Reframing Youth Development in Scouting
Toward a Mechanism-Based Approach to Member Development
Keywords:
youth development, scouting education, mechanism-based approach, experiential learning, identity formation, nonformal educationAbstract
Contemporary youth development in scouting is increasingly challenged by a misalignment between activity-based practices and meaningful developmental outcomes. This condition reflects a mechanism gap in which participation does not automatically translate into psychological, social, and identity transformation. A shift toward a mechanism-based framework is essential, integrating motivation, experiential learning, and identity formation within a systemic perspective. Advancing such an approach strengthens the theoretical foundation of scouting and enhances its capacity to produce sustained and contextually relevant youth development outcomes.
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