explorer

ine The magaSzcout r for ExploreLeaders 010/ Decemberry2 2011 a u Jan

NEW i ng

Looking good

T ra i n Modules

Make death masks

This is the life

A survival camp in Scotland

T U O D E T T I K 2011 r o f y d a e r We get you

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Explorer Scout Support Team The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 ADVERTISING Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258 Cover image: Peter Howard Contributors: Hilary Walker, Eddie Ward, Kim Harris, Tom Hylands

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Another year over Charlotte Tow’s new year resolution is to spread the word about the exciting opportunities available to Explorer Scouts across the UK. She introduces this issue

GET ONLINE, GET MORE

You can read all six magazine supplements on the main Scout website at www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

Welcome to the New Year issue of Explorer. I hope that the winter months continue to be as exciting and adventurous as those in warmer weather. In this issue, we look at the benefits of running Explorer forums and how they can be part of a fun programme. Use the New Year as a reason to see what your Explorers have enjoyed about the past Scouting year, and what they want to get from the next one.

New year, new look You may also notice that this issue has a slightly new look. We hope to be able to share plenty of programme ideas with you and put a focus on what you’ve all been up to. Take a look at the upcoming challenge events that are happening around the country and hopefully see you at some of them.

If you have anything you wish to see included in the supplement, or have any great stories and ideas to share with others within the section, get in touch at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk

Sub zero Gilwell Many of you will be getting excited about Wintercamp, which kicks off on 7 January at Gilwell Park. Your Explorers will be able to take part in many activities, from outdoor Quasar to sphering and a digger challenge.

Don’t forget that there are also many activities just for leaders – go to www.wintercamp.org.uk for more information.

Contents 4 News A round-up of what’s happening in the section

6 Say what you want Explorer Scout Forums: why they might work for you.

8 ‘You look like death’ Ayers Explorers make decorative masks

10 New activity resolution Let our listing be your launchpad into new adventures

12 Highland (fun and) games Nidderdale Explorers go coastal in Scotland

15 Your Programme, Your Voice The results are in from the latest survey

16 Badge in focus The Science and Technology Activity Badge

17 Who ya gonna call?

New partnership with Save the Children

18 Jamboree dreams Our next dreamer is Steven from Norfolk

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news Queen’s Scouts honoured The latest class of Queen’s Scouts received their awards from UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt at a plush reception in London’s Science Museum. Chief Scout Bear Grylls also popped in for lunch with the award holders as part of his tour of London and the South East. This year’s national reception will be the last in the current format. Future certificate presentations will be organised and hosted at a Regional and/or Country level.

The National Scout Service and Parade will be held at Windsor Castle on Sunday 1 May 2011. Those Explorers who have recently achieved their Queen’s Scout Award will receive an invitation to attend in January. To avoid disappointment, encourage them to RSVP as soon as possible (before the deadline).

WWWhat’s going on? scouts.org.uk is going through a revamp and beta pages to support the Network section are available to view and look through. These include the most up to date information, a new menu system and a fresh look and feel. Look for the ‘Information and Resources’ area at www.scouts.org.uk to see for yourself.

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See you in Sweden?

Day visitor tickets are now available to purchase from the Swedish Jamboree team. Adult day tickets for 28 July – 6 August cost 150SEK (approx £14). For more information and to buy your tickets visit shop.worldscoutjamboree.se

Young Leaders news:

A reminder

A few of you have asked about how many Young Leaders are allowed in each section. We recommend a maximum of three per section, to make sure that all Young Leaders have a chance to take a full part in the leadership team and get properly involved in running the section.

As always, common sense is the key and as long as your Young Leaders are having fun and developing, everyone’s happy. www.scouts.org.uk/ youngleaders

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New modules for leaders

r p or residential experience on you Is there a night away, sleepover, cam ing overnight experience you are plann horizon? No matter what type of job, the for ls that you have the right too or helping out with, it is essential says Samantha Marks

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he Scout Association now offers two modules to enable you to provide overnight experiences with confidence. In order to become more flexible and relevant in the training available, Module 16: Nights Away has changed and a new Module 38: Skills for Residential Experiences has been created.

