Scouting magazine - February/March 2011

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Scouting FEbRUARY/mARcH 2011

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THE FOUNDER’S DAY ISSUE

TRAVELLING LIGHT Expedition essentials FOUNDER’S DAY FOcUS We reproduce a Baden-Powell speech ‘GETTING THESE YOUNG pEOpLE OUTDOORS IS VITAL’ Learning from Scouts with special needs

ScOUTS.ORG.Uk/mAGAzINE

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IT’S A LD R O W D MU kes for a m g n i t u o How Sc living e l b a n i a t s u s

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Late bility Availa

Meet sco all over ut troops from the wor ld Experience th e from Fondue Swiss culture to Yodelling

Activities such as rock cli river rafting and moun mbing, tain biking.

Take the mountain railway to the ‘top of Europe’, Jungfraujoch

With only limited availability remaining, don’t let your Troop miss out on creating their Jamboree experience in Switzerland this summer - talk to us today!

www.ventureabroad.co.uk 01332 342 050 | tours@ventureabroad.co.uk in partnership with

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SCOUTING Scouting Editors: Hilary Galloway, Elis Matthews, Dave O’Carroll and Rose Wells The national magazine of The Scout Association ISSN 0036 – 9489 © 2011 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland) Published by: The Scout Association, Gilwell House, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 Fax: 020 8433 7103 Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Website: www.scouts.org.uk/magazine Contributions to: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Please note that the views expressed by members and contributors in the magazine are not necessarily those of The Scout Association.

Publishing Management: Think, The Pall Mall Deposit, 124-128 Barlby Road, London W10 6BL Sub-editors: Rica Dearman and Marion Thompson Art Director: Ian Hart ADVERTISING Sales Executive: Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1250 Printed and distributed by: Headley Brothers Ltd Printed on 100% recycled paper

CONTRIBUTORS Neil Hallam is a climbing, walking and biking assessor for his County. On page 28, he meets Scouts with sporting talent and success.

Scouting for Girls drummer Pete Ellard reflects on the similarities between band life and Scout life, on page 39.

Cover photo: Allan Baxter

LOG ON – DON’T MISS OUT If you have moved house, want to change your section supplement or amend your personal details, you can update with a click of the mouse: • Sign up at www.scouts.org.uk – you only need to do this once. You will need your unique membership number to hand (this can be found on the address sheet that comes with Scouting magazine) • Log on • Update your details and anyone else’s you are line manager for • Logging on today also means you can access Programmes Online, the revolutionary programme planner!

SHOWING

HEART

The next character trait on our list of the seven Scouting principles is Courage. (Neatly remembered as ‘Caught’ from my mnemonic of Ten Little Fat Fingers Caught The Rat!) ‘A Scout is Courageous.’ And courage is a big one.

Courage has been at the very heart of Scouting ever since our Founder, Baden-Powell, distinguished himself so bravely in the face of overwhelming odds at the Siege of Mafeking, during the Boer War (it’s worth checking that story out if you can).

Courage is often about how we react to overwhelming odds. And it is impossible to be courageous if at first you aren’t also afraid. Courage involves facing our fears, and walking through them – and despite them.

But it certainly isn’t just about military actions – the bravest person I know is a young boy from Hungary, aged 11, who is battling a life-threatening disease and great pain, with a smile, determination and the softest of hearts.

I know that he is scared, yet every day, he makes his choice to tackle life head-on with inimitable courage and optimism. That is real courage.

The Latin origin of the word courage is actually ‘heart’. And that is what it really means to me. Showing heart when it really matters. Being courageous in those big moments in life that we all face.

One final thought: the most courageous people are also often the most unlikely people. So, whoever you are, take heart, as underneath I have an inkling that you are braver and more courageous than you think.

That’s Scout courage for you.

Next issue we’re on to T.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout 90,571 average circulation from 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2009

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Great events for your group to try The nation’s heart charity has three fun activity-based fundraising events that your group can take part in this spring or summer.

These fantastic events will: benefit your children, as they will learn how to improve their heart health through fun physical activities and how raising money can help other children and adults benefit your group, as you will retain 20% of the sponsorship money raised, to spend on whatever you want provide your group with great resources to help it create a fun and successful event benefit the nation’s heart health, as the money you raise will help to prevent heart and circulatory disease in the future, and save the lives of children and adults now.

Artie’s Olympics

For 8 year olds and under

A fab event that encourages children to get active and have fun through taking part in a number of games and activities, which once they are familiar with, are carried out in front of an audience of their friends and family.

Gold medal stickers, balloons, laurel crowns, posters, sponsorship forms and a great organiser’s guide are provided.

Jump Rope For Heart

For 5-13 year olds

A popular event that encourages children to learn skipping skills either individually, in pairs or in groups. Skipping is great fun and a superb way to get kids active.

11 skipping ropes, activity cards, posters, sponsorship forms and a great organiser’s guide are provided.

Ultimate Dodgeball

For 7-16 year olds

A great way for children of different ages and abilities to have fun and get active.

Just choose your teams, create a team identity and organise your own fun event.

Three dodgeballs, teaching resources, posters, sponsorship forms and a great organiser’s guide are provided.

2011 is our 50th birthday, so why don’t you celebrate with us by taking part in one of these fun events?

For more information and to request an information leaflet, please:

visit bhf.org.uk/scouting call 01892 893 913 or email youngfun@bhf.org.uk

beating heart disease together © British Heart Foundation 2011, a registered charity in England and Wales (225971) and in Scotland (SC039426)

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Contents

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FEATURES REGULARS 9 IN BRIEF 11 MAILBOX 12 NEWS | Events, campaigns and updates 27 FOR/AGAINST | Tucking in shirts?

40 FAITHS & BELIEFS | How to integrate Bahá’í and Scouting 49 COUNTRY DIARY | Build a nest box and gain badges 59 CAMP COOKING | A hearty Scottish meal 70 HEALTH & WELLBEING | Understanding invisible illnesses 76 COMPETITION | 2011’s photography competition 81 ROUND OUR PLACE | Scouts fundraise to maintain their meeting place 82 FIVE MILES WITH… | World Scout Committee member John May

20 PERFECTLY ABLE | Scouts with special needs go camping with a regular Troop 24 GRAND SUPPORT BRINGS GREAT SCOUTING | The Freemasons’ Grand Charity’s support of Scouting 28 MASTERS AT ARMS | The National Scout Rifle Championships as a route to international success 30 ‘THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD TRY’ | Get ready for The Big Adventure 2011 34 EDUCATION IN LOVE IN PLACE OF FEAR | Text from a 1922 speech by Robert Baden-Powell 39 SCOUTING IN STADIUMS | Scouting for Girls drummer Pete Ellard talks about his Scouting days and performing on stage

43 FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING | Undertaking a new role as a Scout Active Support Manager 44 SUSTAINABLE SCOUTING IS SUSTAINABLE SCOUTING | Growing Scouting while remaining green at the same time 51 SKILLS & ACTIVITIES | A lightweight camping Gold DofE expedition, plus advice on preparation 61 INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL | Scouting trips overseas; a glimpse at Globe Trekker, Scouting’s new website; and Scouts Speak Up courses for the World Scout Jamboree

S T N E T N O C OPINION

7 GLOBAL GATHERING | UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt on a new website and international opportunities for Scouts

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PARTNERSHIPS 73 PROMOS & RESOURCES

IN THE SUPPLEMENTS BEAVERS Changes to POR rules, making a calendar and charity activities

| CUBS Small-scale camps, film evenings and a new science competition | SCOUTS The spirit of Scouting, hiking training tips and international links | EXPLORERS Media training, how to run a large camp and the PR badge | NETWORK Activity academies return, student Scouting and fun in France | FOCUS Supporting hidden volunteers, trustee support and mapping the future of a District

All available at scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Education at Cats Protection

If you would like to learn about cats and Cats Protection, why not invite someone along to give a talk or ask about visiting one of our adoption centres.

We also offer free teaching resources.

For more information please call:

01825 741 924 or email:

education@cats.org.uk

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

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GLOBAL GATHERING

Opinion

t Curitiba, Brazil, brough in ce en er nf Co t ou Sc ld The 39th Wor ief Commissioner m 161 countries. UK Ch fro ts ou Sc 00 3,0 er th toge e of them Wayne Bulpitt was on

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he World Scout Conference reminded me what a fantastic global Movement for good we are members of. One of our many strengths is the international opportunities we offer young people, whether it’s their first trip to Europe, attending a World Event such as the Moot or Jamboree, an Explorer Belt expedition or a solidarity project in Africa. Last year in the UK alone, we provided more than 100,000 international nights away.

Jamboree this year, but we are developing the relationship to last long after the Scouts return home.

We are also working with Armenia, Papua New Guinea and others to foster meaningful and long-lasting partnerships. To get involved in partnerships with Scouts around the world, contact your ACC International or the International Team.

Travel site Globe Trekker, our new travel website (see page 65), is the latest support tool to make international Scouting more accessible and the trips easier to organise. It provides a forum to share experiences and tips, and inspire those yet to venture overseas. If you have been on an overseas trip, share your experiences with the rest of the Movement, or use the site to discover new parts of the world to develop Scouting links.

UK Scouting has always enjoyed great solidarity with Scouts across the globe and we continue to build on this. Last year, we helped Scouts from Sierra Leone attend the World Scout Moot in Kenya. A different group will attend the World Scout To find out more about solidarity partnerships and other international opportunities, get in touch with the International Team (international@ scouts.org.uk; 0845 300 1818). Email Wayne at ukcc@scouts.org.uk; catch up with his blog at www.scouts.org.uk/ccblog

from the blog

ENGAGING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES

I have mentioned previously my own discussions with the Directors of Education in several local authorities, and there is a clear chance for us to seize the opportunity presented by the severe financial pressures that local authorities are under and cuts that are certainly going to be made to their youth budgets.

‘It can depend on who you speak to and whether they were in the Movement at one point.

But watch out, as plenty of local authorities are having their monies seriously cut; these are frightening times for their employees.’

Rusty ‘There are many corporate charitable trusts out there, and many larger companies not only giving time off for voluntary work to their employees, but donating money based on their efforts – effectively paying us to use them. And one of our relationships with local authorities is surely the other way around. Just as we provide Scouts to bag up in supermarkets, could we not use Scouts to help in carefully-selected scenarios?

In fact, in the recent snows, some Scout Districts have done just that. Before we worry about handouts, let’s find some hand-ins to show how useful we are – and how indispensable we could be!’

Tony Morwood-Leyland

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Looking for Somewhere to Volunteer?

WRVS can offer you a variety of great volunteering options.

We are a national charity providing valuable services

providing an invaluable service for patients,

in 450 hospitals throughout Great Britain as well as

visitors and staff. At the end of it, you will have

services for older people in the communities where they

demonstrated teamwork, customer service and

live. Every year we help around 100,000 older people to

social skills as well as having gained experience of

maintain their independence and to continue living the

working in a busy and challenging environment –

life they want with the support they choose.

great for a UCAS or job application.

And we want you to volunteer!

Or perhaps you would prefer working with one of

Unlike many charities, WRVS offers volunteering

our “Meals on Wheels” schemes to help deliver hot

opportunities to people from the age of 14. We realise

meals to older people in your community? Or you

that you have a lot of things to do with your time so

could help alleviate social isolation by volunteering

whether it’s just a couple of hours a fortnight or half a

for a “Good Neighbours” or “Books on Wheels”

day a week, we’ve got something for you.

scheme in your area. With all these services, not only will you be helping older people to stay in their own

What are the volunteering options?

homes but you will also be providing companionship,

You could get involved with your local hospital

a friendly face and the all-important check to make

coffee shop, retail shop or ward trolley service,

sure they are alright.

But most of all, you’ll have fun!

To find out more about what’s available in your area, call or text Kathryn on 07714 898610, take a look at our website at wrvs.org.uk or send us an email at G1002A

dofe@wrvs.org.uk Please quote the reference: SC1

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In brief

In brief

A snapshot of Scouting past, present and future – all on one page

www.

Top 10 Scout websites Many of you have been creating some great Scout websites, promoting adventure to your local community. Here are ten favourites of ours: Norfolk www.norfolkscouts.org.uk Nottinghamshire www. nottinghamshire-scouts.com Clwyd www.clwydscouts.org.uk Lincolnshire www.lincsscout.org.uk South East Scotland www. southeastscotlandscouts.org.uk Gloucestershire www. gloucestershire-scouts.org.uk Essex www.essexscouts.org.uk Durham www.durhamscouts.org.uk West Yorkshire www.wyscouts. org.uk Greater London Middlesex West www.glmwscouts.org.uk

Going up

What’s popular in the world of Scouting?

↑ Camping. Now the worst of the

cold weather is behind us (we hope), it’s time to air your tents.

And as Beavers can now camp as a Colony (page 15), it means everyone gets to enjoy one of the best things about Scouting.

↑ Big Adventure T-shirt. It’s what all the parents will be wearing this summer at a Big Adventure event. www.scouts.org.uk/shop

↑ Founder’s Day. Join our Founder’s Facebook campaign and make 22 February a day to remember. www.scouts.org.uk/facebook

22 February in history

As well as being marked by Scouts as Founder’s Day, these events also took place on 22 February: 1956: Elvis Presley entered the music charts for the first time with ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.

1969: The last time all four Beatles were together for a recording session.

1997: Scottish scientists announced that Dolly the sheep had been successfully cloned.

