Scouting: A Modern Path to Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce

It's the time of the year when multiple studies are released and summits and conferences cover Indiana’s workforce challenges and the urgent need to recruit and retain talent.

Much of the discussion centers on helping students succeed and thrive through the K-12 system and move into vocational training and higher educational opportunities. We hear about the need for new, innovative solutions that help students build the key skills necessary (both domain-specific and those essential, core, “soft” skills) to thrive in today’s workforce.

As I’ve seen the challenges, one partner in these efforts may come from an unexpected place: Scouting.

I participated in Scouting as a youth, but I hadn’t thought much about it until I re-engaged with the organization through my kids. It was fascinating to observe with fresh eyes from the perspective of my current experiences in higher ed, leadership, and workforce engagement. Many of the modern principles driving educational design—like experiential learning, gamified design, and peer-led leadership—have been key parts of Scouting’s DNA for more than 100 years.

Take rank advancement. In most educational settings, students advance based on test scores, grades, or the goals others set for them. But in Scouting, ranks are a self-paced leadership curriculum grounded in experiential learning. This approach cultivates self-driven learning and intrinsic motivation, key skills for both navigating educational environments and thriving in work and life after. A study from Tufts University showed that youth involved in Scouting show growth in areas like hopeful future expectations and cheerfulness compared with non-participant peers.

Then there are merit badges. While LinkedIn and Coursera offer badges that highlight learning on your profile, Scouting continues to offer some of the “original” badges, providing participants a gamified way to explore interests, from animation and environmental science to robotics and welding. Scouts don’t just complete assignments; they dive into real skills and see if a subject truly sparks their curiosity. Recent research found that Scouts with more merit badges rated higher on career readiness assessments (as well as curiosity and confidence scales). In a world that’s consistently telling kids to think about their future, Scouting lets them explore those potential paths in a flexible, low-pressure context.

Finally, there’s the patrol method. Scouting teams, called patrols, are small, youth-led groups where kids aren’t just passive learners—they’re leaders. They make decisions, solve problems, and learn to work with others. Research from the Search Institute has shown that this kind of peer-driven structure teaches invaluable skills, like conflict resolution, empathy, and leadership. It’s experiential learning at its best: youth actively building the social skills they’ll need for life and work.

Self-determination theory says there are three key drivers of growth and development: Competency (effectiveness and mastery in what we’re doing), autonomy (feeling in control of our actions and aligning with our values), and relatedness (feeling connected to others and developing a sense of belonging). Through activities that feel like play, not work, Scouting provides a clear pathway to experiencing and developing all three.

So here’s a quick pitch (could you see it coming?). If you’re interested in seeing how Scouting is growing and adapting to meet the needs of our community, consider attending the Crossroads of America Council’s Governor’s Luncheon in December. It’s about a month away, and it’s a chance to learn more about how Scouting in Central Indiana is preparing the next generation of leaders. You can send me a message here or visit https://www.crossroadsbsa.org/support/fundraising-events/governors-luncheon-for-scouting/ to learn more.

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Why does this all really matter? I've shared a lot of theory and research above, but none of this works if Scouts (and their parents/volunteers) aren't having fun.

Moving to a new city a little over three years ago, I'm grateful for the "landing place" Scouting provided for my kids and for the amazing volunteers and leaders I've met in the process. More than anything else, I've found Scouting in Central Indiana to be a strong community of people who care about the kids and high schoolers in their packs/troops and seeing participants build real skills and grow into leaders. It's fun--and meaningful--work.