explorer

ine The magaazders r Scout Leh 2011 for Explore arc February/M

Scouts speak up Training Explorer Scouts to face the media

Make friends everywhere

How the International Links Scheme can work for you

A S I E F LI R E T S A O C R E L ROL amp C k r a P e m t The a e d i r a e k a We t

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Published by: The Programme Team The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818

WELCOME

Contributions to: programme@scouts.org.uk ADVERTISING Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258

Fresh face

Contributors: Ian Wilkins, Peter Ford, Patrick Rooke Cover image: Allan Baxter For ease of reading, this supplement refers to all variations of ‘county’ groupings simply as County.

Important announcement about the UK Advisers roles and support from Headquarters for the Explorer section Graeme Hamilton

On 1 January, the volunteer structure for the Programme Team changed and Graeme Hamilton has been appointed to the role of Deputy UK Commissioner for Programme. Previously Graeme was the UK Adviser for Cub Scouts and has been heavily involved in Scouting in Scotland for many years.

Should you wish a member of the Programme Team to support your event or Scouting in your area please contact programme@scouts.org.uk to discuss your requirements further.

GET ONLINE, GET MORE

You can read all six magazine supplements online at www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

YOUR KEY EXPLORER SCOUT PROGRAMME RESOURCES

Unit Essentials; The Unit Programme; The Unit Programme Plus; Explorer Scouts Taking the Lead

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

6 Supersize your weekend Big camps: why they make for lasting memories

9 On the spot Explorer Scouts who are speaking up and learning great skills

12 Swedish delights A Unit programme to help you Join-in-Jamboree

14 Links the world over An overview of the ever-popular International Links Scheme

16 Badge in focus The Public Relations Activity Badge

18 Jamboree dreams Matt from Northern Ireland enjoys the Jamboree build-up

15 Ongoing learning Top-up training on the Young Leaders’ Scheme

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news and updates Switch on to adventure in 2011 If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to smarten up your signage and local communications, then help is at hand. The Scout Association’s Print Centre is a free facility available to all adult members of Scouting. Personalise and print on-brand resources using templates for posters, flyers, calendars and more.

To access, please log in using your membership user name and password at www.scouts.org.uk/brand This year we will be launching templates for more events from jumble sales to swimming galas, newsletters, annual reports and District directories.

Handy hint Use the purple only version of the Scout logo as it’s more visible on a white background and helps us get recognised all over the UK. If you have any queries, email communications@scouts.org.uk

Programmes Online In February, our Programme of the Month comes from Visit Woods, a campaign that aims at getting people out to enjoy the vast number of woods that the UK has to offer. A trip to your local woods is another great way to get your Unit enjoying the outdoors and discovering the world around them. Go to www.scouts.org.uk/pol to find some great activity ideas to do while in woodland.

Then, from March, our featured programmes will be focusing on the four elements, beginning with fire. If you have any innovative or interesting activities related to fire, such as a well loved campfire song or new game, login to Programmes Online and add your ideas for a chance to be featured in our Programme of the Month.

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Ongoing learning

A new Ongoing Learning Module has been launched to help adults in the Beaver, Cub and Scout sections support Young Leaders in their section.

As we all know, Young Leaders are our leaders of the future and supporting their development is essential to ensuring Scouting continues to be a vital part of many young people’s lives. If you find any of the Young Leaders in your Unit are not getting as much support as possible, how about promoting this module? It will give section leaders an overview of the scheme and their role within it, as well as advice about who to contact for more support.

For further information, visit the Information and Resources area of www.scouts.org.uk and browse the Training pages.

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NEWS

Explorer Scout shines in young songwriter competition An Explorer Scout Young Leader reached the final of a national songwriting competition. Imogen, who is 15, achieved this with her catchy pop tune Build My Wings. The song was one of four to make it into the final shortlist. As a result she headed to London to record the track with professional musicians in the British Grove Studios. It was subsequently released as a download on iTunes to raise money for Barnardo’s.

Speaking of her experience in the Barnardo’s Young Songwriter of the Year, Imogen said: ‘I had an awesome time, hearing all the instrumental layers coming together and creating what I had in my head so that all could listen. I would love to inspire other keen young musicians to take part and have a go.’

Imogen eventually placed second. Congratulations are due to her for her evident talent and the awareness raised by the song for Barnardo’s work with abused, vulnerable and neglected children.

