[kalleth]

I volunteer, but not for anything related to software development.

I'm an ASL (Assistant Scout Leader) for a scout troop in London. I enjoyed my time in the scouts as a kid, and i figured if i was only able to enjoy it as others gave up their time, perhaps it's time I pay it forward.

Turns out, it's been incredibly rewarding. In our career we tend to spend loads of time inside, and this has got me out doing active things (camping, canoeing, even skiing.... lighting fires, hiking, etc) that I'd never do off my own back.

But even greater than that, it's started to teach me how to be a leader -- not through exercising raw authority, but through coaching and mentoring young people together as part of a team. Sometimes i don't know the answer and i have to work it out with them!

I think that's a direct mapping to being a good senior/lead developer there -- it's helped me immensely, and sometimes I've felt less challenged by my Scouts than I have by my dev team!

Thoroughly recommend it to anyone considering volunteering.

[swalberg]

I started off in Canada as a Cub leader. I was very hesitant because I didn't see myself as "good" with kids that were not my own. Took me about a year but I grew into it, eventually being the Akela of the pack. Since then I moved to the troop level, and after moving to the US, I'm an ASM with a BSA troop.

It's very rewarding to help young people discover the outdoors and help them on their path to being young, responsible, adults.

[allyjweir]

Also an ASL (in Scotland) and can confirm that it is incredibly rewarding helping to shape young people's approach to leadership and teamwork.

It's very hard and can consume A LOT of time (to a detrimental effect on my career no doubt) but I love the sense of community and fun that the young people get from it.

[c0wb0yc0d3r]

Did you start as an ASL or at a lower position in a troop? Any tips for someone who wants to do that same?

[pbhjpbhj]

Not OP but, in the UK ASL is the lower position. This https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A17719527 is a good summary of all the structures.

Some groups have "adult helpers" but generally that's avoided as it suggests the parent will only be there fleetingly in which case spending the training resources (mainly time) is not efficient.

[kalleth]

Yep -- you can help out, but as soon as you figure out if it's for you, your first "appointment" is ASL.

It's essentially what you want from it -- don't consider them "levels" but different roles. They're all volunteer after all!

I don't want the added responsibility of having to lead the entire section so as an ASL, I'll plan and lead 1/3rd (ish) of the weekly meetings, and do some of the day to day with the young people on camps, but my SL handles the longer term planning, balanced programme prep, and so on.