FAQ's
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I. CURRICULUM INTRODUCTION Back to top a. Mission That this curriculum be used monthly for students to meet and have an opportunity to be mentored and motivated to become great sportsmen, conservationists and leaders in their homes, communities and the outdoors. b. Goal and Gain That this curriculum be used to create an exciting venue for students to become more involved in the world of hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. As the number of students grows each year, additional groups, clubs, huddles etc. will use this curriculum across the United States and Canada. Revenue from the curriculum will provide enhancement of the programs, products and staff. Student Outdoor Experience has a desire for each student to find the leader within them and to achieve their highest level of potential making them a successful leader in life. II. WHY USE OUR CURRICULIUM? Back to top a. Why Use This Curriculum? Our curriculum provides a chance for young people to belong – to be part of a group their own age, to learn new things and do fun things together. Through this environment young people have opportunities to:
Using our curriculum allows you to be a strategic partner carrying on the mission of Student Outdoor Experience (SOE). SOE educates the Next Generation and gives them the life skills they need to be great role models and leaders. We use our passion and the backdrop of fishing, hunting and the outdoors to teach students lessons related to character, integrity and vision. This is done with a focus to preserve our heritage.
At SOE, we never feel like we "go to work" because our work is our love and passion. That passion is to see students become ALL they were created to be. We want them to become great leaders of homes, families, communities and the outdoors.
b. Getting Started
You are on your way to becoming a part of one of the most valuable partners with Student Outdoor Experience. Using this curriculum confirms you as a very special person willing to dedicate time and expertise for the sake of our next generation.
c. Group Success
Leaders
Qualified leaders are the driving force behind all successful student environments. Leaders must be the type of individual who always demands safety and proper techniques for archery and firearms. A leader is a mentor who inspires, encourages, leads by example, and earns the respect and admiration of its members. We recommend that each leader be required to pass the DNR Hunter Safety certification that is offered in the state where your group is participating. We also recommend that the leader(s) become NRA Range certified along with taking the NASP Basic Archery Training.
Members
The key to any successful group is having members. Members are the backbone of an organization that will ensure its success.
Community Awareness Your group can play an important role within the community, but only if the community knows about it. Take every opportunity to promote the club and its members. Write articles for the local newspapers, invite community leaders, fish and game representatives, law enforcement officers and those who will have a significant impact on the students you are leading, to attend and speak at your group.
Leaders and Personnel
These people can be your greatest allies! Publicize the accomplishments and achievements of your participants. Ask for support and recognition from local businesses. Providing a wholesome activity for your group is a valuable asset to any community.
III. LAUNCHING A STANDALONE GROUP Back to top
a. Naming the Group
If you are launching a new group you will want to follow some simple guidelines to aide you in your success. Your groups name should bond the group to the community. Using the name of the town or city may be appropriate. A name can also be chosen that identifies your group’s special interests or activities. Keep the name short and easy to remember such as Riverbend Outdoor Club or The Blackbeard’s, etc.
b. Electing Officers
Electing officers such as a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer is recommended. Electing additional officers such as a public relations director, event coordinator, etc. is optional. We also recommend that you check with your parent organization to determine direction regarding these steps.
c. Recommended Responsibilities of Volunteers
- Conduct themselves in a courteous, respectful manner and exhibit good leadership and sportsmanship. - Refrain from the use of physical or verbal abuse. - Refrain from inappropriate or unwanted touching of youth or adults. - Refrain from destructive, offensive or sexually inappropriate behavior. - Refrain from the possession or use of alcoholic beverages during group meetings. - Avoid smoking and using tobacco products at group events when youth are present. - Respect the property of others, including clothing, personal items, equipment and facilities. - Operate machinery, vehicles and other equipment in a responsible manner. - Accept responsibility to promote and support Student Outdoor Experience and its mission to invest in the lives of students.