Module 16: Introduction to Residential Experiences This gives an introduction to the place, value and organisation of residential experiences, and their importance in Scouting. This will be a shorter version of the obligatory module that all section leaders need to complete.

These changes will give you more flexibility and choice over the training you receive.

The Nights Away Permit Scheme remains a separate national scheme, so while these modules aim to give you all the knowledge you need, if you want to gain a Nights Away Permit, you will still need to be assessed separately (you don’t need a Nights Away permit to get your Wood Badge).

Remember though, that there are no pre-requisites for gaining a Nights Away Permit – you don’t have to attend either of these courses to get one. In fact, if you have a Nights Away Permit then you can automatically validate both of these modules without attending any training.

Module 38: Skills for Residential Experiences This focuses on the skills to plan and run a successful residential experience for young people. It reflects the skills needed for a Nights Away Permit and aims to help leaders gain new skills and consolidate their knowledge.

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more info For more about training – adult.support@scouts.org.uk For more about Nights Away Permit Scheme – activities@scouts.org.uk

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Say what you want Forums within the Explorer section are often viewed, by both leaders and young people, as unappealing, boring or simply impossible.

And while adventurous activities, camps or international trips are the obvious highlight of the year, forums are a great way to find out exactly what the young people want to do and what they thought about previous activities

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What is a forum?

A forum is a chance for leaders and Explorers to discuss the way the Unit is run and the content of the programme for the upcoming term or year. A major focus of the Explorer section is allowing young people to make leadership decisions and take a big part in running the Unit. Many will wish to play an increasing role in planning and organising events. The forum is the perfect way to do this and will encourage Explorers to think about all the factors involved in programme planning, as well as getting them excited about, and engaged with, the opportunities that are available.

Flexi-time There are many ways that a forum can be run and, as always, flexibility is the key. Forums should be run at least once a year, but may also be done termly. They can be run at the beginning of the year, to discuss what is coming up, or at the end to reflect on the year gone by and plan ahead. They may be attended by all Explorer Scouts, or by a few representatives (remember to get the views of the whole Unit).

Although a forum can be run in the style of a formal meeting, it is often more useful to create a casual atmosphere or make it part of a wider activity or event.

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BEST PRACTICE

This will help maintain interest and encourage Explorers to express their views. Why not hold the forum at the end of a camp to see what the Explorers would like to do moving forward?

Ideas There are many ways to make forums appealing to both you and the Explorers.

1. Hold a debate. Split the Explorers into two groups and get each one to come up with a programme idea around a particular zone. You can even allocate the role of chairperson or have a judging panel.

2. Get the young people to pick random items out of a bag and come up with as many programme ideas as possible related to that item. Then get the Unit to pick which ones they want to do and get planning.

3. Run a game show. A good method of doing this is to survey all members in advance about the recent activities they have undertaken and things they would like to do in the future. You can then run a Family Fortunes style game show allocating points based around the answers guessed. The prize could be the opportunity for the winners to plan the programme for a particular meeting.

4. Split the Unit into six groups – one for each Programme Zone. Then task them with planning at least one programme for the term around that zone. This will ensure that the Explorers are doing things they want to do, and feel integral to the running of the Unit.

All in all, forums are essential in making sure that Explorer Scouting is relevant and fun for all young people. Give one a go and see how many amazing thoughts and ideas your Explorers come up with!

Form of forum

‘The forum we use is based on the Executive Committee system from Venture Scouting days. Young people are elected to sit on an exec, and expected to fulfil their roles to have an input into programme planning, running the Unit, managing equipment and every are of the Unit’s life. The committee feel empowered and take their roles seriously, and the upshot is that as leaders we have a group of switched on and motivated Explorers to call on when we need help with something,’ Hilary Walker, Matrix ESU, Aylesbury

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‘You look like death’

Ayers Explorer Scout Unit from Carlisle, Cumbria are one of the UK’s most mobile Units, often out and about. We caught up with them during a rare meeting at the Scout hut, where they were trying out a new activity – death masks Summary

Instructions

Death masks are castings taken of the face just after a person has died. The ancient Greeks made casts out of gold, while others, like the Egyptians and early Europeans, opted for plaster or wax. Often death masks were made of royalty or other influential figures like artists, poets and philosophers. From these casts, sculptors could create busts or statues in the person’s honour.

