Phoenix Challenge
2022
One Small Step
Table of Contents 1.
Introduction...............................................................................................................3
2.
The International Space Station..................................................................................4 2.1..........................................................................................................Programme Zone 1 ...........................................................................................................................................4 2.2...................................................................................................Programme Zone 2 & 3 ...........................................................................................................................................5 2.3.............................................................................................................Sample Activities ...........................................................................................................................................5 2.4.....................................................................................Expedition Team Equipment List ...........................................................................................................................................7
3.
Astronaut Training Centre..........................................................................................8 3.1.........................................................................................................................Apollo 13 ...........................................................................................................................................8 3.2....................................................................................................................First Contact ...........................................................................................................................................8 3.3.........................................................................................................Rocket Aeronautics ...........................................................................................................................................9 3.4................................................................................................................Cape Canaveral ...........................................................................................................................................9
4.
Solar System Exploration..........................................................................................10
5.
Site Team Equipment List.........................................................................................11
6.
General Guide to Programme Bases.........................................................................12 6.1...................................................................................................Preparing for the Bases .........................................................................................................................................12 6.2................................................................................................................Tackling a Base .........................................................................................................................................12
1. Introduction Dear PL, Welcome to Pack 3. This Pack relates to the Programme taking place at this year’s event and will hopefully guide you in the right direction over the coming months when doing some practice with the Team. We will focus on three primary programme zones but I’m sure everyone will agree that some of the excitement of the Event is the element of surprise so don’t expect too much of the finer detail. For this year’s Phoenix Challenge we would like to concentrate on 4 cornerstones of personal development within scouting, Leadership, Teamwork, Initiative and Creativity. All Programme Zones and Activities with be heavily weighted towards these qualities but of course will always have in the back of the mind ‘Task Completion’. Sometimes it’s how we get there and not the destination that’s important. Anyway, let’s get into some of the nitty gritty and away from the boring stuff.
Yours in Scouting, Eoin Callanan Event Team Lead Eoin.callanan@mtu.ie
2. The International Space Station This section refers specifially to the ‘Expedition Team’, consisting of 3-4 Scouts. We have used the idea of the International Space Station to reinforce the ideals of coming together and working in difficult situations. For both the start of the event and the end the Expedition Team will be on the main site so make sure there is enough tentage to facilitate them. The team will leave the site on Friday morning from the main Quad, and the shuttle buses will begin transportation at 9:00am where they will be moved to the expedition start. The hike is of approx 5km and scouts will be expected to carry both their personal and patrol equipment, which should be pretty minimalistic. The walk is mostly flat on footpaths and road so no need to worry about terraine. The team will return on Saturday afternoon after lunch but before dinner, to the main site and will then resume their position as part of the primary team. During the journey the Scouts will take part in a number of bases until arriving at the Space centre for the Welcome Ceremony.
2.1. Programme Zone 1 The International Space Centre will have its own staff that will facilitate a new subcamp setup. With the equipment brought along with the instructions provided by the Staff, the Scouts will construct a new community structure for the duration of they’re stay. They will be required to
work independently and together throughout to provide the best experience they can for the team.
2.2. Programme Zone 2 & 3 Following what hopefully will be a hearty breakfast, the scouts will break camp and leave for the outer stations where they will complete again a number of tasks based on the cornerstones of this year’s event, Leadership, Teamwork, Initiative and Creativity. All information to assist in the completion of these tasks will be contained in the Scouting Trail or will be provided by the delivery team.
2.3. Sample Activities
Constructing a Rope Stretcher – Alpine Basket
Equipment Required One long Length of Rope
Time - approximately 10 – 15 minutes
Best Practice: A stretcher of this size when being used to transport a patient requires a full patrol for safe carriage.
