Re: Over the Parrot

On Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:09:37 -0700, GAGS <gags.nw@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


The days when a leader was a 'jack of all trades' and largely because
they were a leader they could be found doing/leading a whole range of
scouting activities, including what we now call adventurous
activities, are (sadly) long gone.

Nowadays a leader can only be a jack of all trades in general
activites and a master in some activites, especially adventurous
activities, because that what's now required. People just don't have
the time, effort or commitment to do more than this.

That is exactly my experience.


A leader who gets involved in a very wide range of activities and
holds in addition three, four or more permits (for those activities
regulated by a permit scheme) is an exceptionally rare leader these
days.

Oooh! I'd say that there is scope for every Leader to be qualified in
one big Adventurous Activity, such as Hillwalking, Sailing, Kayaking
etc, Maybe two if we expect that a Climber might also quite easily
become a caver and vice versa ( although I know the two do not always
equate).

There is also scope for a Leader to pick up other skills without too
much trouble - such as Pioneering - it ain't that difficult. Archery,
Shooting and so on.

But as you say, we are a rare breed.

The trend nowadays is to have a team of leaders and/or assistants at
an appropriate organisational level (group, district, county, etc)
capable of leading/covering a wide range of activities.

ROTFLMHO - You mentioned that District thing again :-)

I'm not surprised you find it difficult to commit to hillwalking;
you're already busy doing many other activities 8 days a week as it
is!

Hmm, right now it does seem like that.

Ewan Scott
.

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