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ON THE MOVEON THE MOVE
Get to grips with the Expedition Challenge
The magazine for Scout Leaders
August/September 2009
In a spin?Navigation for novices
Pack alertThe right way
to stuff a rucksack
The Bumper
Book of BraveryThe Bumper WIN
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IFC_SCOUTS_AugSep09.indd 6 06/07/2009 14:17
INTRO
3scouts.org.uk/pol
WELCOME
Contents
Over the last few months we have gathered some feedback on the Expedition Challenge, says
Alasdair McBay. This edition we focus on making it easier for your Scouts to gain this important award –
and get the bug for adventure
Scouts who complete their Chief Scout’s Gold Award repeatedly tell us the
Expedition Challenge provides them with their greatest memories and their
funniest moments in the Troop. The hours of planning; the endless list of things
that happen on the expedition and the time spent putting the presentation
together are all positive and worthwhile. They form the essence of Scouting –
teamwork, fun, opportunities for leadership and outdoor adventure to list just
a few.
On the other hand, there is a lot of evidence – particularly from the Your
Programme Your Voice survey – that leaders find the challenge difficult to
deliver. Flexibility is the key here. The expedition does not have to be a huge
undertaking over Terrain Two ground. Indeed, I have recently heard some
imaginative and creative ideas for completing the challenge in an urban setting.
Some also say it can be a large investment of leaders’ time for a small number
of Scouts or that Troops have a lack of resources (either in equipment or
expertise). In many cases this can be turned into an opportunity to link with
other Troops or Explorer Scout Units for support and to share experiences.
Like so many things we do, both in Scouting and elsewhere, it is so easy
to find reasons not to do something. Consider again the huge value that the
Expedition Challenge can offer your Scouts and I am sure you will see the
benefit to both them and your Troop.
Happy exploring!
Into the great wide open
Your Scout Support TeamAlasdair McBay – UK Adviser (Scout Section),Ed Wilson – Programme & Development Adviser
Contact them at:[email protected]
Scout Support Team The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW; Tel. 0845 300 1818
AdvertisingTom [email protected] Tel: 020 8962 1258
BE PART OF IT!
Good luck with your Big Adventure – don’t forget to tell us about your event at [email protected] Check www.scouts.org.uk/thebigadventure to find out what others are doing.
Front cover photo by Allan Baxter shows a Scout from 1st Teddington tent pitching in Bushy Park London. Thank you to the young people and leaders from the whole Group for their help with this issue.
4 To boldly go Ed Wilson gets to grips with the detail of the Expedition Challenge and dispels one or two myths on the way
6 NavigationScouting’s James Taylor gives a navigation masterclass for you to pass on to your budding explorers.
8 Programmes on a plateThis issue’s theme is expeditions, of course
10 Meeting sparklers Whistling, clapping, squeezing – all in this latest batch from Andrew Corrie
12 Pack it inThe inside guide to packing a rucksack
14 Route of kingsA different take on the traditional expedition
16 Location, location, locationTim Dance’s tent pitching advice for a better night’s sleep
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4 Scouts August/September 2009
We often think of an expedition as a journey that involves travelling to the ends of the earth, says Ed Wilson. It needn’t be that way – as long as there is a clear purpose, the destination could just as easily be Newport as Nairobi
W hether we are talking about the voyages of
Captain Scott or Charles Darwin, expeditions
usually have one thing in common, and that is
to find something out. This is what makes an
expedition different from somebody travelling for travel’s sake.
The Expedition Challenge very much reflects this idea. It is not
just about travelling as far as possible or through terrain that
is a challenge to somebody completing their Queen’s Scout
Award expedition. The most important thing about the challenge
is to make sure there is a purpose to the journey.
I was recently talking to a Scout Leader whose Scouts had
travelled from their home town into York, looked around, stayed
the night in a hostel and then travelled back. However, two
members of the group had to be in a wheel chair for the whole
time. This is just as valid a purpose as any other but does go to
show how creative we can be when running an expedition. There
are two ways of completing the Challenge, which
are outlined below.
Option A – A journey with a purpose Take part in an expedition over two days (including a night away)
with at least three friends. Be involved in the planning of the
expedition, complete relevant training and be properly prepared.
