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The magazine
for Explorer Scout Leaders
February/March 2010
scouts.org.uk/pol
A BARGAIN
CAMPING PACK
SAVE
Scouting basicsGet skilled up in backwoods and
campcraft
Directory enquiries
An adventure alphabet you won’t regret
TIME TO ACTTIME TO ACTScouts tackle climate change
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WELCOME
This is the last issue of Explorer compiled by Mel Brammer, and it’s as action-packed as ever. As we wish Mel well for the future, she introduces
a magazine with ideas aplenty
The focus of the main magazine this issue is Scouting skills. In the Explorer Scout
section, we are perfectly placed to build on the foundations laid during the
younger sections and develop those skills. We may even help teach them to the
younger Scouts. Scouting skills covers everything from pioneering and fire
lighting to tracking and camp oven building. Check out pages 4-5 for more.
With Bear Grylls as our Chief Scout there’s really no excuse for letting these
areas slip out of your programme. Start planning your summer programme now
and make sure it’s brimming with outdoor adventure.
In this issue, we open the purple pages of programme activities for you to
add into the mix in your Unit. Two are explored in more detail. We consider the
tricky area of how to get support from the District for Explorer Scouting. There’s
also important follow up information about the changes to the upper age range
we reported in December.
A date for your diary Don’t forget Founder’s Day (Baden-Powell’s birthday) is 22 February. If you
aren’t holding a Founder’s Day service or other special event perhaps spend
some time with your Explorer Scouts telling the story of Scouting’s beginnings,
or impart some of B-P’s wise words as you pause for thought at a meeting.
Back to basics
10 Jet skiGet wet, go fast, and go home
11 A question of supportThe big question asks how to get more from the District for Explorer Scouting
Contents 4 Skills with pedigree
A quick-fi re guide to the skills Scouting was built on
6 The adventure A to ZYour handy directory of programme gems
8 Bat boxesA conservation activity your Explorers will love
14 Moving with the timesImportant information regarding the moving-on age for Explorer Scouts
17 Two of the festDates to inspire and evoke refl ection
18 Sitting prettyMore from our resident games experts
Your Explorer Scout Section Working GroupAlex Minajew, UK Commissioner for Programme Gemma Veitch, Programme and Development Adviser
Contact them at:[email protected]
Programme Team, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QWTel: 0845 300 1818
ADVERTISINGRichard [email protected] Tel: 020 8962 1258
ON THE COVERExplorer Scout Jack, 17, attended a Q&A with Ed Milliband on the COP15 Climate Conference. Jack said: ‘We need to get a stronger, legally binding treaty that ensures that climate change is taken more seriously across the world. Scouting has a massive part of play in this. We’ve got to make a big move before it’s too late.’
CorrectionIn Young Leaders’ Essentials chapter 5 there is an error on Mission One. It should read:Plan and run three indoor activities for the section with which you are working.Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
explorer_FINAL.indd 3 13/01/2010 11:09
4 Explorer February/March 2010
I t can be easy to forget that many Explorers have
never been Scouts before they join the Unit, so
while some traditional skills will be second nature
to you, they might be completely new to them.
While saying that, there will also be Explorers in your Unit
who could light a fire with their eyes closed (don’t try this
at home!) and they can be useful in introducing the core
skills of Scoutcraft to the newer recruits.
Why teach Scouting skills?The answer may seem obvious to you, but every one of
the skills featured below have been met with an
incredulous ‘What’s the point of that?’ at one point. If not
explained and contextualised, young people can feel like
they are not learning anything with a practical use, but the
bottom line when it comes to Scouting is that the skills you
gain prepare you for adulthood or increase your self-
reliance and independence. There may be little use for a
bivouac in the classroom, but when faced with a survival
situation (which given the weather events of January is a
distinct possibility) knowing some Scouting skills can mean
the difference between life and death.
What skills are there?Survival skills and fieldcraft. This includes:
• animal tracking
• skinning a rabbit
• knife, saw and axe skills
• shelter building
• fire lighting
• backwoods cooking.
