Kid Communities - Part 1

Growing up, the kids we ran with set the stage for who we would grow up to be. We had our own  teams for every street game we could think up. Most importantly, regardless of our independent nature as kids, we always had a high regard for the strength of the unit: the kid community.

Whether we were playing baseball, street hockey, Platoon, or "Tag," even in our little groups there was a sense of understanding that one of us could do things better than another. We learned through play fighting, street games, races and the like who was the best at pinning down an opponent, outsmarting the person who was “it,” and who could sprint distances without the slightest sense of exhaustion. It is in this base level of self-awareness that the next generation will begin to realize the power of a unit as a means to fill the gaps where they may find themselves lacking. In the preparedness community it may be difficult to explain to a child why in your group of trusted friends you are drawn to variety - doctors, builders, communicators, hunters, soldiers. A varied community is like the Leatherman in your pocket - each tool combining to strengthen and add value to the whole.

So, I offer up the following groups as a starting point for you and yours. These have all been able to withstand the test of time, having grown and become some of the greatest avenues for kid communities and skill building. Each has its own set of benefits geared toward improvement and independence. And at the same time, they offer immeasurable lifetime benefits.

In No Particular Order:

Scouts (Boy Scouts of America, or any of the 219 other countries around the world with presence)

• Motto: "Be Prepared"
  
• Touted as the biggest and most prominent character building organization for youth with more than 32 million members worldwide
  
• Founded in 1910 in the U.S., began in the United Kingdom in 1907
  
• Designed to help encourage outdoor experiences and basic wilderness survival skills
  
• Provides opportunities to learn leadership skills and become self reliant
  
• Scientifically proven to have positive long-term benefits years after involvement
  
• Website: http://scouting.org/
  

Civil Air Patrol

• Motto: "Semper Vigilans" - Always Vigilant.
  
• Founded by H.S. Truman in 1941
  
• 61,000 members, with 550 corporate owned aircraft and 900 ground vehicles
  
• Fleet of planes flies 100,000 hours annually and conducts more than 85% of search and rescue missions as tasked by the AFRCC
  
• Provides team building skills, self-discipline, and a reward system that centers around a job well done as the greatest reward of all
  
• Offers scholarships for flight school and academic scholarships
  
• Website: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/
  

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

• Motto: "Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve."
  
• Began in 1928 in Kansas City
  
• Granted federal charter making it an intra-curricular program (school credit as part of program activities)
  
• 840,329 members with 7,489 chapters. 89% are high school aged and typically live in rural farm areas
  
• Approximately 1,500 academic scholarships are offered annually to members
  
• The main goal is to encourage farming for future generations and build on agricultural science to recognize those who feed and clothe the country on a daily basis.
  
• Website: https://www.ffa.org/
  

4-H

• Motto: "To make the best better."
  
• Founded in 1902
  
• Has over 6 million members and works with 100 universities in the U.S.
  
• Designed to help young people and their families gain skills needed to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy
  
• Stands for "Head, Heart, Hand and Health"
  
• Encourages leadership through hands-on projects and community involvement
  
• Website: http://www.4-h.org/
  

Young Marines

• Motto: "Strengthening the Lives of America's Youth"
  
• Founded in 1958
  
• Started with 300 units and currently has a membership of 14,000 youth and 4,000 adult volunteers in 46 states.
  
• Ages range from 8-18 until completion of high school
  
• Focuses on mental, moral and physical development with an emphasis on drug-free lifestyles.
  
• Teaches character building and leadership and requires good grades to remain a member
  
• Website: https://www.youngmarines.com/
  

Every community starts somewhere. From humble beginnings to massive levels of membership, each community has an opportunity to thrive with the right level of involvement. With each group is a cluster of like-minded people who want to contribute to a greater good for all. And in contributing, members of the group are often able to gain not only experience, but life skills that can be shared and put to use elsewhere. By encouraging your kids and exposing them to some of these groups, and groups like them, you can help to build a future of leaders, problem solvers, and community-minded citizens that put service at the forefront above self-service. But like anything, it starts with an introduction. From me to you, the list and options we provided today are only the beginning. These are only useful if you as a parent can show them the way and give them a chance to grow and learn. If you think you have a pilot in the midst, or a farmer in your hands, or a leader in the pack, give them a chance to contribute these skills to help others and learn new skills in the process.

Espisode 13 - Kid Communities - Part 1