During the expedition:
a. Play a full part in the team.
b. Journey for at least four hours each day.
c. Use a map to keep track of where you are.
d. Stay overnight at a hostel or other suitable venue, or camp
overnight at a suitable site.
e. Cook the evening meal and breakfast.
f. Achieve at least one goal, agreed with your leader before
the expedition.
To boldy go
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THE EXPEDITION CHALLENGE
Option B – A purpose with a journeyTake part in an exploration over two days (including a night away)
with at least three friends, and report or present your findings. You
must be involved in the planning of the expedition, complete relevant
training and be properly prepared. You must have completed some
initial research into the subject to be investigated. The challenge
should take place somewhere you have never been before or don’t
know well.
During the exploration:
a. Play a full part in the team.
b. Travel for at least 90 minutes to a hostel, campsite or other
suitable venue.
c. Use a map to keep track of where you are.
d. Conduct the exploration within an agreed area (discussed
with a leader in advance) collecting evidence and information
for the report or presentation.
e. Stay overnight at the venue and cook the evening meal and
breakfast.
f. Complete the exploration before returning home.
g. Have the report or presentation ready within four weeks
of the exploration.
Before they go Expedition planning is essential. However the good news is that all the
forms are exactly the same, unless a specific Activity Permit is needed.
When deciding what equipment is needed think about what the
Scouts are able to carry. Would it be better for them to stay in a youth
hostel on each night? Both indoor and outdoor options are perfectly
valid.
Adult supervision Another question I am often asked is whether Scouts should be
accompanied all the way or watched from a distance. When making
this decision you should consider their training and experience: have
they ever done anything like this before? If you decide to walk with
them you could walk 50m behind. This way you are able to keep in
contact with them but are not close enough so that they can rely
on you.
However, if you decide to supervise from a distance, make sure you
see them at various points during the day. This might be at pre
arranged check points or somewhere they are likely to take a wrong
turning. I was recently talking to a leader who said that if running an
expedition he would give them a route with a permanent feature
that that they would stick to, normally a coast line or river. This way
they have enough flexibility to get lost but always have a feature
that they can find on a map.
Above all, Scouts should enjoy their experience. Remember this will
form the foundations of a Scout’s future enjoyment of expeditions
and adventure.
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 5 14/07/2009 16:05
6 Scouts August/September 2009
Teaching Scouts the basics of navigation can be a challenging process. James Taylor introduces some great ways to make the process both easy and fun. And yes, a GPS is cheating!
W ith Sat Navs (Satellite Navigation
Systems) in every car and GPS (Global
Positioning Systems) in so many pockets,
it has been easy to overlook the good
old fashioned map and compass. But like all electronic
devices, high tech gadgets are not infallible: batteries can
run out, terminals corrode and components can
malfunction. This is one reason why maps are rarely
surpassed in navigation terms. Maps can also answer
many more questions than GPS: a map is a visual
illustration of an area of land – it shows hidden stories,
facts and figures.
Start with the basics To produce confident map readers, whatever the age, it is
essential to start with the basics. To begin, I like to work
with a local map where you can point out some familiar
land marks. Ask the Scouts to imagine going up in a hot
air balloon for a few thousand feet and explain that the
picture on the map is what they would see if they looked
down. Another good exercise is to ask them to make a
map of, say, their campsite, imagined from above.
At this early stage you will need to introduce the
compass and demonstrate how to ‘set a map.’ At an
introductory level, all we need to point out is that a
compass needle points North and that North is always at
the TOP of a map! So, now we are looking at a map
which reflects our surroundings perfectly – this is the time
to start doing some symbol recognition. It’s very easy to
turn such an exercise into a quiz, or maybe ‘Mappo,’
which is bingo using map symbols!
The scale of the problem As we start to venture around the map identifying
churches, railway lines, campsite and so on, the subject of
scale will come up. Again, it might seem difficult to
The right direction
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NAVIGATION
Please see The Scout Handbook (available from www.scouts.org.uk/shop)There is also a great deal of useful info at www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone
more info
explain but really isn’t. Everything is measured in the unit
of a centimetre (cm), and this means that 1:25 000 actually
means 1cm on the map and 25 000 cm on the ground.
