ine for The magazLeaders out Explorer S/Jcanuary 2012 011 December 2
Strongest link Party games to encourage moving on
Out of the box Global ideas for you
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scouts.org.u
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Switzerland... The perfect destination all year round!
ER
SUMMER
WINT
a wide and your group can enjoy Travel in summer 2012 ing, yon can , ing mountain bik range of activities including in g tin raf r rive rmal baths or hiking, swimming in the the ! nd rla scenery of Switze amongst the spectacular
uts and and join hundreds of Sco Travel in February 2013 up will take ivity break where your gro Guides on our winter act luding ice ay activity programme inc part in an exhilarating 5-d g. snow-shoeing and curlin climbing, igloo building, e 5-day activity programm
included!
Whether you’re looking for an exhilarating summer holiday or an action-packed winter getaway, Switzerland is the perfect choice of destination for your Troop!
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Published by: The Programme Team The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 Contributions to programme@scouts.org.uk ADVERTISING Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing. co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258 Cover image: Arthur Garlick Contributors: Kira Pollard For ease of reading, this supplement refers to all variations of ‘county’ groupings simply as County.
ON YOUR MARKS Don’t forget to register your Unit for Our Sporting Adventure, and start planning your activities before the competition kicks off in January. Which Unit will place highest on the medal table? Who will win the most golds? Go to www.scouts.org.uk/ oursportingadventure
WELCOME
Back and forward Graeme Hamilton looks back to the future
What a year it’s been. Beaver Scouts have been celebrating 25 official years with many events and picnics across the UK. In 2012 Explorer Scouts and Scout Network celebrate ten years. Let’s see these celebrations translate into increased growth and retention with even more fun and adventure for everyone in all five sections in the year ahead. It’s been nearly a year now since we changed the HQ support structure for Programme and Activities. I think it’s worth looking at what we’ve achieved so far to offer improved support to you: • A focused core team addressing the issues that are raised regularly by leaders and supporters • Project teams with a range of internal and external people to provide the best outcomes for successful programme support • A team of people who can provide HQ support for you locally when it’s needed • A project management focus, allowing us to work more effectively across sectional boundaries • Increased opportunities to meet and hear from leaders and young people from across the country. I used to say that sorting the programme was like painting the Forth Bridge; a seemingly never-ending and repetitive job. You have to keep at it, enthuse leaders new and old, embrace the changing social and cultural styles, and remember that for everyone who is happy with a change there will be someone else who doesn’t like it. The core team, under Alex Minajew’s leadership, has set a course to offer the best programme support possible to leaders and, in this Olympic year, the support will be right on track.
Contents 4 News and updates Media and campaign training and eDofE
5 Link up Throwing a party can also be a great way of establishing great links between Unit and Network
8 It was a very good ten years
12 Perfect ten One leader from Cornwall shares her personal highlights of serving in the section
14 Go global A box full of great ideas from ShelterBox
15 Partnerships Natwest, National Grid and Cotswold Outdoor
17 Badge of the decade We reveal the design you chose to mark a momentous year
18 Events What’s hot in 2012?
We cast our eyes over the first decade of Explorer Scouting
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NEWS
news and updates A shorter supplement doesn’t mean a shortage of goings on in the Explorer Scout section. We rattle through some opportunities and highlights. Shout about your Unit by emailing programme@scouts.org.uk
Scouts Speak Up at party conferences In autumn 2011, Scouts from across the UK attended three events at party conferences. Visit our YouTube channel at scouts.org.uk/tv to watch MPs and Explorers debating current issues and arguing the benefits Scouting brings to young people. Scan this code with your smartphone for details of further courses on offer.
Windsor 2012
The National Scout Service and Parade will be held at Windsor Castle on Sunday 29 April 2012. The event is a great day, celebrating the achievement and recognising the contribution of both adults and young people. Anyone who has achieved their Queen's Scout Award is entitled to attend the event. Invitations will go out in January, so watch your letterbox and make sure that you respond to say that you’re attending.
eDofE Scout participation in the DofE programme continues to grow and we are seeing more and more Silver and Gold completions from 14–18 year-olds. A great tool to help you manage your programme was launched last year, eDofE. If Explorers in your Unit want to get involved with DofE but are not yet registered, we recommend using eDofE. It will help them manage their programme, wherever they are. For more information and to register contact your County DofE Adviser, Country Office or the DofE Team at Gilwell Park. dofe@scouts.org.uk 4
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You’ve gotta have faith
Rise to the Challenge is a resource that helps all leaders incorporate spiritual development into their programme. As we all know, supporting young people in their spiritual development is an important part of our purpose and the best way to do this is through activities. The resource, which contains activity ideas covering all aspects of spiritual development, can be found online at scouts.org.uk/ faith, along with ideas of many other ways to cover the Values and Relationships zone, such as the faith walk.