IV. BASIC FACTS ABOUT THE CURRICULUM Back to top
a. Essential Curriculum Elements
Helping ensure a quality life and skill building experience for youth, Team SOE has the following recommendations that should be part of every experience. Every group that uses our curriculum should:
- Clearly state at least one group goal decided through group programming (community project, habitat development, etc.) - Provide all members the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their learning. - Meet at least eight times within a calendar year. - Support service-learning projects throughout the year that connect group members with the community. - Ensure that all adult volunteers are screened and pass a background check offered by your organization. - Maintain an adult-to-youth ratio of one to seven. - Encourage and support family and parent involvement.
b. Certificates and Diplomas Once students have completed all 7 volumes and attended and passed their Hunter Safety Course offered by their States DNR they will be eligible to receive their Diploma from Student Outdoor Experience. Samples are available in the back of this manual.
The way group meetings are structured depends largely on the size of the group and the age of the members. Remember to keep the meeting interesting and to change the pace of the meeting every 15 minutes or so. The average attention span for youth ranges from 10 to 20 minutes. The curriculum works best when it is divided into four parts:
2. Educational Programming:
Review the lesson from “The Guide” (students should have completed prior to meeting time), but may involve special presentations or activities conducted by resource people, parents or older group members.
3. Monthly Themes and Curriculum:
Each month, your group will have a specific focus and theme. Each student will have The Guide Student Edition. This resource guides them in what we call the One-One-One approach. In each session, students will learn one leadership trait, dive into one practical hunting, fishing or outdoor activity and discover one thematic and safe way to apply these traits to their life.
Keeping sessions simple ensures that students walk away with something practical each month teaching them the importance of our heritage and sport and the role they have in its preservation. Topics and themes include: - February: Upland Game Birds & HONOR - March: Turkey Hunting & DEDICATION - April: Conservation & DEPENDABILITY - May: Fishing & COURAGE - June: Wildlife Preservation & PATIENCE - July: Trap and Skeet & ENCOURAGEMENT - August: Small Game & INTEGRITY - September: Firearms & CONFIDENCE - October: Archery & VISION - November: Deer Hunting & TRUST
- December: Safety and Gear & SERVING
4. Recreation/Refreshment/Social Activities:
Your imagination is the limit! Group gatherings can look however you would like. They can change in format. As a group, think about why members are involved and stay involved. What are they looking for? Then plan your group gatherings to meet those needs. Focus on parts that meet the group’s needs for each meeting. Some meetings may focus entirely on hunting, fishing or community projects to help members accomplish their goals and learn new leadership and outdoor skills.
5. Sample Schedule:
Each group will meet on a monthly basis for approximately two hours. During each meeting, the time should be broken down as we have included in the following sample schedule:
- 15 min Focus Game/Activity/Band etc.
- 10 min Introduce the Lesson and Play DVD - 20 min Hands on How To Session - 15 min Hang Time/Food
d. How big should a group be?
We recommend that each group have at least 10 members. There is no maximum number. This will depend on the number of youth that are interested and the number of volunteers involved in the club and how they share the leadership. e. How are members and volunteers recruited?
Recruiting new members is easy. If exciting things are happening in the group, word will get out. Start with your own children and other youth you know and their friends. It is important to recruit other adults to help you with leadership.
Where your group meets will probably be determined by the size of your group and available local meeting places. Consider school buildings, churches, fairgrounds, town halls, community rooms, etc. Many community groups and other organizations are willing to allow their facilities to be used for group activities. Facilities used for group meetings and activities should be accessible so all group members and leaders can attend.
g. How often should we meet?
The decision on how often your group meets should be determined by the needs and composition of the group and its members. We recommend that you meet a minimum of eight times a year although, “The Guide” is written in a way to provide 12 meeting times per year.
Many groups meet monthly, but you might want to consider meeting more frequently than that, especially if you have a group of young members. Frequent meetings can benefit a group by helping to maintain a high level of enthusiasm and keeping the members more involved.
The safety and protection of the students in your group, club, huddle or class is critical. Typically, your host organization will provide accident insurance coverage for all members and leaders. This is purchased coverage. In addition, we also recommend that all participants be covered by liability insurance coverage. Student Outdoor Experience is in no way responsible for providing coverage for you or your students. Student Outdoor Experience is simply a curriculum and resource provider.