The other concept to grasp is that if the scale is larger ie
1: 250 000, there will be more ground per cm on the map.
A conclusion might be that the larger the scale, the less
detail on the map.
What about the blue grid lines on a map? The
horizontal ones are called northings and the vertical ones
are called eastings and they are always labelled with a two
digit number. Explain that these numbers and lines are
used for identifying positions on the map, the eastings
number is always read first and the saying to remember
this is ‘along the corridor and up the stairs’. The
progression needs to be made so that although there are
no more lines printed, we need to be able to imagine
subdividing each square up by 10 units each axis. This
enables us to ‘pin point’ a very specific location with a six
figure grid reference. The best way to help grasp this
concept is simply to play Battleships – this works entirely
by using grid references, albeit only four figure ones.
Raised awarenessAside from straight blue lines, we also find lots of rounded
brown lines going in any direction. These are called
contour lines and they join points of equal height (in
metres above sea level) of land. They are a very important
addition because they make interpretation of the map 3D.
They carry a number which indicates their height
and another line is added each 5m or 10m change in
height. Therefore if the contour lines are close together,
it indicates a steeper rise or fall in land level. A great way
to make sense of this is to cut out gradually increasingly
smaller changing cardboard shapes and sticking them
on top of one another. Ask the Scouts to view the model
from above. Hopefully the penny will drop!
The right direction
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 7 14/07/2009 16:06
8 June/July 2009
Top
5 id
eas
from
Pr
ogra
mm
es O
nli
ne
(Ju
ly)
27539 Scout Islam pack
39393 Human dominoes
43912 Pass the knot
46456 Relic hunt
39274 The silkworm walk
Programmes on a platePOP
This issue’s theme is expeditions,
written by Tony Taylor
N/A Expeditions require careful planning. Leaders should fi rst consult chapter 9 of Policy, Organisation and Rules. There are also factsheets available from the Scout Information Centre giving more detail about different adventurous activities. Throughout the planning process, Scouts should be consulted and their families kept informed so that they are happy to give written permission for their son or daughter to participate.
At the start of the planning process
What shall we do? 15 mins Outdoor and Adventure, Team-building activities
Hold a Troop Forum to discuss what expedition(s) the Scouts wish to undertake. Some may want to do overnight ‘hikes’ on foot, by canoe or cycle. They may also suggest a Troop expedition such as a camp abroad, canal boat trip or a journey in the UK using public transport. Try to reach a consensus about how, where, when and why.
Activities to put into a training programme
Risk Assessment 30 mins Outdoor and Adventure, Visits and visitors
Before completing your chosen expedition, you must carry out a risk assessment. An important element of this is informing others. Invite your District’s Health and Safety Adviser to discuss risks with the Scouts. Decide what the potential hazards are and how the risk of them causing harm can be minimised. Emphasise that everyone has a responsibility for his or her health and safety.
Equipment 60 mins Outdoor and Adventure, Activities with others
Arrange for adults to lead a series of bases, with the Scouts moving from one to another. These should provide an opportunity to practise packing personal kit and training in using any items of kit with which a Scout is not familiar. For example, on a canoe-camping expedition, kit must be stored in double bags in the boat. On a hike, the Scouts may be using compasses for the fi rst time and will need map reading skills.
Fitness training 1 day Outdoor and Adventure,Activities outdoors
Arrange a short practice expedition (or a series, if required) to familiarise the Scouts with their equipment. Carrying a rucksack correctly can reduce stress on the back. Cycling long distances or getting used to the extra drag in a fully laden canoe builds muscles. Operating a canal lock as a team requires training.
Emergency procedures
60 mins Outdoor and Adventure,Team-building activities
Your risk assessment session should have identifi ed hazards. Carry out some emergency simulations to deal with them. This will probably range from dealing with a cut or a burn from a hot stove to rescuing a Scout from water or rough terrain. If any Scout has a particular medical problem, the team members should know how to deal with it.
Just before you go
Final briefi ng 30 mins Outdoor and Adventure,Team-building activities
Before you set off, give the Scouts and their parents an opportunity to ask any questions they may still have. Inform them about the local contact and give them a fi nal copy of your itinerary.
