Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Objectives:

• To introduce the history of youth organizations in the 20th Century
• To have participants begin to understand the history of their own organization
• To set a framework for the study of philanthropy in the participant’s own organization

Activity Theme:

“To the thousands of individuals — mostly unknown, and
often unappreciated — who continue to keep these
organizations going from generation to generation.”

~Judith B. Erickson, author, Directory of American Youth Organizations, Free Spirit Publishing, Minneapolis, 1998

The facilitator explains that the training session will be laying the framework for the organizational activities, which appear in the curriculum. The participants will be looking at the overall timeline of youth organizations and then will take a closer look at their own organization. Some discussion might occur on the next 100 years: What organizations will remain? What ones may not survive the next millennium? What new organizations might be established that meet the needs of 21st Century youth?

Processing:

The facilitator asks the participants to review the timeline. They should look for their own organization or place their organization on the timeline. As they review the timeline, ask them to reflect on these questions:

1. Why were most of the organizations started?
2. Were they responding to a need in society at that time? If so, what were some of the events? Place some of these on the timeline.
3. What are some of the differences you see in your organization today that might not have been there when it began?
4. Are there events happening today which will cause your organization to change the way they do things? What are some of those things?
5. What organizations might begin in the years 2000 to 2100? Why?
6. What do you think might change in your organization in the next millennium? Why?

 

Application:

Participants might want to share the timeline with the Board of Directors of the organization or with the Long-Range or Future Planning Committee. Some of their suggestions should be considered as they plan for the future of the organization. This activity leads to others which address the history of the organization.

HISTORY

19TH CENTURY ROOTS
Kindness, generosity, and concern for the welfare of others have been a part of the religious and social inheritance taught to children throughout the ages. In the United States’ earliest days, Americans looked to the children to “assure that democratic values would prosper.” Some of the earliest efforts included school and church education and education of the youth work force. These efforts encouraged youth to give of their time (extra chores at home and for neighbors), talent (knitting or sewing for bazaars and fairs) and treasure (contributing part of their wages).

By the 1830s, social change was sweeping the country. Youth participated in adult organizations, but soon began to organize and lead their own organizations. The largest of these was the Cold Water Army, which advocated for temperance. It might be said that the Cold Water Army was the precursor to the “Just Say No” movement of today. Many of the groups who began during this time moved into the churches and many of the youth-led groups were disbanded. In the 1880s, the important new development was in religious youth work. The original group, the Society for Christian Endeavor, included missionary work and community service efforts; however, community service soon took a back seat to service to the denomination and local church.

20TH CENTURY PROGRESS
By looking at the Timeline, we can see that many youth organiza¬tions began in the early 1900s. More young people had free time and different forms of youth organizations developed to serve different needs. The largest of these such as the YMCA, the YWCA, Boys Clubs and Campfire continue today — almost 100 years later! World War I saw youth involved in Junior Red Cross and Scouts and their purpose was to serve “our fighting men.” They did so by knitting, assembling basic need kits, planting victory gardens, and raising money for war bonds. After the war, many of the organizations that promote citizenship were formed for youth. These include organizations that until this time, only served adults: Rotary, Kiwanis, Civitan, and Optimist Clubs.

As the century drew to a close, the timeline tells us that youth were more involved than ever before. They became equal partners with adults in resolving some of the community issues; they took their place ‘at the table’ of many organizations by serving on boards, committees of the board, and advisory councils. They became valuable voices for a community that truly cares about serving the common good of the community.

Judith Erickson states “youth organizations have changed a great deal over the years and must continue to evolve within the communities where they operate. They must recognize their own potential as educational environments as well as providers of recreational activity to fill leisure hours. Young people today have too many competing demands on their time to spend it in ways that are not meaningful to them.”

The material for the adaptation of the article on organizing children’s philanthropy is part of an on-going research effort, The American Youth Organizations Project, which seeks to understand the historical development and contemporary roles of youth groups in the United States. In addition to numerous journal articles, products of the project include the Directory of American Youth Organizations: A Guide to 500 Clubs, Groups, Troops, Teams, Societies, Lodges and More for young People, published biennially by Free Spirit Publishing.