Faith and awareness events for April/May April 2011 4 Ugadi (Hindu) 13 Vaisakhi (Sikh) 14 Birthday of Guru Nanak (Nanakshahi calendar, Sikh) 17 Palm Sunday (Christian) 18 Theravada New Year (Buddhist) 18 Fast of the Firstborn (Jewish) 19 Passover (Jewish) 21 1st Day of Ridwan (Baha’i) 21 Maundy Thursday (Christian) 22 Good Friday (Christian) 23 St George’s Day (Christian) 24 Easter Day (Christian) May 2011 1 Yom Hashoah (Jewish) 8 World Red Cross Day 9 World Fair Trade Day 9 Yom Ha’atzmaut (Jewish) 15 Start of Christian Aid week 17 Wesak or Buddha Day (Buddhist) 23 Anniversary of the Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i) 29 Anniversary of the Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i) 29 Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar, Sikh)

song at the British Imogen recording her don Grove Studios in Lon

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e z i s r e p Su your d n e k e e w g weekend Ever wanted to run a bi as too hard? camp, but thought it w of the popular Ian Wilkins, organiser how to plan a Theme Park Camp, tells t in this handy large scale camp or even how-to guide

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Big camps mean big

fun for Explorer Scouts

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BIG CAMPS

W

ant to get your County together? Seen an event at the other end of the country (or overseas) that you want to bring to your Region? Always wanted to hire a funfair but never had an excuse? Flesh out your idea a little, and ask your Explorers or other leaders what they think. If they all turn their noses up, maybe it is just you that wants a County crochet contest.

If the idea seems popular, you now have to think about who you are going to invite. Just Explorers, or Scouts and Network too? I would allow at least 12 months from inception to event. Find a good weekend, and don't clash with other large Scout events, like Gilwell24, Apex Challenge, Sun Run etc.

Money talks You now need to cost it. This is just the same as working out the price of any weekend, add your fixed outgoings up, divide by the number of people, and add your cost per person. Spreadsheets are your friend; see the two tables.

Don't forget contingency, and remember that a surplus is much better than losing money.

My recommendation is to try and keep fixed costs as low as possible the first year, and plan to break even with less people than you expect.

If you use a District bank account you need to present this to a District Executive Committee, as they will be responsible if it goes wrong.

Fixed costs Per person (pp) costs Marquee (rented £100 Campsite fee £5.00 from a group) Funfair £1,500 T-shirt £4.00 Disco £400 Food £6.00 Subtotal £2,000 Subtotal £15.00 Contingency £200 Contingency £1.50 (10%) (10%) Total £2,200 Total £16.50 Table 1 – Adding the costs

No. Fixed coming pp

Total pp

Surplus/loss if we charge £26

£28

£30

£32

£34

100

£22.00

£38.50

-£1,250

-£1,050

-£850

-£650

-£450

150

£14.67

£31.17

-£775

-£475

-£175

£125

£425

200

£11.00

£27.50

-£300

£100

£500

£900

£1,300

250

£8.80

£25.30

£175

£675

£1,175

£1,675

£2,175

300

£7.33

£23.83

£650

£1,250

£1,850

£2,450

£3,050

If you build it, they will come…

Not necessarily. You need to market your event. If you can, create a website all about it. Have leaflets or posters at other events, in county distributions, or at county meetings. The internet comes in very handy – Scouting forums, Facebook groups and Twitter can all help you get your message out. Maybe an advert in Scouting? The supplements often have lists of events, so tell the editors.

The more people know about it, the more likely it is that you'll get a bumper crop of punters!

Don't do everything yourself Delegation is absolutely vital. For Theme Park Camp we have a web guy that does the clever stuff, a caterer that I give a budget to, a planner that works out the weekend staff rota and many more. As organiser, I do the money, marketing, communication, and bedtime stories. Figure out what works for you, put people in the right roles and let them get on with it. If you don't know enough people to help, ask. Scout Active Support, Network members or other leaders are often very useful.

It's good to talk By communicating well with people, it will give them confidence that you know what you're doing. If you set up an email account, make sure you check it regularly, perhaps once a day and probably more just before the camp. Provide people with lots of information, and clear directions. Have a dedicated mobile number. All in all, make the leaders’ lives as easy as possible.

And finally • Have a nice smooth booking-in method, people hate hanging around.

• Make sure your InTouch system is in place (See FS120075).

• Carry out a risk assessment.