1. Tie back hair (elastic bands will do).

2. Cover face with petroleum jelly, use liberal amount on eyebrows to prevent sticking to the plaster.

3. Place cotton pads on the models’ eyes.

4. Provide straws for breathing.

5. Cut the bandages into small strips.

6. Dip the bandage in the water.

7. Apply bandages carefully in thin layers, smoothing as you go to ensure detail.

8. Once a few layers have been built up, leave to dry for five to ten minutes before carefully removing the mask.

The mask will take several hours to dry fully and should be handled carefully.

Zones • Values and Relationships • Skills

What you need • • • • •

Elastic bands Petroleum jelly Cotton wool pads Straws ModRoc plaster of paris bandages (you will find lots on eBay) • Scissors • Bowls of water and paper towels.

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Tips and warnings • Put a plastic sheet or old towel on the floor to catch drips.

• Make sure no-one runs about if the floor gets wet.

• Have towels to hand so that the models can wash their faces afterwards.

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Matty, 16, said, ‘I wasn’t too keen on being a model to start with, it was a bit gross covering my face with Vaseline, but after that it was quite relaxing having the mask applied.’ Alex, 14, added, ‘You have to trust your team members but it was great fun. After I’d had my mask made everyone else in my team wanted a go.’ Jessie, 16, summed up a potential pitfall of the activity: ‘My mask didn’t turn out too well as I couldn’t stop laughing. It was good fun.’

For Explorer Scout Leader, Eddie Ward, this meeting was a success: ‘Other than planning meetings we aren’t often in the Scout hut, but we are always looking for new programme ideas. This was really easy to do and the materials didn’t cost much. I think the Explorers were surprised how much fun they had doing this. They all proudly took their masks home at the end of the night.’

He added, ‘With more time and materials it is possible to use the plaster casts as a mould to make silicone or latex masks too.’

Ayers and graces Ayers Explorer Scout Unit are very proactive in their use of social networking and the internet, for both internal communication and external relations and promotion.

Eddie explained, ‘We have two Facebook pages, one is a private one for our members and leaders only, which we use for discussion and planning activities. With a large Unit this is a great help. The other page is our public one. We have built up a great network of friends on our travels and keep in touch with them via this page. It’s a great way to share ideas and knowledge. Google Translate comes in handy for the many Medialähettiläät! friends we made at the Finnish Jamboree earlier this year.’

AYERS ONLINE

Find Ayers ESU on these social networking sites: Twitter www.twitter.com/AyersExtreme Facebook www.facebook.com/ayersesu Or catch them on their blog at www.AyersExplorerScouts.org

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New activity resolution Apex Challenge

Every year countless events happen up and down the country for the Explorer section. Here we explore just a handful.

Use our directory as a starting point to plan a new, exciting event into your calendar for 2011. Compiled

by Tom Hylands

Where: West Yorkshire When: 7 - 9 October 2011 What is it? A weekend challenge to gain the most ‘apex’ points through activities such as assault courses, skill games and rock climbing. www.apexchallenge.co.uk ‘Apex is one of the most professionally run events our Unit has been to, it’s a great weekend and I would recommend it to anyone!’ Eddie Ward, Explorer Scout Leader Southern 50 Where: Greater London North District, London When: 19 February 2011 What is it? 50 mile, 50km or 30km hike that tests orienteering skills, teamwork and physical ability. www.scouts-gln-southern50.org.uk Sun Run Where: Near Cheltenham, Gloucstershire When: 1 – 3 July 2011 What is it? A camp, a festival and a race all in one for Explorers aged 15 and over. Combine a weekend meeting people and enjoying a range of activities on offer then complete either a 26.2 or 13 mile run on the saturday night. www.sr-mc.co.uk

Ten Tors 2011 Where: Okehampton Camp, Dartmoor When: 14 – 15 May 2011 What is it? Challenging hike split into three different distances ranging from 35 to 55 miles in Dartmoor National Park. www.exeter.ac.uk/tentors Operation Dragnet Where: Cumbria When: July 2011 What is it? A weekend to travel 35 miles to the finishing point whilst evading capture! www.dragnet.org.uk ‘Dragnet is really competitive and great for getting to know people in your team really well. I am still reliving memories from when we had to camp out in torrential rain and then the moment we found out we had won, all of the waiting had paid off.’