Right up my street B-P’s fame meant that several streets were named after him: Baden-Powell Avenue, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Baden-Powell Close, Dagenham, Essex

Baden-Powell Close, Rugeley, Staffordshire Baden-Powell Close, Surbiton, Surrey Baden-Powell Crescent, Pontefract, West Yorkshire

Baden-Powell Crescent, Towcester, Northamptonshire Baden-Powell Drive, Colchester, Essex Baden-Powell Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Baden-Powell Road, Kirkton Industrial Estate, Arbroath, Angus Baden-Powell Road, Nottingham Baden-Powell Road, Sevenoaks, Kent Baden-Powell Road, Turriff, Aberdeenshire

Baden-Powell Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear Baden-Powell Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria Baden-Powell Walk, Ipswich, Suffolk Baden-Powell Way, Romsey, Hampshire Do you live on one of these streets? We’d love to see a picture of you by the road sign. Send it in to scouting.magazine@ scouts.org.uk with the subject ‘In Brief’

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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whatever rocks your world, rock your shades in support of teenage cancer trust Join our national event on 6 May or choose a date that suits you. Help us to give young people the fight and attitude they need to beat cancer.

Teenage Cancer Trust can provide materials to help promote your event.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

GO SHOPPING

Arrange for your group to wear their shades for the day and collect £1 (or more) per person. We can help promote it with posters and flyers.

Then pay the money in online: www.rockyourshades.com or call 020 7612 0370.

Topman are the official sponsors of Rock Your Shades 2011, and to celebrate have designed a special range of unisex sunglasses which will be on sale from April.We will receive £5 for every pair sold, so head down to Topman!

BLING YOU R SHADES COMPETITIO N

Design the w ackiest sha des you can think of, for charity! St art with the basic frame then; add co lour, stick bits on or ha ng bits off, tw ist th whatever it ta kes! Ask peop ings, le to pay to enter and try to source a prize for the winners.

BAKE IT

sale! Rustle-up Everyone loves a bake cookies, .. ed. hap ss-s gla some sun des onto sha e gingerbread, ice som rzipan ma r you ke ma or e, cak your e.

Wayfarer-styl -cutter…

Bring out the cookie

PARTY!

Hold a sunglass-themed fancy dress party, either host one at your base or pick a venue. You can charge for , tickets, ask for donations on the door hold a raffle…Pick a character and rock your shades!

SPREAD THE WORD Whatever you do, don’t forget to tell your mates in other groups, friends and neighbours about it! The more people you can get involved, the more money Teenage Cancer Trust can raise, so get it up on your Twitter/facebook/ LinkedIn/youtube account and spread the word!

www.rockyourshades.com rockyourshades@teenagecancertrust.org 0207 612 0370

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Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & Wales); SC039757 (Scotland)

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Mailbox Email us at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk or write to Scouting magazine, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW

Mailbox STAR LETTER

Different versions How many different conceptions of Scouting magazine have there been? I don’t mean the A4 or A5 versions, I mean if there were major differences in the format, I guess the first ever ‘Scouting magazine’ was Scouting for Boys.

Chris Meadows Response from Claire Woodforde, Archives/ Heritage Assistant: There have been several incarnations of Scouting magazine. The first was the Headquarters Gazette, which ran from 1909 to 1922 and was then renamed The Scouter.

It remained under this name to 1970 when it was renamed again as Scouting.

Earlier incarnations of Scouting were aimed at leaders and volunteers rather than young people who were provided for with The Scout – which seems to have run from 1910 to the late 1960s.

These were then merged in the late 60s.

The writer of the star letter will receive a copy of A Complete Guide to Scouting Skills, also available from www.scouts.org.uk/shop

Youth editors… the final word Editing Scouting was a great experience, which I have very much enjoyed being part of. The visits, interviews, etc were phenomenal and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will of course recommend it to anyone who may fancy it. I will now go and enjoy the glory of being famous!

Thanks again.

Rob Thank you for giving us such a great opportunity to edit Scouting magazine and interview some fantastic people, I had so much fun and I feel pretty lucky because not many people can say Michaela they got to do that.

Christmas quiz As always, our Christmas quiz was hugely popular again and many entrants expressed their appreciation. Here is a selection: Another great one with some tough questions in there. Looking forward to next year’s already.

James and Andrew Collins ‘JAD’s’ Christmas quiz by Alan Burnham: We apologise to Mr Burnham for not titling this ‘AB’s Christmas quiz’, but JAD’s legacy will take a long time to leave us. We would like to thank you for continuing in the same theme and providing us with such wonderful seasonal entertainment.

Mark, Bryony, David, Mick and Pauline Greenwood, and Linda Edwards A brilliant quiz! Please find attached my answers – couldn’t finish it (missed 2a, 2b and 2e and the last part of 17), but really enjoyed trying!

Karen Philpott Phew! Once again Alan has proved himself a more than worthy successor to the much-loved JAD. We still refer to our efforts spent over Christmas as ‘Jadding’, sorry Alan. In places, this quiz has been easier than previous, but some of the questions have been real stinkers.

Viv, Phil, Mike, et al www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Events, updates and news from around the UK

news Mud reigns at Wintercamp

Hardy Scouts enjoyed another successful Wintercamp event at Gilwell Park. Around 3,500 Scouts, Explorers, Guides and Rangers braved the cold and rain to enjoy an exhilarating weekend.

There were around 30 activities on offer, including classic Scouting pursuits like climbing, archery and wide games, alongside modern activities, such as laser clay, quad bikes and Robot Wars, with something to suit everyone.

Arguably, the muddy conditions were the biggest challenge but, according to Nick Iles, who led the event, the one thing the rain couldn’t dampen was the spirits of the Scouts: ‘Participants seemed to enjoy rolling around in the mud – getting muddy was certainly one of the things you had to do at Wintercamp.’

moments of 2010 Your favourite Scouting

On our Facebook page we asked you for your best bit of last year. Here are just a few responses:

‘Becoming Assistant Cub Scout and Group Scout Leader at my local Group, which was failing, and starting to turn it around. We are 90 next year and look forward to the Group continuing Scouting for many more years to come.’

Angela Fenton

‘Lots, but one that makes it all worthwhile is seeing a Beaver who was a real pain (polite version) becoming a pleasure to have in the Colony.’

Ruth Stokes

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‘I saw someone fall on the way up Snowdon and he had numerous cuts on his arms and a severely sprained ankle.

Due to my first-aid training at Scouts, I was able to help (and always carry a massive first-aid kit with me). He was so grateful and was praising the Scouts for the hour or so it took to get him down and back to his car.

Both made me extremely proud (even more so than usual) and made me smile and have a warm glow. It just reminds me why i.Scout.’

Matthew Lightfoot

‘At the age of 57 attending my first Jamboree – Norjam.’

Roger Thorne ‘Blair Atholl – best camp I’ve ever been to.’

David Shepherd

‘Seeing a very shy Scout come out of her shell and open up a little bit to her friends. A small thing, but very rewarding for all involved and makes everything worthwhile.’

Craig Baxter

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News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

Grab a book, share a book

World Book Day 2011 takes place on 3 March and celebrates 14 years of encouraging reading for all ages. Every year, thousands of events are organised in schools, bookshops, libraries and other venues to mark World Book Day. Get involved and find out more about what’s new at www.worldbookday.com

ing t u o c S y /Januar er 2010 Decemb

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THE YOUTH-ED ITED ISSUE

Scouting magazine shortlisted for award

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We love Scouting and we love Scouting magazine, and we know you do too. So it heartened us to discover we’d been shortlisted for the 2010 CorpComms Best Corporate Publication. Still, we’re a competitive lot, so if you have any ideas of what would turn Scouting into an award winner, let us know at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk

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17/11/201

Gang Show lights up Edinburgh

Run for Scouting

We’ve got 30 places up for grabs in the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, which takes place on 9 October in London’s Hyde Park. If you’re up for the challenge, run and fundraise for The Scout Association and you will help to develop local Scouting at the same time. To sign up or for more information, email Natasha Milsted at fundraising@scouts.org.uk, with ‘marathon’ in the subject line.

The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh recently held a special ceremony to mark 50 years of hosting Gang Shows. These events have steadily gained in popularity all over the UK by successfully combining the essence of the early productions with a modern twist.

Certainly the enthusiasm and hard work of the volunteers who produce Gang Shows hasn’t changed, and the event in the Scottish capital was a celebration of that. To mark the anniversary, a special commemorative plaque was unveiled in the theatre foyer before a selected audience.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Events, updates and news from around the UK

Feline frolics

Scouting 2011 22 February Founder’s Day Join our Facebook campaign and make this day one to remember. www.scouts.org.uk/facebook

23 April St George’s Day Celebrate our patron saint’s day by doing something different.

1 May The Big Adventure begins Make sure you’re part of it. www.scouts.org.uk/ thebigadventure

1-7 June Volunteers’ Week The UK’s annual celebration of volunteering.

11 June Trooping the Colour A chance to take part in the Queen’s birthday celebrations.

18-19 June Beaver and Cub Fundays Grand days out at Gilwell Park for our younger sections. www.scouts.org.uk/fundays 8-10 July Gilwell 24 24 hours of non-stop adventure for 14-18-year-olds. Can your Explorers hack it? www.scouts.org.uk/gilwell24

Cats Protection offers free educational workshops to the Scouts. A CP speaker will visit the Group and they will learn about cat care. These workshops are designed to assist Scout Groups in gaining their Animal Care badges.

(See Pets at Home, page 75.)

New site for holiday homes

The Scout Holiday Homes Trust has rebranded and launched a new website. Founded by a group of former Scouts in 1969, the Trust is dedicated to providing self-catering caravan holidays for families, groups and their carers.

Visit www.holidayhomestrust.org for more details or follow them on Twitter at HolidayForAll.

Calling all woodwork folk Scout or Explorer Scouts keen to try woodturning can now use our short programme, which has been created with the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain. The assessment criteria will help them towards the Creative Challenge.

Visit www.scouts.org.uk/supportresources and search ‘woodturning’.

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News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

Rent rise?

Is your Group affected by rent increases or increases to ground rents charged by local authorities?

If so, please complete The Scout Association’s online questionnaire.

Your responses will help to effectively target national campaigning activity and inform discussions with politicians and media. Campaign materials will also be available shortly. The questionnaire will be open until 14 February and can be accessed at http://tinyurl.com/6hhnsar

SNOW SEASON!

Are you looking for something different for your next outing? If you’re after lots of fun and action, then Bassingbourn Snowsports Centre is the place to come.

We can cater for your Group, whatever the size. To receive your Scout’s discount, please quote BSCSCOUTS11 at time of booking. Discount available only on bookings made between March and June 2011. 08450 728 293

Switch on to adventure in 2011

Make your New Year’s resolution to smarten up your signage and local communications. The Scout Association’s print centre is a free facility for all adult Members. Use our templates to personalise the resources. Our most popular are: Posters Flyers Banners (indoor and out) Business cards, stationery and letterhead Photo books Local Scout logo generator Calendars To access, log in using your membership user name and password at www.scouts.org.uk/brand

Need more?

You’ll also find a wide range of other resources to help your communications look more adventurous, inspiring and consistent with other Scout Groups, Districts and Counties across the UK. You will have instant access to: Image library Bear Grylls videos and quotes Logos and guidelines Advice on tone of voice

New for 2011 This year we will also be launching templates for more events, including jumble sales, swimming galas, newsletters, annual reports and District directories. A handy hint – use the purpleonly 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

Overnight success

Are you or other leaders planning nights away for Beaver Scouts? The rules for their residential experiences have changed. The existing time of 24 hours has been replaced with a limit of one night away. Travelling time is no longer included in the time away from home. The other big change is that Beavers are now able to camp as a Colony. For full rule changes, visit www.scouts.org.uk/por

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

a guide to scouts.org.uk

Weighty issues Lightweight party tents are a dream to erect. But in bad weather they may have limitations. Essex Scouting has produced a Party Tents Guide, which outlines the suitability, benefits and drawbacks of these types of tents and the assessments required for both party and conventional tents. Here are their top tips for choosing tents to ensure everyone stays safe:

Weight Party tents are lightweight, but the material is more prone to flying off in a burst of wind if not properly secured. Canvas is much heavier, so less flighty, but the added weight means greater risk if moving it.

/globetrekker Share your expeditions and travel at our new site /thebigadventure Get involved in this year’s Big Adventure /brand Personalise your posters and banners in our template system /por For the full Policy, Organisation and Rules

Fantastic journey

Specialising in activity holidays, Venture Abroad is sending Scouts across Europe during 2011. For trips to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden or for Groups wishing to create their own Jamboree Experience at Kandersteg International Scout Centre, visit www.ventureabroad.co.uk to make sure you don’t miss out!

Fire resistance Man-made material is usually highly flammable, so any cooking in a party tent must take place a suitable distance from the walls. Canvas material is generally treated with a fire-retardant spray, but this is still no reason to place open flames near the walls.

Structure Canvas mess tents generally have a tubular steel frame and have lots of guys. Party tents are supported with a frame that can be slotted together, making erection time fast. Most are supplied with small ratchet straps and large pegs.

For the full guide, and for any questions, email Dave Allen, County Safety Adviser, at safety@essexscouts.org.uk

Scouting in your inbox Take time

Time for Prayers is a new pocket-sized book with prayers for use at meetings, or other occasions.

Produced by the United Reformed Church Guide and Scout Fellowship, it has ideas for all sections and faiths. Visit http://urcgsf.org.uk

Do you receive our weekly ScoutingPlus, with all the latest news and updates? If not, it could be that we have no email address for you. To view and amend, log on to www.scouts.org.uk, click on ‘My Profile’ and ‘Mailing’.