Method
Three patrol members stand on either side with one other always remaining close to the head to protect the patient
1. A length of rope is laid out fully on the ground ensuring there are no knots & it is intact throughout – the integrity of the rope is essential 2. Begin constructing the stretcher by finding the middle of the rope. 3. Once the middle has been found lay the rope on the ground again 4. Keep the middle point of the rope in the centre at all times – then tie an overhand knot with a good sized loop around 20 centimetres to the right AND to the left of the middle of the rope 5. Once there is a left and right loop then cross the ropes so that an X forms – an imaginary line should run between the X and the middle of the rope 6. Once the X is formed, tie another loop on the left and the right just like before 7. Form another X in the rope, again in line with the original middle point of the rope
8. Repeat this process until the end of the rope with 6 loops ideally on each side before finishing with two overhand knots
Communication and Estimation Communication and estimation are core skills that a scout must learn. Below is a task that will challenge your knowledge of these skills or maybe even introduce you to them for the first time. You can also try this with different methods to test yourself even further. The scouting trail has all the information you need for other methods.
Communication - Semaphore This is a system of sending messages by holding the arms or two flags or poles in certain positions according to an alphabetic code. Below are the positions.
Fig 1: Semaphore Signals
Estimation - The Lumberman’s Method Hold a stick out in front of you and place the tip in line with the top of the tree. Move your thumb until it is in line with the bottom. Turn the stick 90 degrees and have a friend walk from the base to
the tip of the stick counting as they go. The distance travelled is the approximate height of the tree. It is important to note that you must know your pacing in meters rather than feet. You can do this by counting the number of normal paces it takes you to walk ten meters.
Challenge The PL must split the patrol into two groups. Each group must craft two semaphore flags each. Then both groups must measure the height of two large objects near them using the Lumberman's method. However, this measurement must be in meters. This object can be a large tree, the scout den, an electricity pole, etc. The first group will then send the message “The height of the ____ is ____ .” using semaphore. The two blanks spaces are for the object measured and the actual measurement. The second group will decode the message and then send back the same message about one of their large objects. This repeats for the final messages. The two groups will then join together and discuss the results.
2.4. Expedition Team Equipment List Patrol Equipment
Personal Equipment
Tarp 4 Scout Staves First Aid Kit 20 4m lengths of Sisal Compass Collapsible water container Trangia (or Similar) Meths (or Suitable fuel) Folding bush saw Log Book Materials
Survival Bag Sleeping Bag Rain Wear Complete change of Clothes Packed Lunch 2 x Socks 1 refuse bag Plate, Bowl, Cup Knife Fork Spoon Pen Knife
3. Astronaut Training Centre It is here that you will learn to hone your skills and prepare to take your place on a shuttle crew. As I’m sure many of you will be aware the component members of a shuttle crew come from a variety of backgrounds, Pilots, Engineers, Scientists etc. and we are hoping to test and develop these through a series of tasks that you and your patrol will complete over the duration of the day. The day itself will be divided up into 4 main components each having a maximum of a dedicated 2 hours and we are encouraging all patrols to make sure they take as active a part in all so as to allow them gain as many points as possible.
3.1. Apollo 13 The disastrous sequence of events has been well documented over the years that lead to the initial downfall of the Apollo 13 mission but due to the imagination and ingenuity of the crew on board they turned disaster into an amazing success by overcoming the gravest of challenges. It here that we hope to challenge the patrol to the max in using their own initiative and imagination in successfully overcoming a series of challenges.
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3.2. First Contact The focus here will be leadership and teamwork and, I’m hoping anyway, a whole lot of fun. This zone will be a series of team challenges, fast paced and energetic and definitely ones where you’ll have to use your head. Patrols will need to think on their feet while allocating different members of the patrol different task and once complete do it all over again for the next challenge.
3.3. Rocket Aeronautics Here the clue is in the name but whilst the patrol will have a dedicated 2 hours, this task is a rolling one in that it can be continually worked on back on the site if there
is any free time through out the day. Patrols will have materials and instructions available to them and will be challenged to design a rocket for flight using the principles of Aeronautical Engineering and of course their own imagination. Test flight slots will be available at assigned times though out the day and these will be communicated to the Patrol.
3.4. Cape Canaveral Everyone will be aware of Cape Canaveral where it brings up images of shuttle launches, most successful but unfortunately not all. One of the most important parts of the launch is the structure used to launch the shuttle from, and of course the ability to count from 10 to 1. Here the patrols will be provided with a specific shuttle launch structure that they will have to build with the materials provided and perhaps their scout spars and will culminate in the launching of the aircraft.
