Departed Scouts: letting them go usually is best

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2 responses to “Departed Scouts: letting them go usually is best”

1. 

   J P

   November 21, 2022

   First lesson, you don’t chase problems that parents departing tell you about; yes you wasted time but that is not the fault of the parents. When you get inputs like that you listen, if it involved a leader and there was enough detail given that you can have a discussion you have a discussion solely as you are providing feedback (not setting up an improvement plan). If there is not enough detail or they tell you it is a different problem you just take a note and if you get repeated statements of the same issue or it aligns with other observations you have had of things you take action. Spending time taking action simply because one family said that is why they left is pointless. Even assuming they were telling the truth; it could be a perception issue rather than a reality and you are now chasing their misperception rather than a reality. Only take action on inputs like that when you have enough to take action; never chase down a solution unless you see it as a problem. Don’t go trying to solve problems until you have confirmed they are real.
   On your second point, that is why all you should ever do is reach out a couple times and them drop it. People leave Scouting and if they leave your unit they had good reason and it is unlikely anything you do is going to fix it. You want to get input and help if you can (say put them in touch with another unit that meets on another night) but in 99% of cases you are not bringing that Scout back to your unit; at best they go to another unit; good you helped a Scout stay in the program but don’t go out of your way. These days Scouts can transfer units without ever talking to you, so you may be chasing someone who just went off to another unit; which is really when the feedback is important.
   It is not solving problems you are talking about; it is making sure you have a quality program. Talk to parents throughout the year, keep an eye on your Dens and other leaders and make sure the standards of your unit are being maintained. Set the right expectations and you should have few problems to fix; because you are providing quality. You also should not be supporting your Den leaders, you should be enabling them and coaching them; if you are running around supporting them that quickly turns into micro managing which means the quality of your volunteers goes down and your program slips and then you have problems. In all honesty the largest problem most units have with their den leaders is simply not setting expectations about what they should be doing; most people will easily rise to what is needed but missing the expectations creates most of the problems.
   The question you should ask yourself is why you were putting that much energy into chasing Scouts that left. Doing basic follow up is good simply because councils expect you to do that and at least you can say you did; but you are not going to get them back.

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   1. 

      Aren Cambre

      November 21, 2022

      You simply restated my points and my unsaid thoughts but with 99% more words.

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