360° Scouting

Follow us and get involved: www.scouts.org.uk/facebook; www.scouts.org.uk/twitter; www.scouts.org.uk/youtube www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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News

UPDATES

Factsheets and resources

Updated

FS190026 | Fundraising FAQs FS295101 | Scouting in the United Kingdom FS310100 | The Role of a Group Scout Leader – An Introduction FS452013 | Explorer Scout Finance FS452037 | Meetings and Forums in the Explorer Scout Section FS452038 | Building My Success FS460000 | Young Leaders’ Scheme Module A FS460003 | Young Leaders’ Scheme Module D FS460008 | Young Leaders’ Scheme Module I

New

FS103011 | Social Networking Sites and Scouting FS103497 | Links Between the Sections The 2011 version of Policy, Organisation and Rules is now available and online. Find it at www.scouts.org.uk/por or contact the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818 to order a printed copy.

The following factsheets have been discontinued and will no longer be updated: FS800001 | Decision making in the Network FS800011 | CRB & Network FS800013 | Finance & Networking FS800014 | SDA International FS800015 | SDA Community FS800016 | SDA Skills and Development

D WAR A E TH ANDS TO… GOE Day rge’s St Geo

2010 pients d Reci Awar

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS Birthday honoured

A number of volunteers were selected by Her Majesty The Queen in Her Birthday Honours for 2010 for service to Scouting. We’d like to send out our congratulations to all.

Order of the British Empire – Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Charles William Back, District Scout Fellowship Member in Taunton Deane.

Donald Scott Charlton, County Vice President for Northumberland.

Mary Elizabeth Crook, District Secretary for Truro.

Roy Frederick Davidson, Deputy Chief Commissioner for Scotland.

Janet McCheyne, District Occasional Helper in Thurrock.

Ronald Michael Moss, Group President for the 1st Oxted Scout Group.

Sheila Rigg, Conisbrough, Doncaster.

Julie Smith, Group Scout

Leader for the 19th CardiffRoath Bishop Crossleys Own Scout Group.

Barbara Ann Westcott, County Secretary for Greater London North East and District Scout Fellowship Chairman for Ilford East.

Diplomatic Service and Overseas List Graham John Bell, Group Scout Leader for the 1st Bougival Yvelines Scout Group (British Scouts Western Europe).

Ulric Scatliffe, Branch Chief Commissioner for the British Virgin Islands (Overseas Branches).

Monthly rate after deduction of Management Commission: 10/03/2010

15:31

October and November 2010

0.020%

0.520%

d 1

010_16p.ind

stgeorges_2

Well done Group Scout Leader Gemma Gollop. Not only did she win our photography competition (Oct/ Nov 2010), but she received further success when the Bristol Evening Post featured her story. See page 76 for this year’s photography competition.

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT SERVICE

.uk

ts.org scou

Next issue:

competition winner

The St George’s Day Award supplement will be sent out with the April/May magazine.

Interest at the higher rate applies to deposits of £5,000 and above. Contact Frances on 020 8433 7252 (Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm) for further information.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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19/01/2011 10:23

Perfectly able How do you provide everyday adventure, with all the activities, excitement and freedom that it entails, to young people with a variety of special needs and care requirements? More easily than you’d think, as Dave O’Carroll discovered on a recent trip

20 Scouting February/March 2011

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In focus

something surprising quickly becomes apparent; it is a normal Scout camp.

‘We can do pretty much anything,’ says Claire. ‘It just takes a bit more time to do it. But they’ll shop for their lunch, cook on wood fires and do their own washingup. It’s about altering the pace and giving different tasks. For some, putting the plates and the bowls away is the job they will get, while for others, sometimes just standing around and watching is more than enough.’

Family ties

Toby and Adam are more like brothers at Scouts than anywhere else

‘T

he spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light,’ said Baden-Powell. Those words ring true for boys and girls today, and there are few groups in which this concept is better exemplified than those which deliver the joy of Scouting to young people with special needs.

The 15th Wallington Scout Troop in Sutton District is one. It meets every Friday and offers activities and adventure to local young people of Scout age who have specific needs. Even more exciting though, is their annual weekend camp, which I joined for a day.

Mixing it up This year, Scout leader Claire Devine joined forces with the 3rd Beddington, so able-bodied Scouts could spend the weekend camping with her Troop.

‘Being able to mix with another Group lets us share skills,’ she explains. ‘Our Scouts with special needs learn from other young people of similar age, while the other Group find out more about disability and how they can make Scouting accessible to everybody.’

To the outsider, the weekend appears just like any normal Scout camp, reverberating as it does to the sounds of excited conversation, laughter, wood chopping, and the smell of outdoor cooking and a campfire. Scratch beneath the surface though, and

Of course, any group of this nature is littered with touching human stories. One of the most compelling is that of two brothers, Toby and Adam.

Toby is a member of Claire’s group while Adam, who has a slight disability, is with a regular Scout Troop, the 14th Wallington, run by Claire’s father, Nick Devine.

The connection between the leaders has helped to strengthen the brotherly bond, as the boys’ mother Yvonne explains: ‘Toby is severely disabled and doesn’t speak, so there isn’t really anything else they can do together. However,

‘Doctors told his parents not to expect him to live beyond the age of four. Now he is a teenager who has gained his 50 Nights Away badge’

what they do have in common is that they go to Scouts.

As Claire’s dad runs Adam’s Troop, they often go away on camps together. They are probably more like normal brothers there than they are at any other time.’

Toby, in particular, is a shining example of that spirit which B-P spoke of. Doctors told his parents not to expect him to live beyond the age of four. He was in intensive care 38 times by the age of six. Each time the hospital staff said he probably wouldn’t pull through. Now he is a teenager who has gained his 50 Nights Away badge; an incredible achievement of independence.

‘I must admit, I didn’t sleep much the first time he was away,’ Yvonne recalls. ‘I was texting and phoning all the time, but he came back exhausted, filthy and with a big smile on his face.’

And on this occasion, there was an unexpected bonus on the cards. ‘It’s been fabulous for me coming to this www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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14/01/2011 15:08

camp today because I didn’t know that Toby was capable of washing-up,’ Yvonne beamed. ‘But I’ve seen him working on all the plates. He looked fed up and cross about it, but Claire kept him going, and he did them all and put them away.’

One wonders if Toby was cross because once he spotted his mum nearby, he knew his days of not having to do the washing-up at home were now over.

Recruitment and awards Although the value of these camps is almost impossible to quantify, it can be measured in some ways.

Recruitment is one.

‘These events bring in people who wouldn’t otherwise get involved in Scouting because we need additional helpers and sometimes medical personnel and carers,’ says Nick Devine. ‘We have two helpers here who came to a previous summer camp and now they are regular volunteers. It’s like a magnet that draws people in and breaks down barriers on all sides.’

Mixing groups can also lead to awards. Faith, who was a Scout with the 3rd Beddington, chose to help out with the 15th Wallington when she was trying to get her Community Challenge for the Chief Scout’s Gold Award. She liked it so much, she continues to lend her support with camps and activities, as well as being an Explorer Young Leader. The added confidence and skills this gave her enabled her to successfully apply to go to the World Scout Jamboree this year; the first person from the Group ever to do so.

‘I would totally recommend this to any Group,’ enthuses 3rd Beddington Leader Ewan Duncan. ‘If you have a special needs group in your area, join up with them, camp, and do activities together. Our kids are learning how to interact with other young people in their community. They are discovering how to see the world from someone else’s perspective.

‘As well as that, they are developing skills in teaching others how to do something that they take for granted, such as collecting and chopping wood. It makes them more considerate, rounded and skilled young people, which is precisely what we, as leaders, are trying to achieve.’

This view is echoed by one of Ewan’s Troop, Kain, who says the mixed camp teaches him ‘to be grateful for what I’ve got and not to take things for granted’. Rather amusingly, Kain qualified that by telling me (with a shocked tone in his voice) that ‘sometimes you ask them to do something and they just walk off without doing it’ – surely an experience that every leader can relate to.

Scouts are Scouts – you can’t tell the difference

Accessible adventure So, what of these young people themselves? What does Claire’s Troop think of it all? The first thing that your correspondent must admit is that upon venturing out to speak to them, I had to ask Claire to point out which young people were in her group as, when they are cooking, chopping wood or building a campfire, Scouts are Scouts. You can’t tell the difference.

‘I like staying away from home and I’ve lots of friends here. We’ve been finding and lighting wood to cook our own dinner,’ said George, with an unmistakable note of pride in his voice. He also told me that he had previously gone canoeing and would ‘like to do more things on the water’.

Ellie informed me that the campfire is her favourite part of the weekend, ‘as it usually involves me singing the “Mustard” song; I’m always good for a campfire song’. Jamie was eager to show how he had been using a saw. He was also a big fan of overnight camps, ‘especially the food and playing dodgeball’.

‘You don’t join Scouts to stay indoors all day; you join to go out and have adventures, and that is the same whether you are able-bodied or you have special needs,’ says Nick. ‘With these mixed camps, we’ve done water activities, days out in other cities and everything that other groups do.’

22 Scouting February/March 2011

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In focus

Incredible dedication

Photography by Becky Tompkinson

Glancing around the camp, it is impossible not to be moved by the dedication and passion of the leaders and the thought of how many young people who have to deal with extra challenges throughout their lives have benefited in the past, and will benefit in the future, from crossing the path of such volunteers. This often includes individuals who run other sections and units in the District, who are called upon to support these activities. ‘Claire has been fantastic,’ says Yvonne. ‘She has to adapt the Scouting she offers to the Troop’s level, but it works for Toby. He adores it.’

‘Claire and everyone at the 15th does a sterling job, really tremendous,’ agrees an understandably proud Nick. ‘She works her socks off. The Group has grown so much, and it’s just incredible to watch her go in the way she does things.

‘My other role is to help run the London Agoonoree camp, which is a London-wide event for Scouts with special needs,’ Nick continues. ‘In 2010, we had 130 people on camp, about 45 with special needs, and the

‘You don’t join Scouts to stay indoors; you join to have adventures, and that is the same whether you are able-bodied or have special needs’

rest were helpers and nurses, and all sorts of people.

Getting these young people outdoors is vital.’

The word ‘Agoonoree’ comes from the Greek word agoon, which means ‘a meeting of friends’, while ‘oree’ comes from Jamboree. And that is probably the best way to describe the weekend camp of the 15th Wallington and 3rd Beddington. Not as a special needs camp or a camp for young people with disabilities, but a Scouting meeting of friends.

more information

A splendid time is guaranteed for all

If you have any ideas to share or would like to know about special needs Scouting in your area, contact the Accessibility Project Team – special.needs@scouts.org.uk Visit the London Agoonoree website at www.agoonoree.org

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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18/01/2011 16:02

£ GRAND SUPPORT BRINGS GREAT SCOUTING

£

Scouting is primarily delivered n of thanks to the dedicatio e are er adult volunteers, but th ho also many unsung heroes w m ee asons’ play a vital role. The Fr support Grand Charity is one. Its ns, funds Groups, publicatio activities and the further development of Scouting across the UK

I

f you have ever accessed a Start-up grant for a new Group or section, consulted a Programme Plus or Games Book resource, or are currently taking your section through the Join-in-Jamboree journey, then you have benefited from the support of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.

Take the 1st Partridge Green Beaver Colony, for example.

It had lain dormant for more than two years due to a lack of adult volunteers, but a Start-up grant, supported by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, enabled a group of locals to bring Beaver Scouting back to this area of West Sussex.

Deputy County Commissioner Irene Orford summed up the local mood: ‘It was such a wonderful moment

to attend the fireworks spectacular that officially celebrated the opening of the Beaver Colony and to welcome so many young people and adults to the family of Scouting.’

Significant support We all know that Scouting is about activities, adventure and developing young people, but the simple truth is that these experiences would not be possible without the support of our partners. That’s why a significant portion of the Grand Charity’s donation is directed to support the £100 Start-up grants for new sections across England and Wales.

24 Scouting February/March 2011

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Fundraising

According to Nigel Pett, a member of the Council of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, supporting Scouting was a natural fit: ‘We are aware of the values that underpin Scouting, and share many of them. As a Scout myself in my younger days, I have very fond memories of the great times that I had, which gave me some of the principles that I value today.’

‘We are aware of the values that underpin Scouting, and share many of them’

A helping hand

Other groups that have received Grand Charity grant support: 267th (Dore) Sheffield Scout Troop, South Yorkshire With a small start of seven boys, the Dore Troop has now grown to 21 Publication patrons young people and seven leaders in a It’s not just new sections which benefit. The few short months, with future growth Programme Plus resource, a two-volume expected from the Group’s Cub Pack. collection of innovative and fun programme This is the second Scout Troop for this ideas for leaders, is available at a specially Sheffield Group, the new Troop now subsidised low price, thanks to the Grand Charity’s equal in size to the pre-existing assistance. So, next time you find yourself consulting it Monday one. for the lyrics to the ‘Penguin Song’ (Cubs) or instructions Great support has been provided on building a glider (Explorers), take a moment to thank by the Group Scout Leader and the The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.

District team.

