Understanding and Understanding and Protecting YouthProtecting Youth

The mission of the Boy Scouts of The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.values of the Scout Oath and Law.

BSA Mission StatementBSA Mission Statement

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of Venturing?Venturing?

•High adventureHigh adventure

•Leadership skillsLeadership skills

•CitizenshipCitizenship

•Community serviceCommunity service

•Social experiencesSocial experiences

•FitnessFitness

Understanding Young AdultsUnderstanding Young Adults

•The first things we notice about The first things we notice about young people:young people:• SizeSize• BehaviorBehavior

•Teenagers deal with opposing Teenagers deal with opposing emotions:emotions:• They fear and crave independence.They fear and crave independence.• They face a constant struggle for power and They face a constant struggle for power and

independence.independence.• They want to be unique, but are affected by peer They want to be unique, but are affected by peer

pressure.pressure.

Normal Adolescent Normal Adolescent DevelopmentDevelopment

•Movement towards Movement towards interdependenceinterdependence

•Future interests and cognitive Future interests and cognitive changeschanges

•SexualitySexuality

•Morals, values, and Self-directionMorals, values, and Self-direction

Middle School and Early High Middle School and Early High School YearsSchool Years

Movement towards Movement towards IndependenceIndependence

• Struggle with sense of identityStruggle with sense of identity• Feel awkward or strange about one’s self & one’s bodyFeel awkward or strange about one’s self & one’s body• Focus on self, alternating between high expectations Focus on self, alternating between high expectations

and poor self-conceptand poor self-concept• Interests and clothing style influenced by peer groupInterests and clothing style influenced by peer group• MoodinessMoodiness• Improved ability to use speech to express one’s selfImproved ability to use speech to express one’s self• Realization that parents are not perfectRealization that parents are not perfect• Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional Less overt affection shown to parents, with occasional

rudenessrudeness• Complaints that parents interfere with independenceComplaints that parents interfere with independence

Future Interests and Future Interests and Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes

• Mostly interested in present, limited Mostly interested in present, limited thoughts of futurethoughts of future

• Intellectual interests expandIntellectual interests expand• Greater ability to do workGreater ability to do work

SexualitySexuality

• Display shyness, blushing modestyDisplay shyness, blushing modesty• Increased interest in the opposite sex – are Increased interest in the opposite sex – are

they attractive?they attractive?• Frequently changing relationshipsFrequently changing relationships• Worries about being normalWorries about being normal• Develop ideals and select role modelsDevelop ideals and select role models• Experiment with sex and drugsExperiment with sex and drugs

Morals, Values, and Self-Morals, Values, and Self-DirectionDirection

• Rules and limit testingRules and limit testing• Develop ideals and select role modelsDevelop ideals and select role models• Experiment with sex and drugsExperiment with sex and drugs• Capacity for abstract thoughtCapacity for abstract thought

Later High School Years and Later High School Years and BeyondBeyond

Movement towards Movement towards IndependenceIndependence

• Firmer sense of identityFirmer sense of identity• Ability to think ideas throughAbility to think ideas through• Increased emotional stabilityIncreased emotional stability• Increase concern for othersIncrease concern for others• Increased self-relianceIncreased self-reliance• Peer relationships remain importantPeer relationships remain important• Work habits more definedWork habits more defined• Increased concern for the futureIncreased concern for the future• Feelings of love and passionFeelings of love and passion• Development of more serious relationshipsDevelopment of more serious relationships• Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals• Interest in moral reasoning Interest in moral reasoning

Future Interests and Future Interests and Cognitive ChangesCognitive Changes

• Work habits more definedWork habits more defined• Increased concern for the futureIncreased concern for the future• Feelings of love and passionFeelings of love and passion• Development of more serious relationshipsDevelopment of more serious relationships• Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals• Interest in moral reasoning Interest in moral reasoning

SexualitySexuality

• Feelings of love and passionFeelings of love and passion• Development of more serious relationshipsDevelopment of more serious relationships• Firmer sense of sexual identityFirmer sense of sexual identity• Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals• Interest in moral reasoning Interest in moral reasoning

Morals, Values, and Self-Morals, Values, and Self-Direction Direction

• Greater capacity for setting goalsGreater capacity for setting goals• Interest in moral reasoningInterest in moral reasoning• Capacity to use insightCapacity to use insight• Social and cultural traditions regain some of Social and cultural traditions regain some of

their previous importance their previous importance

Issues Facing Today’s TeensIssues Facing Today’s Teens

• ConcernConcern• Getting good gradesGetting good grades• Getting a good jobGetting a good job• Getting along with parentsGetting along with parents• Not fitting inNot fitting in• Nuclear warNuclear war• Getting AIDS/STDGetting AIDS/STD• Parent’s relationships with Parent’s relationships with

each othereach other• Hunger and povertyHunger and poverty• Family financesFamily finances• PregnancyPregnancy• Pressured into doing drugsPressured into doing drugs

• % of Teens % of Teens worriedworried• 97.097.0• 82.282.2• 79.079.0• 76.276.2• 67.467.4• 64.864.8• 62.262.2• 62.062.0• 60.260.2• 56.456.4• 54.454.4

Leadership Styles for Leadership Styles for AdvisorsAdvisors

•Be a mentorBe a mentor•Be a coachBe a coach•Walk your talkWalk your talk•Be understanding of the teenage years Be understanding of the teenage years

and their search for autonomyand their search for autonomy•Be able to relateBe able to relate•Show mutual respect as a team Show mutual respect as a team

membermember•Develop and demonstrate conflict Develop and demonstrate conflict

management skillsmanagement skills

SafetySafety

• Guide to Safe ScoutingGuide to Safe Scouting• Video - Youth Protection Guidelines: Video - Youth Protection Guidelines:

• Training for Adult Venturing LeadersTraining for Adult Venturing Leaders• Personal Safety AwarenessPersonal Safety Awareness

• Venturer driving qualificationsVenturer driving qualifications• 6 months driving experience as a licensed 6 months driving experience as a licensed

driver (learner’s permit time does not count)driver (learner’s permit time does not count)• No record of accidents or moving violationsNo record of accidents or moving violations• Parental permission granted to leader, Parental permission granted to leader,

driver and ridersdriver and riders