Pioneering projects. It’s amazing what can be built from
wood and rope. From simple structures like A-frames to
complex bridges and intricate gateways, Explorers can get
seriously addicted to pioneering if they are confident in the
basics. Pioneering materials are getting harder to come by,
but several Scout campsites offer this as an on-site activity
and it’s well worth investigating if you’re a novice. See
www.pioneeringmadeeasy.co.uk – a website started by
Scout Leaders with a passion for poles.
Tracking wide games. Fun in the woods teaching
strategy and teamwork, while developing wit and
derring-do.
Codes and signals. Espionage may not be an entry-level
industry, but learning codes and signals will improve your
Explorers’ communication skills, and can be fitted in
to various games and activity base meetings to give
added flavour.
Knot tying and lashings. Useful in several scenarios
from climbing to sailing, knowing knots will put your
Explorers ahead of the pack.
Skills with
pedigree
Kicking off the Scouting skills issue of
Explorer, Mel Brammer
shares some creative
ideas to put some time-
honoured, outdoor
skills at the heart of your Unit programme
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SKILLS FOR SCOUTS
SCOUTING SKILLS ACTIVITY BADGEFind the requirements of this badge in The Unit Programme or by searching for ‘Explorer Activity Badges’ on www.scouts.org.uk
Find the requirements of this
Making and reading plans, charts and maps. Scouts
should be experts in getting from A to B in the fastest and
most comfortable way. Making maps is a highly skilled
profession, which Scouts should be well-placed to
consider as a career.
Weather forecasting. Recognising cloud patterns, wind
direction and other natural signs that can turn your
Explorers into amateur Ulrika Jonssons.
A Scouting skills camp. Get back-to-basics on a
greenfield site (a greenfield Nights Away Permit is
required). Include some of the following activities in your
camp programme:
• Dig a latrine
• Make camp gadgets
• Pioneering project
• Make a camp oven
• Explorers cook a meal, at least some of which on an
open fire.
The Scouting Skills Activity Badge is a good way
of structuring your programme with a common aim in
mind. The basic requirement is lots of camping, and while
working towards your 20 nights the Explorers can begin
to take on higher levels of responsibility, so that by the
end they are able to plan and organise the camps
almost unaided.
‘Skilling up’If you aren’t sure where to start with some of these
activities, and it’s as new to you as to some of the Explorer
Scouts then there are plenty of places you can go for help.
The first port of call should be a fellow leader. There will
always be a leader in the District with eons of experience
in these more traditional skills who would be only too
happy to have you along to one of their camps to train
you, or who you could ask along to run the activity and
teach you and your Explorer Scouts at the same time! You
can also check out the factsheets on www.scouts.org.uk/
infocentre in the General Activities, Land Activities, and
Scout sections for information on fire lighting, shelter
building, pioneering and more. The Scout Handbook and
the newly-published Scouting Skills book are also
must-haves. See the main magazine pages 20-25 for
details of this new book.
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6 Explorer February/March 2010
Outdoor adventures are the bread and butter of the Explorer section. This article has an online counterpart, and the A-Z of Activities at www.scouts.org.uk/a-z should be your starting point when planning adventurous activities for your Unit
B efore you read the list, a word of guidance.
These aren’t meant to be off-the-shelf
ideas; for those you should
go to Programmes Online
at www.scouts.org.uk/pol
However, the list below should at least get you
and your Explorer Scouts thinking. Get them to add
to the list and before you know you’ll never be without
an idea.