Andy, 18 Nottingham Monopoly Live Where: Nottingham When: July 2011 What is it? Competition to get around the places on the Nottingham Monopoly board. www.monopoly-live.co.uk

Mersey Moot Where: Tawd Vale campsite, Merseyside When: September 2011

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Awesome 2011 What is it? A weekend camp for Explorer Scouts, Network and Senior Section Guides giving them the chance to make new friends, try specialised activities and take part in ‘the social gathering of the year’ www.merseysidescouts.com/moot

Sussex Downsman Hike Where: South Downs, Sussex When: 1 October 2011 What is it? A test of endurance with hike categories at 45, 60 and 80 miles www.downsman.com

Gilwell 24 Where: Gilwell Park, Chingford When: 8 – 10 July 2011 What is it? 24 hours of fun-filled activities at the home of UK Scouting www.gilwell24.info ‘It’s a fantastic event that we return to every year. What other event gives you the chance to do everything from bricklaying to the high trapeze for 24 hours with 3,000 other scouts?’

Alex, 17

Theme Park Camp Where: Surrey When: September 2011 What is it? A camp, a party and a visit to Thorpe Park all in one weekend! www.summitnetwork.org.uk/tpc

Where: TBC, Wales When: TBC, previously been held in September What is it? Awesome, or, The All-Wales Explorer Scout activity camp offers Explorer Scouts a weekend of total outdoor adventure www.scoutswales.org.uk/explorers/ awesome

Faith and awareness events for February/ March

Charnwood 2011 Where: Whatton House, Leicestershire When: 30 July – 6 August What is it? International camp for Scouts, Explorers and Guiding equivalents. www.charnwood.org

Haarlem Jamborette Where: Spaarnwoude, Netherlands When: 31 July – 9 August What is it? Ten day international camp for Scouts aged 10-16. Theme is Energy Unlimited: World wide wonders. www.haarlemjamborette.nl

Roverway 2012 Truly international European Scout and Guide event, where friendships are made and adventures had. The next one is in Finland in 2012. Involves meeting, hiking, camping and sharing. The strapline for the 2012 event is ‘see. feel. follow.’ www.roverway.fi

February 2011 2 Candlemas Day (Christian) 8 , 15 Parinirvana – Nirvana day (Buddhist) 8 Vasant Panchami (Hindu) 14 Valentine’s Day (Christian) 15 (20 Shia) Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) (Muslim) 18 Magha Puja (Buddhist) 28 Feb - 13 March Fairtrade Fortnight March 1 Hola Mohalla (Lunar Calendar) (Sikh) 3 Mahashivratri (Hindu) 8 International Women’s day 8 Shrove Tuesday (Christian) 9 Ash Wednesday (Christian) 17 St Patrick’s Day (Christian) 19 Holi (Hindu) 20 Purim (Jewish) 22 World Water Day

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Highland (fun and) games During the summer, Upper Nidderdale Explorers descended upon the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Scotland’s remote west coast, and Unit Leader Kim Harris filed this report of coastal canoeing, birdwatching and lights out antics

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ur base for this memorable summer adventure was the home of renowned Antarctic explorer Trevor Potts, a fantastic centre currently rated as one of the coolest campsites in Scotland and augmented by Trevor’s personal collection of whale skeletons. Adventurous activities were led by Rob Eagelstaff who, along with Trevor, has crossed the Baring Straights in a kayak and emulated Shackleton’s historic Antarctic voyage. Making up the team were leaders Dave Hubbert and I, whose most significant exploits took place on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

With 25 in the group and ages ranging from 18 months to very forgetful, we decided to travel light. Armed with two 20-seat minibuses, a long wheelbase Landrover, 15 canoes, two boat trailers, a gear trailer and what felt like all our worldly possessions, we set out. For the 12-hour journey the rain continued, easing briefly to allow us to buy provisions at the last supermarket before the Highlands closed in.

