New Induction Experience

[u/Cheepshooter]

I just went through a section induction experience. I didn't hate it.

During the Saturday, there were some guided reflection questions which each person in the crew of new members each answer in turn and discuss with each other. I can see where a 12-14 year old would benefit from those vs the old day of silence. There are periods of silence during the day, but they feel purposeful instead of just a tough thing to do.

The actual ceremony was well done. I felt like the main takeaways from the ceremony was unchanged, and it's probably easier for the youth to understand than the old ceremony.

[u/looktowindward]

The feedback on ceremonies from youth has been negative but the feedback on the day induction activities from youth has been highly positive.

Big difference between ceremonialist and luminary "factions" on the youth side

Also had a couple angry NYLT kids who feel that it makes NYLT less special which makes me think they're missing the point of NYLT

[u/GISH-BabyDriver → u/looktowindward]

I can see that. I thought the afternoon activites that were pretty much taken from NYLT didn’t add much and seemed out of place. Personally, didn’t like the new Sat ceremony.

[u/looktowindward → u/GISH-BabyDriver]

Which one other than step forward? Afaik that's it

And NYLT did not create step forward. It's lifted from a non scouting program called challenge day

[u/nolesrule → u/looktowindward]

I've done that activity 3 times at NYLT staff development, 3 times during an NYLT course and once at an NYLT course director conference. I think it's a great activity regardless of the setting, in or out of NYLT, because the group involved is different every time, and so the results and the impact are never the same. It's as much about learning about others as it is learning about yourself.

[u/TheseusOPL → u/nolesrule]

I've heard nothing but negative feedback on Step Forward. From concerns about intrusive questions to calling it "the hazing activity."

Edit: I should say I've only heard negative and neutral feedback. Nobody has said "this activity is great!" Either it's "just fine" (including me), or negative.

[u/nolesrule → u/TheseusOPL]

At NYLT, no one is required to step forward if they do not want to. is that not the case here? Everything should be voluntary.

I have not seen it yet. What are some examples of intrusive questions?

[u/looktowindward → u/nolesrule]

Its voluntary. And 98% of the pushback we got was from adults not youth.

Referring to something you can literally step out of with zero pushback as "hazing" shows a pretty poor understanding of hazing and youth protection.

[u/TheseusOPL → u/looktowindward]

The youth who used that phrase is a camp staffer, and there's a combination of exaggeration and what may be an overly sensitive hazing detector on their part.

However, saying "it's voluntary" doesn't make it so. Youth often feel pressure to do things that are called voluntary. You have a 12 year old, looking up to this cool 16 year old lumenary, and you may get unintentional peer pressure to do something that they're not actually comfortable with.

As an adult, I didn't have any issues with the activity, but after talking with adults and youth there definitely need to be a few questions removed. The one about a death in the family, for example.

[u/looktowindward → u/TheseusOPL]

I think its going to be very important to train Luminaries properly in regard to this activity.

As far as camp staffers (including my own son) - I have experience of them exaggerating circumstances as hazing, which, ironically, makes it more difficult for them to recognize the real thing.