Stepping up in Youth work to take a step back

Now I've become a more permanent placement in our city the idea of me becoming the captain of the Boys' Brigade company is being brought up more and more.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but a rapid change in the way I might work with the young people!

Currently a lieutenant, I am placed in charge of planning and running activities, especially games.  Which is testing but so worthwhile and somewhat fun in truth.
However by stepping into a captains role, in fact leads you to taking a step back in running programs.  You are then responsible for the entire night in a more supervisory role.  Expected to talk to parents where possible, to help with other issues the family might have.

On the Youth side the role is more in being a respected and trustful role model as I see it.  From speaking to other captains this often involves, depending on your style, attempting to chat with each of the young people throughout the night, inspections and devotions.  In fact one officer said he hasn't come close to running an activity for months!
I must admit that I generally attempt to do so anyway in terms of speaking to as many of them as possible when I am not running the activity.  It is something that I have enjoyed throughout my time with companies.  By getting to know the members personally a link grows and issues are far easier to deal with, although more issues often arise.

However as I'm in my early 20's and certainly childless myself, respect from parents is hard to come by unless they've seen me actually running activities which is rare.   Where a parent has little control has perplexed me at points I must admit.  Parents often appear to miss the part where I have 15 members in my charge and can deal with most situations when they only have the 2 and are still, in some cases doing it wrong!  Yet another stumbling block to be passed on my way.

But in general, I shall be shadowing the captain when possible and the training comes soon.  Whether I'm ready or even in such a position to take over is the real question.

Fill-in games - Mushroom

This game has come to be known as mushroom, don't ask me why but it is.

Yet another circle game that's got the extra benefit of helping you and the Youth learn each others names.  Which is always useful!

Equipment

Nothing but the players!  Oh and a bit of space helps.

Rules

• The game starts with one person saying their name and someone elses name.
• The person mentioned then does the same verbally passing the game around.
• The job of the person in the middle is to catch the person before they've passed it on by tapping them!
• If they succeed then that person becomes the one in the middle and whoever got them then starts the next round.
• Try not to point or look at the person you've passed to or it'll be easier for the person in the middle!
• And so on...

How to play

1. The game starts with the usual attempt at making a circle.
2. Then you start in the middle to explain the rules!
3.  Get the game going and give them a chance to get used to the game before starting to attempt to catch someone before they pass it.
4. Once they get the hang of it you can change the category.  Like simpsons characters, albeit starting to get out of date already!  Or animal names, or better noises.  It can become rather loud so why not throw in a category of signs where no noise is made but a sign with their hands (no rude ones obviously!).
5. Start again

Overall

This game is really useful for remembering names, so for new youth groups or camps but also works well when they know the game.  You can ask them to give you ideas of categories and then play with them.  Therefore really good as a fill-in game!

To the future!

I have a job, not a youth work job but in mechanical engineering.

I still haven't grasped how that will change things to come but i beleive it is the plan for me right now.  Some people question me in accepting such a job.  I question myself more I assure you.

The good thing being that in a matter of months I will be back with friends, back in the city I have come to know, back with the same youth groups I have enjoyed and the youth I have become linked with.  So I am free to begin planning the next steps in my Youth work satisfied in the knowledge that I can continue where I left off just a few weeks ago. I shall endeavour to update you further wherever possible.

Apparently my work here is not yet finished.

Till next time!