Scouting for life?

I’ve never found a more united group than those that are seriously Scouting for life.

Bear Grylls is the chief Scout right now and whilst at his survival festival I was lucky enough to meet Jagz Bharth who is one of the Scouts Youth Ambassadors. Here he is with Mike Thurston from Enfield district Scouts, North London admiring our popular Brecon Beacons Map.

I asked him how we can keep people engaged with Scouts in their later teens.  In this age group our local (Chandler’s Ford 15th?) are looking at ways to improve engagement.  It’s a hard job when there are so many other distractions for teens!

His main advice is very simple – and two pronged;

1. They need to feel involved, to feel as if they are taking the initiative and that they are taking the Scouts in an exciting direction – So give them the broadest of outlines for a key event in the calendar, and let them do the planning to turn it from a visit to an Adventure!
2. This age group is all-over social media.  Instagram appears to be in mode. Enabling and encouraging them as they engage on this platform lets them plan, discuss and make decisions outside of normal Scouting hours and in their own style.

Thanks Jagz, I hope I got the essence of your advice right?  Please point me at any guidelines or further advice so we can get going down here in Hampshire.  Really happy to share all of that with our community.