During and after the expedition
Reporting back 60 mins Creative Expression,Activities with others
After the event, arrange a session to report on the outcomes. Invite the parents, leaders from other sections and prospective members. Inform the Scouts before starting that they will be required to report back. This should encourage them to take photographs or keep a log. Also give them the opportunity to rehearse their report(s) before doing so with an audience.
Activity Time Zone/Method Instructions Ref Activity name
8 Scouts August/September 2009
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 8 14/07/2009 16:06
9scouts.org.uk/pol
For more great ideas visit www.scouts.org.uk/pol
N/A Expeditions require careful planning. Leaders should first consult chapter 9 of Policy, Organisation and Rules. There are also factsheets available from the Scout Information Centre giving more detail about different adventurous activities. Throughout the planning process, Scouts should be consulted and their families kept informed so that they are happy to give written permission for their son or daughter to participate.
At the start of the planning process
What shall we do? 15 mins Outdoor and Adventure, Team-building activities
Hold a Troop Forum to discuss what expedition(s) the Scouts wish to undertake. Some may want to do overnight ‘hikes’ on foot, by canoe or cycle. They may also suggest a Troop expedition such as a camp abroad, canal boat trip or a journey in the UK using public transport. Try to reach a consensus about how, where, when and why.
Activities to put into a training programme
Risk Assessment 30 mins Outdoor and Adventure, Visits and visitors
Before completing your chosen expedition, you must carry out a risk assessment. An important element of this is informing others. Invite your District’s Health and Safety Adviser to discuss risks with the Scouts. Decide what the potential hazards are and how the risk of them causing harm can be minimised. Emphasise that everyone has a responsibility for his or her health and safety.
Equipment 60 mins Outdoor and Adventure, Activities with others
Arrange for adults to lead a series of bases, with the Scouts moving from one to another. These should provide an opportunity to practise packing personal kit and training in using any items of kit with which a Scout is not familiar. For example, on a canoe-camping expedition, kit must be stored in double bags in the boat. On a hike, the Scouts may be using compasses for the first time and will need map reading skills.
Fitness training 1 day Outdoor and Adventure,Activities outdoors
Arrange a short practice expedition (or a series, if required) to familiarise the Scouts with their equipment. Carrying a rucksack correctly can reduce stress on the back. Cycling long distances or getting used to the extra drag in a fully laden canoe builds muscles. Operating a canal lock as a team requires training.
Emergency procedures
60 mins Outdoor and Adventure,Team-building activities
Your risk assessment session should have identified hazards. Carry out some emergency simulations to deal with them. This will probably range from dealing with a cut or a burn from a hot stove to rescuing a Scout from water or rough terrain. If any Scout has a particular medical problem, the team members should know how to deal with it.
Just before you go
Final briefing 30 mins Outdoor and Adventure,Team-building activities
Before you set off, give the Scouts and their parents an opportunity to ask any questions they may still have. Inform them about the local contact and give them a final copy of your itinerary.
During and after the expedition
Reporting back 60 mins Creative Expression,Activities with others
After the event, arrange a session to report on the outcomes. Invite the parents, leaders from other sections and prospective members. Inform the Scouts before starting that they will be required to report back. This should encourage them to take photographs or keep a log. Also give them the opportunity to rehearse their report(s) before doing so with an audience.
Activity Time Zone/Method Instructions
9scouts.org.uk/pol
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 9 14/07/2009 16:07
10 Scouts August/September 200910
Get Rhythm Ask the group to follow your instructions:
Everyone standNow, hands on your hips, hands on your knees,Put them behind you, if you please.Touch your shoulders, touch your nose,Touch your ears, touch your toes.Raise your hands high in the air, At your sides, on your hair.Above your head, as before, While you clap, one two, three, four.Now, hands upon the empty space (head),On your shoulders, on your face.Then you raise them up so high, And make your fingers quickly fly.Then you stretch them out toward me,And briskly clap them, one, two, three.
ScoutsScoutsScouts August/September 2009
From a whistle-stop filler and a fruity team game to a brilliant way of encouraging
personal feedback between Scouts, Andrew Corrie is the man with the bright ideas
Meeting sparklersElectric SqueezeHave all the players hold hands in a cricle and designate
one to start the ‘shock’ going by squeezing the hand of
the player to either their right or their left. That player
passes it on. The shock may move in either direction. At
any time a player may send it back the other way. The
person who is ‘it’ watches the faces and hands of the
players closely trying to detect the location of the ‘shock’.