1st Helston Beaver Scout Colony, The same can be said for our Games Books; the Cornwall perfect publication for inspiration on how to keep your Using part of the Start-up grant to Colony/Pack/Troop entertained in the meeting place purchase a flag, the Colony was able or on camp. to hold its first investiture It is estimated that around 340,000 young people ceremony and flag blessing have received new equipment, including these printed together on the same resources, paid for by the Grand Charity’s evening. Two members generosity. This demonstrates just how much of the local Freemasons’ our partners help us to make a difference. ch su ‘It was Lodge were able to join t a wonderful momen Jamboree joy them, with one Of course, this year, the thoughts of many will revealed to be to welcome so many ily m fa e th turn to Sweden, where the World Scout a former Scout District to le peop Jamboree will take place in summer. Once Commissioner. g’ tin of Scou again, when The Scout Association wanted to The Lodge was produce a free resource to help every Scout in thanked for its donation the UK feel like they were part of the event, The and support, and an article Freemasons’ Grand Charity was on hand to help also appeared in the local make it happen. newspaper. The Colony currently has ‘Not everyone can attend the World Scout Jamboree in a membership of 22 young people and Sweden this year,’ says International Events Co-ordinator five leaders, with more young people Patrick Rooke. ‘However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t lining up to join. Work continues to get a taste of what it’s all about. Join-in-Jamboree is a recruit more adult support to enable a fantastic way to incorporate Jamboree and globallysecond Cub Pack to open, hopefully in themed activities into your programmes and bring the the near future. essence of the world’s largest Scouting event directly to your meeting.

‘That wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the Grand For more information on Start-up grants, contact Charity,’ he continues. ‘For that, development@scouts.org.uk or see the factsheet HQ Grants and Funds to support local Scouting (FS103964). every group in the UK should be truly grateful.’ www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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For/against expedition

n i g n i k c Tu shirts?

lively online debates There have been many ght we would bring on this topic, so we thou g magazine it to the pages of Scoutin

yes ✔

While I applaud the move towards giving young people a more casual alternative to the Scout uniform, the fact is that it remains a large part of Scouting and should therefore always be worn in a tidy, respectful manner.

Within my Group, more and more members of the Scout Troop are now displaying a preference for leaving shirts untucked. I have even seen them appear like this on formal occasions and parades. It’s a great shame to see the efforts of a leader undermined by a Troop looking like a bunch of scruffs.

Of course, it may be that the leaders themselves do not particularly care about whether their Troop tucks their shirts in or not.

Yes, Scouting should be an inclusive, 21st-century Movement, but not at the expense of our heritage.

Many people, when they think of Scouts, think of smart, uniformed young people. We should not be scared of that and should strive to protect what it is that got us here.

Matt Skinner, Teesside

no

✘

That the argument about the tucking in or out of shirts has reached such a fever pitch is, quite frankly, ridiculous.

It’s more important to have uniformity in values, attitude and approach to life. Our uniform should reflect our adventure-embracing outlook.

That said, the first impression that many have of Scouts today is seeing them out and about in the community. I’d much rather see them looking informal, with shirts out, having fun and supporting one another. To be a uniform group means that everyone does the same, but to say it’s scruffy to have shirts out beggars belief.

My understanding was that when the uniform was launched in the early noughties, it had been designed to be worn tucked-out. Scouting needs to stand out as a vibrant, diverse and, above all, fun organisation. If a more relaxed approach to uniform helps that, then I’m all for it!

Joe Willis, Okehampton Agree? Disagree?

Continue the debate on our Facebook page: www.scouts.org.uk/facebook

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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MASTERS AT ARMS

Dreams that began with the Master at Arms Activity Badge have taken Scouts to the Commonwealth Games and international success. Neil Hallam visited the National Scout Rifle Championships to find out how

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Air rifle shooting Main picture opposite: Danielle gets ready in the Precision Rifle Event GB Far right: Junior Team in South Africa Right: With some local South African Scouts

T

he Bisley Championships caters for all ages and abilities, but at the upper end of the competition they act as a selection event for the National Scout Shooting Squad, a group that provides more than half of the air rifle shooters to the Great Britain juniors team.

Last year, the team travelled to Johannesburg to compete in the South African Schools Championships, and nine out of ten in the squad were Scouts. In South Africa, shooting is on the school curriculum, but despite their nerves about shooting against such practised competitors, the team did brilliantly, winning 51 medals between them.

Precision eye Explorer Scouts Danielle, 16, and Michael, 17, compete in the precision category. Both took similar pathways onto the GB squad, starting shooting at the ages of 11 and 12, and working their way through the national Scout team and onto the GB squad.

The precision category is expensive, costing up to £5,000 in equipment, so the sporter category was developed to make the sport accessible to more young people. Ordinary air rifles are used and no special clothing is

OlymPian HerO?

required, which considerably reduces start-up costs.

Hannah, 14, competes in three position sporter. She must shoot well in standing, sitting and prone positions, and is currently the British under-21 record holder.

Like Danielle, Hannah started shooting aged ten with the Buxton Scout Group, who specialise in shooting and have their own range.

Two years later, she competed at the Bisley Championships and was offered a place on the Scout squad. Last year, she was selected for the GB squad, winning a gold medal in South Africa. She also attained the highest score in her event at Bisley this year, with ambitions to cross over to the precision category and hopefully shoot at the next Commonwealth Games.

High-level pressure Jess Eden, 20, also used shooting as a springboard to success. She began air pistol shooting at 14 when she took her Master at Arms Activity Badge.

Through the Bisley Championships she joined the Scout squad and at 16 she was spotted for the Olympic Development Squad.

She then spent two and a half years as a potential Olympian, before deciding to concentrate on her education. Now working on coaching

Marksman Mick Gault is heading for the London 2012 Olympics, after winning 15 medals in the Commonwealth Games. ‘Scouting started me off rifle shooting. We had an indoor range and we used to blow candles out at 25 yards.’

qualifications as part of a Sports Studies degree, she hopes ‘to continue giving back to the sport, even if I’m not competing at the highest level’.

And if there is one man who understands the pressure on high-level competitors, it is national coach Chris Lacey, 22, who, like many other Scouts, started air rifle shooting, aged 12, for his Master at Arms Activity Badge.

In 2001, Chris was competing in a Scouts versus Cadets competition at Bisley, where he saw the British record holder Chris Hector practising. He told his dad, ‘I’m going to beat him one day’ and, in 2005, he was as good as his word, beating Hector’s 10m air rifle record, which he holds to this day.

In 2006, Chris reached the pinnacle of his career by taking fourth place at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He remembers waiting behind a curtain to march out to the opening ceremony, and the cheering of the crowd as the team emerged.

What Chris described as ‘a surreal experience’ continued with him being interviewed on the BBC. Sadly, a motorcycle accident in 2009 ended Chris’ Olympic dreams, but he now coaches the national squad. When asked if he has any advice for Scouts wanting to follow him, Chris says: ‘It took an unbelievable amount of passion and commitment. But by the time I was 19, I had travelled the world and met Olympic and World Champions.’

become a master There are Master at Arms badges for Scouts and Explorers.

Visit the Information and Resources area of www.scouts. org.uk for full requirements

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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‘This is g n i h t e m o s e n o y r e v e ’ y r t d l u o sh represents a great The Big Adventure 2011 pool of adult chance to increase your rroll discovers volunteers, as Dave O’Ca

I

t’s a fairly simple idea: you probably already run a camp or event over the summer. This year, in addition to the usual team of leaders or helpers, approach the parents of the young people who will be attending, to see if they would like to help deliver it.

That’s The Big Adventure. It’s that easy – and it works.

But don’t just take our word for it…

Tony Keay, County Commissioner in Northamptonshire, discovered how The Big Adventure could work for him.

‘We were in discussion with local groups about our summer Cub camp when we decided that we would run it as a Big Adventure event and really make an effort to recruit parents to help with the camp in some way,’ he says.

‘Face-to-face approaches seemed to be what worked best. It turns out that people like to be asked. The basic theory was: if you don’t ask, you don’t get. The worst that can happen is they say no.

Luckily, quite a few said yes.’

Flexibility In fact, around 80 parents pledged some or all of their time over the duration of the weekend. Tony believes that, as well as being

friendly, being flexible was very important. ‘If you say to someone, “I know that you can’t do the full weekend, but how about just helping with breakfast on the Sunday?” – you are more likely to get a positive response.’

‘The Groups in the County are so good at asking for help and it was great to see so many parents and occasional helpers supporting the event.’

With around 2,200 young people and adult volunteers, the Northamptonshire Cub camp certainly opened the eyes of the new recruits to Scouting.

‘I had a husband and wife come up to me who said they never imagined that events of this size happened,’ recalls Tony. ‘Their understanding was that a weekly meeting happened and, although they knew we did fantastic work in that regard, they never saw it on such a scale. They were hugely excited by it.’

30 Scouting February/March 2011

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The Big Adventure

Wall’s supports The Big Adventure

tent, then you’ve got that hook. You only need a few who can help two or three times a year and you’ve solved a lot of issues. I think that being accommodating to that sort of flexible volunteering is vital to our future.’

Longevity As everyone knows, if there’s a benefit to a leader or a Group, then there is definitely a benefit to young people to be found.

es seemed ‘Face-to-face approach . It turns to be what worked best asked’ be out that people like to

Bigger and better in 2011

Durability All of which sounds perfectly nice, but plenty of leaders can offer stories of people who help out once, have a great time, and are then never seen again. Is The Big Adventure any different?

‘An awful lot have stayed on actually,’ Tony says. ‘The general response has been, “Next time you do a camp, let me know and I’ll be there” – and that’s what’s happened.

‘I went to a Beaver sleepover recently and there was a lady there helping with the cooking who had first been asked to do that at our Cub camp over the summer, and there she was, still helping.’

Tony believes that what sets The Big Adventure apart is the blend of the professional look with the face-to-face approach. Having personalised, branded invitations is sure to make this even better in 2011 (see page 33).

‘You don’t want to push people too far to begin with and frighten them off,’ he says. ‘If you say you just want their help for half a day, running a game or putting up a

‘When you’re dealing with younger sections, there will be a few who may not have come to the camp at all if Mum or Dad hadn’t been coming along to help. In that regard, The Big Adventure can edge them into camping earlier than they might have otherwise,’ says Tony.

‘I know of one Cub in particular who told his mum that he didn’t mind her helping, but she had to remember that she was there as a leader. They had put those ground rules in place before we had even asked because the parent was happy to help. That’s very encouraging to hear.’

With all of these positive experiences behind him, it seems almost silly to ask if Northamptonshire County will be participating in 2011. ‘Oh, yeah. And we are going to promote The Big Adventure much more this time. This is something that everyone should try and I would definitely recommend it.’

Big crowd, Big Adventure

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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14/01/2011 15:45

We’re Active Kids and we’re back!

Sainsbury’s Active Kids gets bigger and better every year, with over 4,000 Scout Groups now registered - make sure your Group benefits this year.

Active Kids 2011 is now up and running. If you’re registered, you should have received your welcome pack containing all the resources you need to get everyone behind your voucher collection.

You can collect 1 Active Kids voucher for every £10 spent instore, at petrol stations or when you buy groceries online at Sainsbury’s (£5 in Locals) from 9 February to 31 May 2011.

Nectar points can be turned into vouchers too. Exclusions apply - see the Active Kids website for details.

There’s loads of great sports, outdoors and cooking equipment for your Group. Plus there are two new fantastic Active Kids resources for 2011 containing games, activity and cooking ideas for Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts, and Scouts and Explorer Scouts, available on the Active Kids website.

Don’t worry if your Group isn’t registered yet, there’s still plenty of time to get involved: 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.

“The items received from Active Kids have helped with co-ordination skills and teamwork. As well as being fun to use, they assist in the recruitment of new young members and adult helpers and leaders.”

Ian Berryman, Leader, 81st Belfast Scout Group

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The Big Adventure

1 1 0 2 r o f w Ne

e 2011 and ead to The Big Adventur ah ks loo n to w Ne es m Ja e year ts can expect during th outlines what participan This year, we are providing additional materials to support leaders and volunteers, more opportunities to hear from other Groups running a Big Adventure and easy access to all the latest news.

The website Here you will find a whole host of resources to help you plan your Big Adventure; hints and tips, case studies, activity ideas and much more. This year, leaders, parents or anyone who’s interested can also register online. By registering, you will be notified of new resources, products and competition opportunities as soon as they appear. www.scouts.org.uk/bigadventure

The Little Guide The new Little Guide to The Big Adventure is designed to give parents and adults an insight into the fun and adventure of Scouting, and how they can become more involved. We also have some fantastic celebrity menu ideas and activities that parents can try with their children. It’s a great way to encourage parents to be part of your Big Adventure leadership team, and will be sent out free to all Groups who register online.

Products We have produced a new Big Adventure T-shirt. Giving parents or helpers this will really make them feel part of a team. There is also a new Big Adventure badge, which can be given to thank individuals for their support.

Available from Scout Shops at www.scouts.org.uk/shop

Print centre There is now a range of adaptable templates, including invitations and posters to promote your Big Adventure, using your local details. Using the system is an easy way to create professionally branded, personalised resources.

Get them from www.scouts.org.uk/brand

30-33 Big Adventure.indd 33

Active Kids Sainsbury’s Active Kids is proud to be a partner of The Scout Association and delighted to be supporting The Big Adventure again, because it gets kids outdoors, active and enjoying campfire cooking.

Lots of you already take The new Big Adventure part in Active Kids and T-shirt – order it from www.scouts.org.uk/shop collect vouchers for a wide range of great sports, outdoors and cooking equipment. There is also an Active Kids Ingredients Card to help you stock up for your Big Adventure – order by 15 April and you’ll receive it before 6 May. 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.

There are also two new fantastic Active Kids online resources, containing games, activity and cooking ideas.

Don’t worry if your Group isn’t registered yet, there’s still plenty of time: simply call 0844 415 8440* or visit www.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.

