Scouting, Volume 41, Number 1, January 1953 Page: 26
32 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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By N. HAROLD WEST
National Director, Explorer Service
SOMEONE HAS DEFINED AN ADOLESCENT as a boy
struggling with a man's problems. The process
of growing from boyhood to manhood presents
many problems, many uncertainties, many ques-
tions. Where can he look for help?
Certainly, in addition to his parents, teachers,
and religious leaders, his Explorer Advisor is one
who can and ought to give him guidance. The older
boy or young man needs sympathetic, tactful advice
in thinking through his problems and reaching wise
decisions. If his Advisor fails him here, Exploring
misses one of its greatest opportunities.
What does the Explorer really need? Not ready-
made answers. The problems are his problems, and
he must be primarily responsible for finding the
solutions. That is part of growing up. "Good advice"
somehow leaves him cold. His elders' experience
fails to register until it has been processed by his
own thinking and experience.
How can an Advisor help him do that — help him
to help himself? Occasionally on a man-to-man
basis an Explorer feels close enough to his Advisor
to come to him with a personal problem. But
chances are that this will not happen often. In fact
the fellows who need help most, usually are the
ones most reluctant to ask for it.
The Advisor can offer his help to the whole group
through the method of the old-fashioned "bull
session." Best results will come from an informal
setting, preferably around a campfire or by a fire-
place; so let's call it a fireside chat. Here are sev-
eral values from such an activity:
1. It gives Explorers an easy way to bring out
their problems for discussion.
2. Each benefits by learning what others think
and by having his own ideas challenged.
3. The Advisor has a grand opportunity to know
and understand his Explorers more intimately than
ever; to sharpen his skill in counseling with them;
to build up their confidence in him. Then he is more
able to offer the informal or casual type of advice
that an Advisor should give on personal problems.
He will be a better all-around Advisor because of
his experience in fireside chats.
Make It Personal
Essential to the success of the chat is a topic that
interests the Explorers. One connected with their
personal problems, such as the following, is sure
fire:
Problems relating to education, importance of
finishing high school, going to college, value of out-
side activities. Vocational opportunities and choices.
Social graces, dating, marriage. Moral issues in-
volved in smoking, drinking, cheating. Value of
athletic competition. Family problems over money,
use of car, late hours. Military training.
Since young men are allergic to "preaching" or
being "improved," the indirect approach may be the
most effective way to introduce the fireside chat as
a regular activity. The Advisor can watch for an
opportune time — when the setting or atmosphere
is right and the gang is in a receptive mood, a casual
question may set off a red hot discussion.
When it's over, he says something like this, "You
know, I've gotten a lot out of this. I'd like to do it
again. What would you fellows think of having one
of these fireside chats — say once a month?"
EXPLORER SECTION
26
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 41, Number 1, January 1953, periodical, January 1953; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth329212/m1/28/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.