AAerial runway
Aircraft identification
Allotment
Archery
Astronomy
Athletics
Axes and saws
BBackwoods cooking
Ballooning
Bat boxes (see page 8)
Bat walk
Bell boating
Bike maintenance
Bird boxes
Birds of prey
Bouldering
Bungee running
CCamping
Canadian canoeing
Candle making
Canyoning
Car maintenance
Carving
Caving
Clay pigeon shooting
Climbing
Coasteering
Code of conduct
Come dine with me
Community survey
Conservation
Coracle making
Cow milking
Crafts
Crate stacking
Cycling
DDecorating
Dinghy sailing
Dragon boating
Drumming
Dry-stone walling
EEquipment maintenance
FFairtrade quiz
Fencing
Film making
Fire lighting
Fire safety
First aid
Flying
Forestry
GGardening
Ghost walk
Gliding
Go-karting
Gorge walking
The adventure A to Z
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Grass sledging
Gym fitness assessment
HHang gliding
High ropes
Hill walking
Horse riding
Hot-air ballooning
Hovercrafting
IIce climbing
Ice cream making
Incident hike
International evening
JJet ski (see page 10)
JOTA/JOTI
Junk band
KKayaking
Kite flying
Kite making
Kite surfing
Knot tying
LLaser games
Leadership and team
development
Letter writing
Life saving
MMarshalling
Martial arts
Microlighting
Mini hot-air balloon
making
Mini pioneering
Model making
Monopoly games
Morse code
Mountain biking
Mountain rescue
Museum visit
NNarrow boating
Newsletter
Night hike
OOrienteering
PPainting
Parachuting
Parascending
Phonetic alphabet
Photography
Pioneering
Pizza making
Prison visit
QQuartermaster
Quad bikes
Quiz
RRadio broadcast
Radio production
Raft building
Ready, steady cook
Relay games
Remembrance
RNLI
Role-play games
Rollerskating
Route planning
Rowing
SSand sculpture
Scouting history
Scouts’ Own
Scuba diving
Sculpture
Sheep shearing
Shelter building
Skateboarding
Skiing
Snorkelling
Snowboarding
Surf rescue
Swimming
TTheatre performance
Treasure hunts
Tree/plant identification
Trips abroad
UUrban golf
Uniform tidying
VVoluntary work
Viking night
XXylophone making
WWaterskiing
Weather forecasting
Website workshop
White water rafting
Wide games
Wild food walk
Windsurfing
YYo-yo tournament
ZZorbing
Activity directory
>>
A TO ZOver the next few issues, we’ll randomly take a few of these activities and explore them in more detail with further information and inspiration for you.
8 Explorer February/March 2010
Diagram 1 - Cutting plan for wood
Do this as a stand alone activity or as part of a
conservation project on bats. This would also make a
good joint activity with Cubs or Scouts: the Explorers learn
how to do it first and then guide the younger section. This
way, all the Scouts can work towards the Environment
Partnership Award.
Skills and equipment It would be helpful to have enough equipment for the
Explorer Scouts to use in pairs or threes rather than
everybody waiting to use the only hammer or drill. This
activity is well suited to asking someone with skill in
woodwork/DIY to come in and deliver the session. This
could be in the form of a parent, local wildlife trust
volunteer, or a Scout Active Support member (formerly
Fellowship). This frees the leadership team up to supervise
the wilder Explorers who your risk assessment judges
more likely to take somebody’s hand off with the saw!
Building the boxyou will need (per box):
• plank of untreated wood 120 x 23 x 2cm
• odourless external wood glue such as Extramite
• nails (40mm)
• metal eyelet for hanging
• pencil
• woodsaw
• hammer
• ruler.
1. Using a pencil, divide and cut the plank as shown in
diagram 1.
2. Place the backboard on a flat surface and cut ridges into
it, 2mm deep every 5mm, to make a ‘ladder’ for the
bats to climb up.
3. The top edge of the backboard and the rear edge of the
roof must be bevelled to fit.
4. Fix the box together as shown in diagram 2, but cut off
the acute angled ends of the sides to give the entrance
slot the required width.
5. Use both nails and glue and make sure all the sides fit
together well to prevent drafts. Ensure the door is a
loose fit to allow for the wood swelling.
Where to put your bat boxesAim to put your bat boxes where bats are known to feed,
such as woodland, parkland, riverbanks and of course
Scout campsites! Try to keep the boxes sheltered from
strong winds. Make sure they are close to a tree line or
hedge, as bats will often use these to navigate and are
reluctant to cross open spaces to get to roosts. It’s a good
idea to position bat boxes in threes, all facing in different
directions around a tree trunk for example, so that the
bats can move into the one that is the optimum
temperature depending on the time of day or year. They
should be at least 5m from the ground.
