How Scouting Troops Can Embrace Web3 Communities

Scouting and Web3 share a common goal: building strong, supportive, inclusive communities. Scouting has been doing this for over a century, while Web3 is a newer concept that utilizes blockchain technology to enable decentralized, trustless networks. This article explores how Scouting builds community and how it differs from Web3's approach. It also discusses how the Scouting model can be adapted for Web3 community professionals and why this model would benefit Web3. Additionally, it examines how using merit badges as verifiable credentials can lead to a more equitable future for adults of all ages globally.

While current web3 community organizational models rely on one of a few options; numerous DAO configurations, a traditional startup enabled with membership NFTs or crypto, a community gathered around an individual through social tokens, a SaaS community, or a group gathered around a product; there are a few others left to explore in this space.

Defining and Exploring Scouting Organizations

Scouting organizations worldwide share the same goal of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness among young people. However, there are different Scouting organizations in different countries, each with its traditions, culture, and structure.

There are two major Scouting organizations in the United States: the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). The BSA was founded in 1910 and is known for its outdoor adventure program, while the GSUSA was founded in 1912 and focuses on empowering girls to be leaders in their communities. Both organizations are open to all young people, regardless of gender.

In the United Kingdom, the Scouting movement was founded by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. The organization is called The Scout Association and has over 450,000 members. In Canada, Scouting is represented by Scouts Canada, which has over 130,000 members. Australia has Scouts Australia, which has over 60,000 members.

Regardless of the specific Scouting organization, the principles of service, leadership, and character development remain the same. By adopting the Scouting model for Web3 community professionals, we can build strong, supportive communities based on shared values and goals and create a more equitable future globally for adults of all ages.

Defining Web3 Community and Community Design

In this article, we define community by way of David Spinks:

David Spinks, community extraordinaire, defines a community as "a group of people who share a common identity, interest, passion, or goal, and who come together to create a shared experience, learn from each other, and support one another." He emphasizes the importance of having a shared experience and a sense of belonging within the community. According to Spinks, successful communities are built on trust, empathy, and a sense of purpose, and they can provide individuals with a sense of fulfillment, connection, and growth.

Web3 is a relatively new concept for the evolution of the web that utilizes blockchain technology to enable decentralized, trustless networks. Web3 communities are based on shared values and goals rather than a hierarchical structure and rely on trustless protocols allowing users to interact without relying on centralized authorities.

Community design is crucial for building strong and inclusive communities in this space. Community design involves creating an environment that fosters engagement, collaboration, and belonging among community members. Designing a community involves defining the community's values, goals, and culture and establishing guidelines for communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution.

With these design elements, a community will ultimately be able to remain healthy.

In a Web3 community, community design can take many forms, such as DAOs, decentralized networks, and social tokens. The community design can also involve creating decentralized decision-making processes, including consensus mechanisms that allow community members to participate in decision-making and governance.

Effective community design can help attract new users and retain existing ones, creating a sense of belonging and fostering engagement and collaboration. With the growth of the Web3 space, community design will continue to play a crucial role in building strong and inclusive communities.

Building Community: Scouting vs. Web3

Scouting is built on the principles of service, leadership, and character. Scouts participate in activities that teach them the value of teamwork, responsibility, and community service. By participating in these activities, Scouts build relationships with their peers and learn how to work together towards a common goal. These relationships can last a lifetime and create a sense of belonging to a community.

Web3, on the other hand, builds community through decentralized networks. These networks are built on trustless protocols that allow users to interact with each other without relying on centralized authorities. This can create a sense of community among like-minded individuals who share common goals or interests. However, Web3 communities can need more personal relationships and shared experiences that come with in-person or more engaging virtual experiences.

Troops and Patrols As Organizational Units In Web3

The way Scouting organizes the people involved in their organizational models is quite exciting. It brings a new level of planning, development of ideas, and leadership skills that web3 could find helpful.

I’m a big believer in small, intimate smaller communities that fit into and work out of a larger focused community.

This fits nicely into how Scouting provides the organization and hierarchy of a patrol of people inside a larger troop inside a council, like one of those Matryoshka dolls.

Within these circles, each group and rank has its role to play, and each individual within the circles has a role to play they can either be tapped into or elected into.

So consider in this instance that we are using an entire NFT community as a “troop,” Sub-communities with a purpose-driven mission feeding into the troop act as a “patrol” with their roles and leaders.

This creates a need and desire for clarity and lanes for members to explore and experiment with, bolstering the wider community and the individual’s web3 resume and portfolio. We often talk about how Twitter is our main “resume” for work completed and how folks see the work we produce. Yet, we do not have clear guides on displaying or honoring that work once it is lost to the algorithm or social feed from one day to the next. We must build solutions for professionals in the space to grow and build their resumes where hiring teams can see real progress.

Roles Community Members Can Plug Into

Scouting community models tend to be more structured and hierarchical regarding design styles. Scouts progress through the program by earning merit badges and advancing through the ranks. Adult leaders play a significant role in guiding and mentoring the Scouts, and there is often a clear chain of command.

In contrast, Web3 communities tend to be more decentralized and egalitarian. They are often based on shared values and goals rather than a hierarchical structure. This structure allows users to interact with each other without relying on centralized authorities.