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Programme ideas
Link up
What more opportune time is there to meet up with Explorer Scouts in your area than to celebrate the tenth birthday of both sections?
W
hen the Explorer Scout Unit and Scout Network meet together it provides many benefits to both sections including:
• Making new friends • Sharing ideas and activities • Larger support network and peer group for undertaking the top awards • Larger group of people to get group discounts for external activities. Try some of these activities to look back at what you’ve enjoyed over the past year and how we can continue to have fun and grow the sections.
Find someone who… A good icebreaker that will allow members to get to know interesting things about each other.
Before the evening: • Make a grid of attributes and achievements that might apply to the Explorers and Scout Network members at your meeting (an example is on the next page). • Print out enough copies of your grid for one per person.
During the evening: • Give each person a copy of the grid and a pen. • Members must then talk to other people and ask them if they are able to tick any boxes on the grid. • Only one name per box is necessary and a person can only be used for one box.
Spice it up • Add in a prize for the first person to find people for all of the boxes. • Add an element of bingo for a row, half the grid and full house. • Make it even trickier by only allowing members to communicate with hand gestures to ask the question or insist that those answering can only say yes or no. scouts.org.uk/pol
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Find someone who...
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Is a member of a sports club
Enjoyed maths at school
Lives in a flat
Has an older brother
Has animals at home
Has a younger sister
Has a satnav
Is a member of a Network Committee
Exercises regularly
Uses hairspray or gel
Is vegetarian
Wants to be a doctor
Has parents that drive a German car
Lives in a large city
Travels by train
Lives in a village
Travels by bus
Has crossed the Channel on a ferry
Is interested in politics
Left the house before 7.30 am today
Has visited the Isle of Wight
Is looking for a job
Has been to Wales in the last year
Reads the Daily Mail
Is at university
Has been to Gilwell Park
Enjoys sailing
Regularly Got lost on rides a bike the way here
Has been abroad this year
Likes Indian food
Speaks more than one language
Has never been abroad
Watches football
Has been to a rock concert
Enjoys cricket
Has been to a World Scout Jamboree
Is wearing clothes made abroad
Has flown in the last year
Is on a diet
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December 2011/January 2012
07/11/2011 17:26
Programme ideas
Pass the Musical Parcel statues
Playing party games is a good way of linking the sections and helping Explorer Scouts move up to Network
Before the evening:
Before the evening: • Write a list of true and false statements that you want members to answer about Scout Network. • Cut them up and put one inside each balloon. • Blow up the balloons and scatter them around the meeting place.
During the evening: • Play music, while members dance and move around. • Stop the music at random intervals. When the music stops everyone must stand absolutely still. • The person who moves first has to pop a balloon and answer the statement that is inside. • Carry on until all of the balloons have been popped. Tip: It is easier to insert the piece of paper before the balloon has been blown up. Playing this game should allow your Explorers to find out more about Network and help them to make the transition when they reach 18.
• Buy a prize and some sweets. • List some questions that you want to ask the members to feedback on, such as ‘What was your favourite event of the year and why?’ • Cut the questions out and attach one to each sweet. • Wrap up the winning prize. • Add a sweet and question to each layer that you wrap.
During the evening: • Sit the members in a circle, try and mix up Explorers with Network members. • Play music and then stop it at random intervals. Whoever is holding the parcel has to unwrap a layer and answer a question. Don’t forget to write down the answers so that you can include these in your next planning meeting.