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Making camp Scotland is made up of a very big hill broken into smaller ones and some parts of our campsite were still above water when we arrived. We erected the equipment tent first and then forcibly ejected the Explorers which swiftly resulted in a tidy and well set up encampment. The following morning all that remained was to suggest a few minor improvements such as groundsheets and the advantage of using all of the tent poles provided before the adventure could really begin.

On the water Coastal expeditions in open boats are quite an adventurous activity and much practice in the preceding months took place to ensure that the basic skills could be completely forgotten prior to arrival! Once at the centre, we built up from on-shore training, to sheltered water practice and on to inlet crossings, which enabled us to restore knowledge and engage in some interesting excursions towards the end of the week.

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‘While the Yorkshire Dales offer an excellent opportunity to learn basic skills in a safer and more tame environment, Scotland takes it to the next level and offers the element of challenge and danger that pushes you to develop your skills and reach your full potential. The trip has inspired me to continue working to become a more accomplished canoeist, and also help to teach younger members of our Scout group basic skills so that they can have the same adventure one day!’

Charlie, Young Leader

A crucial skill when using open boats on the sea is the ability to rapidly construct a catamaran. Pairs of boats lay a three-metre spar across each end allowing a one metre gap between hulls.

These spars were secured with bungee cord, pre-formed to have a monkey’s fist on one end and a loop on the other. We called them ‘goolie thongs’, I’m not sure why. We aimed to get the Explorers to construct a catamaran in 60 seconds, and as leaders we felt more confident once this target had been achieved.

Unidentified flying objects Educational activity took the form of a visit to one of the area’s oldest archeological sites as well as a talk on the local eagles. The archaeologists, all university graduates, were enthusiastic, describing their role as ’Making up ideas about the possible use of a 3,000 year-old pile of stones.’

The lady from the RSPB accepted the inevitable voiceovers of the film clips with good grace, but regrettably strayed into the realm of midges. Some confusion ensued and by bedtime one or two were quite concerned about midges with a two-metre wingspan.

We learned a lot through the general hilarity of the evening and the following morning were rewarded by two

golden eagles soaring over the Sound of Mull. These subsequently turned out to be RAF Tornado jets, but credit must be given for the improved observational skills.

Eat what you catch The focus of the week was to provide a ’hunter gatherer’ experience and whilst the Explorers were enthusiastic, I questioned our wisdom when watching them fish off Kilchoan Pier. Amid noisy hilarity, huge lead weights were cast in long distance challenges, lines of hooks whirled indiscriminately and the locals sadly reeled in with no hope of a fish supper. Within 15 minutes, 30 good mackerel were landed, the leaders of course taking credit for choosing the time and location. With plenty of driftwood available a delicious late night snack ensued, cooked on a beach fire worthy of a Viking funeral.

Shoreline wildlife proved interesting to study but we experienced a minor setback when Dave launched his boat following a lunchtime break in a remote cove. I can stand up and paddle a boat but have never before seen anybody do so hopping on one leg and shouting. I personally feel that my suggestion to use his boat for the temporary storage of shore crabs was a good one and trust that once the injuries heal, he will too.

>>

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‘I learned first-hand the dangers of the waters and how to overcome them on the sea. The best bits were the end of the day when we sat around the fire cooking fish we had caught, apples and marshmallows. I really like the special bond between the leaders and the Scouts.’ Harry, 16

Highland (fun and) games

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Quotes of the camp My particular thanks go to young leaders Charlie and Charlotte for their organisational ability, and for having the foresight to purchase large quantities of Elastoplast when the Explorers decided to buy knives at the village shop.

Many thanks of course to all of the leaders and equally to our Explorers who were complemented on their manners and behaviour many times by the besieged villagers, they were a pleasure to be with. Passing

comments such as ‘Does my bum look big in this [climbing harness]?’ or ’Why are all the signs in English and in French?’ will stay with us for a long time.

LOL in the dark Finally, for any Explorers that might be reading this, if you want to send a clandestine late night message to your boyfriend or girlfriend, don’t forget that texting illuminates both tents. That does tend to give the leaders a bit of a steer!