• Think about first aid, emergency access, campsite evacuation, and notify the emergency services.

• Keep your staff happy – it rubs off on everyone.

• Remember that people love booking at the last minute.

It's not ideal, but you get used to it.

I won't pretend it isn't stressful on occasions, but it's hugely satisfying to give 400 people a great weekend. If I, a humble DESC can do it, so can you.

>>

Table 2 – Calculating the camp fee scouts.org.uk/pol

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>>

Delegate tasks to a tea

m you can trust

Why attend a big camp?

There are many to choose from, and many reasons to go. Some section leaders state their reasons ‘It gives a sense that Scouting isn't just something that happens in a single Scout hall on a Tuesday night.’ Rach, AESL ‘They get to interact with groups of Scouts from many different places, it gives a whole different perspective.’ Nele, SL

Theme Park Camp Started in 2002 as Ventures turned into Explorers and Network, by a Venture Unit that went to Alton Towers Camp (now for Network, held in October) and thought, ‘Wouldn't it be nice if there was a camp like that near here?’

We borrowed a local group’s marquee, a DJ mate, 70 new friends, a coach and a minibus, and away we went.

Having proved it worked, we took a deep breath, and hired the whole site and an even larger marquee. The following year we made 270 new friends. Since then we've had 300-400 each year, with many groups coming back repeatedly.

Why does it work?

It's easy to book, the leaders trust us to deliver happy but tired Explorers and Network members. Our staff is a great bunch, whose enthusiasm and sense of fun means the work gets done and the laughs rarely stop.

This year's event is 2-4 September 2011 Open to Explorers and Network members. www.summitnetwork.org.uk/tpc www.facebook.com/themeparkcamp tpc@summitnetwork.org.uk

‘You only have to walk round a large camp, and sample the atmosphere, to realise just how special Scouting is.’ Dave, SL ‘For leaders it's a relatively easy camp, as you don't have to organise the activities. Explorers get to do activities they wouldn't otherwise be able to do.’

Pete, AESL ‘Meeting people from other groups, competing against them, and socialising with them, is all part of the Apex Challenge. Of course logistics can become a challenge for large events, but we've found there are always plenty of enthusiastic helpers who like being part of the event. The key is making it enjoyable for everyone - not just those taking part!’

Matt, Apex Challenge organiser ’It is good for each generation of Scouts to see at least one big rally, since it enables the boy to realise his membership of a really great brotherhood, and at the same time brings him into contact acquaintance with brother Scouts of other districts and other countries.’ B-P

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OTHER BIG CAMPS TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR

Intense – Wales’s Explorer camp, open to all, Summer 2011 (see Scout Wales website for confirmation of date) Dragnet – Mammoth game of cat and mouse in the Lake District, 1-3 July 2011 Apex Challenge – 9-10 April 2011, Sherwood Pines and 7-9 October 2011, West Yorkshire Gilwell 24 – Non-stop Scouting at Gilwell Park, 8-10 July 2011 Sun Run – Marathon Scouting challenge for Explorers and Network, Cheltenham, 1-3 July 2011 MerseyMoot – Merseyside’s annual gettogether for Explorers and Network, 9-11 September 2011.

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SCOUTS IN THE MEDIA

t o p s On the

2010 was a solid year for Scouting in the UK. Sustained growth, memorable events and everyday adventures were part of the story, but for those outside the Movement, it’s how Scouting is portrayed in the media that forms their impression of the organisation. Behind the scenes a bunch of young people who will attend the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden from all parts of the UK were trained to ‘speak up’ in terms of media and public affairs, so they have the skills to act as spokespeople for Scouting during the event. We met some of them

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hen it comes to young people in the media, it’s often assumed that yards of column inches will be devoted to coverage of negative exploits. But in the post-cuts world, in which media has suffered as badly as any industry, the truth is that journalists are under more pressure to fill their pages, working with less time and fewer leads. A well-drafted press release, an articulate spokesperson and an interesting angle are all weapons in the arsenal needed to get positive PR for Scouting, and redress the balance of young people’s image in the media.