Let us know If you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you.

Make your main summer event this year a Big Adventure and help recruit more parents into Scouting by letting them experience the rewards of volunteering. Good luck.

Contact The Big Adventure team at adult.support@scouts.org.uk

14/01/2011 15:45

Education in love in place of fear

By Robert Baden-Powell, our Founder

In 1922, Sir Robert Baden-Powell gave an address to the International Congress of Moral Education in Geneva, in which he laid out his vision for worldwide Scouting. The congress was one of the forerunners of what is now known as UNESCO. The text of his speech was rediscovered in 2007 by archivists at the World Scout Bureau, and we are reproducing it, alongside modern examples of the ideas within, in the hope that you find it thought-provoking, and a basis for discussion about the purpose and mission of Scouting today.

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Founder’s Day

The dominance of fear I once saw in a temple in the East a three-headed God representing love, hatred and peace; and on asking which of the three was the most worshipped, I was informed that hatred got the bulk of the offerings. It was not that the people desired to hate, but the fear of the hatred of others made them desire to propitiate the evil genius.

It may seem at first sight absurd that these people should be ruled by fear but, after all, when you come to consider it, it is fear that dominates our policies in every country in the world.

We desire peace and so we prepare for war, fearing lest the enemy should attack us. We preach peace because we fear the horrors of war. In our governments we largely use class representation because we fear the legislation of some other class. We are moral to a great extent because we fear the consequences, whether legal or sentimental, of being found out.

The fear of poverty impels us to earn money. Fear of God, in place of love of God, makes some people moral, though it means that superstition has taken the place of faith.

The so-called discipline of an army or navy is largely gained through fear of punishment.

Education has in the past been conducted in its early stages much on the same principle. Fear has been the weapon of the powerful in terrorising the weaker.

A different spirit in the world Christians when they pray use what is termed the Lord’s Prayer. I believe that historically this prayer existed

before the time of Christ and was used by various forms of religion; so that the wish expressed in it to ‘Our Father’ that ‘His kingdom may come and His will be done on earth’ is very widespread among the peoples, including those even of non-Christian beliefs.

In these words we understand that we are all the children of one Father, neither the slaves of a tyrant nor enemies of each other, and we hold the hope that God should come to His own in the world. God is love. Therefore it is the reign of love that we all pray

Fear of God, in place of love of God, makes some people moral, though it means that superstition has taken the place of faith for. Yet we allow ourselves to live under the yoke of fear.

Can we not, in addition to passively praying for the reign of love, do something to actively help in bringing it about? I believe that we can.

As the Rev. Alfred Wishart says: ‘Man is largely responsible for social life, and if that life breeds war, poverty, crime, and disease, it is man’s duty to remedy these evils that breed human misery.

But there is very little recognition of responsibility by the real agents of human wrong, because the world has been brought up to

A different spirit in the world

Eleven Explorer Scouts and Scout Network Members, accompanied by two leaders, spent their Christmas helping out at an orphanage on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

After travelling to Nepal in early December, the Scouts from West Lancashire County spent 12 days mountaineering in the Solu-Khumbu, followed by three days elephant trekking in the Chitwan National Park, before returning to Kathmandu to spend their time between Christmas and New Year performing maintenance work on the Sahara International Children’s Home.

The home provides accommodation and education for 23 young people, and the work carried out by the Scouts will help improve quality of life for those who live there. The team spent a full year fundraising to make the expedition a reality.

West Lancashire Scout County runs up to ten overseas ventures a year to diverse destinations, and many of these overseas expeditions include a community service project.

Helping orphans in Nepal

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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believe that God must save and God must relieve. All this placing of responsibility upon God for conditions of life for which man is really responsible deceives men and postpones the adoption of proper remedies.’ To effectively eradicate an evil it is necessary to substitute that which is good. To abolish the domination of fear we must put some equally potent influence in its place. If we apply love in place of fear to the various instances referred to above we at once gain

To abolish the domination of fear we must put some equally potent influence in its place

the diminution of poverty, crime, and disease in our individual countries, and we gain peace between the nations through mutual trust, honour and goodwill.

It is not the abolition of armies that will do away with war anymore than the abolition of police will do away with crime. We have to do away with the cause of war; armies are rather the effect, that is, the result of fear and of the fighting spirit. And that is a matter for education.

In the past we have, almost invariably, been taught to think in terms of war when any international difficulty arises; and

36 Scouting February/March 2011

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Founder’s Day

the present-day situation in Europe [in 1922] only seems to threaten the continuance of this reign of fear.

The academic training has taught to generation after generation their national history with all its victories in war, too often dishonestly omitting its defeats, and maligning its enemies while extolling its piracies. The desirable course seems to be to change all this and to teach the rising generation the peaceful triumphs of their country and to think in terms of peace towards other countries.

Modern Scouting

Adventures in peace Personally I have spent a good part of my life as a soldier, and I have in war seen something of the brutality and horrors incidental to this man-authorised murder of God’s creatures, our brother-men, together with the ruin of their homes and the sufferings of the innocent women and children.

On the other hand, I have also seen for myself the splendid qualities that have been evoked through war and soldiering.

The submission of self to rigid discipline, the endurance of hardships, the loyal comradeship

and esprit de corps, the heroism and willing courage with which men will brace themselves and go to certain death for their country – all these cannot fail to be appreciated as a widespread result of the military training of men as men in body, mind and spirit.

The apprehension exists lest with the abolition of armies these valuable virtues should atrophy and die out.

History lessons In a notable article in the Atlantic Monthly Journal on ‘The Moral Equivalent for War’, William James has recently written that the time had come when the human race should devise for itself some substitute for war – training such as would make for peace, but without emasculating a nation and making it a herd of milk sops and ‘so much human blubber’.

Lessons of history from the fall of the Roman Empire downwards have proved the strength of this argument. Certain modern nations retained conscription as much for educative as for war purposes, and to preserve their race from deterioration.

Note: This text has been edited for reproduction in Scouting.

Reproduced by kind permission of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Adventures in peace Launched in 2009, the Afghan Scout programme is offering adventure and hope to young people in the national orphanages of Afghanistan. It provides a positive environment for training Scouts to be leaders and the Merit badge programme includes life skills and vocational training.

The first Troop comprised 20 boys and 20 girls aged between six and 17, who are now helping other young people to be Scouts.

The programme was launched by PARSA, a non-governmental organisation that has been working in Afghanistan for 15 years. The organisation decided that the children in the orphanages needed additional lessons in how to create a community, care for each other and advocate for their rights. This led to the creation of the Afghan Scouts, surely one of the most inspirational additions to the Movement in recent times.

Creating communities in Afghanistan

Founder’s Day Facebook campaign Join our special online campaign and make this Founder’s Day one to remember. Find out more at www.scouts.org.uk/facebook

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Profile

Pete Ellard, drummer with Scouting for Girls, took time out from the band’s hectic schedule to reflect on his time as a young person and volunteer in Scouting

Pete (centre) and the rest of the band received last year’s Musician Birthday Badge

Scouting s m u i d a t s in It all began at Cubs I first met Roy (Stride, vocals and guitar) there.

He was my Sixer. It was a great place to meet new friends and gain life experiences. I’ve been to some great locations as a Scout, around the UK and all over Europe. I guess you could say they were our first tours together.

I used to volunteer too Roy was the leader of our Venture Unit and I later became one of his helpers. We all got involved and continue to do stuff for our old Unit. The father of one of my old friends from Cubs still helps out there. It’s nice when adults volunteer, especially when their kids are involved. It’s a cool thing to do as a family.

Scouting is part of what makes this country great People meet friends through it. You get to do so much and it gives you skills for life. You learn about things that you don’t normally learn at school. It’s those little things that you use in life that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else. I’m totally proud that I was a Scout.

The Girlguiding UK gig is one of our favourites We’ve done it twice now and it’s a really nice thing to do. We play everywhere to big and small

Intrepid interviewer Daisy

audiences, it’s just as good playing to 100 people as it is to 50,000. Having said that, next year’s tour will include some of the biggest concerts we’ve ever done and I’m looking forward to making a really good show of it.

We’ve never thought of ourselves as role models But I’d like to think that the way we got into music is an example of a good way to do things.

We weren’t on The X Factor or anything like that, we did it as a group of mates who met while Scouting and just played live gigs. I’d like to think that bands can still get together and be successful in that way.

We’re not as adventurous as we used to be We did a charity bike ride for War Child. We rode from London to Brighton on children’s bikes. It was very painful, but it was a great thing to do because, apart from the music, we hadn’t done something like that together since we were hill walking and going up mountains as Scouts.

thanks Pete was speaking to Explorer and interviewer Daisy. Thanks to everyone who contributed questions via the Scouts Facebook page www.scouts.org.uk/facebook

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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14/01/2011 14:37

Bahá’í time

is a Bahá’í, or you’re just p ou Gr t ou Sc ur yo of r If a membe and the links between Scouting g rin plo ex in d ste re te d Beliefs in Network and Faiths an t ou Sc , ion lig re ld or w youngest g to fear her says there’s nothin at Le m To r be em m am Te

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riginating in 1844, and devoted to the unity of mankind, Bahá’í beliefs are especially harmonious with Scouting’s values and principles, its youth-centred viewpoint and its international vision.

I became a Bahá’í when I was 18, having been brought up with the teaching. I liked the freedom I was given to decide for myself, and the principle that we are all equal and should therefore treat one another with respect.

Just like Scouts, Bahá’ís live in almost every country of the world, and recent international Jamborees have seen Bahá’ís from all over sharing their experiences in Faiths and Beliefs Zones. The 2007 World Scout Jamboree’s motto of ‘One World, One Promise’ firmly fits the faith’s vision of the world as one country and mankind as one race.

Why aren’t they here?

Bahá’ís have no sacred day of the week, but there are nine Bahá’í Holy Days spread throughout the year on which work is suspended. On these days, Bahá’ís may or may not join in with Scouting, depending on local celebrations.

Although there are no specific dietary requirements for Bahá’ís, adults (over the age of 15) fast for one month (of 19 days) every year.

Between 2 and 20 March, Bahá’ís refrain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Don’t worry – Bahá’ís are forbidden from fasting if it presents a health risk, so it shouldn’t add to your health and safety worries.

However, if you are camping or taking full-day/evening activities during March, you may want to consider setting some time aside around sunset for food and drink. You can find sunrise and sunset times easily online.

A religion of youth

Other connections with Scouting include the importance which the Bahá’í writings give to youth in society, as the energy and creativity of young people is at the heart of our community activities. Furthermore, Bahá’ís encourage people to independently investigate matters for themselves, rather than simply following the doctrines and dogmas of their elders. This kind of free thinking is, of course, also central to spiritual development in Scouting.

Finally, Bahá’ís believe that all of the world’s major religions originate from the same God. Therefore, Bahá’ís worldwide have been heavily involved in the interfaith movement, working alongside other religious groups to achieve community-building projects.

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Faiths & beliefs

Thinking bigger

When preparing Group, District or County events, there is nothing additional to worry about – in services and ceremonies, Bahá’ís will not object to any location, religious practice or prayer, and will happily participate in any event in which consideration has been given to all other faiths in our Scouting community.

Meanwhile, there are Bahá’í communities in towns, cities and villages around the UK, and each could provide a different focus for a World Faiths Activity Badge or Faith Partnership Award Badge.

See www.bahai.org.uk or www.bahai.org to make contact or for more information.

Bahá’í faith basics

Founded: 1863 by Bahá’u’lláh Followers: 5-6 million in more than 200 countries Key figures: The Báb (1819-1850); Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892) Core beliefs: Unity of God, unity of religion, unity of humankind Festivals: Naw-Rúz (21 March); Ridvan (21 April to 2 May)

Fitting in

What should you do if a member of your Scout Group is a Bahá’í? First things first – don’t panic. There is really nothing you need to think about beyond the needs of your average Scout Group. Although the Bahá’í community organises its own spiritual and moral education programmes for 4-14-year-olds, with so many connections, it is only natural that many young Bahá’ís find their way into Scouting.

In day-to-day life, there is little to distinguish Bahá’ís from any other Scouts. The main consideration is prayer, as Bahá’ís are expected to pray individually every day. So while on camp, you may want to think about providing a private, quiet area in which all are welcome to take some time out for individual prayer and reflection. This could easily fit within your usual pattern of Scouts’ Owns. Adult Bahá’ís (over the age of 15) are required to perform an obligatory prayer at least once each day, before which they will wash their face and hands – I would assume that clean water is usually available at camp! www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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10/1/11 14:36:38 14/01/2011 14:33

Scout Active Support

FirST Time ing h T y r e v e r Fo

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ast May, I was asked by my District Commissioner, Sue, to become Scout Active Support Manager for a Group Unit that supports the 1st Sutton (Wirral). My sons, aged ten and 12, have been with the same Group since Beavers and I knew the Group Scout Leader and Sue quite well, and I’d always been happy to help when I could.

Sue described Scout Active Support to me, and while the District has a Unit already, she felt that 1st Sutton could have its own.

I agreed to look into the role of Group Scout Active Support Manager and soon realised that it was very much based on flexibility Role with it I agreed to look into the role of Group Scout Active Support Manager and soon realised that it was very much based on flexibility.

This sounded ideal to me, as I had never been in a position to offer regular weekly help and neither had I been particularly interested

in helping with section meetings.

This was a way I could lend support without making a regular commitment.

I got together with the GSL and DC to develop ideas and agree the function of the Scout Active Support Unit. It would be created to: assist in the organisation of Group events; support Group administration; and help the District Unit at District events.