Scout Medal with ribbon Ref 1028360

Scout laptop bag Ref 1027383

£2.50

£15

01903 766 921 Accessory bag with Scouts Be Prepared logo Ref 1027421

£2.25

NEW Size 45mm The award medal on a ribbon lanyard with safety break.

With the Be Prepared logo, this is suitable for a laptop with a 15” screen.

Hot Pink i.Scout Hoodie Ref 1027208R

Kelly Green i.Scout Hoodie Ref 1027995R

£23

Designed as a mini daysack, this may be used by any age group and is easy to slip through a belt or trouser loop. Would make a great stocking filler.

Warm hoodie with i.Scout printed on the sleeve.

£23

Warm hoodie with i.Scout printed on the sleeve and chest.

All profits go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

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YPYV

Your Programme, Your Voice The Programme Team recently ran a Your Programme, Your Voice (YPYV) questionnaire about Scouting magazine and its supplements and received nearly 3,000 responses

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his questionnaire was designed so that we could gauge readers’ feelings about the magazine and its content. Questions ranged from what readers think of the content in both the main magazine and the supplements, to the type of adverts that are featured.

To provide feedback to you as a valued member of the Movement we have listed highlights of the results along with suggested changes that will be implemented as part of the review:

similar content can be found in comparable places in each supplement. A further outcome is the creation of a pool of writers which will relieve the pressure on current contributors and provide a wide range of expertise. If you are interested in writing for the magazine and its supplements please email the editorial team at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk.

Highlights • Most of our readers look forward to receiving the magazine, and will read over 50% of it.

• Over 50% of respondents find the magazine relevant to their role, and feel that the content in it isn’t just for new leaders.

• Most feel that receiving the magazine bimonthly is the right frequency.

• Most are happiest receiving the magazine as a hard copy, rather than electronically. However it is worth noting that Scouting and its supplements are all available online. www.scouts.org.uk/magazine • People would like to see more Scouting skills, activities and ‘how to’ guides in the magazine and supplements.

• Most find the supplement and its content useful to their role.

One of the results of the questionnaire is the standardisation of the content in the supplements, so that

YPYV surveys

Your Programme, Your Voice (YPYV) is a regular online questionnaire created and run by the 6-25 Programme Team. Questions are asked about the Programme and other related issues on a regular basis. Members are alerted by email when there is a new YPYV available. To participate, please make sure your email address is on record on the Membership database.

Do you receive the correct supplement? Do you receive ScoutingPlus – our weekly news email?

If the answer is ‘no’ then perhaps you should check and/or amend your details on our Membership database at www.scouts.org.uk

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Science and Technology In this country, the subject of weather is never far from our lips. As we know, Scouting never stops and winter weather can provide great opportunities to complete the Science and Technology badge by focusing on meteorology

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any of the Explorers may have already gained the Scout Meteorologist Badge, so let them share what they already know; then get out there and observe, measure, learn and have fun.

The Met Office website has some great information about meteorological observations, forecasts and maps. www.metoffice.gov.uk Get measuring Split the Unit into groups to design and build a meteorological measuring device. Each group can then explain what aspect of weather the device measures and how it works.

Search for ‘weather’ on Programmes Online to find how to make some example weather instruments. www.scouts.org.uk/pol The Explorers can then use their equipment to observe the weather and see the patterns that occur. It may be worth getting them to take their devices home so that they can take measurements each day, and satisfy the 25 hours of participation required. Get your Explorers to think about why observations are so important to forecasts.

Produce a weather map With the observation complete, it’s time to show off their results and skills. Spend a Unit meeting getting Explorers to produce a weather map, including fronts, rainfall and isobars. They can research the features of a weather map 16

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then display the results of their observations on the map, in the most creative way possible. If different Explorers have been focusing on different aspects of the weather, group them together to produce a map showing the various things that meteorologists have to consider when producing a forecast.

Film a weather forecast Get the Explorers to present their results in the style of a TV weather forecast. Use the maps produced in the previous meeting as the basis for their forecast. They can then get creative in showing what the weather has been like, how clouds are formed and their meteorological effect. The Explorers can work individually or in groups, nominating one ‘presenter’ and each will have two minutes to present their forecast. If possible, film them and share with the rest of the Unit, or even another Group within the District.