Of course the most powerful weapon of all is the young people themselves, as Media Relations Officer (and former young person) Andrew Thorp insists: ‘There’s no point in me with my greying hair, being put in front of a camera. It sends completely the wrong message. We’re here to give the young people the skills and confidence to advocate for Scouting, whether that’s in encouraging adults to volunteer, other young people to join, or raising the profile of Scouting in their community.’ The training was called Scouts Speak Up and it was a great success. scouts.org.uk/pol

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>> dealing with pressure

quirky staff

Kim

Daniel, 16, Derbyshire ‘The Scouts Speak Up event was a brilliant precursor to the Jamboree and the itinerary was fantastic. Standing up in front of a group of people and talking is a daunting experience for most people, but after the weekend I feel so much more confident and this has already helped me outside of Scouting.

‘Learning how to deal with interviews in all forms was also brilliant. The scenarios created were lifelike and the mentors provided great feedback and we are now all well equipped to deal with any interview situation.

‘The campaigning section was also very interesting and it was fantastic to see how much impact young people in Scouting can have, for example, young people marching on Westminster to protest about the rain tax, something they felt passionate about and were able to make a difference.

‘The weekend was a fantastic experience. We learned loads of interesting and important things and met people from all over the country all with one thing in common – Scouting. It gave me a fantastic insight into what we can look forward to in Sweden this summer.’

Daniel

easy as ABC

Kim, 16, Teesside

Jack, 14, South Shields

‘The event did exactly what it says on the tin: teach us to speak up. In reality however, Scouts Speak Up was so much more.

‘Throughout a hectic two days, we learned techniques for interview on radio, TV and for newspapers, live or pre-recorded, or over the phone, and also how to campaign successfully about issues we think are important. I learned so much, but it never felt like work with the humour and quirky personalities of the staff and enthusiasm from all the Scouts. The different accents made listening back to interviews even more interesting.

‘The skills I learned on the SSU weekend I'll remember for years, and the friends I have made will last a lifetime.’

‘We learned how to dominate, take control and get across the message which you want to promote to the press, by using a method called ABC – Acknowledge, Bridge, Control. I wanted to add a personal touch, so I used past experiences to characterise my answers into more personal ones. After this weekend I feel even more ambitious and I can't wait to promote Scouting as a movement of opportunities for young people.’

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SCOUTS IN THE MEDIA

5 young people in the media for the right reasons Tom Daley – Britain’s brightest medal hope for the 2012 Olympic Games is Plymouth teenager and diving sensation Tom Daley. Tom manages to balance his diving with his school work, and even found time to visit 1st Crownhill Beaver Scouts last year, where the Beavers listened in awe to tales of his sporting achievements.

Olympic hope

Scouts Diver Tom Daley meets the Beaver of 1st Crownhill in Plymouth.

junior apprentice

Arjun Rajyagor – This 17-year-old from Essex shot to prominence in 2010 as the winner of the BBC’s Junior Apprentice. The brainy teenager showed intelligence, creativity and entrepreneurial flair to fend off the competition and hear Lord Sugar utter the immortal words ‘You’re hired!’

at the Paschal Uche – Student Uche, 21, from East London, impressed television audiences and Pope’s visit onlookers alike when he welcomed Pope person to circumnavigate the world unassisted. At Benedict XVI on behalf of the UK’s young the time her mast had broken and many were quick people during his visit in September. His to dismiss the yachtswoman as too inexperienced. But she greeting embodied the enthusiasm with which young repaired her ship, tried again, and sailed into Sydney Catholics met the papal visit.

Harbour on 15 May 2010, three days shy of her 17th birthday to claim the record.

Anya Reiss – Written when she was just 17, Spur of the Moment is the first offering of this promising young playwright and was staged by the Royal Court Theatre in London last summer. Time Out called it an ‘astute dissection of a middle-class suburban family round on the edge of implosion’.

new playwright

the world

Jessica Watson – Australian Watson was 16 when she made the headlines for a record attempt to be the youngest scouts.org.uk/pol

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Swedish delights In our aim to provide you with quality programme material through your section supplement, we’ve asked the Jamboree team to serve us up a smorgasbord of great ideas to go, all of which relate to the February theme of the Join-in-Jamboree resource: Hallü Sverige or Hello Sweden. Give your Explorer Unit a taste of the Jamboree host nation during one of your next section meetings

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Activity

Time

Zo

Cook a quick Swedish apple cake

20-25 minutes preparation time

Glo

Kubb

30 minutes

Glo Phy Rec

Fika time

10 minutes

Glo

Swedish season swap

45-60 minutes

Glo

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PROGRAMME IDEAS

Zone

Instructions

Global

Split your Explorers in groups to make a traditional Swedish recipe. This apple cake is very simple to make and can be enjoyed later on in the evening.

