A new CD-ROM, Supplemental Programs for Explorer Posts and Senior High School Groups (No. 99-292), is available from your local Learning for Life office. This CD-ROM will also be included in the Explorer Post New-Advisor Kit (No. 99-209) starting with the reprint in spring 2000.
Program enhancements were approved recently to expand the opportunities of the Congressional Award to more young people across the country (see details below).
Although the requirements are the same for bronze, silver, and gold medals, the board of directors of the Congressional Award Foundation has approved a certificate level track. This less-intimidating level is intended to serve as an introductory track and enable youth to gain recognition for their good work after as few as 60 hours of devotion to the program. Upon completion of the three levels of the certificate program, young people can move on to the medal level.
Although the requirements for earning Congressional Award medals have not changed, hours are now cumulative and can be carried over from one level to the next. Effectively, from the day the participant devotes his or her first hour to the program, he or she is en route to earning the gold Congressional Award. The program enhancements enable more of our nation's youth to become involved in this award, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of one of the nation's most prestigious youth awards.
One of the best ways for adult leaders in Exploring to get increased commitment from youth participants is to organize an effective core of post officers. The goal of post officers is to develop and implement the post program. A benefit for the youth is they have opportunities for continued growth as leaders.
An Explorer post can have five youth positions. They are listed below, each with a summary of its responsibilities:
The youth officers are elected by the youth participants (or in the case of a new post may be appointed by the adult committee until elections can be held). Once officers are in place it is important to get them busy very quickly. Here are the steps to follow immediately after the election:
At the briefing, give each officer:
During the briefing:
Schedule the post officers' seminar as outlined in the Explorer Leader Handbook.
Once you have conducted the post officers' briefing and seminar, program development is the next item of business. A key for youth participation is youth involvement. A program organized, developed and implemented by adults will have little excitement for teenagers. Organizing activities under the leadership of youth chairs and adult consultants is an excellent method for having a well-rounded program. The goal here is to have activities that will serve to offer a program that has all five of the areas of emphasis as found in the Program Development Guide. Here is how your officers can develop the post program:
Officers schedule and conduct the Explorer Activity Interest Survey.
The post president conducts a planning session to schedule activities for the Explorers. This can either be during a post meeting or an officers' meeting. The president can involve the other officers and Explorers by:
Once activities are scheduled, the vice-president for program can lead the post in planning an activity by using the Exploring Activity Planner found in the New Advisor Kit or the Explorer Leader Handbook.
Planning will need to include:
Remember: once an activity is decided upon, the youth chairperson for each activity should use the Activity Planner.
After each activity, the Explorers should evaluate the activity to help improve their plans for future activities.
Supporting post officers and activities to get stronger youth commitment to your post program is the key responsibility of the adult Advisors and adult committee members of any post. By being officers and activity chairs, Explorers will be able to develop their leadership skills under your watchful eye!
Need a new and different program for your post? Want to get to items that matter to your Explorers' immediate future? Then organize an Information Night! To plan a program relevant to your Explorers and other community youth, answer these questions:
Information Night is focused on life outside of and beyond high school. It can take many different forms, or include more than one of these formats:
An Information Night could be on one specific topic or present a variety of topics such as those suggested below. Your post could schedule two or more Information Nights to explore a topic more thoroughly.
Remember to involve the youth officers and Explorers as much as possible in the organization and development of Information Night. It can be a great source for community service if your post opens it to other posts, youth agencies, or schools.
Some specific Information Night topics are below. Your Explorers may suggest others.
For the colleges of interest to the Explorers, cover
A useful program could include:
The same information listed under College Programs above could be provided on:
Invite local employers to discuss particulars about full- and part-time employment:
Invite recruiters from each branch of the military to review
Begin a prospect inventory on 3(x5( cards, listing people who are potential adult mentors. Gather as much information as possible on their
Determine who is the right person to recruit each prospect and add that to the cards.
Don't rule out anyone. It is possible that prospects will find Learning for Life more interesting and important than their other interests. You will probably need three to five prospects for each person you successfully recruit.
Sources
Most adult volunteers do not list recognition as a reason for volunteering in Exploring, but all of us seek recognition in one form or another. Whether it be a plaque, certificate, or pin; or less tangible recognition through belonging, group acceptance, or teaching others, it is important to provide continual recognition for all volunteers. Their growth, tenure, and service depend upon a sense of personal achievement and worth. Recognition must be sincere, timely, and earned. It cannot be used to gain favors or impress others.
Good vehicles for recognition include:
Encourage parents to get involved in Exploring activities wherever possible. They could:
Posts that wish to host events involving other posts must follow these guidelines.
Learning for Life promotes the conditions necessary for the growth and development of adolescents, and its programs involve active learning and include lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities. These are the key components of the Learning for Life Career Achievement Award program, which allows young people to acquire and be recognized for career proficiency achievement and community service.
The purpose of the Learning for Life Career Achievement Award program is to
Explorers or Learning for Life participants can earn a career achievement award in one or all of the 12 career clusters. The candidate must provide 50 hours of community service and complete any nine career achievements within the career cluster for which the award is earned. These achievements are verified and certified by the Explorer post Advisor or adult high school Learning for Life group leader.
The Learning for Life Career Achievement Award Certificate, No. 32194, has space for the signatures of both the adult leader and organization head. Certificates are available through the local Learning for Life office as well as through the Supply Division (toll-free phone, 800-323-0732). Adult leaders may purchase a quantity of the certificates and present them as merited.
Because of the flexible nature of the program, Advisors and adult leaders are permitted a reasonable degree of latitude in substituting appropriate achievements that serve to meet the requirements for the Learning for Life Career Achievement Award.
Forms to apply are available to download from the Career Achievement Awards section of the Exploring Web site.
This brief review of the key components of the Memorandum of Understanding for Explorer Posts, No. 28-566, can help your post keep on track:
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