Consider for a moment how many images you come across in a single day. Add up each post on Facebook and Twitter and Snapchat and Instagram and Pinterest and …
That’s the cluttered online landscape into which those of us who want to grow Scouting must venture.
How do we capture and share the story of Scouting in a way that busts through the noise and catches people’s attention? How do we use those social media platforms to recruit new Scouts and retain the ones we have?
The Visual Storytelling Workshop has the answers. You’ll learn from experienced professional photographers in a hands-on setting. The next workshop will be Aug. 6 to 12, 2017, at the Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, N.M.
You don’t need to be a pro with a $3,000 camera to attend. Anyone with at least some experience with still photography and/or video is welcome. If you have a passion for Scouting and love to take photographs and share them online, make plans to attend.
More about what to expect
Scouting magazine covered one of these Visual Storytelling Workshops in our January-February 2016 issue. Here’s an excerpt:
Developing your story
The first step is to understand what makes an effective story. “A good story has to be authentic (it has ‘real’ action), compelling (it should grab the viewer’s attention) and the right length (with widespread digital media, viewers’ attention spans are generally short),” says Randy Piland, senior lecturer at Elon University in North Carolina and one of the coaches at Philmont’s Visual Storytelling Workshop.
Once you’ve found a compelling story, capture a “decisive moment”; identify key elements; record sound, photos and video; edit the sound and images; and then share your story.
The best part? You don’t have to be a professional or have an expensive camera to create a visual story. “Amateurs can shoot pictures and video, edit them and immediately share their stories online,” says Jim Brown, Ph.D. The professor and executive dean emeritus at Indiana University School of Journalism says smartphones have matured to the point that they are serious reporting tools.
You can create Scouting stories through three specific methods: photographs, photo essays and video stories.
How to register
Register at this link. Scroll to Week 9 and look for “Visual Storytelling.”
Fees for all 2017 conferences at the Philmont Training Center are the same: $540. That includes lodging, meals and your conference fee.
Philmont is best enjoyed with others, so be sure to look into Philmont Training Center‘s programs for everyone in your family. There’s something for infants, spouses, grandparents and everyone in between.
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