more info All of these activities and more are on Programmes Online – www.scouts.org. uk/pol. Let us know what you think of them at programme@scouts.org.uk
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Since their introduction a decade ago, many things have happened in the Explorer and Network sections. We take a walk down memory lane
It was a very good ten years I
ident n 2001, George W Bush was the Pres ed of the United States, Manchester Unit the and s were Premier League champion ing first of the Harry Potter films was show
in UK cinemas. place since A lot of exciting things have taken in -olds year 5 14–2 of then, and the number . ased Scouting has incre
8
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orer The 2011 census counted 36,346 Expl Add ers. Lead g Youn are m Scouts, 9,030 of who half over , bers mem ork Netw t Scou to these 4,885 nt. eme Mov the in here elsew r ntee of whom volu Venture That’s more than double the 19,245 census. Scouts that were recorded in the 2001 the first of ts Here are some of the major even ten years:
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TH
2002
ANNIVERSARY
Explorer Scouts and Scout Network sections are launched, including the Young Leaders’ Scheme
Queen’s Scouts assist at lying in state of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother 20th World Scout Jamboree in Thailand (28 Dec 2002 to 8 Jan 2003) Steve Moysey remembers the Jamboree fondly: ‘I was a unit leader at the Thailand Jamboree, responsible for 30 Explorer Scouts from Somerset. It was the first major international event the section had been to since launching, and my first time really working with that age group (I was only 20 myself). The preparation meant that the unit had really bonded by the time we boarded our flight, which was full of Scouts travelling to Sattahip. The Explorers were fantastic, lapping up the culture of a country many had only dreamed of visiting. The shade of green our youngest participant, Tom, went after riding on an elephant will stay with me for ever.’ ScoutBase website was relaunched Commonwealth Queen's Scout Award celebrations
2003 2004
2005
Roverway in Portugal 12th World Scout Moot in Taiwan Peter Duncan named ninth Chief Scout Scouting magazine and supplements become free publications First Gilwell 24 event for Explorer Scouts Though we all know Gilwell 24 as one of the biggest events in the Explorer Scouting calendar, it was not always thus. In fact, the first Gilwell 24 nearly didn’t take place. Event organiser Dave Gillard reveals all: ‘It was not long before the first event, and bookings were low. We weren’t sure whether we’d be able to go ahead with it. A phone call to the campsite manager and a deep breath, and we decided to go for it, even if it made a loss. The feeling of relief when late bookings came in was quickly replaced by elation after 24 hours of fun, adventure and the odd nervy moment. Looking back it’s amazing to see how the event has grown. Here’s to the next ten years!’ EuroJam
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2006
2007
Relaunch of the Scout Network section Roverway in Italy In the Tuscan hills outside Florence, a genuine coming-together of European Scouts happened at the culmination of a series of marathon journies. Roverway combined serious walking, cultural exchange and international friendship in a way that profoundly affected the small number of UK Explorer Scouts and Network members that ventured out.
Centenary of Scouting celebrations HM The Queen reviews Queen’s Scouts at Windsor Castle, including award holders from Commonwealth countries. 21st World Scout Jamboree UK It really was a case of the whole world in one field as Hylands Park in Essex played host to 40,000 young people from over 200 countries. The largest UK Contingent in history acted as ambassadors for UK Scouting, and campers were welcomed at the UK Pavilion which resembled the Houses of Parliament. It was a real measure of the successful establishment of Explorer Scouting that such a diverse contingent of members was able to be there.
Live ‘07 at the O2 arena 50th JOTA / 11th JOTI
2008
Programme update to Explorer Scouts First Scouts of the World Award trial
2009
Roverway in Iceland
Bear Grylls named tenth Chief Scout It was at an Explorer Scout event (Gilwell 24) that Peter Duncan handed over Baden-Powell’s wood beads to the most adventuresome Chief Scout since the Founder. Bear received a rapturous reception as he backflipped onto the stage. Explorer Scout Leader Matt Richardson was excited by the appointment. ‘It’s great someone so well known has such a positive attitude towards young people,’ he said. 10
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December 2011/January 2012
10/11/2011 17:19
TH
2010
ANNIVERSARY
13th World Scout Moot in Kenya
Make your own history
2011
22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden
So here we are. There’s no denying that both sections have taken time to grow their own identity, and that the transition from Venture Scouting was complex and gradual. But the numbers don’t lie, and the improvement in retention of teenage members has been significant in reversing the declining trend that Scouting was experiencing at the start of the millennium. One of the proudest moments was just 18 months ago, when we were able to report a surge in teenage membership of over 20 per cent in less than ten years. This achievement is down to the dedication you have shown to the sections, as leaders, mentors, members and supporters. The Young Leaders’ Scheme has meant more 18 year-olds taking on adult appointments than ever before, bringing with them leadership skills learnt in Young Leader Units. What will the next ten years show? It’s hard to tell, but now it’s up to you to make new stories, achieve new heights and continue giving Explorer Scouting the opportunity to change lives and make special memories.