Bat boxes
Adventure A-Z
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Diagram 2 - Side view of bat box
ACTIVITY DIRECTORY
MORE INFO Bat Conservation Trust. www.bats.org.ukLocal Wildlife Trusts. www.wildlifetrusts.org
Diagrams courtesy of the Bat Conservation Trust (www.bats.org.uk)
Going battyBats need a range of roosting sites and their
natural roosts in the wild are often
disappearing as modern houses seal up the
nooks and crannies favoured by these
fascinating creatures. There are a range of
different bat box designs online, some of which
can be found on Programmes Online. The most
important features are insulated and rough sawn,
untreated wood. Don’t be alarmed if bats don’t take to
your box immediately, they can take a while to move in to
unknown premises. Check for crumbly black or brown
droppings on the ground to see if it’s occupied, and if it
isn’t after three years, then you might want to consider
moving the box.
It is illegal to disturb any bat when it is roosting, or to
kill, injure or handle a bat without a licence. If your box is
occupied or you find an injured bat, contact your local bat
conservation group or wildlife trust – both are good
contacts for extending this project or borrowing bat
detectors.
Related activitiesBat walk. Contact your local bat conservation group or
Wildlife Trust and ask them to take you on a bat walk with
detectors. The best time would be late spring or early
autumn when dusk hits at Explorer Scout meeting time.
Bat talk. Ask a representative of your local bat
conservation group to come and do a talk on bats.
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10 Explorer February/March 2010
Offering the chance to jet ski would be a programme
highlight for many Explorer Scouts. A jet ski is a
lightweight motorised personal watercraft which can be
sat or stood on.
Do it yourselfIf you are lucky enough to have personal watercraft at
your disposal then you need to look at the Scout Led Activities Index (FS120086). This lists all the relevant rules
and guidance needed to run this activity yourself. The
main factsheet is Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) (FS120658).
To run the activity you will need to have either
somebody with a leadership permit for this type of craft
and class of water responsible for each craft or a
supervisory permit holder supervising up to three craft and
with immediate access to a rescue craft. Alternatively, the
Explorer Scouts and leaders taking part might have been
assessed previously and hold a personal permit (this would
indicate that they’ve quite a bit of experience).
Buy it inAs few Explorer Units would be lucky enough to have
access to jet skis for all their members, or enough people
with the appropriate permits, it’s more likely that you
would buy in this activity, perhaps as a taster session. Use
the Commercially Led Activities Index (FS120086). This
refers you to the relevant rules and factsheets to look at
before you start, and also takes you through the steps you
need to take before you engage an outside organisation
to run the activity.
For jet skiing, the external provider does not need to be
licensed by AALA (Adventurous Activities Licensing
Authority), but instructors should at minimum have the
RYA Personal Watercraft Instructor Qualification. Finding
an external provider might prove tricky. Try the ‘Where’s
my nearest’ tool at www.rya.org.uk and select Personal
Watercraft. A local shop that sells jet skis may point you in
the right direction, but then do your insurance and safety
homework very carefully.
Jet skiAdventure A-Z
A TO ZFor all your activity needs, make the A-Z of Activities your first port of call. www.scouts.org.uk/a-z
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Q&A
A question of support
We are doing quite well with our Explorer Unit, but I don’t think that we are getting enough support from the Groups or the District. What do we do?
Travelling around the country speaking to Explorer Scout Leaders has shown Mel Brammer that District support is clearly a key issue for the section. It’s obviously not easy to overcome, and one size fits all solutions are few and far between. Here she offers some personal thoughts on the matter
What‘s the problem?In my view some of the problems here stem from the way
that Explorer Scouts was set up in many Districts. The idea
of the section being a District-wide provision and
managed at District level, meant to overcome some of the
problems with low numbers that the Venture Scout
Section had experienced, has been shown to work, as the
Explorer Scout section has been able to offer a vibrant
programme and has continued to grow since its
introduction. However, the concept was a new one and
some people struggled initially with its intended flexibility.
