Title: Generations
1Generations
2Consider This
- Somewhere in your scouting experience you have
probably recognized that the scouts we serve are
very diverse. - Scouting offers a variety of programs to reach
this diverse group of young people
Scoutreach
Venturing
Boy Scouts
Learning for Life
Cub Scouts
3Consider This
- Our adult volunteers are diverse too. They come
from a variety of different backgrounds and
experiences. - As Wood Badge course directors, we need to
consider this diversity when planning our courses
and training our staff.
4Consider This
- Although our leaders are diverse, there are also
some similarities that often apply. - Understanding these similarities can help us to
better address the needs of the leaders and to
work more effectively with them as trainers. - One area of similarity to consider is the concept
of Generations
5Generations
- How would you define the word Generation?
- The dictionary defines a generation as a group of
contemporaries all of the people who were born
in approximately the same time frame, typically
considered as having shared interests and
attitudes.
6Generations
- If we have a better understanding of the
different generations involved as scouting
leaders, we can - Recruit more leaders to take Wood Badge
- Provide more effective training
- Have greater understanding of the interactions
between various leaders -
7Food For Thought
- If a fisherman baits his hook with the kind of
food that he likes himself, he will not catch
many. fish. - He therefore uses as bait the kind of food that
the fish like.
Lord Robert Baden-Powell Aids to
Scoutmastership.
8Cautions
- While understanding the differences between
various generations can provide valuable insight,
it is also important to realize that these are
generalizations. - Individual leaders may not always fit into
these categories. - Purpose of this presentation is not to stereotype
or create labels but rather to discuss some
general concepts that you should consider when
relating to a diverse group of people.
9Think about
- What are the typical ages of
- A cub scouting parent or leader?
- A boy scouting/venturing parent or leader?
- A district / council volunteer?
- Council Executive Board?
- BSA National Board?
10Generations
- With different Generations, differences can arise
in a number of areas including - Expectations
- Communication
- Commitment
- Motivation
- Development
- Training content / methods
- Productivity
- Engagement
11Generations in Scouting
- Research has found many similarities among
traits, values, and what individuals want in life
within the specific generational groups. - There are effectively four different generational
groups delivering the scouting program.
124 Generations
- Greatest Generation / Silent Generation
- Baby Boomers
- Generation X
- Generation Y / Millennial Generation
- Lets discuss some traits of each of these
generational groups.
13Greatest Generation / Silent Generation
Currently 64 years of age and older
- Famous People who influenced
- Dr. Spock
- Bob Hope
- Charles Lindburgh
- Edward R. Murrough
- FDR
- Duke Ellington
- Rat Pack
- Events/Factors that shaped their views include
- Great Depression
- WWI WWII
- New Deal FDR
14Greatest Generation / Silent Generation
- Overriding Values for this Generation
- Loyalty
- Patriotism
- Putting others first
- Working together
- Understanding the value of money - frugality
- Leaders should lead and the troops should follow
15Greatest Generation / Silent Generation
- What do these leaders want?
- To contribute to the movement in a meaningful way
- To continue to improved their skills and stretch
their talents - To have flexible ways to be involved as they get
older
16Baby Boomers
Currently 45 - 63 years of age
- Events/Factors that shaped their views include
- Vietnam
- Watergate
- Civil Rights
- Woodstock
- Space Race
- TV
- Famous People who influenced
- Martin Luther King, Jr
- John Kennedy
- Beatles
- Rolling Stones
- Beaver Cleaver
- Rosa Parks
- The Monkeys
17Baby Boomers
- Common traits for this generation include
- Highly Educated
- Questioning Authority
- Optimism / Idealism
- Competitive Nature
- Workaholic
- Willing to Pay for Quality
- Value Equality
- Value Individualism
18Baby Boomers
- What do these leaders want?
- To contribute to the movement in a meaningful way
- Flexibility to handle conflicting life demands
- Personal Recognition
- Stimulation and a change of pace
- Changes in roles and responsibilities
- Understanding of the value to them
- Quality time
19Generation X
Currently 29 - 44 years of age
- Events/Factors that shaped their views include
- PCs
- Cell Phones
- Video games
- Evil Empire
- Malls
- Fast Food
- Famous People who influenced
- Ayatollah Khomeini
- Ronald Regan
- Bill Gates
- Michael Jordan
- OJ
- MTV
20Generation X
- Common traits/values include
- Latch Key Kids
- Single Parent or Blended Families
- Skepticism
- More Faith in Self / Less faith in Institutions
- Very Independent and Resourceful
21Generation X
- What do these leaders want?
- To contribute to the movement in a meaningful way
- Ability to contribute quickly
- To figure things out for themselves
- Flexibility
- Respect
- Pay for results not hours worked
- Continuous skill development
22Millennial Generation (Gen Y)
Currently adults under age of 28 years of age
- Events/Factors that shaped their views include
- Gulf War
- Fall of Berlin Wall
- Columbine
- My Space
- Information Overload
- Gangs
- Famous People who influenced
- Prince William
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Britney Spears
- Sammy Sosa
- Bill Clinton
23Millennial Generation (Gen Y)
- Common traits/values include
- Able to handle large volumes of information
- Preprogrammed lives due to overly involved
parents - True multi-taskers
- Optimistic
- Comfortable with diversity and inclusiveness
- Need to feel empowered
- Value collaborative leadership
- Pragmatic
24Millennial Generation (Gen Y)
- What do these leaders want?
- To contribute to the movement in a meaningful way
- Individual responsibility
- Freedom to make decisions
- Sociable environment
- Open and honest communication / feedback
- Team based and collaborative environment
- Respect
- Work life balance
- Value community and political involvement
25How can we apply this information to directing a
Wood Badge Course?
26Discuss These Thoughts
- How do you recruit potential Wood Badge
participants from a variety of different
generations? Who should be the prime target? - The syllabus for Wood Badge is pre-defined but we
need to be effective to the different generations
of leaders attending the course. How might this
be done? - What can Wood Badge course directors do to train
your staff to handle a diverse group of
participants and to understand their needs?
27Take Home Message
- Members of the same generations often share the
same interest and attitudes - When Wood Badge course directors and staffs
understand the needs and expectations of the
various generations, particpants will be more
engaged and the Wood Badge course will be more
effective.
28Bait your hook with what the Leaders need.
- and Scouting will be better for all of our youth
29Questions?