The highly successful UK Junior XC program vs. USA's nonexistantJunior XC program. Why?

On Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 11:56:55 PM UTC-4, Sean Fidler wrote:
Great post. Very well thought out. Highly valuable guidelines. I think it's amazing work that you are all doing there. I commend you for your time and energy. That said, I think the program is falling slightly short of its full potential. Not for a lack of effort, but maybe for a slight lack of vision.

I'll go back to my earlier quote..."train how you fight, fight how you train."

Your solid junior primary instruction program is geared, as most clubs with any measurable junior flight training activity likely are, towards getting them "the certificate." Once they have checked that box, they have little else to shoot for or get excited about. It's the finish line. XC is not organized into or "built into" the experience of learning to fly sailplanes. Its not part of the plan. It's not the objective. It's not the next level in the growth and progression. It's not on the menu. It's not built into the culture. The kids all get their license. This works great (train who you fight), but very few go beyond that level (fight how you train).

My contention remains that if the common goal was (generally) for the "U.S. junior" to learn to soar (real XC skills), these kids would go much farther and get much more excited about it along the way. They might say something like "I want to make the Jr nationals" or "fly the adult contest" for example. In a short period of time, they would almost certainly surprise us as much as we are surprised by the British, French, German, or Australian youth today. American juniors are more than capable of learning to fly XC.. XC would, very likely, make their entire experience more fun and more rewarding for them. It would create a gravity that would attract more and more.

To put it another way...If we were able to broadly shift the youth focus in the U.S. past primary training to XC, it might just have exponential effects that could truly change the face of US Soaring for the better.

Getting juniors their "pattern license" is just phase one. Our collective goal could be getting them ready to earn their SSA silver badge and getting them prepared to compete in the U.S. Jr. Nationals (or region 6 junior regionals, whatever)! New junior pilots could crew for the older kids (or simply attend, camp, hang out, learn, etc), older kids in the program would be better instructors and mentors, and so on. Imagine the chemistry these kids would have within their ranks. Imagine how much the new kids would look up to the older kids who were already soaring XC! We are simply aiming too low for them. We are missing the ball. In fact, we aren't even bothering to swing!

80% of the path to correcting this problem is simply beginning to try.

We should probably all be a little upset with ourselves (collectively) for not identifying this problem sooner (assuming we are now). The time has come to take advantage of what XC soaring can teach our juniors and do for our sport domestically. The time has come to change almost everything we are doing with youth soaring. The same goes for commercial operations.

Put another way, what will US soaring (the SSA) look like in 15 years if we keep on doing exactly what we do today (youth soaring development)? What would it look like if we developed hundreds of young cross country pilots in that same period? Debate that all you want but the latter sure sounds like more fun for everyone involved.

How many youth cross country pilots will your club generate in the next 1, 3 or 5 years? Will we begin to host Jr events, camps and contests to give them their own "thing?" East coast Jr Nationals? Weat coast Jr Nationals? Will we take it to the next level (XC) as other successful countries have in terms of youth development?

We actually have a tremendous opportunity in front of us. Nothing is more important or, I imagine, more rewarding than junior cross country pilots. The biggest prize at the SSA convention next year should be the club team that developed the most net new Junior glider pilots who earned solo silver badges. This prize should require a forklift to transport. And all the Jrs who achieve silver badges should be recognized on a page in the SSA magazine that is made of real gold leaf, with articles about the flight, photos, etc.

Sean

Sean:
I think it is time for you to put up or shut up.
Rather than make this comment a negative, I propose the following:
YOU volunteer to chair a round table discussion on the topic of advancing young pilots beyond basic training(what you call "pattern license" at the Greenville convention.
As the person I hope to hear is the new SSA youth chair, I think this could be a useful and valuable contribution.
I'll agree to be one of the people at the front table to contribute. I'd hope to get someone from HHSC, maybe CCSC, SCOH, or other clubs to also participate.
Time to stop being an idea guy and start being a worker bee.
Well?
UH

That might be a good idea. I think we should do this.

On Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 11:45:11 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 11:56:55 PM UTC-4, Sean Fidler wrote:
Great post. Very well thought out. Highly valuable guidelines. I think it's amazing work that you are all doing there. I commend you for your time and energy. That said, I think the program is falling slightly short of its full potential. Not for a lack of effort, but maybe for a slight lack of vision.

I'll go back to my earlier quote..."train how you fight, fight how you train."

