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Planning with Teenagers

Planning meetings and events with Venturing crew officers can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging if not approached properly. And the techniques for planning with teenagers can also be applied to Scouts BSA as well as Venturing, as both programs involve youth-led organizations that benefit from effective communication, clear objectives, assigned responsibilities, realistic timelines, and encouragement of creativity and innovation.

In a Venturing Crew, the youth officers are responsible for planning and organizing meetings and events. As an adult advisor, it is essential to work collaboratively with the youth officers to ensure that the meetings and events are well-planned, fun, and educational. In this blog post, we will provide some tips for planning meetings and events with Venturing crew officers.

One of the most challenging aspects of being an Advisor is resisting the urge to take over when the Crew leadership appears to be procrastinating. However, the primary goal of the Venturing program is to assist young men and women in developing their leadership skills. Therefore, it is crucial to remember that taking control away from them would be counterproductive. Additionally, the youth officers’ decisions often lead to successful outcomes. Even if they make mistakes, it provides a valuable learning experience.

Tips for Planning with Teenagers

Establish clear communication channels

Effective communication is essential for planning successful meetings and events. As an adult advisor, it is important to establish clear communication channels with the youth officers. This can include setting up regular meetings, communicating as a group online, or using a project management tool. Whatever method is chosen for planning with teenagers, it is important to ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them and that they are all on the same page.

Define the objectives

Before planning any meeting or event, it is important to define the objectives. This means that the youth officers should have a clear idea of what they want to achieve from the meeting or event. For example, if the objective is to plan a camping trip, the youth officers should have a clear idea of the location, the activities, the equipment required, and the budget. Defining the objectives can help the youth officers stay focused and motivated throughout the planning process.

Assign responsibilities

Assigning responsibilities is a crucial step in planning with teenagers. This means that each youth officer should have a specific role to play in the planning process. For example, one youth officer may be responsible for securing the campsite, while another may be responsible for planning the activities. Assigning responsibilities ensures that everyone is involved in the planning process and that no one feels left out.

Set realistic timelines

Setting realistic timelines is essential for ensuring that meetings and events are planned effectively. It is important to consider the amount of time required to complete each task and to factor in any unexpected delays. Setting realistic timelines can help the youth officers stay motivated and focused, and it can also help to prevent burnout when planning with teenagers.

Encourage creativity and innovation

One of the benefits of working with Venturing crew officers is that they bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the table. As an adult advisor, it is important to encourage creativity and innovation. This can mean brainstorming new ideas, exploring different approaches, and thinking outside of the box. Encouraging creativity and innovation can help to make meetings and events more engaging, exciting, and memorable.

In conclusion, planning with teenagers can be a fun and rewarding experience if approached properly. By establishing clear communication channels, defining the objectives, assigning responsibilities, setting realistic timelines, and encouraging creativity and innovation, you can help the Crew officers plan successful meetings and events that are both educational and fun.

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