BUILDING VIBRANT YOUTH GROUPS
Why are some youth groups more effective than others? What are the distinguishing characteristics of highly effective youth groups?
Vibrant youth groups helps youth reach their potential and become self-directing, autonomous adults. Vibrant youth groups are those which have achieved a sense of genuineness and possess a drive toward the future--not in some smug way but rather in a way that they believe in themselves and have a sense of inner confidence. Vibrant youth groups believe in what they do, celebrate their commitments to action and express a sense of hope and courage for youth and their role in it.
Ten essential characteristics of vibrant youth groups.
· Vibrant youth groups are more concerned with weaning, not winning.
Kids are the focus of vibrant groups. Effective youth groups help youngsters develop a sense that they "own" the group. Young people in such programs, particularly older members, want to feel that the group is theirs and want adults to reduce their part in decision-making. Fun, learning, growth--these are the important concerns in vibrant groups. Training youth to become independent, thinking people are the goals of vibrant groups. Less effective groups were focused on winning and beating others. Winning awards, competitions, contests, numbers of ribbons or trophies and "being the best" are the greatest concerns in less effective youth groups.
· Vibrant youth groups change how they do things but not what they do.
Truly effective youth groups are "firm yet flexible." Vibrant youth groups experiment with seating arrangements, try new activities, and experiment within a certain accepted structure and organizational culture. As one youth put it, "Our club is really original in our meetings."
At the same time, though, vibrant groups provide a consistency and reliability on which members could always count. Other research has indicated that moderate levels of structure are often characteristic of healthy groups. Vibrant groups meet regularly and consistently. Traditions, rituals, and ceremonies are used to foster a sense of continuity with the past and with an organization larger than the local group.
· Vibrant youth groups work hard and play hard.
A common theme was that groups were not meeting just to meet or just to conduct business. Vibrant youth groups provided a way for members to do things together in fun ways--from ski trips, to weekend outings to roller skating parties. But vibrant youth groups also worked hard. They were involved in community service activities and fund-raisers that spanned a wide variety of interests--cleaning up a section of highway to providing programs at a local nursing home. Effective clubs get involved and help youth develop an ethic of service to their community. As one youth observed: "In our group, you've got a lot of responsibility, but the work is fun. It's hard work, but it's worth it."
· Vibrant youth groups empower rather than embalm young people.
Empowerment means to "authorize, delegate, give authority, enable or permit a person to do something. In short, vibrant youth groups enable youth do do what they are qualified to do. Rather than try and preserve young people in some child-like state, vibrant youth groups empower members to develop personal responsibility.
· Vibrant youth groups communicate and listen.
Members in the vibrant youth groups I studied frequently mentioned that they felt listened to, respect, and their input was genuinely valued. Vibrant youth groups make a conscious effort to involve members in discussions and deliberations. Effective youth groups also communicate well and listen to one another. Vibrant youth groups viewed communication and leadership as two-way processes in which adults and youth shared responsibilities. Young people in vibrant youth groups felt listened to and included. Again, one member commented: "If I wanted to recruit somebody who is older into our group, I would them them how they get to voice their opinions in a meeting without being ridiculed or being told, 'That's dumb!' by other people."
· Vibrant youth groups are able to achieve a balance between chaos and rigidity.
Effective youth groups were able to achieve a certain harmony between too much chaos and too much rigidity-- ordered chaos, or as the new buzzword puts it--chaordic. When circumstances change, vibrant youth groups are able to adapt by making the necessary changes in rules, power structures or relations to move on. Ineffective groups are devastated by change and are so rigid as to be unable to fit in to new circumstances.
· Vibrant youth groups affirm and support one another.
From my research, it was evident that healthy youth groups celebrated the successes of all members and did not define themselves by any single accomplishment of the group or its members. Instead, they took pride in and celebrated the collective efforts of all members. One parent commented that their goal was "not necessarily to be the best but to do our best." Adult leaders in such groups encouraged youth with specific, positive feedback. Discouraging comments were rarely heard in vibrant youth groups whereas discounting and demeaning comments were voiced in control-oriented groups.
· Vibrant youth groups use a mentoring system to socialize newcomers into the club environment.
Helping new members feel welcomed into the group is a hallmark of vibrant youth groups. Such efforts help new members learn the language and traditions of the program or organization. Buddy systems were common in vibrant groups where older, more experienced members adopted younger members and served as practical role models for them.
· Vibrant youth groups value and practice service to others.
Although community service is a key value for many youth groups, vibrant groups actively practices and treasured community service. Community service was not viewed in these groups as just another requirement for a charter or as program expectation, but rather community service was valued as important in itself. Indeed, vibrant youth groups perceived community service as a part of the group's fundamental experiences. One member said: "Helping is the fun part."
· Vibrant youth groups take time for training.
Effective youth groups set aside time to train youth for the roles they will assume in adulthood. Adults saw as one of their primary responsibilities of training and development of young people to become involved as equal partners in the process of planning, implementation, and evaluation. This is a key characteristic of vibrancy. Research has demonstrated that well-functioning groups do not just happen. Rather, they result from consistent efforts to create, maintain, and (occasionally) restore conditions that foster effective learning.