V. TIPS FOR CONDUCTING MEETINGS: Back to top
a. Meet with parents at the beginning of each year
This parent meeting may take place before, after or as part of the group’s planning meeting. While members should make the final decision about their projects and activities; it is important to know early in the year the ways in which parents can support the program.
For example, hold “parent nights” or “family days” during which members can “show-off” their accomplishments. Parents can socialize with one another and learn about their personal interests, hobbies and family activities.
In order for parents to feel like a part of the group and that they share responsibility for its success, they must be kept informed about the “when, where and whys” of the group’s activities. These are some ways you can stay connected with parents:
- Ask parents to assist at group meetings on a rotating basis. You may even want to meet in the members’ homes on a rotating basis. - Encourage members to ask their parents for help. - Send information sheets home with members prior to special activities such as archery shoots, safety training etc. - Make time to chat with parents whenever they bring their child to an activity.
c. Communication: An Important Two-Way Street
You will be receiving regularly scheduled communications like SOE e-blast, Video Blog, etc. Often they will contain registration instructions for future events. Occasionally, these forms may request information for SOE staff. This information will help SOE provide the best resources and services available.
d. Understanding Childhood Development
School Age Children (grades 4-8)
> Physical Development - Very active and enjoy things which involve movement and cannot sit still for long periods of time. - Beginning of adolescence is marked by a growth spurt which occurs across a wide range of ages, with females maturing before males. (Rapid physical changes are often a source of embarrassment for young teens.)
> Emotional Development - Have a weak sense of individual identity. (Need to feel accepted and worthwhile, successes should be emphasized and failures kept in perspective as learning opportunities.) - Begin to demonstrate post-conventional moral thinking.
- During puberty, changes in hormones and changes in thinking contribute to mood swings. regarded as important issues.)
- Feel the need to be part of something important.
> Intellectual Development - Until around age 10 or 11, think concretely in absolutes (black/white, right/ wrong), but are beginning to think logically (new ideas are best understood if related to previous experiences.) - Around age 10 or 11, begin to demonstrate formal, operational thinking and think abstractly, but still tend to think in all-or-nothing terms. - Will intensely explore subjects of interest. - Often reject solutions offered by adults in favor of finding their own solutions.
> Social Development - Joining clubs and groups becomes very important around age 9-10. (Will form clicks with a group of others similar to themselves.) - Have difficulty understanding others’ thinking, but understand the benefit of making others happy. - Satisfaction in completing projects comes more from pleasing adults in their lives, than from the value of the activity itself. - Ready to start being responsible for actions; - Move away from dependence on parents toward eventual independence; - Dependence on opinions of adults shifts to dependence on opinions of peers, enjoy doing activities away from home.
High School Age Youth
> Physical Development - Physical changes are accepted by most teens, and most awkwardness is past, although some boys are still growing quickly.
- Most females reach maximum height by age 14, most males by age 16, males gain muscle, females gain fat. Both sexes are still developing bone mass.
> Emotional Development - Searching for independence and identity, usually achieved around age16. - Seeking emotional autonomy from parents. - Younger teens have difficulty with compromise. - Unsettled emotions are common.
- Take pride in responsibility and respect of others.
> Intellectual Development - Continue to gain cognitive and study skills, can adapt language to different contexts. - Mastering abstract thinking. - Exploring and preparing for future careers and roles. - Set goals based on feelings of personal needs and priorities, likely to reject goals set by others.
> Social Development - Generally self-centered, but capable of empathy. - Relationship skills are well developed. - Dating increases and moves from group dates to double dates to couple only dating and intimacy. - Accepted by opposite sex is of high importance. - Want to belong to groups, but also be recognized as unique individuals within the groups.
- Employment and education fill the need for social relationships, which were earlier filled by activities.
a. Setting Boundaries (Belonging)
Working with youth, especially other people’s children, can be a challenge. While some children are better behaved than others, they all need acceptance and the opportunity to learn.