In some Districts it became a bit of a wrestling match
between the newly appointed District Explorer Scout
Commissioner and the Group Scout Leaders. The District
Explorer Scout Commissioner had his or her own ideas
about where the Explorer Units should be placed, and in
many cases the Group Scout Leaders wanted Units
partnered with their Groups. Some wanted Units to
‘belong’ to them, which wasn’t quite the idea! As a result
a lot of Groups out there felt disenfranchised about the
whole section, and felt 14 year olds were being ‘taken
away’ from them.
Added to this, District Executive Committees now faced
having direct responsibility for a youth section, a new
concept and one which is still escaping many Execs.
Several years on, some may still feel the section is not very
well served by the Groups and the District.
What do we want?In answering this question, we first need to look at who
‘we’ is, which goes to the heart of the matter. Groups,
Explorer Units and ‘the District’ should not be viewed as
separate entities. Groups and Explorer Units (together with
local Networks and Scout Active Support Units) go
together to make up the Scout District. Explorer Scouting
may belong to a District, but so do all the Group sections,
and every Member has a role to play in supporting its
Units. Equally, Explorer Scouts have a role in supporting
the Groups.
Group volunteers have to understand that the Explorer
Scout section is a youth section with a Programme of its
own (not just a reservoir of Young Leaders). Older Scouts
need to be told about Explorers by their leaders, so that
they see the Unit as a natural progression from the Troop.
We need more cooperation and sharing of expertise,
experience, skills and equipment in both directions
between Groups and Explorer Units. After all, Scout
Groups and Explorer Scout Units are in this for the same
purpose: providing activities, experiences and
development opportunities to young people. It isn’t a
competition and a case of us and them. Scouting is about
working together to offer a life changing opportunity to
young people.
Of course we also need more District Executives to
understand and take their role and responsibility as the
Executive body of the section seriously. (This was covered
in more detail in the April/May 2009 issue of Explorer.
How can we achieve it?It’s all about building good relationships and re-educating
people without conflict, with perhaps a bit of a reminder
about what Scouting is all about!
The role of the DESC includes making sure that the
section is supported by the District and there are good
>>
explorer_FINAL.indd 11 13/01/2010 11:11
relationships with the Groups, so they need to manage
this. They should be supported by the District
Commissioner, who is both their line manager and the line
manager for the Groups, as well as being the person who
appoints the District Chairperson. If there are real issues
then an intermediary such as the Assistant County
Commissioner (Explorer Scouts) or the County
Commissioner might be called on to lend a bit of support.
It might be worth exploring some of the issues at a
District Team or District Leaders’ meeting as well as the
District Executive. Some of the problems in this area may
have been festering beneath the surface now since
Explorer Scouts was introduced in 2001.
Talk about what the problems seem to be and the
outcomes that you would like, and be prepared to listen to
what everybody else thinks too.
Partnering upAs time goes by it could be that a Group would like to be
partnered with an Explorer Unit, is well placed to do so
and would offer a lot of support. Their request shouldn’t
be ignored ‘because it’s a District section and we’ve got
one District Unit’. Embrace the flexibility which was such
an important building block of the section. As long as the
section is managed by the District and is offering a
Programme which is open and accessible to all Explorer
Scouts in the District, the placing of Units is entirely up to
the District – which should be the District Explorer Scout
Commissioner, in consultation with other members of the
District, including Group Scout Leaders. With an open and
frank discussion about what support the Explorer Section
wants, and how that might be achieved, great steps
forward could be taken.
On a smaller scale, Explorer Scout Leaders should be in
regular communication with Scout Leaders and Group
Scout Leaders. If they aren’t telling you about their older
Scouts then a) keep asking them, and b) think about how
well you communicate in the other direction – do you tell
them about your Programme, do they know who you are
and what your Explorers get up to?
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, from
anecdotal comments and questions from District Explorer
Scout Commissioners and Explorer Scout Leaders we
know this is still a very big issue out there. If Explorer
Scouts has managed so much success with limited support
>>
With effective District support, bigger camps and wider opportunities become a possibility.
