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Understanding Understanding PathfindersPathfinders

Basic Pathfinder Staff Basic Pathfinder Staff Training CourseTraining Course

February 7th, 2010

Presenter: Tyronne Waldron

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ObjectiveTo develop an understanding of

the developmental needs of Pathfinder-age young people

and how to relate to them effectively.

QuestionsQuestions

• What is the age of Golden memory?

• At what age are we most awkward? Why?

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Generally Pre-Adolescence (9-12)

a. Full of noise and ceaseless activity

b. Slow growth and boundless health

c. Tendency for independence and self-assertion

d. Quick to learn and have amazing power of recall

e. Great admiration of skilled people

f. Love hero stories

g. Lively interest in religion

h. Naturally want to commit to Christ

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Mentally:

• Golden age of memory

• Alert and very eager to investigate

• Love stories and good books

• Collect any and every thing

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Physically:

• Healthiest period of life

• Well-balanced body and mind

• Restless

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Socially:

• Likes secret codes and adventure

• Learning teamwork

• Loves to explore

• Hero worship

• Little interest in opposite sex

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Spiritually:

• Keen interest in spiritual things

• Peak age of baptism (12)

• Like witnessing and delights in awards

• Loves truth and honesty

• Credulity makes religious instruction easier

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Generally Early Adolescence (13-15)

a. Rapid growth and awkwardness

b. Embarrassment and fear of physical life

c. Belonging to peer group is paramount

d. Interest in the opposite sex and bashfulness

e. Mental development accelerates/more critical

f. Day-dreaming about future life

g. religious interest continues; prefers experience rather than the facts

h. Selfless and want to make a difference

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Mentally:

• Alert but with day-dreaming periods

• Learns quickly

• Boys – scientific data; girls - homemaking

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Physically:

• Health is excellent

• Rapid growth and appetite

• Massive muscular development

• Sex organs develop/rapid changes

• Growth rate changes

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Socially:

• Seek group approval

• Seek more individual freedom

• Wanting to make money

• Frequent changes in mood

• Likes can appear extreme

• Huge interest in opposite sex

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Spiritually:

• Waning interest in spiritual things/group dictates

• Good age of baptism (13)

• Life’s work is determined

• Less demonstration of spiritual feelings

• Conflict with conscience

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Generally Middle Adolescence (16-17)

a. Accelerated growth in males

b. Reach full height

c. Develops in individuality and now becomes persons in their own right

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Mentally:

• Questions everything and desires proof

• Respects scholars

• Ideals are shaped and there is a desire to attain them

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Physically:

• Sexually, they are a force to reckon with

• 85% height and weight

• Muscles developed

• Likes physical fitness

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Socially:

• Likes cliques and special friends

• Critical and brutally frank

• Very sensitive and guided by public opinion

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Spiritually:

• Spiritual (and social) values become paramount or they loose

interest

• What has not been done in laying a foundation to base his or

her thinking on, now becomes difficult to do.

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Characteristics of Characteristics of AdolescenceAdolescence

RestlessnessRestlessness

CuriosityCuriosity

Vivid Vivid ImaginationImagination

Dramatic Dramatic InstinctInstinct

Group lifeGroup life UniformityUniformity ConscienceConscience MasteryMastery New New

ExperienceExperience SecuritySecurity

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What are the implications for Club Leadership and

Management?

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Basic Principles Basic Principles of Effective of Effective

Club DisciplineClub DisciplineMorale, or Club spirit, is the tangible

element that determines the success of any Pathfinder Club. All Pathfinders and staff members will

need to work together in developing a sense of unity and belonging, and

maintaining interest and enthusiasm.

Basic Principles of Basic Principles of Effective Effective

Club DisciplineClub DisciplineMorale, or Club spirit, is the tangible element that determines the success of any Pathfinder Club. All Pathfinders and staff members will need to work together in developing a sense of unity and belonging, and maintaining interest and enthusiasm.

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Check ListCheck List Spiritual ObjectivesSpiritual Objectives

AttendanceAttendance

Home ContactHome Contact

Round-table DiscussionsRound-table Discussions

Unit Captains’ CouncilUnit Captains’ Council

Making Members WelcomeMaking Members Welcome

Putting Friends TogetherPutting Friends Together

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Check ListCheck List

Reviewing the Counsellors’ WorkReviewing the Counsellors’ Work

Planning a Balanced ProgrammePlanning a Balanced Programme

Developing Unit CohesivenessDeveloping Unit Cohesiveness

Pathfinder Meeting PlacePathfinder Meeting Place

EquipmentEquipment

Camping EquipmentCamping Equipment

Teaching MaterialsTeaching Materials

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Pathfinder Club Pathfinder Club DisciplineDiscipline

•The goal of disciplining children The goal of disciplining children must be to guide them as sons and must be to guide them as sons and daughters of God; to show them daughters of God; to show them love and understanding; to teach love and understanding; to teach them God’s character as revealed in them God’s character as revealed in order and discipline; to make them order and discipline; to make them useful members of the church and useful members of the church and community; to help them respect community; to help them respect their leaders and parentstheir leaders and parents