Whilst already explained each component will have an assigned two hours but it is unlikely that it will take the full 2 hours to complete so during the spare time it is intended that scouts would return to their subcamps and would be allowed to continue to work on their rocket design and build.
4. Solar System Exploration This will take the form of a one full day hiking activity around the village and outskirts of Pallaskenry. Patrols will assemble in there subcamps and then will move to their starting planet. Once in place the programme will begin and over the duration of the day the patrols will visit the 8 planets in our solar system where they will be challenged both mentally and physically. Again, we will be focusing on our cornerstones of our programme for this year, Leadership, Teamwork, Initiative and Creativity. Here is a link to some typical scout activities that you can use to help prepare your patrol for this Programme Zone: Team Challenges - monthly tasks by Scouting Ireland - Issuu Patrols will visit 4 planets in the morning and will then be allowed 30mins for lunch after which they will make their way to the last four planets. Patrols will be grouped together but will need to complete the assigned task as an individual patrol and once the allotted time has passed all patrols will rotate to the next planet. Don’t forget to stamp your planet card and as always keep an eye on your time.
5.
Site Team Equipment List
The following is a list of equipment that the Patrol should have with them on Friday and Saturday. Notebook Log book materials Hand Saw Penknife A4 Map Board Ball of Sisal Bivi Bag First Aid Kit Duct Tape Matches Flint and steel Tinder box Scouting Trail Toilet Paper Rubbish Bag x 2 Scout Staves x 8 Compass White Disposable Overalls (€3 approx) x 8 Mallet/Hammer
If there are any other items that are required we will add them in Pack 4.
6. General Guide to Programme Bases Friday and Saturday are the main programme days on the Phoenix Challenge. Your patrol will visit a number of programme zones where you will be presented with different tasks and projects to complete. The bases are designed to be both challenging and fun while testing your patrol.
6.1. Preparing for the Bases The patrols that perform well in and are best equipped to complete the bases are those that actively incorporate Adventure Skills, patrol challenges, Personal Development and One Programme into their normal weekly scout meetings. Three resources are available (and will be invaluable!) to your patrol in the lead up to the Phoenix Challenge to assist you in your preparations for the bases; The Scouting Trail, the Adventure Skills book and the Resources that are contained in the Pack and released through our social media channel. The Scouting Trail is a great place to start when it comes to planning a base with your patrol. If you are faced with a task involving an unfamiliar skill or technique, you are free to consult this book to give you some helpful tips or to point you in the right direction.
6.2. Tackling a Base Sometimes patrols feel that in order to attain higher marks, they need to put on a performance for the base markers. This approach to the bases is discouraged. Bases should be treated as a regular patrol activity that you might do in your normal weekly scout meetings. They should be fun and challenging and your patrol’s main objective should be to focus on what the task is, how best you can approach the task, what skills each patrol member can bring to the task and how you will complete the task. If your patrol encounters a skill or problem with which you are unfamiliar, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask the base staff for some help or advice. At the beginning of the base, you will be provided with clear instructions of what it is your patrol must do in order to complete the base. Using these instructions, the patrol members should briefly plan and discuss any ideas they may have on the base, divide the tasks and finally, attempt to complete the tasks to the best of their ability. The Patrol Leader may wish to lead the patrol in the planning of the base and the carrying out of the tasks or they may choose to nominate a Task Leader to do so in their place. This might be beneficial if you have a particular patrol member with better experience of a required skill. For example, if you have to navigate an orienteering route as part of a hillwalking base, it would make little sense to rely
on a Patrol Leader who hates hiking to lead the base, rather than a patrol member with 10 Sionnach/MPC expeditions under their belt! While it is important to do your best to complete the task assigned to your patrol, it isn’t the end of the world if you are unable to do so. It is just as important (if not more so) that your patrol is able to; A. Identify and understand what you are being asked to do B. With your Patrol, try your best to complete
And of course, I cannot stress enough:
Creativity Teamwork Leadership
Innovation