When they guess correctly, the player caught becomes ‘it’.
Whistling ContestEach Scout is given a tune to whistle. If they laugh or
lose the tune they are out of the contest. To add a little
excitement, give each Scout a cream cracker or two
first and then get them to whistle.
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Games and activities
Fruit SaladThe group sits in a circle. Put everybody into one of four
groups - apple, orange, pear and banana. One person
(it could be you) stands in the middle and calls the name
of one of the fruits. If you shout ‘apple!’ then all the
‘apples’ change places. If you shout ‘banana!’ all the
’bananas’ move. The caller can also shout ‘Fruit Salad!’
at which everyone moves.
4 UpThe group sits in a circle. Tell them you are taking
them to a strange planet with a very freaky
atmosphere. There is no point speaking as the sound
will not travel and gravity is such that only four
people can stand up at any one time. It is also
impossible to remain standing for more than ten
seconds. You then challenge the group to go to this
planet – you push the imaginary ‘start’ button and
see if they can keep four people standing all the
time. To stop the game push the ‘button’ again to
reurn to Earth.
Meeting sparklers
Positive FeedbackGive everyone a piece of paper and a piece of
masking tape. Ask the group to help each other
stick their paper on their backs. Give everyone a
felt tip pen. They should go round writing
positive comments on each other’s backs. They
may write messages of thanks, comment on
contributions the person has made to the group,
remind them of a moment they shared
together, in fact anything that is good and
positive. When everyone has had enough
time to collect a good list of praise, stop the
activity and let the group help each other to
remove their lists and read them.
Palm Push
Two Scouts stand facing each other with forearms bent so that they can each press flat palms against the palms of the other. They
push and the one who makes their opponent step back a pace becomes the winner.
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 11 14/07/2009 16:07
12 Scouts August/September 2009
Pack it in!Although every Scout has their own particular method of packing their rucksack, there are some sensible rules everyone to follow. Peter Brooks shares his top tips
O f course the type of event or expedition
planned will dictate what kind of kit you take.
If it’s week of self sufficient camping in
Greenland across rough terrain, then there is
likely to be rather as lot. If it’s a one night expedition
through Norfolk on established paths, then it will probably
be just the basics. Follow these guidelines however and
you won’t find yourself unpacking your entire kit just to
find your compass.
1. Pack the side pockets first. That way you’ll get more in.
2. Pack the first things you will need last and last things
you will need first (got it?). In practice this means that
your raincoat or extra layer of warm clothing, is right at
the top of your pack.
3. Your sleeping bag needs to go right at the bottom if
there is no separate compartment for this.
4. Your fuel should also go at the bottom (if any fuel leaks,
it will leak out the bottom of the bag instead of all over
your clothes.)
5. Place a dustbin bag into the rucksack first and pack into
this; your kit should stay dry even in the wettest
weather.
6. Your sleeping mat should be rolled and attached to the
outside.
7. Keep your wet weather clothing easily accessible in case
of a sudden shower.
8. If you always pack your gear in the same places in your
rucksack, you will always know where to find each item
as you want it.
TOP Waterproof jacket and
warm sweater
MIDDLE Spare clothes,
clean underwear, hankies,
socks, swimwear
BOTTOM Sleeping bag, plate
and mug, stove and fuel, trainers
SIDE POCKET 1 Cutlery,
torch, loo roll, matches, spare
batteries
SIDE POCKET 2 Wash kit,
towel, First Aid Kit
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 12 16/07/2009 10:54
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All profi ts go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).
Get the most fashionable Scouting item of the season,
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SCOUTS_NEW.indd 13 16/07/2009 15:34
14 Scouts August/September 2009
Route of kings
Find out moReFor Expedition Challenge ideas and for further details, log onto Programmes Online and search for ‘Expedition Challenge’. Please also see the June/July issue of Scouting with suggestions for routes across the UK.
