The Swiss Scout Movement conducted an investigation to determine whether their activities had a positive impact. About 650 young people aged 14 to 17 filled out a questionnaire last summer from the University of Education Zurich at the federal scout camp (Bula) in Goms VS. Once at the beginning of the fortnightly event, once at the end. Co-funded by the Swiss Scout Movement, the study examines whether joint camp activities support youth well-being and therefore mental health.
The results are pleasing to the scouts: from the first measuring point to the second measuring point, the positive emotions of the surveyed scouts increased. The enthusiasm experienced by the scouts during the Bula reflects these results.
Positive despite the rain and tiredness
According to the news in the media regarding the initial research results of the study, “despite (or perhaps because of) fatigue and heavy rain, as well as living in a tent and in nature in simple conditions, there was no significant change in negative emotions. .
It could also be demonstrated that certain life skills were improved: positive improvements were evident, particularly regarding the ability to contribute to society, self-esteem and self-confidence. According to the research, not only an environment conducive to learning, but also caring and reliable caregivers are important for increasing life skills. Well-trained managers are a prerequisite for this.
Study provides fundraising benefits
With its work, the scout movement in Switzerland imitates the scout associations in other countries that work on the impact of their activities. For nonprofits like Scouts, scientific proof of the positive effectiveness of their activities can be an advantage when seeking donations.