Youth Program Review
Interesting Responses from Section Transition Experience Survey
We asked for some feedback on how the transition between youth sections works in your Group, with the feedback helping us to shape the new youth program. We learnt some interesting stories from the responses!
During June 2016, Scouts, Leaders, parents and community members were invited to participate in a survey on the Section Transition Experience. Statistics and experience shows us that a common time in which we lose youth members is when it becomes time for the young person to link to the next age section. There are lots of reasons this occurs – one of which is a poorly managed approach, that often doesn’t take into account the needs of individual youth.
We asked a few questions like how the overall transition process works in the section; if there was a ceremony or celebration to mark the transition; and, what makes the transition process successful and how can that success be reviewed? From this, we’ll be looking to develop resources that supports Scout Groups to do it effectively.
Thanks to the 302 Scouts, Leaders, parents and community members who completed the survey, we have revealed some interesting themes on the transition experience! It was especially exciting to hear from 73 current youth members who expressed their thoughts and feelings on the transition experience.
Some interesting observations obtained from the survey:
- Most responses were quite detailed.
- There are clearly some problems in Groups, more broadly than just transitioning.
- Some Leaders appear to be determined to stick to the Ceremonies book without any variation.
- Other leaders bring very creative (adventurous!) approaches to transitioning.
- Very few apply a whole-Group approach to transitioning.
- The Link Badge wasn’t mentioned very often.
- Linking periods that are a set time each year, or each term, is often mentioned as a successful approach.
- Considering social needs, and going up in small groups, is often mentioned as a successful approach.
To hear how others view the section transition experience, read their comments below:
- “The unit I was with invested members at a new place every time – on a camp, on a hike – it makes it significant to each member.” – NSW Rover & Leader
- “The transition process was very casual. I was approached by one of the leaders when I dropped my son off a couple of weeks out from the end of term to see if he was going on to Cubs and to tell us the nights available. We were encouraged to go along and see which night we might like, but when we did the cub leaders didn’t seem to know what to do with him.” – SA Parent
- “As SL, I cook for the Cubs every year on the annual pack holiday, plus we have an annual Group Camp. I regularly help the Cub Leaders on knots and navigation nights and we have more than two combined Cub and Scout program nights a year. This ensures the Cubs are familiar with myself and the Troop over their whole time in Cubs.” – VIC Scout Leader
- “The first night was weird because I had no idea what to do” – NSW Current Scout
- “The ideal and best transitions are those that were well planned by both sections and feature a creative ‘going up’. Transitions are also more successful when a group has frequent combined activities – leaders need to be proactive in promoting the holistic approach to scouting rather than sectional.” – QLD Group Leader
- “cubs is fun. i want to stay at joeys. because it is really fun. I might try a little bit more of cubs. i really really like Joeys. I am not sure when I will be ready for cubs.” – WA Joey Scout
- “The Going up ceremony is NOT the final part of transitioning a youth member from one section to the next. It is the formal change of section but is about the middle of the transition process.” – VIC Group Leader
- “The Cub leader is very strict with ages and won’t send anyone early and regularly keeps Cubs until they are over 11 years of age (despite our arguments against this – I think this is UNHELPFUL for the transition).” – NSW Leader & Parent
