Issue 213 – Carrots

By AskAndy on April 25, 2010 in 2010

When’s the last time your boss said to you, or you said to an employee or staff member, “Hey, show up on Saturday morning and there’ll be a ‘kicker’ in it for you,” or “If you take on this special assignment, you can plan on a nice bonus,” or “Do this and there’ll be a promotion for you when you’re done.” Never? Really…? Why not? After all, isn’t this just what we tell our Scouts…

“Show up for this project and you’ll get service hour credit.” “Go on this hike and you’ll complete requirement 7.” “Come to this event and you’ll get a special patch.” Don’t we pretty much do this all the time?

Are you seeing a disparity here? You bet! And it’s a big one.

The stuff in Scouting that’s comparable to what life’s made up of, like doing something because it’s fun, or it’s challenge, or it’s in keeping with one of our principle of helping others, is pretty rare these days. Somehow, we think that dangling carrots, like credit for hours or completing a requirement, or getting a patch or badge, is the only way to motivate boys.

Wrong.

Fun motivates boys. Challenge and adventure motivate boys. A sense of accomplishment motivates boys.

“But how will they advance, if we don’t tell ‘em they need to do this or that to complete requirements?” you ask. B-P, more than a hundred years ago but no less true today, put it this way: “Advancement is like a sun tan… It’s something that happens naturally when you’re having fun in the out-of-doors.”

There’s no way I can top that! But I can take a quiet moment to remind myself that, if we dangle carrots for every little thing, we’re teaching our sons to never think about doing anything for simply the sheer love of doing it. I think I’d like my son to think differently from this. How about you?

Happy Scouting!

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About AskAndy

Andy is a Board Member of the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.

Andy was recognized in 2017 as a National Distinguished Eagle Scout and Regent of the National Eagle Scout Association. He is currently serving as council member-at-large. His previous position, which he held for over 20 years (except for several years when he served as District Commissioner and Assistant Council Commissioner-Training), was Unit Commissioner. He has previously served as Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader, Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, International Representative, and--as a Scout--Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He is a charter member and founding director of his prior council's Alumni Association and Eagle Scout Alumni Association, both established in 2001. He earned Eagle Scout rank at age 15, in 1957; two years later, he earned the Explorer Silver Award--at that time referred to as the "Double-Eagle." At age 16, he served on the National Junior Leader Training Camp Staff at Schiff Scout Reservation (at that time this was a salaried position). He also served on the Philmont NJLIC Staff in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and, later, on two Pilot Regional NAYLE Staffs. His recognitions include: Kashafa Iraqi Scouting Service Award, Distinguished Commissioner, Doctor of Commissioner Science, International Scouter Award, District Award of Merit (2), Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Scouter's Key (3), Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Cliff Dochterman Rotarian Scouter Award, James E. West Fellow (3), Wood Badge & Sea Badge. He has attended four National Scout Jamborees: Scout in 1957, First Assistant Scoutmaster in 1993, National Staff in 2001, and NESA Featured Speaker in 2014 and 2017. The BSA included his article titled "Frictionless Scouting Events" was incorporated into the BSA National Training Video, "Meetings of the District" for ten years. He is a charter member of the BSA National Advancement Advisory Board and has written multiple technical articles for the BSA Advancement Team's "Advancement News" since 2012. Read Andy's full biography

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