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Perfect ten
T S
after the launch Kira Pollard joined Explorers shortly Scout Leader in Bude, and is now an Assistant Explorer hlights Cornwall. Here are her personal hig
I
have too many highlights since being in Explorers to remember them all. I was the first female Explorer Scout in my District. Camping on Brownsea Island was pretty epic.
Making the grade A massive highlight for me was getting my Wood Badge after completing all my training. Two weeks later the Explorer Scout Leader and I took the Unit on our first international camp. We went to the Irish centenary Jamboree and it was definitely an experience... I now know why Ireland is so green; it rained so much! It was my first international camp in Scouting and my first time at a Jamboree.
Swiss highpoint One of my favourite places I’ve gone to with the Unit was to Kandersteg in the summer of 2010. We had an absolutely amazing time and I loved every second of it. I've 12
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always wanted to go up a mountain, so it was a dream to climb up to the Frundenhutte and watch the sun set over the Alps. It was also quite special watching three Explorers get invested while we were there. I wonder how many teenagers have been invested into Scouting over the last decade... The centenary sunrise at the Eden Project was another highlight. It was the first time I’d been but is now my favourite place in all Cornwall. There were a few crafty activites put on for the young people; I ended up teaching how to make Turk’s head woggles and there was also den building. Being made by the Scouts the dens all looked brilliant. Investing Explorers into our Unit at Cornwall's highest point, Brown Willy, is also an awesome moment (especially when we do a bit of extreme ironing while we’re there).
Sh
Lig Pa
Ref
Lig Re
Ref
Teen angels But my main highlight about being part of Explorer Scouting has to be the Explorers themselves. We have
December 2011/January 2012
07/11/2011 17:27
497.5
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS
had, and still have, amazing characters in our Unit and all the laughter and fun we have is so worth all the hard work we put in. They make the Unit what it is.
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497.5 SS December January Explorers Ad.indd 1 ExplorerSupp_DecJan12.indd 13
02/11/2011 17:27 15:01 07/11/2011
Go global ShelterBox introduces a new resource pack
T
hroughout 2010, international disaster relief charity ShelterBox, which is an official partner of The Scout Association, ran The ShelterBox Challenge – a resource pack that focused on the charity’s work. Over 750 groups from across the country took part in the challenge which saw young people explore a number of themes including water conservation, photography and faith.
Helping you help us
Example idea Test your Unit’s team and communication skills by blindfolding them and giving them a length of rope, then challenging them to make it square. How will they fare?
14
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After months of work, the charity is now ready to release their next resource pack – Go Global. Go Global is designed to help Leaders cover all elements of the Global Zone with their Unit. It’s crammed full of fun activities that enable young people to explore the themes surrounding the work of ShelterBox. As well as activity ideas, there are loads of extra resources that make
covering global issues easy for leaders. Some of the activities are ideas that can be adapted to suit your Unit. Others have easy-to-use ‘how to run’ guides and a series of extra resources on the Young ShelterBox website. ‘We’ve always understood that many leaders find it difficult to explore international issues with their group’ says James Webb, Young ShelterBox Officer. ‘We created Go Global to give them a helping hand.’ Go Global will be available from the Scouts area of the Young ShelterBox website – www.youngshelterbox.org – this winter. To discover more and register your Unit for the programme, visit the website or email youngshelterbox@shelterbox.org. Include your name, address, section, District name and number of Explorers taking part. Units that register for Go Global will also receive a special pack of goodies to help you further in covering the Global Zone.
December 2011/January 2012
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Partnerships
Resources you can bank on Teach Explorers to look after their finances with a great series of activity packs
W
e’ve teamed up with NatWest to produce five activity packs for Explorer Scouts, with a detailed accompanying resource for leaders. The packs cover specific areas of money management to help Explorers look after their finances, both now and in the future. With activities such as how to run a fundraising campaign, organise a camp or be a treasurer, the packs aim to make the subject of managing money relevant and appealing.
The packs are: • Money and your life • Staying on budget • Bringing the fun into fundraising • Running your own event • Running your own business.
Online tools available are: • Goalsaver app • Budget planner tool • Cutback tool.
Making money make sense The materials are completely impartial and don’t promote any NatWest products or services. They build on the successful NatWest MoneySense for Schools programme, used in more than two-thirds of UK secondary schools.
Free to download Get the new Explorer resources from www.scouts.org.uk/natwest
Activities to encourage engineers of the future Energise your Scouts with new National Grid activities
N
ational Grid attended Gilwell Reunion in September to show leaders a new resource it has created.
