Scouting 2.0?

What if? Two very powerful words. Our Scouts are are digital natives – they aren’t simply ‘dependent’ or ‘addicted’ to technology, it’s a part of their world. They don’t see a dichotomy of real and virtual – it’s all kind of the same. What if, like our Scouts, we stopped seeing this as two irreconcilable worlds and welcomed the potential of every resource to further the aims and methods of Scouting? For example my blog and podcast are one of several out there that have built a virtual community of real people share ideas and assist each other. It’s useful and compelling work. So where are the Scouts? What happens when we tap the potential of this virtual world to help them? If you accept the premise that this is possible tell me what you think about these ideas based on the aims and methods of Scouting: Ideals Right now any one active online has a number of different identities shaped to meet the focus and limitations of the tools they are using. One of the challenges of working within a number of different social media sites is maintaining a consistent appearance and identity that connects them all. What, in each of these different expressions, is the best way to own our identity as Scouts and the ideals we share?

Patrols Where is the virtual patrol, the virtual troop? As I noted previously we are a virtual group of adult volunteers, what about Scouts? What happens when a troop or patrol is not limited to geography? What if our Scouts had not only the resources we were able to offer locally but all the resources we have as a community of Scouting?

Outdoor Programs We’ll be off backpacking this weekend – what if this trip (or any other we do) was open to other Scouts outside our troop to join in? What if this became a pretty standard option?

Advancement Where’s the virtual merit badge sash and badge of rank? We haven’t really scratched the surface of instructing, practicing and certifying skills with technology that’s been around for a decade.

Where’s the digital Scout handbook, field book and merit badge pamphlet? What kind of digital signature could we invent that would capitalize on the skills and expertise of a broader community of Scouting?

Association with Adults A number of concerns with youth protection and identity online could be overcome with some thinking and inventing. What if our Scouts had the benefit of information, instruction, counsel and encouragement from a broader community of adults?

Personal Growth What if we could see Scouting online as compelling as completing a college degree online? What if your Scouting identity became as widely an accepted measure of integrity and experience that it does on a resume?

Leadership Development Where are the virtual youth leader development training resources?

Where’s the webinar, the Google + hangout, the discussion forum, a group of youth leaders working together to hone their skills? We have adult leader training online that’s an accepted way of certifying us in skills and knowledge – what about expanding this for our Scouts?

Uniform Translated to a virtual world the uniform becomes a visual component of identity that would probably be just as, if not more important than, the actual uniform.

I challenge you to respond to these ideas not by telling me why they aren’t feasible or what problems need to be overcome. That’s too easy.

I challenge you to perceive the potential and help me map a way forward. Do a little dreaming, a little thinking, and respond don’t sit back and wait for someone else. What if?