Your solid junior primary instruction program is geared, as most clubs with any measurable junior flight training activity likely are, towards getting them "the certificate." Once they have checked that box, they have little else to shoot for or get excited about. It's the finish line. XC is not organized into or "built into" the experience of learning to fly sailplanes. Its not part of the plan. It's not the objective. It's not the next level in the growth and progression. It's not on the menu. It's not built into the culture. The kids all get their license. This works great (train who you fight), but very few go beyond that level (fight how you train)..

My contention remains that if the common goal was (generally) for the "U.S. junior" to learn to soar (real XC skills), these kids would go much farther and get much more excited about it along the way. They might say something like "I want to make the Jr nationals" or "fly the adult contest" for example. In a short period of time, they would almost certainly surprise us as much as we are surprised by the British, French, German, or Australian youth today. American juniors are more than capable of learning to fly XC. XC would, very likely, make their entire experience more fun and more rewarding for them. It would create a gravity that would attract more and more.

To put it another way...If we were able to broadly shift the youth focus in the U.S. past primary training to XC, it might just have exponential effects that could truly change the face of US Soaring for the better.

Getting juniors their "pattern license" is just phase one. Our collective goal could be getting them ready to earn their SSA silver badge and getting them prepared to compete in the U.S. Jr. Nationals (or region 6 junior regionals, whatever)! New junior pilots could crew for the older kids (or simply attend, camp, hang out, learn, etc), older kids in the program would be better instructors and mentors, and so on. Imagine the chemistry these kids would have within their ranks. Imagine how much the new kids would look up to the older kids who were already soaring XC! We are simply aiming too low for them. We are missing the ball. In fact, we aren't even bothering to swing!

80% of the path to correcting this problem is simply beginning to try.

We should probably all be a little upset with ourselves (collectively) for not identifying this problem sooner (assuming we are now). The time has come to take advantage of what XC soaring can teach our juniors and do for our sport domestically. The time has come to change almost everything we are doing with youth soaring. The same goes for commercial operations.

Put another way, what will US soaring (the SSA) look like in 15 years if we keep on doing exactly what we do today (youth soaring development)? What would it look like if we developed hundreds of young cross country pilots in that same period? Debate that all you want but the latter sure sounds like more fun for everyone involved.

How many youth cross country pilots will your club generate in the next 1, 3 or 5 years? Will we begin to host Jr events, camps and contests to give them their own "thing?" East coast Jr Nationals? Weat coast Jr Nationals? Will we take it to the next level (XC) as other successful countries have in terms of youth development?

We actually have a tremendous opportunity in front of us. Nothing is more important or, I imagine, more rewarding than junior cross country pilots. The biggest prize at the SSA convention next year should be the club team that developed the most net new Junior glider pilots who earned solo silver badges. This prize should require a forklift to transport. And all the Jrs who achieve silver badges should be recognized on a page in the SSA magazine that is made of real gold leaf, with articles about the flight, photos, etc.

Sean

Sean:
I think it is time for you to put up or shut up.
Rather than make this comment a negative, I propose the following:
YOU volunteer to chair a round table discussion on the topic of advancing young pilots beyond basic training(what you call "pattern license" at the Greenville convention.
As the person I hope to hear is the new SSA youth chair, I think this could be a useful and valuable contribution.
I'll agree to be one of the people at the front table to contribute. I'd hope to get someone from HHSC, maybe CCSC, SCOH, or other clubs to also participate.
Time to stop being an idea guy and start being a worker bee.
Well?
UH

On second thought, and while flattered by the suggestion, I have come to the conclusion that I will not "lead" a round-table on growing youth soaring in the US at the upcoming SSA convention. It is simply not my place.

That said, bringing up the "rather distinct" contrast between the success of (for example) British Youth XC Soaring, and US Youth XC soaring was important. I do not wish to get in the way of those far better suited, connected and equipped to lead this discussion.

We have significant and existing infrastructure of SSA officers, BOD, regional directors, directors at large, commitees, etc. We also have at least a couple soaring clubs who are already working, to some extent, to build and grow youth XC programs. I think that at least one (or perhaps many) of these folks would be far better suited to host a round-table on the subject.

In fact, I am confident that this HUGELY important topic is 1) being added to the schedule and 2) will be a hot a topic of discussion between SSA leadership and club leadership leading up to the upcoming convention. I am also sure that we are already talking to the British and looking for insight, advice and ideas!

Good luck with the round table and the mission! I look forward to listening in.

Sean
7T