In both Scouting and Web3 communities, individuals can be assigned different roles based on their skills and interests. The Scouting model can bring new jobs to the Web3 community space. For example, a Scribe could document the community's activities and achievements. A Historian could be responsible for preserving the community's history and traditions. A Librarian could be responsible for curating and organizing the community's knowledge and resources. A quartermaster would ensure the community or team has all the tools they need to succeed, that they are paid and up-to-date, and that those team individuals have the supplies they need to excel. There are many more roles to clarify, which is the goal of this research, to provide ongoing updates and development of models.

*Note: roles are updated as definitions are released.

Adapting the Scouting Model for Web3 Community Professionals

The Scouting model can be adapted for Web3 community professionals in several ways.

• Community professionals can use the Scouting framework to design activities that build relationships and promote teamwork among community members.

• They can use the Scouting model to develop a code of conduct emphasizing ethical behavior, accountability, and responsibility.

• They can use merit badges to recognize and reward community members for their contributions to the community.

Several organizational models can be used to adapt the Scouting model for Web3 community professionals. These models can help to create decentralized communities based on shared values and goals. Some of the popular models are as follows:

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization): DAO is a digital organization that operates through smart contracts on the blockchain. DAOs are decentralized, transparent, and democratic. Community members run them, and the decision-making process is based on consensus.

Holacracy: Holacracy is a self-organizing system that distributes authority and decision-making power throughout the organization. It is a non-hierarchical organizational model that empowers individuals and teams to make decisions based on their skills and expertise.

Democratic Model: The democratic model is based on the principle of one-person-one-vote. In this model, the decision-making power is distributed among the members, and the majority vote decides the outcome. It is a popular organizational model that is used in many traditional organizations.

These models are also flexible, its important to note that you can take bits and pieces that align most with your values and mission and adapt them however necessary.

By adopting one of these organizational models, Web3 communities can create decentralized communities based on shared values and goals. This can create a sense of ownership, belonging, and accessibility among community members, allowing them to interact without relying on centralized authorities. Additionally, this can help to promote transparency and inclusivity in the decision-making process, allowing all community members to have a say in the direction of the community.

The Importance of Guidebooks and Handbooks for Web3 Communities

Just as the Scout Handbook serves as a guidebook for Scouts to follow and develop their leadership and community-building skills, a similar guidebook could be created for community managers and members in the Web3 space.

It is clear, due to the limited time available to members of communities, that clarity through guided materials and roles is important to the long-term success of communities. This is done through visibility and transparency by letting community members have an inside look at what a member of the team can be expected to perform, setting standards of practice and trust in the process.

A community manager guidebook could outline best practices for managing decentralized communities based on shared values and goals. It could include information on how to design activities that promote teamwork and build relationships among community members, develop a code of conduct that emphasizes ethical behavior, and recognize and reward community members for their contributions.

Similarly, a community member handbook could outline the roles and responsibilities of community members and guide how to participate in and contribute to the community. It could include information on navigating the trustless protocols used in Web3 communities and interacting with other members productively and respectfully.

The use cases for these guidebooks are numerous. They could serve as a resource for community managers and members, providing a shared understanding of community values and goals. They could also help attract new users to the Web3 space, as these guidebooks could provide a clear and accessible introduction to the community and its expectations. Additionally, these guidebooks could help grow Web3 by promoting strong, supportive communities based on shared values and goals.

Growing With and For web3

Adopting the Scouting model for Web3 community professionals can help grow Web3 by creating strong, supportive communities based on shared values and goals. These communities can attract new users and provide a sense of belonging to those already involved in Web3. The Scouting model can attract more adult users into the Web3 community by providing leadership and community-building skills.

The Scouting program is designed to teach young people how to be responsible and productive members of their communities. These same principles can be applied to Web3, where community-building and leadership skills are highly valued. By adopting the Scouting model for Web3 community professionals, we can provide adult users with the skills and qualifications needed to get paid, qualified workers in the space.

Verifiable Credentials With Earned Merit Badges

Using merit badges as verifiable credentials can create a more equitable future globally for adults of all ages. They can help level the playing field for individuals who lack traditional educational credentials or live in countries where traditional education is not accessible. Verifiable credentials can provide proof of mastery of a particular skill or subject recognized by others in the community. This can create a sense of value and recognition for individuals' contributions to the community, further incentivizing participation and contribution.

For example, if someone has earned a merit badge within a Web3 scouting troop, a hiring manager could request a claim as a verifier that allows them to ensure the scout did, in fact, earn those credentials. The scout could also reveal information about themselves to a manager or peer without displaying their full identity.

In Conclusion

Adapting the Scouting model for Web3 community professionals can create strong, supportive communities based on shared values and goals. This can help to grow Web3 and provide a sense of belonging to those involved in this exciting new field. By using merit badges as verifiable credentials, we can create a more equitable future globally for adults of all ages. The Scouting model can attract more adult users into the Web3 community by providing them with the leadership and community-building skills needed to succeed. By embracing these approaches, Web3 can continue to evolve and expand, creating a more inclusive and supportive community for all.