This was broken down into more specific tasks, such as organising training, arranging the Group AGM, sorting out a welcome pack for new members and putting together a parent rota. This was drawn up in a service agreement with other duties so that the section leaders could focus on running meetings and planning a great programme.

Added incentives While I was happy to offer the assistance to set up the Scout Active Support Unit, I was also made aware that in order to be the Unit Manager, I would have to join Scouting as a Member. What I hadn’t appreciated was the training scheme that was available to me. I was impressed by the variety of training modules and realised that I wasn’t just doing this so I could help the Scouts; I had a great opportunity to develop my own personal skills as well.

You can find materials on how to set up a Scout Active Support Unit at www.scouts.org.uk/activesupport

The District Commissioner’s view

‘When someone as enthusiastic as Jan comes along, the temptation is to give them a role that is more than they are asking for, and I first thought that she would be the ideal candidate to support the District Scout Active Support Unit. However, after talking to her, we agreed that there was an opportunity to set up a Group Unit, engage parents and remove some of the strain from the Group Scout Leader and section leaders.

‘It’s made a lot of difference already. The GSL feels more supported, and the Christmas fair raised nearly £500. With a large Group that has its own headquarters, these funds are essential to assist with the upkeep.

‘Jan’s already working at getting more parents involved, either as Scout Active Support Members or in a more unofficial capacity, and in time, some of these may go on to take leadership roles with the sections. It’s good that Active Support offers that way for parents to volunteer around their commitments and feel they’re doing something valuable to support their children’s adventures.’

The Scout Active Support Unit arranged the Group’s annual meeting

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Sustainable Scouting

iS

Ngaire Takano is a Group Scout Leader and environmental consultant. She believes you can grow Scouting while still being green. Just look at Scouting’s roots…

sustainable Scouting A

t the dawn of Scouting, environmental principles were less a mission statement and more a necessity. Fledgling groups had to use whatever resources were around to run meetings, and adventures were simple and home-crafted purely because they had to be. Reusing things in imaginative ways and repairing equipment was not just a cost-saving practice; it was also practical.

Baden-Powell laid down his vision of sustainable Scouting in both senses of the term, but nowadays, with limited time to plan meetings, are we in danger of losing sight of the environmental need to ‘tread lightly’ and reduce waste?

As Group Scout Leader, I occasionally have to step in to run programmes, so I know only too well the challenge of using the Scout method in activities that

keep young people engaged, while working with finite planning time and resources. As an environmental consultant, I’m also conscious of finding a way that makes the best use of time, property, energy and cost, as doing so will result in better-value Scouting, both on the programme side and the green side too.

Growing green

By far the biggest headache for me in Scouting is finding enough adults to run sections and keep them thriving.

If we are to welcome more volunteers, with each giving smaller portions of their time, how do we keep a strong ethos of sustainability and care for the planet and people at the heart of the Scout Group? With such a revolving door of adult help it can be hard, especially if we struggle to remember these principles in our own lives as well.

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Environment

Having a list of green principles, generated by young people in the Group and agreed by everyone from section leaders to the Executive Committee, can be a way round this. It sends a message that being green is important to you. Display them in your meeting place, so visitors or helpers know what you’re aiming for and can join in accordingly.

Being outwardly (and inwardly) eco-conscious will actually attract people outside Scouting to join, as people are generally positive towards initiatives that support the environment. The growth of organic food and greener fuels are prime examples of this on a mass scale.

So greening up your Scouting could contribute to your plan to grow.

Getting fancy

Once you’ve got your house in order, there are ways to extend how your sustainable approach defines your Scout Group. Grants that are awarded for installing water recycling, solar panels or wind turbines could make your meeting place stand out as a centre of excellence for environmental practice. These measures come from wellestablished principles of reducing use of non-renewable resources, reusing equipment, and packaging and recycling when the first two aren’t possible.

There are some fine examples of green Scout buildings, such as the 1st Clanfield in Hampshire, which won a Future Friendly award (see www. scouts.org.uk/1stclanfield). Kent Scouts, which acquired a barn last year to use as its County headquarters, is working hard to ensure that sustainability is a feature of any future developments. Young people formed an environmental development team, aided by specialist experts, and are working to provide opportunities on-site for conservation projects and nature study, among other things.

These are ways of planting the core values of sustainability and kindness to nature deep in the soul of our Movement, but my main message is to start with yourself, enlist your young people and find a way to define your green message for yourselves. Once you have done this, who knows what projects and events could follow to put your ideas into practice? As our Chief Scout has said repeatedly, we are a unique organisation and a worldwide force for good. So let’s return to our roots, be green and, by doing so, grow.

10

ways to GrEEn your Group

Make your Group a more sustainable environment and reduce your carbon emissions with these top tips:

1 Voluntary work 1st Thames Sea Explorer Scouts cleared a canal of rubbish. This not only benefited the Group, but the wider community and wildlife too. An area was cleared and rubbish removed, which encouraged more visitors, and built upon the Group’s vision of how the Thames waterways could be used. It also meant the Explorers could complete the service section of their DofE or Queen’s Scout Award programme. Additional pluses were that parents came and helped with the clearing, and local press highlighted the young people’s positive work.

2 Joint conservation projects For nearly two years, 8th Burgess Hill Scouts have been working with their local Green Circle Network and the council on a nature conservation project.

It consists of clearing and maintaining a pond and small copse of trees near their meeting place. They run three or four sessions a year, supervised by a park ranger. The Scouts have cleared the pond, cut back the undergrowth and cut down unwanted trees. Costs have been minimal and no fundraising has been required to run this project.

These examples (numbers 1 and 2) can be built into working towards the Environment Partnership Award,

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Global Conservation Activity Badge, Naturalist Activity Badge or into other challenges.

3 Reuse and recycle When on camp, you could make bird boxes, hedgehog houses or even mini-beast hotels using chopped wood and other materials. You can also discover how paper is made, the importance of reducing its use and plan a visit to a recycling depot. Look at fun ways you could reduce the use of paper at your Scout Group or at home. Other activities could be making your own recycled paper and selling it. There is a company that will supply paper, and even collect your used paper so that it can be truly recycled. They also run activities with youth groups. See yoyopaper.com for more information.

4 Campaigning Scouting is becoming more active in influencing Government policies through campaigns.

Stop the Rain Tax was a prime example of how Scouting can influence change. We are getting better at speaking up on a national level, and have trained young people to campaign on local issues, which may include environmental ones. Looking at how we can involve a wider audience will ensure Scouting continues to be sustainable in the long term.

5 Tree-planting Choose trees that are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions.

Get advice from someone with local knowledge about trees or contact your council, local forestry service, environmental groups or wildlife experts.

Trees can be planted either as seeds, cuttings, seedlings or saplings. 2011 is the International Year of Forests so this is the perfect time to undertake this activity. See page 49 of the December 2010/ January 2011 issue of Scouting for a list of websites that might help you.

6 Make a solar cooker Ideal for a camping event, a solar cooker can be used to prepare food and make water safe to drink. A homemade solar cooker can save two tonnes of wood (and the associated carbon emissions) over the course of its lifetime. This is also a fun activity to undertake with your Group. For detailed instructions on making and using solar cookers, visit www.solarcooking.org

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Environment

7 Source local food Food miles are now an accepted indicator of sustainability, and this has led to a general movement towards local production and consumption. When you are buying food for your summer camp, why not go out of your way to ensure that it is local food? Your local producers will thank you for it. It will also help to develop a relationship with them and help to build a wider, sustainable community. Better still, if your Scout Group has some garden space, you could plant your own vegetables – it doesn’t get any more local than that.

Search Programmes Online for ‘Scouts dig in’.

8 Travel sustainably Does your Group car pool? It’s not very sustainable if you have five cars of two people going to an event when those people could fit in two cars (or one minibus). This produces a higher financial cost to the Group and its volunteers/helpers, notwithstanding the increased emissions.

If you’re looking for a more environmentally friendly way to travel abroad, it is surprisingly easy (and more of an adventure) to travel by train rather than in a plane. Visit www.seat61.com to find out how and to receive useful tips and advice.

9 Generate your own energy Producing your own energy via renewable sources, either at your meeting place or campsite, is becoming increasingly popular among Scout Groups.

This is the most sustainable way to use energy and you can save lots of money in the process. The Energy Saving Trust has lots of advice and a special ‘Cashback calculator’ for anyone who is interested on www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Environment

10 Set an example Probably the best way to make your Scout Group or community more sustainable is to set an example to other parts of the community or other Scout Groups. People respect Scouts, so if you are sustainable, the idea of sustainability will carry more weight.

green grapevine If you’ve done something to green up your Group, tell others about it. Post your story on www.scouts. org.uk/facebook or email scouting. magazine@scouts.org.uk

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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18/01/2011 16:00

We’re Active Kids and we’re back!

Sainsbury’s Active Kids gets bigger and better every year, with over 4,000 Scout Groups now registered - make sure your Group benefits this year.

Active Kids 2011 is now up and running. If you’re registered, you should have received your welcome pack containing all the resources you need to get everyone behind your voucher collection.

You can collect 1 Active Kids voucher for every £10 spent instore, at petrol stations or when you buy groceries online at Sainsbury’s (£5 in Locals) from 9 February to 31 May 2011.

Nectar points can be turned into vouchers too. Exclusions apply - see the Active Kids website for details.

There’s loads of great sports, outdoors and cooking equipment for your Group. Plus there are two new fantastic Active Kids resources for 2011 containing games, activity and cooking ideas for Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts, and Scouts and Explorer Scouts, available on the Active Kids website.

Don’t worry if your Group isn’t registered yet, there’s still plenty of time to get involved: 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.

“The items received from Active Kids have helped with co-ordination skills and teamwork. As well as being fun to use, they assist in the recruitment of new young members and adult helpers and leaders.”

Ian Berryman, Leader, 81st Belfast Scout Group

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14/01/2011 14:31

Country diary

Birds of a feather Spring still seems far away, but nature is getting ready for it, and James Taylor wants us to help

W

hen I was young, there were only really two types of nest box – the tit box, with a small hole as an entrance, and a robin box, with an open front. Now there are numerous designs to tempt a huge variety of birds.

Birds can have elaborate courting rituals during January, when birdsong increases and changes in plumage often occur. By Valentine’s Day, most species are coupled up and urgently seeking a nesting site. This is where we can get involved.

Nest-box activities A Scout Group could devote a couple of evenings to building nest boxes and a weekend morning putting them up ready for occupation. Apart from being a conservation project, this is a great way to encourage DIY skills and teamwork, matching sections with levels of competence.

A number of badges can be gained through this. There is an activity on POL for the Scout and Explorer

sections; and nest-box designs can be found on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology websites.

Cub Scouts may need some parts to be pre-cut and drilled, and have a supervised session in order to glue or screw the boxes together. Beavers could do a bird-identification quiz to learn which birds use which boxes.

Preservation You could also invite a local Natural History Society or birdwatching club to your meeting place to talk about birds.

This activity is not just a rural project, as birds are learning to adapt to urban conditions. The numbers of some, such as sparrows and starlings, have plummeted. Start building nest boxes and help preserve our birds.

more info

Visit these websites for designs and ideas: www.rspb.org.uk, www.bto. org and www.scout.org.uk/pol

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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scouts.org.uk/sac Tel: 0845 300 2549

Downe: Rural Kent Ferny Crofts: New Forest Gilwell Park: Epping Forest Great Tower: Lake District Hawkhirst: Kielder Forest Woodhouse Park: Bristol Youlbury: Rural Oxfordshire

Operated by The Scout Association Registered Charity Number: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland) 50_Ad.indd 50

14/01/2011 14:34

SKILLS & S E I T I V I T C A on We turn the spotlight ns tio lightweight expedi

P52 P54 P55

ure DofE expedition advent a Swiss Getting the most from Army Knife essentials Lightweight camping www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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WALKING FOR GOLD

Elis Matthews joins a

I

Gold DofE expedition

t’s the end of the first day of Greater London South West’s Gold DofE expedition and it’s time to make camp. The group of five Explorer and Network Members aged between 16 and 24 have travelled from the capital to Cumbria, to walk from Keswick to Thornthwaite, carrying their kit with them and camping at different locations each night.

The journey began in the market town of Keswick, where Jess Clarke noted the success of the recovery efforts. ‘The flood-ravaged picture I had of the supermarket during the floods bore little resemblance to the picturesque view we had as we strolled through the town on a warm Wednesday morning,’ she said.

Idyllic as this sounds though, the uphill journey was still to come.

Making up for lost time

Travel light

It’s been a good start, recovering from a late getaway to get to Seatoller – their base for the night – ahead of schedule. There’s still plenty of daylight, but the group get straight to work pitching their tents, knowing that it’s best to do it before the weather changes.

They’re right too, as Seatoller holds the unenviable title of wettest place in England, and second-wettest in the UK. This is of interest to the campers, as the purpose of their expedition is to study the impact of flooding, inspired by the news-making floods the region experienced in 2009.

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Lightweight camping is a key component of the DofE expedition experience. Participants are trained to travel light, and thought is given to what is essential and what is forsaken. I ask Andrew Hislop if there’s anything he wished he’d left at home. ‘Besides myself, no,’ he replies, before confessing that his wash kit may not be used as much as he expected. Jess has refined her kit selection through practice hikes. ‘I had a couple of bulky fleeces last time, which weighed me down, so I’ve packed thinner layers this week, giving me more space in my rucksack.’