To finish, discuss as a group the benefits of using weather maps to plan Scouting activities and the occasions when weather may influence what the Unit does.

CALL OUT

Have Explorers in your Unit recently gained a badge or completed part of an award? Is there a badge you would like to see featured in the supplement? Share your methods or what you have been doing with others in the section.

Email your ideas to scouting.magazine@ scouts.org.uk, with ‘Explorer Badges’ in the subject line.

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Who ya gonna call?

An invitation to join Save the Children’s Emergency Superhero Network

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very year, more than 60 million children are caught up in emergencies. Whether it’s an earthquake, famine, drought or war, children are the worst affected and we need to get help to them, fast.

Save the Children have been responding to emergencies since 1919, so are experts in helping people prepare for, and recover from, emergencies. They work in over 20 emergency situations each year and played a leading role in the response to both the Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods.

How many different uses for…?

During an emergency, people have to be resourceful and survive on very little. A simple tarpaulin might be used to shelter a family, build a temporary school or use as a temporary water container.

Give each Explorer an everyday object like a bucket or sheet and ask them to list or describe as many uses for it as they can. Using all the resources, the Unit could then build their own emergency shelter or camp, with everything a family needs to be safe and protected.

How you can help The Emergency Superhero Network (ESN) offers Explorer Scouts a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in the crucial first days and weeks after an emergency strikes, when the clock is ticking on children’s lives.

When you sign up to the network, you’ll receive a range of emergency resources and activity suggestions. As soon a there is a new emergency, the ESN will contact you to explain what’s happened and how they’re helping. You’ll also be asked to fundraise. Any money you raise will make a huge difference because many of the life-saving supplies we need are simple, and cost very little.

MORE IDEAS AND JOIN THE ACTION

Save the Children’s superheroes raised over £350,000 for our Haiti Appeal, helping them get children the shelter, food and safety they desperately needed.

It’s simple to join in: call Save the Children on 020 7012 6400 or email scouts@savethechildren.org.uk

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Jamboree dreams Steven, 16, is part of Norfolk’s Central WHO? Unit, and once over the shock of being selected, he quickly got down to learning about the destination country

T

o be chosen to go to the Jamboree was really surreal. Surely there had been a mistake, but when I recieved the confirmation letter in the post, and realised I was actually going I was on cloud nine for two days.

Training run We’ve done two training weekends and have another planned. Activities we’ve done include building shelving units, making dining shelters, skinning rabbits, teambuilding activities, and many more. Alongside the training camps we’ve held social and fundraising events, which have let me get to know people better, and all of which have been much fun. More training is planned so that we all feel prepared for the Jamboree itself.

Getting to know you Coming from one Explorer Unit, it’s been interesting getting to know people in another. I’ve found out that some members are very accident prone, others snore (including me), and some of us like to have long lie-ins!

I’m sure there’ll be none of that in Sweden as there will be too much to do.

Swotting up on Sweden Things we’ve discovered about Sweden so far are: • Sweden is connected to Denmark via the Oresund Bridge, a bridge we will travel across to get to 18

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the Jamboree campsite in Rinkaby.

• Kristianstad, the nearest town to the Jamboree site lies on the Hammer Lake and the Helge River.

• The coldest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was in Vuoggatjalme in 1966 at a staggeringly cold-52.6°C. • There are six languages recognized and spoken in Sweden: Swedish, English, Meankieli, Sami, Romanian and Yiddish.

Top moment The funniest moment we’ve had as a Unit so far would have to be, in my opinion, turning Don’t Stop Believing into the combine harvester song. [Ed - Maybe you had to be there?]

Venture Abroad to the Jamboree If you’re interested in seeing the delights of a World Scout Jamboree for yourself, but you’re not in the IST, you could take advantage of one of the Day Visitor programmes courtesy of our travel partner, Venture Abroad. They have a variety of packages that could suit your Unit.

Check out www.scouts.org.uk/ventureabroad for full details.

December 2010/January 2011

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