Transcript Understanding and Protecting Youth

Understanding and Protecting
Youth
BSA Mission Statement
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America
is to prepare young people to make ethical
choices over their lifetimes by instilling in
them the values of the Scout Oath and
Law.
What is the purpose of
Venturing?
• High adventure
• Leadership skills
• Citizenship
• Community service
• Social experiences
• Fitness
Understanding Young Adults
• The first things we notice about
young people:
•
•
Size
Behavior
• Teenagers deal with opposing
emotions:
•
•
•
They fear and crave independence.
They face a constant struggle for power and
independence.
They want to be unique, but are affected by peer
pressure.
Normal Adolescent Development
• Movement towards interdependence
• Future interests and cognitive
•
•
changes
Sexuality
Morals, values, and Self-direction
Middle School and Early High
School Years
Movement towards Independence
• Struggle with sense of identity
• Feel awkward or strange about one’s self & one’s body
• Focus on self, alternating between high expectations and
poor self-concept
• Interests and clothing style influenced by peer group
• Moodiness
• Improved ability to use speech to express one’s self
• Realization that parents are not perfect
• Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional
rudeness
• Complaints that parents interfere with independence
Future Interests and Cognitive
Changes
• Mostly interested in present, limited thoughts
of future
• Intellectual interests expand
• Greater ability to do work
Sexuality
• Display shyness, blushing modesty
• Increased interest in the opposite sex – are
they attractive?
• Frequently changing relationships
• Worries about being normal
• Develop ideals and select role models
• Experiment with sex and drugs
Morals, Values, and SelfDirection
•
•
•
•
Rules and limit testing
Develop ideals and select role models
Experiment with sex and drugs
Capacity for abstract thought
Later High School Years and
Beyond
Movement towards Independence
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Firmer sense of identity
Ability to think ideas through
Increased emotional stability
Increase concern for others
Increased self-reliance
Peer relationships remain important
Work habits more defined
Increased concern for the future
Feelings of love and passion
Development of more serious relationships
Greater capacity for setting goals
Interest in moral reasoning
Future Interests and Cognitive
Changes
•
•
•
•
•
•
Work habits more defined
Increased concern for the future
Feelings of love and passion
Development of more serious relationships
Greater capacity for setting goals
Interest in moral reasoning
Sexuality
•
•
•
•
•
Feelings of love and passion
Development of more serious relationships
Firmer sense of sexual identity
Greater capacity for setting goals
Interest in moral reasoning
Morals, Values, and SelfDirection
•
•
•
•
Greater capacity for setting goals
Interest in moral reasoning
Capacity to use insight
Social and cultural traditions regain some of their
previous importance
Issues Facing Today’s Teens
• Concern
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Getting good grades
Getting a good job
Getting along with parents
Not fitting in
Nuclear war
Getting AIDS/STD
Parent’s relationships with
each other
Hunger and poverty
Family finances
Pregnancy
Pressured into doing drugs
• % of Teens worried
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
97.0
82.2
79.0
76.2
67.4
64.8
62.2
62.0
60.2
56.4
54.4
Leadership Styles for Advisors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be a mentor
Be a coach
Walk your talk
Be understanding of the teenage years and
their search for autonomy
Be able to relate
Show mutual respect as a team member
Develop and demonstrate conflict
management skills
Safety
• Guide to Safe Scouting
• Video - Youth Protection Guidelines:
• Training for Adult Venturing Leaders
• Personal Safety Awareness
• Venturer driving qualifications
• 6 months driving experience as a licensed
driver (learner’s permit time does not count)
• No record of accidents or moving violations
• Parental permission granted to leader, driver
and riders