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• Pathfinders mustPathfinders must

a.a. Feel that they are being born Feel that they are being born into a new experienceinto a new experience

b.b. Learn that they are being Learn that they are being loved by the kind of correction loved by the kind of correction and discipline they receiveand discipline they receive

c.c. Learn to discipline their Learn to discipline their desiresdesires

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• Good DisciplineGood Discipline

a.a. Provides an environment that supports Provides an environment that supports cheerful attitudes and cooperative cheerful attitudes and cooperative behaviourbehaviour

b.b. Emphasises guidance rather than restraint; Emphasises guidance rather than restraint; constructive rather than destructiveconstructive rather than destructive

c.c. Enables not cripplesEnables not cripples

d.d. Encourages self-control and purposeful Encourages self-control and purposeful activityactivity

e.e. Is present not seenIs present not seen

f.f. Teaches a child to do the right thing at the Teaches a child to do the right thing at the right time in the right way and for the right right time in the right way and for the right reasonreason

g.g. Prevents troublePrevents trouble

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How to Keep How to Keep DisciplineDiscipline

•A well-planned programme will A well-planned programme will avoid problems and mistakes. avoid problems and mistakes. Order and system inspire Order and system inspire confidence. confidence.

•Children learn by example. Children learn by example.

•Club meeting starts on time – staff Club meeting starts on time – staff are there before the start of the are there before the start of the programme and the programme programme and the programme runs smoothly to its conclusion.runs smoothly to its conclusion.

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Guidance for Balanced DisciplineGuidance for Balanced Discipline

Establish rules and regulations Establish rules and regulations and a point systemand a point system

Rules should be few, well-Rules should be few, well-considered and enforceable considered and enforceable

Present devotional admonition on Present devotional admonition on discipline, explaining the Pledge discipline, explaining the Pledge and Lawand Law

Counsel with guilty youth before Counsel with guilty youth before disciplinary action. Pray with themdisciplinary action. Pray with them

Parents need to understand the Parents need to understand the importance of Club disciplinary importance of Club disciplinary trainingtraining

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Proper Administration of Proper Administration of DisciplineDiscipline

• The CORRECT Way:The CORRECT Way:

a.a. Inspire right and order by love, Inspire right and order by love, kindness and consistent examplekindness and consistent example

b.b. Win confidenceWin confidence

c.c. Show love to youth by kindnessShow love to youth by kindness

d.d. Expect loyal cooperationExpect loyal cooperation

e.e. Develop trust, compliance, Develop trust, compliance, cooperation and lovecooperation and love

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Improper Administration of Improper Administration of DisciplineDiscipline

• The The WRONGWRONG Way: Way:

a.a. Crush or break the Crush or break the spiritspirit

b.b. Use of strict forceUse of strict force

Result: development of distrust, evasiveness and

hatred for authority

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Prevention of Discipline ProblemsPrevention of Discipline Problems

Plan an extensive program of activitiesPlan an extensive program of activities

Never go to meetings unpreparedNever go to meetings unprepared

Be friendly, caring and approachableBe friendly, caring and approachable

Cultivate a sense of humourCultivate a sense of humour

Avoid the use of ridicule and sarcasmAvoid the use of ridicule and sarcasm

Don’t be a fault finderDon’t be a fault finder

Be fair and impartialBe fair and impartial

Show self-controlShow self-control

Watch the use of your voiceWatch the use of your voice

Maintain eye contactMaintain eye contact

Give clear, precise instructions and commandsGive clear, precise instructions and commands

Eliminate mannerisms that could lead to ridiculeEliminate mannerisms that could lead to ridicule

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Punishable Punishable OffencesOffences

Clear and unjustifiable insubordinationClear and unjustifiable insubordination

IndecencyIndecency

Impudence to counsellorImpudence to counsellor

Offensive languageOffensive language

Injuring othersInjuring others

Damaging propertyDamaging property

Cheating and stealingCheating and stealing

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Methods of Methods of DisciplineDiscipline

•DoDo

Give personal Give personal counselcounsel

Use group Use group judgementjudgement

Take care of Take care of individual individual differencedifference

Expel if Expel if necessarynecessary

Don’tDon’t Punish is angerPunish is anger Use threatsUse threats Force apologies in publicForce apologies in public Detain after club Detain after club

meetingmeeting Assign extra tasksAssign extra tasks Apply “Dunce Cap” Apply “Dunce Cap”

disciplinediscipline Use corporal punishmentUse corporal punishment

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Discipline Discipline ProceduresProcedures

Speak tactfullySpeak tactfully

Explain what is expectedExplain what is expected

Have a private visit and prayHave a private visit and pray

Privately counsel together with Privately counsel together with PathfinderPathfinder

Earnestly solicit cooperationEarnestly solicit cooperation

Pray with PathfinderPray with Pathfinder

Discipline ProceduresDiscipline Procedures Counsel with PathfinderCounsel with Pathfinder

Convey the seriousness of the matterConvey the seriousness of the matter

Pray togetherPray together

Make appointment to meet parents/carerMake appointment to meet parents/carer

Private visit and Pray with PathfinderPrivate visit and Pray with Pathfinder

Refer to Disciplinary CommitteeRefer to Disciplinary Committee

Notify Parents of meetingNotify Parents of meeting

Visit Pathfinder during ‘vacation time’Visit Pathfinder during ‘vacation time’

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We’re almost done just 45 minutes to go!