12 Explorer February/March 2010
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From Groups and Districts in some places, imagine the exponential leap we’d make if we managed to sort the
problem out!
In the next issue we’ll explore how to get ideas for the Community Service, Values and Relationships and Global
Programme Zones. In the meantime get back to us with some answers to this question for a future issue…
We want to offer the Chief Scout’s Platinum and Diamond Award in our Explorer Unit, and the linked DofE Awards. None of our leaders have any experience of the awards or the permits or know how to train for, organise and supervise expeditions in the outdoors. How can we offer these Awards?
If you have any answers to this question, or would like to ask readers of Explorer your own Big Question, then
please send it to [email protected] with ‘Explorer Scout Supplement: Q+A’ in the subject line.
Q&A
Caption competitionOpen to Explorer Scout Leaders and Young Leaders
(so please share with members of your Young
Leader Unit) can you come up with a cunning
caption for this photo? We are looking for the
funniest and most poignant entries, to celebrate
the value of Young Leaders within Scouting.
Entries must be submitted by 31 March,
to [email protected] with
‘YL Caption Competition’ in the subject line.
Please include a name, age and postal address.
Depending on the quality, appropriate prizes
may be given.
Good luck!
explorer_FINAL.indd 13 13/01/2010 11:11
14 Explorer February/March 2010
Moving with the timesIf you read your December/January issue of Explorer you will know that from July Explorer Scouts will be required to move on from the section on or before their 18th Birthday. Gemma Veitch answers your questions
D uring the past few years we have
received numerous pieces of
feedback from the Movement that
the current age range flexibility (up
to 18½ years old) causes confusion in the Explorer
Scout section in relation to the following:
• Lack of clarity as to the need for a CRB/Access
Northern Ireland disclosure*SV at 18 years old.
• An individual can hold an adult appointment
and be an Explorer Scout at
the same time – giving rise to conflicting
responsibilities and confusion about their
status.
• Confusion surrounding sleeping arrangements
for someone aged 18 to 18½ years old when
on an Explorer Scout event with fellow
Explorers aged between 14 and 18 years old.
• The Scout Association’s Permit Scheme applies
to those aged 18 years old and over.
• Confusion regarding the position of Explorer
Scout Young Leaders aged between 18 and
18½ years old.
With the implementation of this change from July
2010 the above issues will be clarified.
Q: When do people have to get a CRB/ Access Northern Ireland disclosure?*SV
A: When a young person
reaches the age of 18
(and wishes to remain in
Scouting) they must be
registered on the Vetting
and Barring Scheme and
complete a CRB/Disclosure
check.*SV
Q: When an Explorer moves on where can they go?A: Explorer Scouts can move
on to any or all of:
• The Scout Network section
(from 17½ years of age)
• To a role in Scout Active
Support (from 18 years
of age)
• To any other adult role in
Scouting (from 18 years
of age).
It is hoped the age changes will encourage more 18-25 year olds to take
on section leader roles
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ExplorEr agE rangE
Q: When will Explorers have to move on by? A: The transition window to
move on from Explorer Scouts
will be from 17½-18 years old.
They will have to move on by
their 18th birthday.
Q: There is no local Network for my Explorers to move on to?A: This is an ideal
opportunity to look at the
Network provision
across the County and
ensure it is suitable.
Your District Explorer
Scout Commissioner and
District Commissioner should
be having conversations with the County
Scout Network Commissioner/Area Scout
Network Commissioner/Assistant Regional
Commissioner Scout Network (Scotland) to
help this process move smoothly.
Encouraging Explorers to move by the time
they are 18 years old allows the local Network
much more opportunity to build an attractive
and active programme with the larger numbers
and utilising the skills the Explorer Scouts will be
bringing as they move on.
Q: I have an Explorer Scout who will turn 18 during summer camp/Jamboree what do I need to do?A: Before the camp the Explorer Scout will need
to complete a CRB/Access Northern Ireland
disclosure*SV. It will be good practice for them to
have their own accommodation from the
beginning of the camp instead of having to move
on their birthday. This can be a great opportunity
to invest them into the Scout Network in a
memorable way!