In mixed groups, the challenge of a youth leader is to see that disruptive youth do not impede learning or fun for others. Their very presence in the group, combined with your wise guidance, will help them learn how to be respectful and positive members of a learning community.
b. Clear Expectations (Belonging)
Uncertainty and confusion add stress to individuals and groups and can lead to acting-out behavior. When norms of group behavior are simple and clear, then members generally respond well. Too many rules, constantly changing expectations, or unclear consequences often set the stage for negative behavior. Sample rules:
c. Levels of Consequence (Belonging)
Begin with the least restrictive response. Hopefully the problem will be solved before other levels of response are needed. At each level of consequence, seek to engage the youth in positive choices by reinforcing positive behavior.
The first level of confronting negative behavior can be a simple word of correction, spoken privately to the individual in need of correction. The private and respectful presentation of the correction will avoid embarrassing or belittling the individual in front of the group. One approach might be, "Here is the problem, what can we do about it?"
A second level consequence might be a "time-out" or separation from the group's activity. A time-out gives the individual an opportunity to feel the consequences of negative behavior and consider future actions. The approach might be, "Sit here for five minutes and then let me know how you intend to participate when you return to the group."
A third level of consequence can be isolation from the group, such as going to another (supervised) location for a significant time. The group will be able to continue and the individual will experience the severity of the problem behavior. This intervention should include a discussion with the parent of the child regarding the need to make different choices if the child wishes to continue in the program.
Returning to the next group session would require readiness to commit to the group's norms. Finally, the fourth level of response may be removing the member from the club permanently or at least until a new beginning is possible.
d. Motivate Members Through Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the single most effective tool for motivating youth. It is also very important in discipline, although providing positive reinforcement is not easy. Youth need constant reinforcement for their positive activities. It requires a positive outlook on your part and must be practiced. It comes in two forms: verbal and nonverbal. When giving positive reinforcement it is important to be specific and sincere. Don’t say, “John, you’ve done a good job.” Say specifically what the child did: “John, your carrot cake looks good and tastes great—good job!”
Being too general with positive comments may appear artificial or phony. Unfortunately, most people find it easier to be critical than positive. To overcome this, focus on the strengths and successes (even small ones) of your members. Help them to accept themselves so that they can accept others.
By following your lead, they will also learn to give positive feedback to others. Constantly give positive reinforcement. Here are some simple ways to do it:
- A smile. - A nod. - An enthusiastic and encouraging comment. - Saying “thank you”. - Asking a member to demonstrate skills to the rest of the group.
There are literally thousands of ways to show positive reinforcement. As you see the results of your words and actions, the importance of positive reinforcement will be quite clear and you will find your own ways to provide it both verbally and nonverbally.
a. SOE Live Tour
Your students will not want to miss our events! Student Outdoor Experience hosts the "SOE Live Tour" in local venues including Bass Pro Shops. The Tour is a power-packed event that is designed to teach students leadership and life skills utilizing the outdoors and our hunting heritage as a backdrop. We use hunting, fishing, camping and all the outdoors as a tool for teaching at our high energy leadership conferences, expos and retreat weekends.
The students are introduced to well known Celebrity Pro Staff, Professional Athletes and Leadership Experts that teach them the necessity and privilege of the outdoors based on tested leadership principles. Every student walks away with a bag filled with outdoor items and prizes and will be entered to win an iPod and new bow to be given away at each event. Hope to see you there!
b. SOE Ultimate Experience
The Ultimate Experience is specifically designed to allow students to experience an exhilarating week in the great state of Georgia packed with incredible training by world-renowned outdoor and leadership experts. SOE has partnered with Brandon Wikman from Bass Pro’s Next Generation to bring your students the best leadership training with an outdoor and hunting emphasis.
This is the nation’s premier leadership training with state-of-the-art facilities and resources that offer a powerful leadership week that will impact them for life. This is a week where students will get hands-on training in archery, hunting, fishing and the shooting sports.
Students go behind the scenes in an exclusive tour of the Georgia Aquarium. They will enjoy an afternoon of thrills and excitement at the legendary Six Flags over Georgia theme park along with a special visit to Atlanta’s Bass Pro Shop. The courses in life and time management challenge students to dream big and guide them to transform their dreams into a working reality. World-class speakers from SOE Pro-Staff and various individuals from the outdoor industry teach these lessons. This summer event is an opportunity we want every student to have and to “live the experience” they will never forget! |