Now it seems that all other extracurricular activities are also experiencing the same thing in looking for members. Even though this is felt by extracurricular activists and coaches, they have not taken steps to improve the situation. They are busy with schedules at school which drain time, both for students and teachers who usually guide extracurricular activities.
Scout Activities are Stiff and Boring
The curriculum implemented in Indonesia is now called the independent curriculum. As the name suggests, this curriculum aims to provide freedom for educators to create quality learning that suits students' needs and learning environment. In reality, this curriculum must undergo adaptation. Technically, this curriculum seems to be 180 degrees different from the previous curriculum.
This change is not easy, as stated by the Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, B.A., M.B.A. But it frees teachers to cultivate their creativity and innovate in developing fun learning according to students' needs.
The lack of interest in participating in scout activities in Indonesia occurred several years before the independent curriculum was launched. Scout activities in Indonesia are considered stiff and boring by teenagers. Especially in the current Generation Z era. In fact, even when the millennial generation becomes a topic of conversation, the scout movement in Indonesia is already experiencing a crisis of lack of members.
These two generations can't be separated from gadgets. This device has successfully captured their attention. The internet, which has spread to all corners of Indonesia, cannot stop what the younger generation of Indonesia can watch via gadgets. The spectacle was more interesting than them taking part in scouting activities.
Creativity in Scouting Activities
The scout movement in Indonesia does have unique characteristics. More of an adaptation of the scout movement founded by Baden Powell. But the spirit remains the same, an activity carried out in the open air. Camping and scouting are activities that always characterize scouting activities in Indonesia.
It's not like before, they have to look for a place to camp. Now many places near the forest are managed as camping sites. Even though the place is comfortable and does not provide challenges. But it seems that's not what makes the scouting movement no longer interesting.
Scouts have not yet found a way to adapt the tendencies of today's teenagers. They even tend to maintain old activities that are no longer interesting to teenagers. Especially when the government decided that Scouting education was a mandatory extracurricular in primary and secondary education. It is as if this obligation aims to force school children to take part in scouting activities.
The obligation to take part in scout activities at school should be accompanied by a willingness to change old activities that are no longer appropriate to current conditions. So that it is like before, this activity is very busy with teenagers at school. At that time scout activities seemed full of creativity.
In the past, it was not easy for scout children to get scout equipment, especially if they wanted to go camping. So that the scouts are creative in using existing equipment for this purpose. Like tents they can use raincoats. For cooking utensils, use kitchen utensils. They don't know gadgets that can make things easier for them.
Unlike today, everything is easy. Gadgets in their hands will soon help. However, creativity is not just a matter of finding scout equipment, but how to ensure that gadgets in the hands of young people are not the only interesting things that can be done. They could be motivated so that the gadgets in their hands produce interesting creativity in the open air.
Characteristics of Indonesian Scouts
Apart from the sal colors used by the Indonesian Scouts being the same as the colors of their flag, the Indonesian Scouts also really emphasize their devotion to God Almighty. Likewise, national values are the basic things taught to scout members.
Creative activities can emerge when they camp and hold campfire events. Illuminated by a bonfire they will display various attractions full of excitement. In the inauguration activities for promotion there are also mental and physical tests. Often this makes scouting activities in Indonesia like military education.
Searching for traces is another interesting activity in Indonesian scouts. Usually they make trace signs provided by nature. It could be a pile of rocks, broken tree branches, tied grass and so on.
All these activities clearly educate scout members to be creative.
What is Forgotten in the Indonesian Scout Movement
The scout movement in Indonesia is intended for all ages and is divided into age levels. The coconut shoot which is used as the symbol of the Indonesian Scouts has a philosophy that refers to this. There is no such thing as retiring from being a member of the Indonesian Scouts like a coconut tree. This tree can live up to 100 years, even though it no longer bears fruit, this tree is a versatile tree.
In reality, teenagers who are active in scouting, after leaving high school, do not continue their scouting activities in college. Some of them are assistant scout leaders and many are no longer active as scouts. They are known as alumni.
Many of them still care about scouts. At least they had a deep impression when they were still active as scouts. Even though they don't regularly hold meetings such as scout jamborees, they are quite numerous and consist of various professions.
This group can be a hope that Indonesian scouts will once again have their appeal. These alumni are certainly not scout members who are in the scout organizational structure. So they are not busy with the schedule of teaching activities at school and training scouts. They can be expected to create creative activities that can motivate people to return to having their children take part in scouting activities.
One of the alumni groups currently initiating creative activities is the Komunitas Pandu. They plan to make a road show festival of scout short films with the theme "scout figures in society". In their view, Indonesia is losing a scout figure who was beneficial to society.
This activity takes place directly in the midst of Indonesian society. Technically, they invite every front group in their area to make a short film that inspires and motivates exemplary behavior. Then the film is played on the front cluster that sends the film. Watched with the community and then discussed. They hope that this activity can restore the attractiveness of the scout movement in Indonesia.
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