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Janel Holt

Janel Holt
Member since : Dec-31-2008 (Verified)
3 Ideas, 5 Comments, 118 Votes

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Ideas Posted

It's been suggested in a couple of the Venturing threads, but not as a seperate idea for individual consideration. Yes, you can order a black market knot to recognize this accomplishment, but I would like to see this added as an officially recognized knot.
9
Since so many boys are interested in video game design, I think we should offer a merit badge based on this career. This could include storyboarding, graphic design, animation, illustration, testing, and marketing. Many colleges offer this as a major, so finding merit badge counselors should not be a problem.
Moderator Comments
8/10/09

From: Bob Scott, Innovation Team Coordinator

Proposals for new merit badges should be initated via email to meritbadge@scouting.org. By return email the submitter will received additional information on how to complete the submission process.
Several organizations and companies, including groups as diverse as the Army and Burger King, have successfully developed console based games as a tool for marketing their products and experiences. This could range from moral and character based rpgs, such as Knights of the Old Republic and Fallout 3, to simple mini arcade games, such as Sneak King and Mario Cart.

A Boy Scout based RPG could be time period based, like survival based off information in the original handbook. There could also be a Boy Scout simulator game, like Rollercoaster Tycoon, where players could design and operate their own high adventure camps.

Cub Scout based mini arcade games could include driving a pinewood derby car. There could be a series of games covering all the types of derbies, like space, and rain gutter. Wouldn’t it be fun to try to steer your pinewood car with a Wii controller and see the track whizzing by as if you were in the car?

These games could be used in multiple ways, from distributing for free, to selling for a minimal cost in shops and/or at recruitments. This could even be a prize for Scouts who recruit a friend. Youth to youth recruitment is a great tool, and can’t you see a boy inviting his friends over to play his new game and the whole group getting excited about the program behind it?

Moderator Comments
5/3/09

From: Gary Butler, National Director, Council Solutions Group

Very good idea. We have pitched this concept to several gaming sponsors in the hopes of getting some takers. No luck yet but will keep trying. Great out of the box thinking though.

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Comments Posted

Janel Holt 6 months ago
I like Jeff's idea about a knot for those who earned the highest award in any of the WAGGGS or WOSM organizations around the world. That might be a great way to promote the bortherhood and sisterhood of Scouting and recognize more of our adults and Venturing youth for their Scouting acomplishments.
Janel Holt 7 months ago
Instead of diluting the status and name recognition that comes from the achievement of Eagle Scout by making it overly inclusive, more marketing should be put into building the same type of acknowledgment and respect for the Venturing Awards.

I am a Gold Award recipient, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. The Venturing community is struggling to create its identity and legacy, but it would seem best to keep this unique and separate.

Janel Holt 7 months ago
To not face a crisis of relevancy with boys and their parents, we need to find ways to meet the current needs of boys. I'm not saying that we should abandon the outdoor aspects of our program, but we shouldn't back ourselves into a corner by defining Scouting so narrowly. Why can't we be open minded enough to not make it an either/or choice?

As for the psychological aspects, some games are not suitable for youth, just as some movies, music, and books are not suitable. I don't think that anyone would argue that Scouting has no place offering opportunities for youth to develop interests in cinematography, singing, or reading and writing based off this suggestion. Technology is not the enemy, but uneducated and mishandled use of it can be.

I don't think we should offer things just to chase trends, but to be the largest organizations in the country for boys and not recognize video games as a part of their culture is short sighted and foolish. There is no doubt that boys get excited about fishing and camping, but there is equally no doubt that boys and men are the main consumers of video games. This is something our target audience is involved with, and we should pay attention.
Janel Holt 7 months ago
Perhaps there should be a seperate type of membership in OA for Venturers in general, or a different honor society for the Venturing program. It doesn't seem to be just a matter of female youth, but of a lack in the Venturing program for this type of experience and association.
Janel Holt 7 months ago
As a Senior Program Executive, I was hired under the type of situation you describe. To my knowledge, I am the only Program Executive my council has had who served a district first. The other Program Executives either moved into districts after serving in the Program Department for several years, or moved on to other opportunities outside of Scouting. The main duties of my job involve weekend events and activities during the school year, and a new summer program under development.

Our main challenge has been in receiving training. If you think back to PDL-I, II, and III, most of the material covered is related to membership or fundraising. I sent a new Program Executive to PDL-I last fall, and I'd say at least half of the things covered did not have anything to do with his council responsibilities. This was also the case for the Soccer in Scouting Executives in attendance. If specialization were to catch on nationally, the training function would need to be revamped to be applicable to District Executives, Program Executives, and Finance Executives.

Having the specializations works well for us, but we are a large council. Personally it makes me feel more secure to know that even though I am skilled in program, I can still fill in as a DE in pinch because of my training and experience. With layoffs in the offing in so many parts of the country, I want to be someone with multiple talents that can fill in where needed.