Monday Memo December 5th, 2022

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Scouts in Action

Scouts from around the Council marched in Holiday PArades this past weekend

 

 

This Week's Headlines

COUNCIL RECOGNITION DINNER

SILVER BEAVER



HOW TO BE A BETTER MENTOR TO YOUTH – FOSTERING A MENTORING MINDSET

Positive youth development research shows that having at least one caring adult other than a family member to act as a mentor produces more positive youth outcomes.1  As a Scout leader, you play an important role in being a supportive mentor for youth to achieve Scouting outcomes and have a lifelong impact on the trajectory of youth in your unit. 

Effective mentor relationships have a common purpose with an eye toward the future.  And, like many relationships in life, being a youth leader/mentor will have its ups and downs, moments of joy and moments of challenge.  How you show up in these moments will have a large impact on the youth.  Practicing the skills and approaches you need as a mentor to navigate these ups and downs will help you stay focused on the end goal of supporting healthy youth development and leadership.

So, lets first start with the foundation for fostering a mentoring mindset2 – these are key elements that research has found will help you facilitate more meaningful mentoring relationships with youth:

  1. Be intentional (I see you) – Always prioritize youth’s needs and keep them top of mind.  We all come to relationships with our own unique biases and ways of seeing things, but it is important as adult mentors to spend time reflecting on our own biases about what we want for the youth and to find out what the youth needs.  Being a mentor is not about fixing, saving, or having all the answers.  It is about listening, exploring, and seeking to understand how the young person sees the world and themselves so that you can provide guidance that is positive, non-judgmental, and respectful to youth and their families.  If you find that your beliefs and motivations toward a youth or their family are grounded in negativity, make the decision not to mentor that youth and have someone else in your leadership team who can provide positive guidance –follow the Scout Law and do this in a respectful manner to yourself and to the youth and their family.
  2. Be supportive (I got you) – Be committed to being there for the young person you are mentoring, even when it is challenging.  Check in with them, be consistent, follow through on promises you make, and hold youth accountable for following through on promises they make.  Incorporate and model wellness, mindfulness, and coping skills to demonstrate the importance of taking care of yourself and others.
  3. Take a Developmental Approach (I’m here to help you grow) – the core purpose of the Scouting program and your role in the program is the healthy and positive development of this young person.  To foster their development:
    1. Consider a goal orientation – talk with them about their Scouting and life goals and how they are doing in achieving those goals.  What obstacles are in their way? How can they overcome these obstacles? What help do they need? What is next in their journey?
    2. Enlist other support members in their life – talk with their parents or guardians and find out what they see as their youths’ individual needs.  Talk with parents about what you see and how you can work together with the Scouting program to help youth realize their goals. 
    3. Be willing to grown and learn – be open to new ideas and experiences.  When you are having challenges in your mentoring role – seek out resources, tools and support that can help you as well as the youth.  Recognize the young person as sources of knowledge, skills and information that can benefit your growth, so the relationship is bidirectional and lets the youth know they are valued.
  4. Be Communal (We are in this together) – care about all young people’s circumstances.  Mentoring relationships are oriented toward thinking about and acting on what is best for a youth.  However, to be most impactful it involves not only caring about the individual youth, but also contributing to the policies, practices, and environments that allow young people to thrive. Thinking about and intentionally building a supportive community within your unit, district, and council can help all young people have the meaningful relationships and experiences they need to thrive in Scouting and on their journey to adulthood.

For ideas on specific actions you can take to facilitate positive youth development as a youth program leader go to https://www.search-institute.org/developmental-relationships/ideas-building-developmental-relationships/

References

  1. Lerner R. M. (2009). “The positive youth development perspective: theoretical and empirical bases of a strengths-based approach to adolescent development,” in The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, eds Lopez S. J., Snyder C. R. (Oxford: Oxford University Press;), 149–163.
  2. Herrera, C.A. & Garringer, M (2022), Becoming a Better Mentor, Strategies to be there for young people. https://www.mentoring.org/resource/becoming-a-better-mentor/

