Generations

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Generations
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Consider 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
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Consider 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.

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Consider 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

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Generations

• 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.

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Generations

• 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

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Food 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.
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Cautions

• 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.

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Think 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?

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Generations

• With different Generations, differences can arise
  in a number of areas including
• Expectations
• Communication
• Commitment
• Motivation
• Development
• Training content / methods
• Productivity
• Engagement

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Generations 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.

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4 Generations

• Greatest Generation / Silent Generation
• Baby Boomers
• Generation X
• Generation Y / Millennial Generation
• Lets discuss some traits of each of these
  generational groups.

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Greatest 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

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Greatest 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

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Greatest 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

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Baby 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

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Baby 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

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Baby 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

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Generation 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

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Generation 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

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Generation 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

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Millennial 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

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Millennial 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

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Millennial 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

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How can we apply this information to directing a
Wood Badge Course?
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Discuss 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?

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Take 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.

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Bait your hook with what the Leaders need.

• and Scouting will be better for all of our youth

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Questions?

• Thank you.