District Activities

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District Activities Civic Service Committee

November 17, 2001
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District Activities Civic Service Committee

• Major Objectives
• To carry out its part in councilwide activities.
  (The best planned council activity will be a flop
  unless districts do their part.)
• To supplement council activities with other
  activities on a district basis

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The Program Function

• Scouting means Doing!
• It is the responsibility of the Activities and
  Civic Service Committee to support units through
  the planning, promotion, and operation of
  multi-unit events that supplement, but do not
  supplant, unit program.
• Reality - most of our efforts are put into
  Activities and very little on Civic Service

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Committee Responsibilities

• Plan a well-balanced schedule of District events,
  and recruit teams to carry them out.
• Decide how Scouting can become involved in
  selected needs and interests of communities in
  the District. Help Scouting units take part in
  community service projects.
• Promote and assist with the planning of Council
  events (such as a Council show, Council Jamboree,
  or participation at the Sportsmen Show exhibit).

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Committee Responsibilities

• Promote and carry out the Districts share of
  national events (such as Scouting Anniversary
  Week or a national Jamboree).
• Create and promote activities and ceremonies to
  inspire Scouts, leaders, parents, and the general
  public to want to participate in, and support
  Scouting

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Activities Committee Organization
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Planning an Activity Program

• Develop a pencil draft
• List other possible events
• Match to District needs/wants
• Co-ordinate with Council Calendar
• Solicit Unit leaders opinions/input
• Poll sheets
• Training on the six criteria for unit civic
  service
• Finalize Plans
• Distribute calendar in enough time for units to
  plan their events to include Council/District
  events

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Common Pitfalls

• Misjudging the logistics of the event
• Not matching facilities with possible weather
• Not matching facilities with needs of units
• Under-estimating the manpower requirements
• Over-estimating the units participation
• Inadequate budget
• Fees too low
• Overspending on incidentals
• Scheduling around holidays/social events

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Types Of ActivitiesCompetitive Skill Events

• Competitive Skill Events are events that meet the
  aims and purposes of Scouting. They capitalize
  on the youths desire to win.
• First Aid Meet
• Klondike Derby
• Camporee
• Pinewood Derby

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Types Of ActivitiesCompetitive Skill Events

• Special Note on Competition
• It is a long standing policy of the BSA that
  competition, reward, and recognition in Scouting
  are based on youth reaching a standard of
  excellence and not on a championship/winner take
  all system. This youth development practice is
  based on the doctrine On my honor, I will do my
  best, not we will beat the other team at all
  costs.

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Types Of ActivitiesCivic Service Activities

• Civic Service Activities, particularly those
  involving more than one unit would be intended to
  foster the spirit of citizenship through service
  to others.
• Food drives for the hungry
• Service to handicapped children
• Neighborhood Improvement

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Types Of ActivitiesCivic Service Activities

• Criteria to Help Ensure Civic Service Project
  Teaches Good Citizenship
• Be Real The project must be real to Youth
  Members
• Be Clearly Defined Youth and their leaders must
  know what they are going to do.
• Know Your Purpose Youth must know why they are
  doing the project
• Be Democratic Youth members must be directly
  involved in selecting, planning, and implementing
  the project.
• Be Informed Youth should be involved in
  gathering firsthand information related to the
  project
• Be Action-Oriented Youth must take some
  meaningful action as a result of the project and
  be able to understand the results.

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Types Of ActivitiesDisplay Events

• This type of activity shows the community what
  Scouts can do and helps youth develop poise
  before an audience
• Booth Shows Midway
• Arena Shows Sportsmans Show
• Parades
• Shopping Mall Show

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Types Of ActivitiesScouting Anniversary Week

• This event marks the birth of the Boy Scouts in
  America. It can captialize on the national news
  and publicity during February.
• Rededication Ceremonies
• Uniform Day
• Report to Community
• Religious service in uniform

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Types Of ActivitiesScouting Anniversary Week

• This event marks the birth of the Boy Scouts in
  America. It can captialize on the national news
  and publicity during February.
• Rededication Ceremonies
• Uniform Day
• Report to Community
• Religious service in uniform

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Types Of ActivitiesRecognition Dinner

• Recognition Dinners such as the annual District
  recognition dinner for adult Scouters and their
  families.
• Newspaper articles
• Scout of the Month
• Radio or television segments

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Measure of Success

• You are successful when, because of your efforts
  and the efforts of others on your committee, the
  District has carried out a years schedule of
  District activities with an increased percentage
  of Scouting units participating

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Other Resources

• Activities and Civic Service Committee Guide
  33082C
• Highlights for the Distrcit Activities and Civic
  Service Commmittee .. an Overview 34732