FREE HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

?Please register for this FREE Event so we know how many cookies and how much cocoa to have http://www.ciecbsa.org/event/holiday-festival/2953554



Winter Camp Registration


3 Winter Camp Events To Choose From

An outdoor winter program specifically for Scouts BSA Troops and Venturing Crews 

A Cub Scout winter program  A winter experience for the whole family 

Summer Camp 2023 Registration Open


Scouts BSA Week Long Summer Camp
      
Scouts $465 Adults & Leaders $250 One FREE Adult for every 10 Scouts Registered
Scouts BSA 1/2 Week Mini Summer Camp
Scouts $280 Adults & Leaders $150 One FREE Adult for every 10 Scouts Registered
Scouts BSA Summer Camp Youth Training Programs
Particpaants $420
Registration Coming Soon
INTERESTED BEING ON CAMP STAFF?     CLICK HERE

Ontario Reign Scout Night


Camping

Winter Camp

Summer Camp

National Jamboree

Guide where to go camping

2023 Camp Program Guide

Training

Fox Fire

Wood Badge

                       NYLT
Events

Popcorn Sales

 

Resources

Link to Cahuilla Lodge

AB506 Resource Page

Delivering the Promise

Eagle Scout Resources

SAFETY MOMENTS - BUNK BEDS

SUMMARY

On average, 36,000 injuries related to bunk beds occur in the United States each year, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The head and neck are most prone to injuries due to falls from bunk beds. Our Scouting family is not immune to this risk.

GENERAL INFORMATION

What can be done to reduce the risk?

Use guard rails on both sides of the top bunk. Gaps should be 3.5 inches or smaller to prevent strangulation. Guard rails should extend at least 5 inches above the top of the mattress on the top bunk. The photo above shows how one council recently retrofitted the bunk beds at their camp.

Verify that the foundation of the mattress is strong and that the mattress is the correct size. Are there any weight limitations?

Teach children how to safely climb the ladder.

Children under age 6—or anyone with a history of sleepwalking or a fear of heights—should sleep on the lowest bed.

Roughhousing, bouncing, or playing on the top bunk or ladder is inappropriate.

It is preferable to place the bunk beds in the corner of the room away from ceiling fans.

Install a night light near the ladder.

Ladders need to be securely fastened to the bunk beds.

Objects such as belts, scarves, neckerchiefs, or ropes that could cause a hanging need to be stored away from the bed.

Take the bunk out of service if the ladder or beds are broken, damaged, or missing.

Many sports and outdoor retailers sell bunk-bed cots, with and without side organizers. However, these cots usually do not have safety rails and even though they aren’t as tall as home or dormitory bunk beds, injuries from falls can still happen.

Here are some safety tips for bunk-bed cots.

If possible, install rigid safety rails on the long sides of the top bunk, at least 5 inches above the support rail. Note: This is required if the bottom of the top bunk is more than 30 inches from the floor.

Review the manufacturer’s guidelines for weight limits on the top and bottom bunks.

Teach all Scouts and adults how to safely get into and out of the top bunk. It is best to do this at the head or foot of the bunk. Never enter or exit the top bunk from the sides.

Do not use the cot if the bunks are damaged.

Do not enter or exit the bunk-bed cot at night without adequate lighting.

Bunk beds and bunk-bed cots are especially useful in sleeping quarters where the amount of space is limited. However, make sure to follow the above safety practices to help prevent injuries.

Scout Shop

Daily and Weekly Holiday Discounts

Great gift ideas for the Scout or Scouter in your life

CIEC Scout Shop 2351 West Lugonia Ave Suite G 

Redlands CA, 92374 909-793-2463

Store Hours

Tuesday - Wednesday - Friday 10:00am to 5:30pm

Thursday 10:00am to 7:00pm

Saturdays 10:00am to 4:00pm

Closed Sunday and Monday

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The purpose of Monday Memo is to communicate information about the week ahead, to acknowledge the good things happening around the Council. If you have something you want publicized in the Monday Memo, please send it to c/o Monday Memo: Brian Paquette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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