Staines
2 km
Shepperton
N
Weybridge
So now we know there are two ways a Scout can achieve the Expedition Challenge: a journey with a purpose and a purpose with a journey, but what does this mean in practice? Ed Wilson sketches out an example that covers both options
Staines to Hampton Court Palace The Thames is a brilliant place to walk. Not only is it
relatively flat, it is accessible, making it easy to manage the
group remotely. It also has a footpath running from one
end to the other. This expedition runs from Staines to
Hampton Court Palace.
The route takes in a variety of landscapes and starts and
finishes at a train station. It also passes a number of places
to camp.
Possible purposeThe route of this walk is significant, not only because of
the outstanding natural habitats, but because it is
historically important, finishing at Henry VIII’s Palace at
Hampton Court. Scouts could also use the expedition to
complete part of the Creative Challenge and Photographer
Activity Badge. Perhaps the feedback from the challenge
could be done as a photo exhibition?
Methods of travelThe expedition could be completed in a number of ways.
With a footpath running the whole way it could be done
by foot or bike. However, there is also the opportunity to
complete an expedition on the water. This would be a
pulling expedition or by kayak. There are a number of
Scout Groups along this part of the Thames that are able
to offer these as possibilities.
Hampton Court
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 14 14/07/2009 16:08
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COMPETITION
Only the brave Only the brave WIN
Five copies up for
grabs!
Expeditions into the unknown require a certain amount of bravery, which is why we’re offering five lucky (or should that be plucky?) Scouts copies of a fabulous new book on the subject
T he Bumper Book of Bravery by Charlie Norton
is packed with hundreds of stories from brave
people (and animals!) from around the world.
Whether it’s Ricky McGee, who survived in the
Australian desert for 10 weeks, or the Tendai marathon
monks who run over 25,000 miles to spiritual
enlightenment, almost all kinds of bravery, great and small,
are in this book.
We believe that there’s a hero in everyone, and we want
your Scouts to prove it by sending their brave stories. We’ll
then pick five lucky winners, who will each win a signed
copy of The Bumper Book of Bravery and a chance to
meet the author!
How to enter • Stories can be any length, but aim for about 100-200
words (half a side of A4)
• The story can be any true act of bravery that the Scouts,
a member of their family (or your pet!) has done –
anything as long as it’s someone they know
• Their story can be about anything. It could be:
- performing on stage in front of a big crowd
- a daring adventure they went on with their friends
- facing their biggest fear
- or a time they helped someone in need.
• Send the stories to The Bumper Book of Bravery
Competition, Scouting magazine, The Scout
Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW
or email them to [email protected] We
may even print the best!
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 15 14/07/2009 16:08
16 Scouts August/September 2009
Location, location, location
‘There’s a river running through my tent!’
We’d all agree, these are not words Scout
Leaders like to hear while on camp. Tim
Dance looks at the perils and pitfalls of
pitching tents
O f course water drainage is only one element
of tent pitching to consider when you arrive
at your site. Look for an obvious slope; if one
cannot be avoided, ensure you sleep with
your head up-hill.
Is the flat surface at the top or the bottom of a hill?
Sleeping at the foot of a hill is fine, assuming no rain water
will trickle down. However no-one can predict the
weather 100% so avoid if possible. Is there a body of still
water or a river with tidal attributes nearby? At high tide,
the powers of nature will not be stopped by canvas.
Think about your neighbours At Scout camps a lot of kit needs to be shifted. Can you
park nearby? Is the site large enough? Tents don’t muffle
sounds, so consider whether your group will disturb others
and would other groups disturb you?
Consider the necessities: Does your site have a place to
cook, wash up, eat, go to the loo and, most importantly,
somewhere for a campfire?
Pitch in If you can, put up your tent during daylight so you can see
what you are doing without disturbing anyone or anything
nearby. Choose a shaded and sheltered location, but avoid
pitching tents beneath a tree. Lightning is attracted to it,
branches do fall down onto tents and bird poop is a
nightmare to clean off. Clear the ground of any rocks or
stones and don’t sleep on tree roots.
Position the back of the tent into the wind, and secure
with guy ropes. Use the correct pegs - titanium stakes for
hard dirt and angle iron for sand and snow. Ensure your
tent seams are aligned and secured. And don’t forget the
golden rule – the inner tent will get wet if it’s in contact
with the outer tent. Go to it!