The event Volunteers from National Grid performed hands-on demonstrations of a few of the activities. The volunteers had an amazing day meeting leaders from all areas of the country; seeing the enthusiasm for the activities and the interest that came from all leaders was really encouraging. Throughout the day National Grid spoke to participants of all ages about energy, engineering and careers in National Grid. It was fascinating for National Grid to hear that there is a strong interest in teaching young people science, technology, engineering and mathematics within Scouting.
Who is National Grid? National Grid is an international electricity and gas company, whose job is to connect people to the energy they use. It encourages young people to learn about energy and the opportunities of becoming the engineers of the future, in a fun and interactive way. Working in partnership with Scouting is an ideal way for National Grid to develop activities that will inspire young people about engineering.
more info Visit www.scouts.org.uk/ nationalgrideng to find out more
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Open up the
Perfect outdoor gift
15
this Christmas
Whatever you get up to outdoors, having the right kit can make all the difference. Our staff are highly trained to make sure you get exactly what you need for all your Scouting adventures. This honest advice and expertise is just one of the reasons that we’re recommended by The Scout Association. 8
23
11
17
15% discount
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For all Scouts
20% discount
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* Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. For personal use only. Discount only valid on production of a leaders’ appointment card or Scout scarf/necker.
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07/11/2011 17:27
NEW BADGE
Badge of the decade
T
Actual badge may differ slightly from this design
The results are in, the votes have been counted and your choice for the badge to celebrate the tenth birthday can now be revealed
hanks to everyone who cast their vote on the badge to be produced for the Explorer and Network tenth birthday in 2012. We’re pleased to reveal the number one design.
captures the fun and adventure of both sections while leaving no-one in any doubt about what birthday we’re celebrating. I hope Explorer Scouts, Network members and their leaders enjoy wearing the badge on their uniforms throughout 2012.’
The perfect blend
Get in first
The badge is a balanced mix of both sections, so it’s easy to see why it was your favourite. As an occasional badge, you can sew it on your uniform from the start of 2012 for the duration, worn above the left breast pocket. ‘The badge comprises the green of the Explorer section and the Network grey,’ said Programme and Development Adviser Emma Saunders. ‘It also
You can order the badge from Scout Shops in January. Visit www.scouts.org.uk/shop and look for Fun Badges. The bargain price is £1. We’d love to feature pictures of you wearing the badge on our Facebook page. Go to www.facebook.com/explorerscouts to upload them.
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What are you up to? As 2012 is set to be a year of celebration for Explorers, we give you the heads-up to what’s happening up and down the country January Wintercamp. 6-8 January. Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre. wintercamp.org.uk Thornthwaite Winter Camp. 20-22 January, North Yorkshire. nys.org.uk February Winter Survival. 10-12 Feburary, run by Kent Explorers. kentexplorerscouts.org.uk April i.Hike – The Three Towers Hike. 14 April, Berkshire. hike.org.uk/events May Scout Community Week. 14-20 May, UK wide. Sign up your Unit for a community project at www.scouts.org.uk/ community 18
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International Events There are also several international events happening throughout the year, which Explorer Scouts are able to attend. Here are a few for inspiration: Roverway 2012. 20-28 July 2012. Finland. scouts.org.uk/roverway 29th Asia-Pacific Regional Jamboree 22-27 February 2012. Sri Lanka. scout.org Jamboree Denmark 2012 21-29 July 2012 Holstebro. jamboreedenmark2012.dk NICES 2012. 28 July – 12 August 2012. Netherlands. nices.nl
BrumJam 2012. 28 July – 4 August 2012. Worcestershire. brumjam.org Essex International Jamboree 2012. 18-25 August 2012. Essex. eij.org.uk
For further information on these, and other events, consult the International Opportunities newsletter at www.scouts.org.uk/intops
If you’ve got an event that’s not listed here, get on the Explorer Scout Facebook page at facebook.com/ explorerscouts to share it.
December 2011/January 2012
10/11/2011 17:23
90.9 A
e h t r o Up f ? e r u t n Adve • Residential experiences, from camping to indoor lodges. • Over 50 activities across our centres • NEW for 2012 – badge, award and training courses for young people and leaders Visit the website for centre contact details and to request a brochure.
Great location s Amazing staff Right choice
scouts.org.uk/sac Tel: 0845 300 2549 Operated by The Scout Association Registered Charity Number: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland)
90.9 AC Generic Advert Scouting ExplorerSupp_DecJan12.indd 19mag 2011.indd 1
01/11/2011 07/11/2011 14:09 17:28
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