We have Scribes and Treasurers for a reason.

When the adults are removed from the “oldest Scout” role and placed behind the scenes Scouting will be more fun for the youth. They will not feel as if Scouting is yet another class in school. They will feel empowered and in charge of their troop. The will decide what they learn and what they do. They will feel this way because they truly will be in charge, and the adults will be supporting them and mentoring them.

So what is in it for the adults if they have to sit back and get trained and let the youth run the show? Where does the fun come into play for them? The fun and reward is enabling youth to control their organization and watching them grow into true leaders.

In the Scouting Spirit,

Patrick Claytor

“I became a Tiger Cub in 1990. For the next 13 years my mother, father, and countless volunteers guided me through the Scouting program. Along the way I learned citizenship, outdoor skills, and leadership. In 2003 I received my Eagle. For most youth today Eagle means the end of the road. Not for me. I attained the Vigil Honor of the Order of the Arrow in 2004 and in 2005 I went to Philmont Scout Ranch for Philbreak. This a spring break program for college aged youth where they pay $100 and do trail work all week. The work was rewarding and I returned to the ranch that summer to be a Ranger. After Philmont I was determined to become more active in scouting as an adult leader. I completed Woodbadge in 2006, Powderhorn in 2007 and I’m on staff for the fall Woodbadge course this year.

So why is it that I’m so active when most youth leave the program the day after their 18th birthday? Certainly he must not hear us when we tell him “getting your Eagle is the beginning of a long journey, not the end.” I think differently, he hears us but we do not follow through. Countless times we tell the youth there is still more to do, yet give him no responsibilities when he turns 18. Take this for an example.

When I returned from Philmont I was given the title “Assistant Scoutmaster.” At the second committee meeting I attended, the other adults were talking about their “big trip” for the year. Many wanted to raft the Missouri, but they had done that last year. One leader wanted to take a trip to Glacier NP, but most thought the boys probably have already been there. I spoke up and said Philmont would be a great choice. The scoutmaster at the time said “Isn’t there a two year waiting list”. I told him, yes there is a waiting list, but everyone has a chance to call in and get on the real list. Another adult asked about transportation. I mentioned a bus or even a van. After countless concerns and my quick responses for them all, do you think they enabled me to take on this task? No, they decided the big trip for the year was going to be car camping in Olympia NP.

Here were a dozen adults who did not want to give me responsibilities. They taught me countless lessons as a youth but yet failed to follow through. I had been to Philmont three times, driven there myself twice, and lived there for a whole summer. I felt confident I had the skills and experience to succeed. To them I was still a juvenile 21 year old.

After this experience, I left the troop and took leadership positions at the district level. For me this has been very rewarding. I have been given responsibilities and have met mentors who continue to guide and teach me. One such mentor encouraged me to apply for an international scouting trip. Last fall I was accepted to go to Kandersteg Switzerland for the first World Winter Scout Games. Never before has someone my age been selected as a leader for one of these trips. In February, I went to Switzerland and had a blast with 12 youth and another adult. This was no trip to Philmont, but I think I could handle that now too.

Youth today want to do things. This is evident in the amount of activities they take on. Baden Powell once said, “The more responsibility the Scoutmaster gives his patrol leaders, the more they will respond.” My message to you today is let these young adults do things, anything! Give them a chance to use the leadership skills you taught them. Mentor them, guide them, and great things will happen.”

I suggest to anyone dealing with this generation (which is everyone) to read the book “Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation” by Howe and Strauss (ISBN 978-0375707193). This book is a very deep insight into the characteristics of the Millennial generation. Howe and Strauss also compare and contrast between this generation and generations past. It is a very informative and quick read. It is great not only for Scouters, but also for business people.

Most of the Scouting program is now made up of Millennials. This is the main driving force of this website. All Venturers are Millennials. All Boy Scouts are Millennials. And most Cub Scouts are Millennials. We are just now seeing the “Homeland Generation (2000-?)” enter the lower ranks of Cub Scouting. The Millennials are also working their way into the adult volunteer position. This creates some conflicts between the younger adult leaders and the older adult leaders. The Millennials are eager to complete tasks, enjoy team approaches, and are concerned with both fun and safety. More importantly they like things to be well planned. The Millennial generation is quickly bored with poorly planned events. The older adults on the other hand use a more “I’ll do it my way” approach to completing tasks. This often ends up with one person in charge of all the duties who inevitably gets burned out. The events are not as well planned as they could be, and safety is usually compromised. I’m not saying that Millennials succeed at all times, and that others always fail. I’m just saying that the status quo could be improved by adding a decent mixture of younger adult leaders into the planning process.

So how then should Scouting receive these new adult leaders? The older generation needs to let go. All during the scouts career we have said “this is only the beginning.” We then give them no tasks as adult leaders and they soon loose interest with the boredom. Instead we need to give them tasks. Just simple things like setting up and event’s schedule, printing flyers, or reserving a campsite. The older generation of leaders has many many years of experience and knowledge. This is a perfect time for the older leaders to mentor Millennials and help them be great like we’ve told them they can be. So I now say to those older leaders, let go.

Life Course Associates The website for Howe and Strauss’ Consulting business.

Patrick Claytor

I foresee this site being a hub of all things Millennial and Scouting. Millennial meaning the Millennial generation, and Scouting being the Boy Scouts of America. Now, some of you gray hair folks might be turned off by what this site offers, but it is not ment to be that way. This site can be just as helpful to the generations of late as it is to the Millennial generation. I will post topics that might be on the edge and make everyone think about how our interactions affect the tasks we try to accomplish. It is important to keep an open mind and reflect on yourself and how you perceive the program.

In the future come and read my blog posts, search the site for information, and perhaps leave a few comments. I hope everyone enjoys this site and that it will help each and every person think about how they can be a better Scout and a better leader.

As a note: MillennialScout.net is not endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America and the views on this site are the soul creation of my mind and are not endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America in any way, shape, or form.

Patrick Claytor