The Troop Pivot Point

One troop is led by adults, one is led by the Scouts. What’s the difference? At the risk of oversimplifying the answer the difference is focus.

Troops run by adults are focused on results.

Troops run by Scouts are focused on process.

I accept that between the two extremes of fully adult and fully youth led there are many shades of grey but I think the basic conclusion of focus hold up.

Adults are more experienced and more capable of producing results, of posting good numbers.

I readily admit that if you want reliable good results it is best to have adults lead things. If we are focused on the process of Scouting – that set of opportunities and experiences that shape the lives and character of Scouts – we will see both results and achieve the aims of our work. The pivot point between the two approaches to Scouting is weather or not we understand and value the process.

Understanding and valuing results is easy; do requirements and earn badges, go camping and rack up nights camping, recruit Scouts and grow in number.

Understanding and valuing the process is quite a bit more subtle. When Scouts set their own course, when they learn to work together to make things happen they are participating in the process of Scouting. The results of the process are not easily measurable, we can’t express them numerically and so it takes a trained eye to detect them.