14/01/2011 15:38

Skills & activities

Such camps are the bread and butter of expeditions undertaken by Explorer Scouts towards the top awards, and set the scene for the majority of camps these young people will embark on over the course of their lives. But it’s interesting how novel it can be at this age, which their DofE expedition Adviser is aware of.

‘We make sure those doing Gold expeditions are used to the equipment, and have the requisite camping skills to be self-sufficient,’ says Chris Dean.

‘Some need to learn it, and so the training weekends are vital. We find the more experienced ones take a leadership role and, as the group dynamic strengthens, teamwork sets in.’

‘I try to do as much packing as I can the night before, so there’s less to do in the morning,’ says Jess, while rummaging around in the compact tent. ‘I aim to arrange the kit in the tent neatly so I won’t lose anything.’ Preparing themselves now means that the team can get an early night and use the extra time in the morning to eat a hot breakfast and get on the trail swiftly.

A good gas

Those techniques picked up in training have become habit now, as the tents are quickly assembled in a semicircle formation, to give the stoves some shelter from the Lakeland winds. The group has favoured gas over Trangia stoves, mainly to save time and weight. Two begin cooking the evening meal, while others check kit and start arranging their gear for the next day.

It’s a gas, gas, gas

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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How to get the most from your Swiss Army Knife,

by Daniel Clark

The golden team

Wash kit or not, the principles of personal hygiene become more important when camping in close proximity in smaller tents. Body odour can test even the tightest-knit teams, and you’re less likely to keep step with the slowest hiker if an underarm funk is part of the bargain. It should be said that this doesn’t seem to be a problem with this group, thankfully.

I always take a Swiss Army Knife on a lightweight camp. Carrying one allows you to leave behind so many heavy, but important, items, such as tin openers, cooking knives and saws. Chances are, you’ll find yourself using it for everything from repairing the poles of your dome tent on the side of a mountain to cutting a stick for a sausage sizzle in the wilds. There are many types of Swiss Army Knife, with more or less every tool imaginable, but I prefer the basic model.

Journey with a purpose

Four days after they began, five weary walkers reach the planned destination in Thornthwaite. They encountered driving rain, a sheep traffic jam, the odd navigational inaccuracy and some of the most breathtaking scenery the UK has to offer. They’ve overcome obstacles, just like the 275,000 young people who complete expeditions every year.

Everyone is elated when they tramp into the visitor centre to the satisfaction of their assessor. None more so than Chris: ‘Everyone home safe, having had a great experience. That’s what we plan for and that’s always my highlight. They will have countless more.’

recommended To find out more about doing a DofE programme through Scouting, see www.scouts.org.uk/dofe or www.dofe.org for more information about the award. There is a range of kit recommended for DofE, a selection of which you can find on pages 56 and 57.

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Basic models have only a few blades, including a large knife, small knife, tin opener and bottle opener (plus a few other tools that you never seem to use), but they keep the weight down. Who’s really going to need a wire stripper while out hiking? For many Scout leaders, this isn’t just part of their camping gear, but something that sits in a pocket at all times. For a range of penknives from Scout Shops, visit www.scouts.org.uk/shop

19/01/2011 11:09

Skills & activities

NEED TO KNOW – LIGHTWEIGHT CAMPING

Ian Newbery, the UK Technical Adviser for Nights Away, has this advice for leaders planning to take charge of lightweight camps The main requirement is that the equipment you take is sufficient to meet the needs of the event, but minimal enough to make it all easily portable.

Therefore, getting the right equipment is essential. It must be up to the job, but not excessively so, which could mean needless expense and weight. There are many sources to advise you on what you need: internet, equipment suppliers, local leaders with experience. Don’t forget your Nights Away Adviser (NAA), who is there to support you.

He or she may know where equipment can be sourced at little or no cost or where the best discounts are.

If you’re walking with all your kit, then every gram counts. There are many ways to make that load lighter that may seem silly at first, but you’ll be thankful after the event.

Simple things like only taking half a tube of toothpaste, discarding all unnecessary packaging, taking just a spoon and one plate are extremely worthwhile.

Nights Away Notification form in plenty of time so that others are aware at an early stage of what you are intending to do and can offer support with your venture.

If this is a hike and you don’t hold a permit for a ‘Greenfield’ or ‘lightweight expedition’, you will either need the NAA to assess you through the process of organising and running the event or, if the young people are going on their own, they will need an Event Passport.

An adult who holds the appropriate category of Nights Away Permit can issue a passport to the relevant young person (or persons) for one specific event only. The permit holder needs to ensure the young people have sufficient training, are appropriately equipped and are competent to undertake the camp. The permit holder remains responsible for the event, even though they are not present, and should put in place reasonable measures, should the young people need support at any point in the event.

Bare necessities

Think carefully about what you actually need and pack only these items. If you have the opportunity to have a practice run, there’s a useful exercise you can do on your return. Make three piles of your equipment and personal kit: pile one is items that you used all the time, pile two is items you used occasionally and the last pile is things you didn’t use at all.

Now, discard the second and third piles and only take the first (except emergency kit).

Forms of preparation

If this is your first go at lightweight camping, you should submit your

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Vango Spectre 300 Tunnel Tent Ref 1026349 £110 RRP £130 The Vango Spectre 300 three-man tent has impressive functionality, including zipped storage areas at both ends.

�Scout Shops – the right kit for the job The expeditions forming part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Scheme inspire Explorers to develop initiative and a spirit of adventure. Having the correct supplies and equipment can impact greatly on the enjoyment and safety of an expedition.

Scout Shops has selected a kit list of recommended DofE items. This is to be used as a guide only, as the quantities of some items will depend on the level and duration of your expedition.

Items to wear 1 pair walking boots 2 pairs walking socks 2 pairs sock liners 2 or 3 T-shirts 2 fleece tops or similar 2 pairs walking trousers Nightwear Underwear 1 pair waterproof overtrousers 1 waterproof jacket Personal kit 1 rucksack (approx 55-65 litres) 1 rucksack liner 1 sleeping mat 1 sleeping bag 1 waterproof bag (for sleeping bag)

1 sleeping bag liner 1 survival bag Some money 1 notebook 1 watch 1 whistle 1 torch Spare batteries and bulb for torch Personal first-aid kit 1 water bottle 1 knife, fork, spoon 1 small pocket knife 1 plate/bowl 1 mug 1 box of matches 1 wash kit 1 towel Group kit Tent Camping stove Camping stove fuel

(in safe container) Cooking pans Scourers Maps/map cases Compass/compasses Toilet paper Tea towels Food (lightweight) Plastic bags (for rubbish, etc) Storm shelters If appropriate 1 pair trainers 1 warm hat 1 pair gloves 1 sunhat 1 pair shorts Sun cream 1 pair gaiters Camera, batteries

Vango Sherpa 60+10 Rucksack Ref 1026362 £60 RRP £65 This classic Vango Sherpa 60+10 Rucksack offers great value, with a self-adjust back system providing outstanding support and performance.

DofE RECOMMENDED EXPEDITION KIT

This is a selection of the DofE recommended kit list for expeditions.

Visit our website to see the full range

Mini Maglite AA Blister Packed Ref 1009618 £13.25 RRP £18.49 The Mini Maglite is renowned for being tough and durable.

Includes spare bulb.

Sigg 1.0 Litre Bottle Ref 1014886 £14 RRP £16 Sigg water bottles are made using seamless impact aluminium and are extremely durable.

1 litre capacity.

56 Scouting February/March 2011

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Recta Romer Compass Ref 1011337 £14.50 RRP £18.49 The Recta Romer compass is a perfect companion for the active outdoor life.

Victorinox DofE Pocket Tool Ref 1026676 £25 RRP £27.99 This handy pocket tool has been designed with a rounded point on the knife and comes with ten features.

Knives may not be purchased by anyone under 18 years old.

Vango Storm Shelter 400 Ref 1013670 £27.50 RRP £32 An essential item of safety gear for all year round. Fast becoming part of standard kit for hill-walking and winter mountaineering.

Vango Nitestar 250 Sleeping Bag Ref 1027521 £25.50 RRP £30 The Vango Nitestar 250 two/ three season sleeping bag is a firm favourite with adventurers, festival goers and youth expeditions as it gives a great blend of durability, design comfort and value for money.

Find more online at www.scouts.org.uk/shop or call 01903 766 921

Women’s Bridgedale Endurance Trekker Socks Ref 1026839R

Bridgedale Men’s 2-Pack Coolmax Liner Socks Ref 1004793C

RRP £13.49 These socks are designed for all outdoor enthusiasts.

Also available for men.

RRP £14.49 Great base layer for walking, climbing and other outdoor activities in cold conditions. This pack of two pairs of socks is also available for women.

£12.25

Al l Scout Shops prof its are retu rned to The Scout Association

£13.25

Vango SelfInflating Trek Mat Ref 1027529 £20 RRP £23.50 Its small pack size and light weight makes this mat suitable for all campers.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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k

It’s

Unity can cover all your trips Unlike most policies, if your trip is cancelled due to any circumstances outside your control, we will still cover you. Plus you will be covered for all recognised Scouting activities.

Don’t leave home without Unity’s travel cover.

Call Unity now on

0845 0945 703

www.scoutinsurance.co.uk scouts@unityins.co.uk

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FRN 312976. Unity Insurance Services is a trading name of Scout Insurance Services Limited.

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10/1/11 14:36:38 14/01/2011 14:33

Camp cooking

Cub Scout Leader Paul Liversidge honed his outdoor cooking skills in the Highlands of Scotland. He knows a thing or two about the need for a hearty meal, which will sustain an outdoors stomach. Here, Paul offers one of his favourite concoctions

This is an all-in-the-pan recipe. I find that the best meat to use is chicken, depending on how many Beavers, Cubs or Scouts you’re cooking for. It’s great for a cold night while on camp, especially if everyone likes spicy food.

s e l k c o c r u o y Warm Highland filler

Serves as many as you like, Preparation 10 mins, Cooking 30 mins Ingredients 1 chicken fillet per child/adult small new potatoes onions peppers mushrooms (optional) pasta sauce crusty bread, rice or pasta

Method Cut chicken into chunks and add to a hot pan with a little oil, just enough to start cooking the chicken.

Parboil the potatoes whole, then drain the water and leave to cool.

Dice the onions and peppers, and slice the mushrooms.

Add the onions to the chicken and cook slowly until the chicken starts to brown and the onions

begin to go clear. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook until soft.

Pour in the pasta sauce; one jar should serve three to four people.

Slice the potatoes and add to the pasta sauce mix. Bring to the boil, making sure that everything is piping hot.

Serve either on its own or with pasta or rice. This is also ideal for vegetarians – just add extra vegetables rather than the meat. www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Explore Europe Under Canvas…

ad o r b eA

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Top 5 camping holiday destinations for Scouts in 2011

Top 5 reasons to travel with Venture Abroad

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www.ventureabroad.co.uk tours@ventureabroad.co.uk 01332 342 050 060_Scouting_FebMar2011.indd 203 - Under Cancas Advetorial.indd 160

13/01/2011 13:51 12/01/2011 09:06:52

L A N O I T A N R INTE

SPECIAL

and, gs about Scouting are in th st be e th t ha w t Ask any Scou p of the ational trips will be to rn te in t, no an th n te of more e Trekker, w travel website, Glob list. So, to launch our ne rnational pages to all things inte n ve se er ov ed nd ha e we’v

e cold – P62 Coming in from th tion to Russia an Explorer Belt expedi w site to record P65 Globe Trekker – a ne es all your travel experienc the essentials – P67 Travel insurance: out it don’ t leave home with unications training P68 Speak easy – comm e World for Scouts heading to th Scout Jamboree www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Coming in from the cold Russia is much more than Siberian winters and fur hats, as Explorer Scout Suzie discovered on an Explorer Belt expedition to an orphanage near Moscow

A year ago, I had always thought that Russia was a very cold country with little to offer. How wrong I was. When I arrived in Moscow on 12 August, it was 38°C. As for it offering nothing – well, my fears were misplaced.

Our trip to Tula, 120 miles south of Moscow, was to complete the Explorer Belt Award. We were 13 Explorer Scouts and Network members from Llangollen District in Wales. We also travelled with eight members of Network Russia who did a lot of work behind the scenes, organising our visas and flights.

The aim of the Explorer Belt is to complete a range of challenges in a foreign country while learning about different cultures and meeting new people. But for us, it was even more important to have fun.

I personally also wanted to learn some Russian and use it while we were out there.

A bad start En route to Moscow, both mine and a friend’s luggage was lost for three days. But, being Scouts, we carried on as normal and pretended we hadn’t been wearing the same clothes for 72 hours.

The Cake shop in Tula

We moved on by train from Moscow to Tula, and were met by Vladimir, the director of the orphanage where we would spend the majority of our trip. The village consisted of three houses, a shed, which could have been their toilet, and the local wash place, which was the nearest pond.

The main building of the orphanage used to be a manor house for a rich family, but is now home to 40 children. The orphanage itself had recently installed showers. The toilets had no doors on the cubicles, but we hung sheets from the roof for some privacy.

The orphanage was empty for the summer, when the children either go back to their parents or another facility. Vladimir explained that the children’s parents, many of whom are alcoholics, were unable to look after them for most of the year.

Our task was to paint the whole place, which sounded simple enough, but the plaster was falling off the walls. By the end of the week, we had successfully managed to paint two of the back rooms, two stairways, the porch room, the outside walls, the stairs and the dining room walls in light

62 Scouting February/March 2011

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International

Explorer Scouts must complete various challenges to obtain their Explorer Belt

with an Explorer Belt in Russia. As we had completed the majority of our challenges, and promised we would complete the rest (plus do a presentation) on our return, Bill Turnbull MBE, president of Network Russia, presented us all with our belts, right there in one of the most famous squares in the world. It was such a proud moment. Not only were we all proud of ourselves, but also of Participants: 13 our team.

