Counselor Resources
Counselor Resources
Kick it off! Best scouting Year Ever!
Counselors need to accept that Scouts at this age are restless, moody, and awkward due to rapid growth, and should build friendships that open a path to introducing the boy to Christ. Rather than accepting surface-level answers, counselors should engage Scouts' natural challenges to authority productively, help them feel unconditionally accepted (not contingent on behavior), and encourage exploration of Scripture and early Christian community. The guide lists eleven key attributes a counselor needs — interest, understanding/acceptance, openness, flexibility, likability, humor, knowledge of Church teaching (flagged as very important), communication skill, spirituality, sensitivity, and observance — and states plainly that someone lacking these should step aside. Counselor responsibilities include encouraging greater Catholic participation in Church programs and promoting the spiritual dimension of Scouting within the parish/unit.
Adult ministry to youth is inherently risky and relational, requiring trust built through consistent, caring interaction — but do not ever be alone or secluded with a youth (private conversations should happen in full view of others, even during a one-on-one talk). It calls for careful vetting of anyone volunteering with youth, including reference checks, and flags red flags like resistance to interviews, insistence on one-on-one relationships, or unusual eagerness to work with youth across multiple organizations. The section reminds counselors that some youth they minister to have been or currently are victims of abuse, and makes clear that recognizing signs of abuse — and immediately reporting any suspected abuse to civil authorities — is a non-negotiable part of the counselor's role, since all states carry legal penalties for failure to report.
The following guidelines apply to religious emblems counselors:
The Counselor must WORK at being a good Counselor. Not everyone is a natural. Talent must be continually developed. It's OK and natural if it is hard.
The Counselor must actively LISTEN (HEAR) to what is said (and unsaid) and be interested in what is said. If the Scout is talking to a Counselor in a group situation, then the other Scouts are also listening and watching for the Counselor's response or reaction.
The Counselor should ask, “Do I understand what he or she is trying to say?” If not, the Counselor should clarify this with the Scout. The questions asked by the Scout may not fully reflect his concern. You need to address both.
If a Scout is trying to talk about a problem or explain his reasoning, summarize it to assure understanding, and keep the discussion on track.
In a group environment the Counselor should allow only one person to talk at a time.
Adolescents have a tendency to ridicule others. This should be immediately discouraged when it occurs to allow an atmosphere of openness.
Remember, that in discussing matters that touch on the teachings of the Catholic Church, personal view and opinions are NOT to be shared with the youth. Be sure to check the current Catholic Catechism for the most correct information.
A good Counselor tries to have the Scout discover the answer for himself. Establishing a dialogue between the Counselor and the Scout starts the process of guiding the Scout to discover the answer.
Some questions should be avoided. They include those that: a) arouse antagonism, b) are of a personal nature, c) build the Counselor up and tear the Scout down, and d) are sarcastic or lead to the humiliation of the Scout from the others in a group.
Some of the most effective techniques in running this course involve figuring out ways to have fun within the program. Be creative in getting the Scouts to engage in the conversation and activities. Use candy or treats for good answers and broccoli or rocks for answers that are obviously not well thought out. Learn how to laugh with the Scouts (not at them) when they make a mistake and challenge them when they are on the right track to go just a bit further.
The program is designed to offer opportunities for discussion. The primary tool for teaching is interactive discussion between the Scouts that is lead by the counselors the Scouts are to learn from their exploration of the subject. To do this the Scouts must be prepared to discuss the subject before arriving at the class. The Scouts should have the workbook filled out completely before the class session. This is of course, “homework” which is never exciting for a teenage. However without preparation there will not be a good discussion and the Scouts experience will suffer. It may be necessary to engage the parents to encourage the Scout. As the Scouts grow in their faith they may become more enthusiastic about the preparation.
The emblems are an extension of religious education and not a substitute for them. The questions, answers and resulting discussion are the tools toward an assessment and enrichment of the youth's knowledge and experience. The counselor's role is to guide the youth toward a better understanding of their faith through a directed group discussion.
The Scout Manual for Ad Altare Dei is divided into three sections for each chapter- Life Experience, Activity, and Faith Response. This approach has been quite useful at keeping the Scouts actively engaged in the discussions and learning. The counselor needs to be familiar with the goals/objectives of the chapter being discussed and ask questions that lead to those objectives. Often a Scout will give a response that opens the discussion to the central message of the chapter. Be prepared to follow this lead and adjust the rest of the chapter's lesson accordingly.
On the following page there are two sets of guidelines and characteristics for the Counselors. The second list is a set of guidelines from the Counselor's guide and Religious Emblems Reference Manual. They apply well to religious emblems programs or any programs involving youth instruction and mentoring. The first list is a set of characteristics and principals that distinguish an outstanding program from an average religion class.
We feel that the ideas and program characteristics listed below are imperative to have a successful program:
Keep it exciting. The counselor staff should trade off every few questions. Mix in activities.
Activities should link to the central message of the chapter and encourage further discussion.
Immediate rewards for good answers or ideas.
Counselors must be very familiar with the material. Review the Counselor's Guide and the Scout Manual thoroughly before each class. Fill out answers in your Scout manual
Add to your answers in the Scout manual from the Scout's own answers each year.
Pray with the Scouts. Open and close each session with a prayer. Share this honor among the Scouts. Handout choices of Scouting and Catholic prayers. Pray together at meals on retreat.
Have enthusiastic counselors who enjoy the program.
Youth involvement. Use Scouts who have earned AAD as counselors. This adds a tremendous dimension to the program. The young counselors connect with the Scouts and add insight to some of the tough questions. They should be treated as a full member of the team with equal duties and respect. This ensures that they are effective and helps with recruiting.
As the Scouts experience a growth in their faith they become more involved in the classes and discussions. Each Scout grows at their own rate.