For each cake you will need: 175g plain flour 175g caster sugar 175g butter 3 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla essence 50g raisins 3 cooking apples.

Preheat your oven to 200°C or gas mark 6.

Grease a 24cm spring form tin.

Mix the flour, caster sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla essence and raisins into a bowl with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth batter.

Pour the batter into the spring form tin.

Peel and core three apples and slice them into rings about 1cm thick. Place these on top of the cake mix in the tin so that most of the cake is covered.

Place in the middle shelf of the oven for about 40 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and apples are glazed.

Global Physical Recreation

You and your Explorers will need to work up an appetite to enjoy the Swedish Apple Cake. Kubb is a traditional Swedish game becoming increasingly popular with Scout, Explorer and Network Leaders.

It involves perseverance, determination and skill.

A full set of rules to play Kubb are available on Programmes Online. Simply search ‘Kubb’ to download them. To run the game, you will need a playing area in your meeting space, some wooden blocks or old plastic bottles filled with a small bit of water, some wooden batons or beanbags for throwing and pegs to mark out corners of the playing area.

Global

After working up an appetite playing Kubb, your Swedish Apple Cake should almost be done. Take it out of the oven and let it cool down.

Now, it’s Fika time! Fika is an institution in Sweden and involves regular social breaks with your friends and family. Drinks (usually coffee) and cake, accompanied by a good chat, are what Fika is all about.

So take a quick break and enjoy a slice of your cake with a drink. How very Swedish.

Global

Sweden celebrates Midsummer every year, when the sun is at its highest point and the days are long. Part of the traditional celebration is to set up a midsummer pole (see picture), decorate it with flowers and leaves, and dance around it while listening to Swedish folk music.

Spend the last part of your evening pioneering and decorating a midsummer pole to bring some warmth and a taste of Midsummer to the Midwinter depths of February. You will need one long and one shorter pioneering pole, some string, a fist size clump of clay, some flowers and some leaves (you can make these with coloured paper if you would prefer not to pick them).

Lash the two pioneering poles into a cross shape. The shorter pole should be at a 90 degree angle to the long pole. Cover it with flowers and leaves. If you have time, make a small Swedish flag from a spare bit of paper to put on top of the pole. Create a base for the pole by securing it into a large lump of clay on the floor.

Complete your evening’s programme by playing some folk music and dance around the pole with your Unit. Go home with a taste of what the host nation of the 22nd World Scout Jamboree has to offer.

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Links the world over

Are you aware of the International Links Scheme, the programme that helps to put you in touch with Explorers, Raiders, Pionniers and others around the world? Peter Ford hooks you up

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s the old adage goes, ‘There are no strangers in Scouting, just friends you’ve yet to meet.’

The International Links Scheme offers a means of communicating with other Scouts abroad and provides an ‘international experience’ without necessarily having to leave town. The traditional concept of writing a letter has now given way to members all over the world from Australia to Malawi and Hong Kong to Zimbabwe requesting links with Scouts online.

As well as exchanging emails, International Links/ penpals can now talk to each other on Skype, share photos and videos using any number of online tools (including Group websites, MSN and YouTube), and link up with each other in October during Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI), the world's largest international Scouting event. There's still room for snail mail too... badge swaps, anyone?

Why make an international link?

Scouting has always promoted international peace, understanding and co-operation by encouraging contact between young people from diverse countries and cultures. These connections help young people develop a broader awareness of the global community, seeing what they have in common and what the differences are between themselves and Scouting friends globally.

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Reasons to be global: • Opportunity to make new friends • Helps your Explorers complete the International Partnership Award • Builds relationships that can last a lifetime • Swap photos, programme ideas and camp experiences • Exchange ideas with and gain support from leaders with similar interests and goals in other countries • Maybe even visit and camp together.

HOW DO YOU FIND A LINK?

If you are interested in trying to organise a link, please contact Peter Ford, International Links Co-ordinator, by email international.links@scouts.org.uk or register online at www.scouts.org.uk/ intlinks. The scheme can be used by individual youth members and leaders, as well as Group links between sections.

You can also search for, and share experiences of, international campsites online by using the new Globe Trekker tool.

Go to www.scouts.org.uk/globetrekker to start your quest.

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Active Kids is on another adventure.