Q: Does this affect the DofE and Queen’s Scout Award Expedition?A: No, Explorer and Network members will still
be able to complete their expeditions together.
They will still need to ensure that their
accommodation is separate for over 18’s and
under 18’s.
Q: Does this affect DofE and Queen Scout Award Volunteering/Service in Scouting?
Move on up! Reaching 18 can be cause to celebrate, as many options are available to Explorer Scouts
*SV ScottiSh variationSThe legislation regarding the availability and applicability of disclosure checks is different in Scotland. For further details please contact Scottish Headquarters on 01383 419073 or [email protected]
>>
explorer_FINAL.indd 15 13/01/2010 11:11
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A: No nothing will need to change. If someone is under 18
they will be participating in the Young Leader’s Scheme.
Once they turn 18 they will participate in the Adult
Training Scheme.
Q: I have an Explorer Scout who is definitely ready to move on at 17½. How can I support them with this?A: You need to contact the local Scout Network Leader so
they are aware of this Explorer Scout. Ideally you will have
already had joint meetings so the leader will be known to
both you and the Explorer Scouts. When they are invested
into the Scout Network section they automatically need to
register on the VBS and complete their CRB/Disclosure.
They will need to continue having separate sleeping
accommodation until they are 18 years old. The person
running any activities that they participate in before they
turn 18 will need to hold the relevant permit.
Although this change does not take effect until July 2010
it is worth thinking about it now and use the opportunity
to produce a strategy for moving Explorer Scouts on. It is
important that everyone takes on the responsibility to
ensure that these Members are supported and have full
understanding of the opportunities they have within the
Movement.
Gemma Veitch is the Programme and Development Adviser for Explorer Scouts
For more information please refer to www.scouts.org.uk/vbs or contact the Programme Team via the Information Centre 0845 300 1818 or [email protected]
more info
>>
Explorer Camp Saver PackItem code: 1027666
Save £18.75 against items sold separately Get kitted out for camp and make a big saving.
Detachable headlight with 3 light settings. One minute of winding
provides 20 minutes of power.
On the move or in your tent, get a good night’s sleep with a space-
saving inflatable pillow.
This essential mat gives pro-tection, insulation and comfort
and has multiple uses.
Vango Nitestar 250 Sleeping Bag
Item code: 1026328
£25
Recommended for DofE, the Nitestar offers warm
and seriously comfortable sleeping for the dedicated
camper.
Scouts Be Prepared
65 Litre RucksackItem code: 1027425
£45
With adjustable back system, emergency whistle
and plenty of features, this robust rucksack has
everything you need to be prepare for a hike.
£70
explorer_FINAL.indd 16 13/01/2010 11:11
17scouts.org.uk/pol
FESTIVALS
Bahá’í festival of RidvánBahá’í is one of the world’s youngest
faiths, founded in Iran in 1863. It was
founded by a young Iranian, known as
The Báb. He foretold of the coming of
Bahá’u’lláh, whom Bahá’ís believe is the
latest manifestation of God.
The Bahá’í faith accepts all world
religions as having noble, true
beginnings. Unity is a core principle to
followers. There are 6 million Bahá’ís in
the world, of which about 6,000 live in
the UK.
The festival of Ridván last 12 days and
commemorates when Baha’u’llah
declared that he was the Promised One
of all previous religions. During this time,
followers observe holy days, meet
together, pray and tell stories about the
experiences of the early Bahá’ís. One of
the special beliefs of the faith is that
whenever you open your mouth to pray,
whether alone or among friends, the
spot you are in becomes a sacred place
of worship.
Idea: Learn more about the Bahá’í faith
as a Network and spend some time of
personal reflection without any ritual.
For more info see www.bahai.org
Deaf awareness weekEvery year in May, hundreds of deafness
charities get together to raise awareness
of deafness.
There are 35,000 deaf children in the
UK and three more born every day.
