Youth Organization Leader
Insider Info
What do several NASA astronauts and Mariah Carey have in common?
At one time, they were all members of a volunteer youth organization.
Whether it's with the Boy Scouts or Girl Guides, being a volunteer leader
is one of life's most rewarding activities. You can help foster the kids in
your neighborhood into the stars of tomorrow.
"I would encourage any woman who really is interested in the future of
girls to become a girl scout leader," says Dee Montano. She is the membership
development director for the Girl Scouts of Orange County in California.
Volunteer youth organization leaders around the world help organize activities
for the children in their area. Whether it's camping, field trips or teaching
a new skill, it's a leader's job to ensure younger kids have a great time
learning about themselves and the world around them.
"The program is so flexible that women of all talents and abilities will
be able to teach the girls skills that they will need to be successful and
happy women," adds Montano.
And the same is true for the boys. Perhaps one of the world's largest scouting
organizations is the Boy Scouts of America. With over 300 local council centers
across the U.S., Boy Scouts of America employs professional leaders to guide
and trains more than a million volunteers.
Real Lavergne started as a youth group leader when his brother
began getting into trouble. "I took the initiative because the kids needed
something to do," he says.
"So, together with the parish church, I coordinated sport activities and
camping trips for a group of 17 boys. We also collected funds for the Foster
Parent Plan. The program taught them about solidarity, collaboration and civic
responsibility."
Captain Gilles Despres often volunteered his time with some military cadets.
"Part of our responsibility was to help train the young -- the military men
and women of the future," says Despres. "We hosted several cadet groups throughout
the summer. It was a very exciting program."
"The cadet kids especially liked the parachute simulator. We started showing
them basic maneuvers, how to control the parachute and practice landing from
a six-foot platform. But it wasn't long before they were eyeing the 34-foot
tower. They have no fear. It's incredible.
"Then came the orienteering exercises. Equipped with only a compass, the
cadets were sent into the forest at night to find their marker. That made
the tower look easy. But they survived to tell the stories -- all night long,"
says Despres. "It was great fun."
Anne Jankovich is a girl scout leader. "The most interesting aspect of
this whole experience for me is watching the girls grow and seeing them learn
new things and challenge themselves," she says.
"The bonds that I have formed between my group of girls is inspiring as
well. In my group, I have a wide range of ages...from age six to 12. The older
girls play with the younger girls and do anything to get them to giggle. It's
a complete joy to watch their friendship blossom."
Owen Dickie is a volunteer leader with a scouts group. "One year, we spent
time talking to the scouts about winter survival and rescue. We taught them
how to recognize the signs of hypothermia, frostbite and how to manage crisis
situations," he says.
"A few weeks later, one of our scouts was playing on the frozen lake with
friends and a boy fell through the ice. The scout rescued him, saved his life
and was eventually awarded the Scouts Canada Medal of Bravery."
Lavergne also taught his troupe about winter camping. "It was an exercise
in skill development," he chuckles.
"But I remember one day, a fawn walked up to our campsite. She was so tame
that the boys were able to approach her and ended up playing with her. It
was strange. I'm not sure where she came from."
How to Get Involved
Montano got started with the Girl Scouts because she had been a scout when
she was younger and she wanted her daughters to experience the program. "Later,
I found that I enjoyed presenting the program to all the girls, not just my
own," she says.
"I originally became a leader simply because I feared no one else would
take over when the previous leader quit," explains Jankovich. "However, my
outlook has changed. These girls are going to remember this for the rest of
their lives and I feel honored to have been an influence on them."
So, what are these organizations looking for in a volunteer leader? "The
talents councils look for are education, desire and willingness to learn,"
says Montano.
"To be a good girl scout leader, you need to really like children, care
about them and their feelings. Be willing to learn ways of working with girls
that present a challenge. You need patience, flexibility, commitment. Those
are the qualities I consider important."
And each organization has a policy when considering volunteer candidates.
Once you have chosen a group, first find out if you qualify. For example,
"our council policy states that any adult over 18 who believes in the Girl
Scout philosophy and is willing to take training and abide by the rules is
eligible to be a volunteer leader," notes Montano.
Jankovich adds that, "there are things the Girl Scout Council requires,
such as criminal background checks and training classes. But there are personality
traits that one should have: excellent organizational skills, a love of children,
boundless energy and patience."
Be prepared for a screening process that includes more than one interview.
But keep this in mind: because scout and guide leaders are so carefully chosen,
your reputation as a successful youth organization volunteer can often lead
to a promising career.
Dickie has some words of advice. "GO FOR IT. You're there to be a kid.
Just remember that being a scout leader is all about allowing the kids to
make their own decisions. But ultimately, the kids are responsible for those
decisions."
Associations
Girl Scouts of the USA
Internet
:
http://www.girlscouts.org/
Boy Scouts of America
Internet
:
http://www.scouting.org/
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) r
Internet
:
https://www.wagggs.org/en
Links
Girl Scouts of the USA -- Volunteers
What you need to know before volunteering
Scouting Web
Check out this resource site
World Scout Movement
An international scouting site
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