Many Scouters avoid planning outdoor activities for their section. Perhaps it's not outdoor activities themselves, but how we think about them that causes this.
What's required for a successful outdoor activity? According to a recent Greater Toronto Region survey of 151 Scouters from all sections, detailed advance planning and self-confident leaders head the list. Pretty reasonable choices, you say? Think again.
Now I don't mean to put down the value of detailed planning or to dismiss the real hesitation that some Scouters feel about taking their youth members outdoors, but I suspect that this way of thinking may actually prevent some great outdoor activities from happening. Let's look at these two myths in light of the National Outdoor Review.
Sure, some longer-term activities require considerable preparation, with as much as possible done by the young people themselves, of course. But, realistically, how much advance planning do you need to move an indoor game outdoors, to watch a sunset, to build a snowman, or to hold your closing ceremony outside?
How much planning do children do for recess activities at school? How much planning do they do before going out to explore on the weekend? Clearly, some outdoor activities that young people really enjoy require very little planning at all, and these are exactly the types of activities we need more of in our weekly programs.
Our problem? We think outdoor activities are difficult to organize and require special skills, so we tend to avoid them. This is borne out by the fact that over half the Scouters in the survey reported that their section had taken part in between four and eight outdoor activities in the past 12 months. On the surface, that would appear to be only one outdoor activity every five to 10 weeks! If the outdoors is truly "the heart of Scouting", as Doug Cunnington suggested (Oct.'89), this finding is troubling at best.
In reality, while the number of outdoor activities is certainly below what it could be, a second factor seems to be at work here. Scouters tend to think of the outdoors in very narrow terms. Camping, hiking, boating, and other more ambitious outdoor pursuits are seen as "real" outdoor activities, while outdoor activities in the weekly meeting are seen as "something else".
This view is not restricted to Scouters in Toronto, either. The National Outdoor Review found the same perception of the outdoors across the country and adopted a broader definition as one of its recommendations (see outdoors, Jan.'89 and The Heart of Scouting, Oct.'89).
Scouting develops self-confidence in young people by providing them opportunities to try new things, experience success, and learn from their mistakes. Their skills improve by starting small and moving on to more challenging activities, both within their section and through successive sections as they go up. Self confidence for Scouters comes in the same way.
The broader definition of the outdoors is more than mere words. It represents a new way of thinking and a renewed focus for planning your section's programs. The outdoors is an essential part of your section's program and cannot be ignored. The broader definition invites and encourages you, like our young members, to start small and build in small steps, especially if you have been reluctant to take your section outdoors in the past. It's really very easy if you make a conscious effort and keep the definition in mind.
As a first step, try moving an existing part of your meeting outdoors-perhaps a ceremony such as a Tail Slap, Grand Howl, or Flag Break. They may be only five minutes long, but they take on a very different flavour outdoors, even if it's just outside your meeting place.
Games are another easy way to put the out into your meetings. Try playing an old indoor favourite outside. In the middle of winter, this approach may create an entirely new game that calls for some snow-bound strategies. Your section's other activities, like crafts, star and badge work, and skill development sessions, carry a subtle but important message when you move them outdoors: this is Scouting, not Scout school. Often you don't need to change anything but your location, and what could be easier?
Start by setting a small target for yourself-moving a ceremony outdoors at next week's meeting, perhaps-then do it. Try this for several months, setting small targets until you're completely comfortable with having a bit of your meeting outdoors. After a while, and especially once your members start asking, "What are we doing outside this week?", try moving a little more of your meeting activities outdoors by setting slightly more ambitious targets.
Get your youth members involved. Once they know you're willing to take them out, they'll have plenty of ideas for you, and even more enthusiasm.
As I talk with the members of the outdoor network and other Scouters across the country, I am convinced that Scouting can and will increase the profile of the outdoors in its programs over the next few years, but success depends heavily on you. You don't need detailed planning or the development of specialized skills to increase the number of outdoor activities for your section: all you need is an appreciation for the outdoors as an essential part of Scouting's programs and a willingness to try.
Being outdoors is what attracts young people to Scouting but, in our zeal to increase numbers, we sometimes forget to look at what we're doing in our meetings and activities. Look around your area, district, or region for the growing and consistently large sections. Chances are good that, if you look closely, you'll find a strong outdoor program held in the outdoors that is only one small step outside your meeting place.
Reni Barlow is National Program Committee member responsible for outdoors programs.
Last edited: February 22, 2004
The NetWoods Virtual Campsite, Steve Tobin, Campmaster