Scouting in the Digital Age: Teaching Kids to Master Technology

Jan 17

An interview with Carl Wohlfeil, Scoutmaster, Troop 44, James Island, South Carolina

Why do you believe it's important for kids to have unplugged time?

Digital devices are time burglars that rob kids of their childhood. It takes away their opportunity to learn how to relate to people and how to relate to the physical world around them. Kids need to develop practical skills for social engagement and conflict resolution now, while they're kids. Trying to figure that out too late in life makes them much less effective as adults in every aspect (family, career, social life). Communicating face to face is a skill that must be mastered - especially with difficult conversations. During childhood, kids also learn how to relate to and safely navigate through our physical world. This helps them understand and appreciate their place in it - keeping them grounded in reality. The physical world is best learned through physical action and experience.

Can you share what you are doing at Scout Troop 44 to support kids wellbeing and creating balance with technology?

We teach Scouts that digital devices should be considered a tool. A tool should always be used appropriately and responsibly. A tool is valued for the service it performs, aiding us in our purpose and mission. The more powerful the tool, the more risk associated with it, and the more temptation for a boy to abuse/misuse it. Following the model of how we teach Scouts to safely use other tools (fire, knives, saws and axes) we apply the following process: First, model responsible use always. Teach Scouts about the purpose of the tool and how to use it responsibly and safely. Teach them about the inherent dangers of misuse. Establish policies and procedures to reinforce responsible use.

After training and establishing policies, allow Scouts the freedom to practice using the tool to ingrain the habits of responsible use of the tool. Then supervise to reward responsible use or to correct inappropriate use. Smart phones can have compasses, cameras, trail maps, cooking recipes and many other useful apps. Scouts are allowed to use their phone for Scouting purposes. When a Scout abuses his "phone as a tool" due to lack of self-discipline, we provide him opportunity to help himself break the bonds of addiction by putting his tool in the "Big Box of Power and Freedom." In 1920 the founder of Scouting wrote the excerpt below in Aids to Scoutmastership that I find instructive and still applicable today:

One of the powerful temptations is that of motion pictures. Motion pictures have undoubtedly an enormous attraction for boys, and some people are constantly cudgeling their brains how to stop it. But it is one of those things which would be very difficult to stop even if it were altogether desirable. The point, rather, is how to utilize films to the best advantage for our ends. On the principle of meeting any difficulty by siding with it and edging it in one's own direction, we should endeavor to see what there is of value in motion pictures and should then utilize them for the purpose of training the boy. No doubt it can be a powerful instrument for evil by suggestion, if not properly supervised; but steps have been taken, and continue to be taken, to ensure a proper censorship. But, as it can be a power for evil, so it can just as well be made a power for good. There are excellent films now on natural history and nature study, which give a child a far better idea of the processes of nature than its own observation can do, and certainly far better than any amount of lessons on the subject. We have to make our Scouting sufficiently attractive to attract the boy, no matter what other counter-attractions there may be. Juvenile smoking and its detriment to health; gambling and all the dishonesty that it brings in its train; the evils of drink; of loafing with girls; uncleanness, etc., can only be corrected by the Scoutmaster who knows the usual environment of his lads. It cannot be done by forbidding or punishment, but by substituting something at least equally attractive but good in its effects."

What are some of the benefits you've seen in the boys at your troop?

The greatest benefit to the Scouts is that they are discovering that they can be at peace with being unplugged and that they can experience much benefit from it. It forces them to acknowledge and face any unhealthy dependencies on screens and/or staying constantly connected.

Our youth only know a world where everyone is constantly tethered to a device and by default accept the constant notifications and distractions that come with it as the norm. Electronic devices are prevalent, pervasive and here to stay. From this modern perspective, Scouts have no impetus to self-regulate or to take the initiative to discover the benefits of going without. They have no desire to know the world before smart phones, that we as adults had/have the luxury of knowing.

Scouting, however, can serve to introduce this concept. It can serve as a place where they learn that separation from their device does not have to mean ABSOLUTE DOOM - it can actually be enjoyable. It opens their eyes and sets them apart from their peers - hopefully setting them on a path toward mastering the skill of controlling how, when and where they direct their attention.

Absence of digital devices within our ranks can have the additional benefit of allowing parents to break away from the always-GPS-monitoring and always-checking-in parenting that we can fall into when our kids have their own device. The age that they start Scouts is the time that kids instinctively begin wanting more autonomy and independence. Unfortunately digital devices can enable bad habits by us as parents to hold on a little too long - to the child's detriment.