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 16 14/07/2009 16:08
17scouts.org.uk/pol
Promo
Order yOur pack nOw Visit www.scouts.org.uk/sponsor to order a resource pack to help you get recycling
what a load of rubbish!
There was a huge response following the launch of the Serco Environment Partnership Award at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Milton Keynes. Now Scouts across the UK are taking up the recycling challenge
a re you helping clean up your community?
Litter is a major problem throughout the
country, particularly with the increase in fast
food outlets, the cigarette ban (smokers now
drop their butts outside of pubs, restaurants and offices)
and generally a lack of respect from many, for the
environments we live in.
It is up to all of us to ensure that this problem is not
allowed to increase. We all need to play our parts in
demonstrating our willingness to keep our towns and
countryside rubbish free.
On display In Breckland, Norfolk during April, Serco took part in
Breckland Council’s Environment Week road-show. A
Perspex tank was built and filled with a typical day’s litter,
picked up by our street cleaning team. The amount of
litter shocked many passers-bye who were amazed at how
much Serco had to clean from the streets each day before
people arrived for work or school. This type of display is
very good at making people think before they litter.
Brilliant Belfast Meanwhile, South East Belfast Scout Group, joined other
community volunteers to carry out an amazing clean-up
exercise of the River Lagan in Northern Ireland in May.
Over 70 members including Scouts, Beavers, Cubs,
Explorers and Leaders from Saintfield and Lisburn, all
chipped in to remove litter, logs and branches from along
the tow path. Some even took to the water in canoes to
retrieve litter from trees and branches. They were
rewarded upon their return with hot dogs and burgers!
Mrs Carol Majury, District Commissioner for South-East
Belfast, was one of the organisers: ‘It was a great day,’ she
said, ‘with a great message to the public, great community
spirit, and a great job by Scouts and their leaders.’ The
event ended with the award of the Serco Scouts Environment
Partnership Award to Scouts who took part on the day.
SCOUTS_NEW.indd 17 14/07/2009 16:09
18 Scouts August/September 2009
Order your free pack now at www.scouts.org.uk/sponsor
more info
puffin.co.uk
I n case you didn’t already
know, Scouting and Puffin
have got together to produce
a range of Activity Cards to
help your Scouts gain the Adventure
Challenge. Meet some of the
characters and some of the great
activities available.
Land, sea and air Every adventurer needs a high-speed
getaway and Artemis Fowl is no
exception. The most ingenious criminal
mastermind in history uses every vehicle he has to make his
escape, including hovercrafting and hot air ballooning.
Did you know?The first hot air balloon was launched in 1783 and the
passengers were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. The
balloon stayed in the air for a grand total of 15 minutes.
Riding the rapidsMeanwhile, someone who’s on the right(ish) side of the
law is James Bond. Even before he’d been recruited to the
British Secret Service, he was never far from adventure and
just some of the activities you can do with James are stunt
kiting and rafting. But in the days before Q, no gadgets
were required. Just Bond, James Bond.
Did you know?Rafting was one of the earliest means of transportation
on water. Today, white-water rafting is a popular sport
and included in the Olympic Games.
Enter the dragonWhen it comes to survival skills,
look no further than Jack Fletcher,
Puffin’s very own Young Samurai.
Ship-wrecked in Japan in 1712,
Jack must rely on his natural
instinct for survival and with
deadly ninja pirates at every turn,
Jack tests his dragon boating and
coasteering skills to the max. Not
for the faint hearted!
Did you know? An annual dragon boating competition has taken place in
China, where it originated, for more than 20 centuries as
part of folk ritual. It emerged as an international sport in
Hong Kong in 1976.
Surf’s upSome might call Percy Jackson a troubled kid. But that
aside, Percy does get to ride a horse with wings (aka
Pegasus) and breathe underwater (very
useful when surfing).
Did you know? The biggest wave ever surfed is 80
feet (that’s 25 metres!) tall by Ken
Bradshaw at Outer Log Cabins on
28th January 1998.
New term; new adventures
Learn more about some of the activities Scouts can do with the Puffin Adventure Challenge Badge
new adventuresnew adventures
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