Sainsbury’s Active Kids is back and we’re delighted to be supporting The Big Adventure again this year. Last year was an incredible success, with loads more people getting outdoors, active and involved with Scouting.

Active Kids vouchers are available from 9 February to 31 May 2011, so get collecting for some fantastic sports, outdoors and cooking equipment.

If you order an Active Kids Ingredients Card by 15 April 2011, we’ll deliver it to you before 6 May 2011 so that you can stock up for your Big Adventure. For more information on the Ingredients Card and all the Active Kids products, courses and coaching experiences, see your Active Kids catalogue or visit the website.

Don’t worry if your Group isn’t registered yet, there’s still plenty of time: Simply call 0844 415 8440* or visit sainsburys.co.uk/activekids *BT customers will pay no more than 5p per minute. If not with BT, all other costs are subject to customer’s call plan. Call duration will vary depending on the query.

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BADGE IN FOCUS

Public Relations

Charlotte Tow takes a look at the variety of methods you and your Unit can use to work towards the Public Relations Activity badge

N

owadays, we are surrounded by PR in all walks of life. Whether it is from a newsflash on a phone, to a flyer through the post, good PR is essential to supporting the growth and image of any organisation, Scouting included.

Start promoting Scouting to your local community and gain a badge in the process.

Finding the hook Firstly, ask your DC if you have a Media Development Manager – they will be a great contact for helping you show off your Unit to the community. Together, the Unit could contact local newspapers or other organisations to get them to feature your stories. Now decide what you want to be featured. Ask your Unit to select their favourite or most exciting Scouting thing they have done over the last couple of months. Perhaps you have just taken part in a winter camp or gone on an Explorer Belt expedition? Or maybe one of your Explorers has just achieved a major feat?

You can then base your whole programme on this and plan how to promote it. Spend an evening with your Media Development Manager creating a press release to send to local newspapers or websites. It is worth telling 16

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your Explorers beforehand so that they can bring in photographs or other evidence. You could even get them to send something to the Programme Team to be featured in the supplement and show Units across the country what you have been up to.

Team up Why not use the opportunity to link with a local Scout Troop? Get the Explorers to write up a newsletter about your Unit and bring it to one of their meetings. Ask the Scouts what they think Explorer Scouts is all about and then show them all the excitement and adventure that is involved in the section. You could even have the more creative Explorers design a promotional poster to leave in the Scout meeting place – what a great recruitment tool.

Make the most of the Brand Centre at www.scouts.org. uk/brand for some inspiration.

SEND US THE SCOOP

Email programme@scouts.org.uk with ‘Explorer stories’ in the subject line.

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42 - 1

011 8-10 JULY 2 24.INFO L L E W L I .G WWW

Copyright Š 2011 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales)

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22/12/2010 11/01/2011 14:21 16:22

Jamboree dreams Matt, 16, is part of the Norn Iron Jamboree Unit, and will be venturing from County Tyrone to Rinkaby come July. He’s dreaming of an experience worth sharing

O

ur Unit name was chosen because it related to the way we all use slang as a group, and it was something we all recognise as representing us. Names and symbols that everyone can agree on can be tricky in Northern Ireland, but we’re Scouts, we can manage it.

Don’t look down Since being selected to go to the Jamboree, I have done a range of weekend camps to get to know the people in my Unit. Together, we’ve improved our pioneering skills, as the Jamboree theme is ‘Simply Scouting’. We have also abseiled over 150ft down the Europa Hotel in Belfast, to raise money for our fees.

I am most looking forward to the variety of different cultures, trying to interact with different people, sharing and trying new food and finding out how other people live. To do this to the maximum, I need to try and learn a few words in different languages like hello, please and thank you.

Luxury item The one piece of technology I’ll take with me will be my phone, as I want to be able to share my experiences with friends and family while it’s happening.

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Instant friendships The Jamboree will be a global village, and is a great opportunity to meet people from over one hundred countries. I am most looking forward to meeting Scouts from the United States or Canada, because they are known for the quality of their Scouting skills. This is something I would like to improve for myself. I also would love to learn about their way of life.

Keep track of the UK Contingent as the Jamboree nears by following @ukcontingent on Twitter

Dream team

Next issue we’ll catch up with our other Jamboree Dreamers. To get someone from your Unit to join the gang, send a brief description of their exploits to programme@scouts.org.uk with the subject ‘Jamboree dreams’.

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