Vibrant youth groups helps youth reach their potential and become self-directing, autonomous adults. Vibrant youth groups are those which have achieved a sense of genuineness and possess a drive toward the future--not in some smug way but rather in a way that they believe in themselves and have a sense of inner confidence. Vibrant youth groups believe in what they do, celebrate their commitments to action and express a sense of hope and courage for youth and their role in it.
Ten essential characteristics of vibrant youth groups.
· Vibrant youth groups are more concerned with weaning, not winning.
Kids are the focus of vibrant groups. Effective youth groups help youngsters develop a sense that they "own" the group. Young people in such programs, particularly older members, want to feel that the group is theirs and want adults to reduce their part in decision-making. Fun, learning, growth--these are the important concerns in vibrant groups. Training youth to become independent, thinking people are the goals of vibrant groups. Less effective groups were focused on winning and beating others. Winning awards, competitions, contests, numbers of ribbons or trophies and "being the best" are the greatest concerns in less effective youth groups.
· Vibrant youth groups change how they do things but not what they do.
Truly effective youth groups are "firm yet flexible." Vibrant youth groups experiment with seating arrangements, try new activities, and experiment within a certain accepted structure and organizational culture. As one youth put it, "Our club is really original in our meetings."
At the same time, though, vibrant groups provide a consistency and reliability on which members could always count. Other research has indicated that moderate levels of structure are often characteristic of healthy groups. Vibrant groups meet regularly and consistently. Traditions, rituals, and ceremonies are used to foster a sense of continuity with the past and with an organization larger than the local group.
· Vibrant youth groups work hard and play hard.
A common theme was that groups were not meeting just to meet or just to conduct business. Vibrant youth groups provided a way for members to do things together in fun ways--from ski trips, to weekend outings to roller skating parties. But vibrant youth groups also worked hard. They were involved in community service activities and fund-raisers that spanned a wide variety of interests--cleaning up a section of highway to providing programs at a local nursing home. Effective clubs get involved and help youth develop an ethic of service to their community. As one youth observed: "In our group, you've got a lot of responsibility, but the work is fun. It's hard work, but it's worth it."
· Vibrant youth groups empower rather than embalm young people.
Empowerment means to "authorize, delegate, give authority, enable or permit a person to do something. In short, vibrant youth groups enable youth do do what they are qualified to do. Rather than try and preserve young people in some child-like state, vibrant youth groups empower members to develop personal responsibility.
· Vibrant youth groups communicate and listen.
Members in the vibrant youth groups I studied frequently mentioned that they felt listened to, respect, and their input was genuinely valued. Vibrant youth groups make a conscious effort to involve members in discussions and deliberations. Effective youth groups also communicate well and listen to one another. Vibrant youth groups viewed communication and leadership as two-way processes in which adults and youth shared responsibilities. Young people in vibrant youth groups felt listened to and included. Again, one member commented: "If I wanted to recruit somebody who is older into our group, I would them them how they get to voice their opinions in a meeting without being ridiculed or being told, 'That's dumb!' by other people."
· Vibrant youth groups are able to achieve a balance between chaos and rigidity.
Effective youth groups were able to achieve a certain harmony between too much chaos and too much rigidity-- ordered chaos, or as the new buzzword puts it--chaordic. When circumstances change, vibrant youth groups are able to adapt by making the necessary changes in rules, power structures or relations to move on. Ineffective groups are devastated by change and are so rigid as to be unable to fit in to new circumstances.
· Vibrant youth groups affirm and support one another.
From my research, it was evident that healthy youth groups celebrated the successes of all members and did not define themselves by any single accomplishment of the group or its members. Instead, they took pride in and celebrated the collective efforts of all members. One parent commented that their goal was "not necessarily to be the best but to do our best." Adult leaders in such groups encouraged youth with specific, positive feedback. Discouraging comments were rarely heard in vibrant youth groups whereas discounting and demeaning comments were voiced in control-oriented groups.
· Vibrant youth groups use a mentoring system to socialize newcomers into the club environment.
Helping new members feel welcomed into the group is a hallmark of vibrant youth groups. Such efforts help new members learn the language and traditions of the program or organization. Buddy systems were common in vibrant groups where older, more experienced members adopted younger members and served as practical role models for them.
· Vibrant youth groups value and practice service to others.
Although community service is a key value for many youth groups, vibrant groups actively practices and treasured community service. Community service was not viewed in these groups as just another requirement for a charter or as program expectation, but rather community service was valued as important in itself. Indeed, vibrant youth groups perceived community service as a part of the group's fundamental experiences. One member said: "Helping is the fun part."
· Vibrant youth groups take time for training.
Effective youth groups set aside time to train youth for the roles they will assume in adulthood. Adults saw as one of their primary responsibilities of training and development of young people to become involved as equal partners in the process of planning, implementation, and evaluation. This is a key characteristic of vibrancy. Research has demonstrated that well-functioning groups do not just happen. Rather, they result from consistent efforts to create, maintain, and (occasionally) restore conditions that foster effective learning.
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