1
Understanding Understanding PathfindersPathfinders
Basic Pathfinder Staff Basic Pathfinder Staff Training CourseTraining Course
February 7th, 2010
Presenter: Tyronne Waldron
2
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?
4
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
5
Mentally:
• Golden age of memory
• Alert and very eager to investigate
• Love stories and good books
• Collect any and every thing
6
Physically:
• Healthiest period of life
• Well-balanced body and mind
• Restless
7
Socially:
• Likes secret codes and adventure
• Learning teamwork
• Loves to explore
• Hero worship
• Little interest in opposite sex
8
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
9
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
10
Mentally:
• Alert but with day-dreaming periods
• Learns quickly
• Boys – scientific data; girls - homemaking
11
Physically:
• Health is excellent
• Rapid growth and appetite
• Massive muscular development
• Sex organs develop/rapid changes
• Growth rate changes
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
Mentally:
• Questions everything and desires proof
• Respects scholars
• Ideals are shaped and there is a desire to attain them
16
Physically:
• Sexually, they are a force to reckon with
• 85% height and weight
• Muscles developed
• Likes physical fitness
17
Socially:
• Likes cliques and special friends
• Critical and brutally frank
• Very sensitive and guided by public opinion
18
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.
19
Characteristics of Characteristics of AdolescenceAdolescence
RestlessnessRestlessness
CuriosityCuriosity
Vivid Vivid ImaginationImagination
Dramatic Dramatic InstinctInstinct
Group lifeGroup life UniformityUniformity ConscienceConscience MasteryMastery New New
ExperienceExperience SecuritySecurity
20
What are the implications for Club Leadership and
Management?
21
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.
23
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
24
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
25
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
26
• 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
27
• 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
28
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.
29
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
30
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
31
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
32
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
33
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
34
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
35
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’
37
We’re almost done just 45 minutes to go!