Scouting & The High School Process
Note: We wrote this short note with the idea that Troops may want to use some form of this in their recruiting efforts in the Fall, especially to attract middle-school aged who are looking ahead to the High School application process
In San Francisco, as in many other large cities, our children must apply to the high schools they are most interested in – navigating an admissions process designed to ensure that those who are admitted to a school will succeed and thrive there. Life skills taught and earned through Scouting are highly aligned with the demands of this process. Scouting is open to ALL, and these advantages are available to any interested youth!
High school applicants are often asked to provide examples of how they have demonstrated service to their community, including volunteering at local organizations. Scouting provides exactly these opportunities, whether it's volunteering at the local food bank or improving public hiking trails, scouts will be able to talk about how they helped their community and worked as a team with other volunteers. Younger scouts help their Troopmates with the penultimate project in a scout’s career – the Eagle Scout Project (Scouts BSA) or the Quartermaster Project (Sea Scouts). These are projects that the older scouts select, plan, coordinate and execute – and must directly benefit their community.
Scouts are provided with leadership opportunities throughout their time in Scouts. High schools often ask applicants about leadership roles and leadership qualities that students have demonstrated – and the lessons they learned as they became leaders. Scouts are able to write or speak first hand about organizing and leading groups. This could include planning and leading a Star project or taking on ongoing responsibilities as a Patrol Leader – leading a small group of ~8 boys or girls in their Troop. Some Bay Area high schools include group projects as part of the interview and application process; scouts get plenty of experience working in small (patrol) and large (troop) groups during their time in Scouts.
One of the most stress-inducing parts of the high school admission process are the interviews with adults – scouts are exceptionally well prepared for this challenge as well. As scouts matriculate through the 7 ranks in Scouts BSA (and to the ultimate rank: Eagle Scout or Quartermaster), they participate in Boards of Review, wherein the scout speaks with adults, discussing their accomplishments, challenges and new skills learned as a scout. For these scouts, the high school admission interview is just another chat!
Finally, Scouting develops a child’s confidence, curiosity and strong values. These attributes will serve children well as they enter the high school years and navigate increasing independence, time management challenges and new environments.