Idea: Contact your nearest deaf school
or support group for deaf children. Put
on a Scouting activity for the children,
learn some basic sign language, and
think about how you can raise
awareness together about the issues
facing deaf people.
Deaf Friendly Scouting, a resource produced by The Scout Association and NCDS, is available from the Scout Information Centre. Call 0845 300 1818 or email [email protected]
more info
Faith and awareness events for April/MayApril 2 Good Friday (Christian)
4 (19th Orthodox) Easter Day
(Christian)
5 Ch’ing Ming/Festival of pure
brightness (Chinese)
8 Hanamatsuri (Buddhist)
12 Yom Ha-Shoah (Jewish)
14 Vaisakha/Baisakhi (Sikh)
21 1st Day of Ridván (Bahá’í)
23 St George’s Day
25 Start of Save the Children
week
26 Start of RSPCA week
MayNational share a story month
2 Lag B’omer (Jewish)
3 Start of deaf awareness week
3 Start of Red Cross week (tbc)
8 World fair trade day
9 Start of Christian Aid week
13 Ascension Day (Christian)
19-20 Shavuot (Jewish)
23 Pentecost/Whitsuntide
(Christian)
23 Anniversary of the declaration
of the Báb (Bahá’í)
27 Vesakha Puja/Wesak/Buddha
Day (Buddhist)
29 Anniversary of the ascension
of Baha’u’llah (Bahá’í)
Two of the fest
Spiritual development is no less important a principle in the Network, but no less difficult as we all have searching questions and different journeys. In forthcoming issues we will be mentioning events that could form the basis of an activity or discussion at a future meeting
explorer_FINAL.indd 17 13/01/2010 11:12
18 Explorer February/March 2010
My chair
Electric chair
Check out www.scouts.org.uk/pol for more Explorer Scout games
more info
Sitting pretty
Iona and Alasdair are back again sharing some of the games they play at Unit meetings. Add these to your repertoire: they are both indoor games and can be played with up to 25 Explorers
Equipment:a chair for everyone
This one’s a bit like the game Shuffle Bum but with a twist…• Arrange the chairs in a circle facing inwards. Everybody
sits on a chair except one person who stands in the
middle leaving an empty seat.
• The person with the empty chair on their right moves
on to it, saying ‘my chair’.
• Then the second person moves to the new empty seat
(directly on their right) and says ‘my chair’.
• The third person will call out somebody else’s name,
eg ‘Alasdair’s Chair’, and doesn’t move themselves.
Alasdair has to get up and move to the empty seat and
then the game continues with the person with the new
empty seat on their right. In the meantime the person
in the middle is trying to get into the empty seat before
the player who is due to get to it, making them
the person in the middle.
• Occasionally you can shout ‘change direction’ so that
now the person to move is the one with the chair
on their left! The confusion adds to the excitement.
Equipment: a chair/tarpaulin/chalk circle/mess tent in bag or similar
• Everyone links wrists in a circle. The chair or other object
is in the middle.
• The aim of the game is not to touch the chair or break
the chain, but to make other people do so. When
someone hits the chair they are out, the circle is
re-linked and the game continues.
• If the circle breaks, then both people are out, regardless
of who let go of whom, so it’s important to keep a tight
hold of your neighbour.
• The game continues in this way until only two people
are left. They link back to back and continue until one
of them touches the chair, deciding the winner.
explorer_FINAL.indd 18 13/01/2010 11:12
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: CANOEING • CLIMBING • COASTEERING
GORGE WALKING • KAYAKING • SURFING • CAVING • WHITE WATER RAFTING
TEAM BUILDING • ASSAULT COURSE/ LOW ROPES • FIELD SKILLS
Nant Y Pobty Farm Coed Y Bryn, Llandysul Ceradigion, SA44 5LQ
Phone: 07787123761 [email protected]
Adventure Beyond is a family run centre
based in West Wales. We have venues and camping or bunk house accommodation
in St Davids, Cardigan Bay, Brecon Beacons.
Jethro MooreAdventure Beyond
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