Understanding and Protecting Youth

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. BSA Mission Statement

What is the purpose of Venturing? High adventure High adventure Leadership skills Leadership skills Citizenship Citizenship Community service Community service Social experiences Social experiences Fitness Fitness

Understanding Young Adults The first things we notice about young people: The first things we notice about young people: Size Size Behavior Behavior Teenagers deal with opposing emotions: Teenagers deal with opposing emotions: They fear and crave independence. They fear and crave independence. They face a constant struggle for power and independence. They face a constant struggle for power and independence. They want to be unique, but are affected by peer pressure. They want to be unique, but are affected by peer pressure.

Normal Adolescent Development Movement towards interdependence Movement towards interdependence Future interests and cognitive changes Future interests and cognitive changes Sexuality Sexuality Morals, values, and Self-direction Morals, values, and Self-direction

Middle School and Early High School Years

Movement towards Independence Struggle with sense of identityStruggle with sense of identity Feel awkward or strange about one’s self & one’s bodyFeel awkward or strange about one’s self & one’s body Focus on self, alternating between high expectations and poor self-conceptFocus on self, alternating between high expectations and poor self-concept Interests and clothing style influenced by peer groupInterests and clothing style influenced by peer group MoodinessMoodiness Improved ability to use speech to express one’s selfImproved ability to use speech to express one’s self Realization that parents are not perfectRealization that parents are not perfect Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional rudenessLess overt affection shown to parents, with occasional rudeness Complaints that parents interfere with independenceComplaints that parents interfere with independence

Future Interests and Cognitive Changes Mostly interested in present, limited thoughts of futureMostly interested in present, limited thoughts of future Intellectual interests expandIntellectual interests expand Greater ability to do workGreater ability to do work

Sexuality Display shyness, blushing modestyDisplay shyness, blushing modesty Increased interest in the opposite sex – are they attractive?Increased interest in the opposite sex – are they attractive? Frequently changing relationshipsFrequently changing relationships Worries about being normalWorries about being normal Develop ideals and select role modelsDevelop ideals and select role models Experiment with sex and drugsExperiment with sex and drugs

Morals, Values, and Self- Direction Rules and limit testingRules and limit testing Develop ideals and select role modelsDevelop ideals and select role models Experiment with sex and drugsExperiment with sex and drugs Capacity for abstract thoughtCapacity for abstract thought

Later High School Years and Beyond

Movement towards Independence Firmer sense of identityFirmer sense of identity Ability to think ideas throughAbility to think ideas through Increased emotional stabilityIncreased emotional stability Increase concern for othersIncrease concern for others Increased self-relianceIncreased self-reliance Peer relationships remain importantPeer relationships remain important Work habits more definedWork habits more defined Increased concern for the futureIncreased concern for the future Feelings of love and passionFeelings of love and passion Development of more serious relationshipsDevelopment of more serious relationships Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals Interest in moral reasoningInterest in moral reasoning

Future Interests and Cognitive Changes Work habits more definedWork habits more defined Increased concern for the futureIncreased concern for the future Feelings of love and passionFeelings of love and passion Development of more serious relationshipsDevelopment of more serious relationships Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals Interest in moral reasoningInterest in moral reasoning

Sexuality Feelings of love and passionFeelings of love and passion Development of more serious relationshipsDevelopment of more serious relationships Firmer sense of sexual identityFirmer sense of sexual identity Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals Interest in moral reasoningInterest in moral reasoning

Morals, Values, and Self- Direction Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals Interest in moral reasoningInterest in moral reasoning Capacity to use insightCapacity to use insight Social and cultural traditions regain some of their previous importanceSocial and cultural traditions regain some of their previous importance

Issues Facing Today’s Teens ConcernConcern Getting good gradesGetting good grades Getting a good jobGetting a good job Getting along with parentsGetting along with parents Not fitting inNot fitting in Nuclear warNuclear war Getting AIDS/STDGetting AIDS/STD Parent’s relationships with each otherParent’s relationships with each other Hunger and povertyHunger and poverty Family financesFamily finances PregnancyPregnancy Pressured into doing drugsPressured into doing drugs % of Teens worried

Leadership Styles for Advisors Be a mentor Be a mentor Be a coach Be a coach Walk your talk Walk your talk Be understanding of the teenage years and their search for autonomy Be understanding of the teenage years and their search for autonomy Be able to relate Be able to relate Show mutual respect as a team member Show mutual respect as a team member Develop and demonstrate conflict management skills Develop and demonstrate conflict management skills

Safety Guide to Safe ScoutingGuide to Safe Scouting Video - Youth Protection Guidelines:Video - Youth Protection Guidelines: Training for Adult Venturing LeadersTraining for Adult Venturing Leaders Personal Safety AwarenessPersonal Safety Awareness Venturer driving qualificationsVenturer driving qualifications 6 months driving experience as a licensed driver (learner’s permit time does not count)6 months driving experience as a licensed driver (learner’s permit time does not count) No record of accidents or moving violationsNo record of accidents or moving violations Parental permission granted to leader, driver and ridersParental permission granted to leader, driver and riders