Cost of the trip: Just under £1,000 per person The aim of the Explorer Fundraising: ‘We had a Belt is to complete a range sponsored fancy-dress walk, a go-karting event and Beca, one of challenges in a foreign of the leaders, organised some country while learning beauty sessions and massages, about different cultures which she and some colleagues did for free, and the profits and meeting new people went to us. We also had support from the Area and District.’

This trip was such a great About Russian Scouting experience. I learned loads about The first Scout Troop was Russia and its Scouting, but I also formed in 1909, but in 1917, this feel as though our team helped out was brought to an end with the in a place where volunteering is October Revolution and ensuing a rare thing. Now if anyone asks Russian Civil War. It wasn’t what I think of Russia, I tell them until 1990 that Scouting that it is hot in summer and has resurfaced. There are currently just over 14,000 Scouts in lots to offer.

Russia today.

brown. We used the leftover paint to transform a wooden shelter and gym equipment.

Making friends

Our free time was spent at the orphanage with our Russian friends.

We chatted about the differences between Russian and British Scouting, such as the fact that the head of the Russian Scouting organisation is a priest, and many Scout Groups are linked to churches. All the age ranges wear the same uniform and move up the sections by experience rather than age. When they do progress, their scarf colour changes.

We also spent quite a bit of time singing, or listening to the Russians sing and play the guitar. Then at night we played Russian wide games. One game involved protecting our group flag using sticks as swords and hiding in the shadows so we could jump out in front of the other team and scare them. Even though the games might have left some of us slightly bruised, we had a lot of fun and learned a lot too.

It is normal for the locals to visit the nearby lakes and ponds for a swim, and was something we had to try. Because of the heat, it was very easy to walk to the lake with nothing but the clothes on your back, swim, then dry out during the walk back.

The trip in numbers

Fond farewells When it was time to leave, we said our thanks and farewells to Vladimir, and then headed back to Moscow’s famous Red Square where we believe we became some of the first people ever to be presented

What I’ve learned

‘The trip helped me in so many ways. I gained more confidence, new friends and I improved my Russian.

These came from undergoing the various challenges.’

Explorer Belt The antidote to the package holiday, the Explorer Belt is a ten-day challenge available to Scout Network Members and Explorer Scouts aged over 16.

Visit www.scouts.org.uk and search ‘explorer belt’

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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scouts.org.uk/sac Tel: 0845 300 2549

Downe: Rural Kent Ferny Crofts: New Forest Gilwell Park: Epping Forest Great Tower: Lake District Hawkhirst: Kielder Forest Woodhouse Park: Bristol Youlbury: Rural Oxfordshire

Operated by The Scout Association Registered Charity Number: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland) 50_Ad.indd 50

14/01/2011 14:34

International

r u o y : r e k k e r T Globe e r u t n e v d a o t t r passpo The Scout Association’s new website, Globe Trekker, is a tool to support International Scout trips. Richard Neville, from the International Team, logs on to give you the lowdown

Globe Trekker is the new online trip organiser.

There are facts about 200 countries and useful links and reports from groups who have visited. If you have been on an overseas trip before, you can submit a report on your experience and others can learn from it. Links to useful websites, such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provide all the information that you will need to organise a trip.

However, Globe Trekker isn’t just useful for organising overseas visits and expeditions. If you are running an international evening or researching information on a certain country, you can find loads of information at the touch of a button.

Share your Scouting trips

Using the latest in global mapping technology, Globe Trekker enables easy access to organising a trip and general travel information. However, it is only as good as the information that is submitted by users, so the more trip reports written, the more useful a resource it becomes. Your report can be a simple few words recommending a location to other people to a more detailed report about facilities you used – you decide.

Get trekking

www.scouts.org.uk/globetrekker Highlights from the site: ‘The Goodbye Lenin hostel is basic, but brilliant fun and has a great atmosphere. This has now become a biennial trip.’

Dan Sutton, who took Scouts to Poland More Global Programme activities on POL The 2010 section leader surveys, ‘Your Programme, Your Voice’, highlighted that the global aspect of the Programme was often seen as a difficult area to deliver. With this in mind, more than 150 new Global Programme activities have been added to Programmes Online in the past year. To find out more, visit www.scouts.org.uk/pol

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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ULFLJOTSVATN SCOUT CENTRE ICELAND ENERGY GLACIERS GEYSIRS HOT SPRINGS ECO FRIENDLY NORTHERN LIGHTS MIDNIGHT SUN GEOLOGY

We offer adventure program with wide range of selection and a comprehensive campsite with equipment renting, fully catered meals and indoor accommodation, depending on the needs of your group.

The Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association ulfljotsvatn@skatar.is / www.ulfljotsvatn.is

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International

Travel insurance:

the essentials

Ralph Doe (Unity Insurance Services) gives some invaluable advice that will help ensure you are suitably covered and get promptly reimbursed for any losses if you need to make a claim Before you book Whether you are travelling in the UK or abroad, always sort out your insurance before arranging or paying for anything else. This means that if you have to cancel your trip, you won’t be left out of pocket.

Always check the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk) for up-to-date advice on the current situation in the country you are travelling to.

If the advice is not to travel to the country at the time of booking your trip, you run the risk that your insurance will not be valid in the event of cancellation.

Pre-existing health problems can limit cover on many travel policies. You should disclose to your insurer any medical conditions, terminal illnesses or conditions where you are awaiting treatment that may affect your ability to travel.

Travelling against the advice of a doctor will almost certainly invalidate your policy. Unity’s travel policies cover all pre-existing medical conditions, providing you have been deemed fit to travel by your doctor.

On your trip However prepared you are before travelling, incidents may be unavoidable. If you lose something while you are away, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible to notify them of a potential claim.

You must report any theft to the local police as soon as possible. Make sure you are given a crime reference

number and report as you will need this for making a claim.

If you require medical assistance, keep copies of all bills and appointment details – you will need these to make a claim.

If your trip is delayed for reasons outside of your control, you will need details from the travel company regarding the length and reason for the delay.

Back home If you are unable to contact your insurer while you are away, you should notify them of any potential claim as soon as you return and request a claim form.

Complete the claim form with as much detail as possible and return it with copies of your insurance certificate, receipts for costs incurred and supporting evidence.

get covered Unity’s travel policies are designed with Scouting in mind and therefore cover all recognised Scouting activities.

In the event of a serious injury, illness or an emergency, Unity has a dedicated emergency assistance service, called Unity Assist, available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

For more information or to get a quote, call 0845 0945 703 or email scouts@unityins.co.uk www.scoutinsurance.co.uk

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Speak easy

lop their ts had the chance to deve an cip rti pa e re bo m Ja t ster reports A group of World Scou about Scouting. Chris Fo up k ea sp d an s ill sk n communicatio One of the most exciting international events this summer is the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. The UK is sending more than 3,500 14-18-year-olds. At the end of last year, 230 young people representing the 89 UK-based World Scout Jamboree Units were selected to attend one of five communications training courses called Scouts Speak Up held around the UK. The participants were taught a multitude of skills, including giving presentations to a large group of people, lobbying and campaigning, speaking to journalists, sounding great on radio and looking amazing on television. Additionally, every participant is now skilled enough to tell anybody exactly what a World Scout Jamboree is after attending a special briefing from one of the UK Contingent Management Team.

Course director and Scouts Speak Up Manager Matt Rooney, said: ‘These seminars were an amazing experience for the young people where they gained some essential life skills. They can now pass on these same skills to the other members of their Jamboree Units. The trainers and mentors who helped the young people through their journey were outstanding.’

‘I was a little hesitant before the course, as I am one of the youngest selected. The skills I picked up at the Scouts Speak Up course were invaluable; learning effective methods to promote Scouting through its essence of adventure. After this weekend, I feel even more ambitious and I can’t wait to promote Scouting as a place of opportunity for young people.’ Jack

Making their voices heard

What the Scouts thought

Joining in the 22nd World Scout Jamboree

‘It gave us a fun-filled weekend to learn skills to be used throughout life, for example: campaigning, lobbying and presenting. We also learned and practised how to talk to the media. It was such a great opportunity that gave us transferable skills, which will help in many aspects of life. This is what Scouting is about; to be able to speak up for Scouting and the Jamboree makes me very proud.’ Dominic

There are few events that rival a World Scout Jamboree.

From its beginnings in the 1920s, during the aftermath of World War I, the Jamboree has grown to become one of the largest, most diverse gatherings of young people anywhere in the world.

Every four years, tens of thousands of young people travel from upwards of 150 countries to share a twoweek adventure that will live with them forever.

And don’t forget you can bring the Jamboree to your meeting place, using our Join-in-Jamboree booklets (sent free with the October/November 2010 magazine).

‘The weekend reminded me how lucky I was to be selected, and just how special this experience is going to be. It’s enabled me to remember the real reason I personally love Scouting and it’s been fantastic to hear from other people that share this huge passion.’ Amy

World Scout Jamboree Find everything you need at www.scouts.org.uk/wsj2011

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International

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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e l b i s i v n I illness

clusivity, but hidden Scouting is all about in e. ent difficulties for som conditions can still pres te a O’Mahoney investiga Sue Burton and Rebecc

A

ttitudes to individuals and their particular needs have come a long way in recent years. But there still lurks an issue with people who, to a casual observer, might appear not to try hard enough, or seem to give up too easily. There can sometimes be a feeling that if you tire quickly, mention aches and pains, or need more recovery time than your peers, that it is always a matter of stamina or lack of willpower.

It may actually be that some of these difficulties are due to the effects of an invisible condition. Three of the most well-known examples are lupus, myalgic encephalomyelitis (or ME) and fibromyalgia. Each condition is different, with its own sets of symptoms, effects and treatment, but people experiencing them may well receive similar reactions from others.

Pat Mullender was an extremely active Assistant District Commissioner for Cubs when she was diagnosed with ME 12 years ago. ‘It’s very hard sometimes because it’s not like a broken leg or asthma where people can actually see that something isn’t right,’ she says. ‘Often the person will look the same on the outside, but inside they might feel too tired to take in what you are saying to them.’

Adapting your Scouting For each illness there will be individual treatments, medications or lifestyle adjustments that might help. Having one of these conditions certainly doesn’t mean that the individual is lazy or not trying hard enough. In fact, in some cases, minimising overexertion is part of the management.

‘I’m very open about my condition,’ says Pat. ‘I’m happy to explain to

people why I might be resting when they feel I should be walking. I’m channelling all my energy to my brain because I feel I can be more effective and helpful to others if I’m alert.’

It is this adaptation that has helped Pat to continue Scouting.

‘I moved into Fellowship [now Scout Active Support] and I help out at County events. I can oversee craft activities and bring the wealth of my experience just as easily if I am sitting down or using a wheelchair.’

As with other special needs within Scouting, knowledge of the particular circumstances and requirements of the person with the condition is essential. Sensitive discussion about limits to activities, requirements for regular rest, diet and so on will add to a supportive atmosphere. Most people don’t like ‘cotton wool’ treatment and want to be just like

70 Scouting December 2010/January 2011

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Health & wellbeing

everyone else, so understanding without fuss is very important.

‘It took me about two years to accept that I wasn’t going to be able to do as much as I used to,’ continues Pat. ‘I never thought that I would leave Scouting, though. In fact, Scouting has been a great help to me and I don’t know what I would have done without it.’

Know the triggers Hidden conditions can vary greatly from day to day and are affected by a number of factors, from quality and quantity of sleep or direct sunlight exposure to emotional stress or the effects of another illness or operation.

Scouting has been ta n’ great help and I doou ld w I know what have done without it It all depends on the individual circumstances. Triggers may well be known to the person with the condition, and it is always helpful to know what these are.

Each of these conditions tend to be more common after childhood, although in some cases this may be due to a difficulty in diagnosis until the main growth points are passed.

They are also more common in females than males.

In Scouting terms, the clear message is that none of these conditions necessarily present an insurmountable obstacle, as people can volunteer in a flexible manner which suits them best.

‘If you know someone in your Group with one of these conditions, the most important thing is to ensure that they don’t give up hope,’ states Pat. ‘It doesn’t mean the end of their Scouting; it just means that they will do Scouting differently.

As long as they are not afraid to let people know of their condition if they are going away on a camp or a Jamboree, then they will be OK and able to enjoy the adventure.’

find out more

www.lupusuk.org.uk www.meassociation.org.uk www.fibromyalgia-association.org

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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It’s

k

Unity can cover it Owned by The Scout Association, with all profits returned to Scouting, we offer a range of policies designed specifically for Scouting, whatever you need protecting, from property and equipment to travel and minibuses.

Let Unity look after all your Scout insurance needs.

Call Unity now on

0845 0945 703 www.scoutinsurance.co.uk

scouts@unityins.co.uk

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FRN 312976.

Unity Insurance Services is a trading name of Scout Insurance Services Limited.

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www.skibass.org

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Applicants must have suitable home accommodation and hold a CELTA or PGCE qualification.

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Our students are professionals and young learners age 14-60 and come for stays of 1-3 weeks. Ideal flexible employment if you are supply, early retired or taking ‘time out’ from full-time work

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s p i h s r e n t r pa ort come on board to supp ve ha es ni pa m co of r A numbe ent or an initiative onsoring a badge, an ev sp by it’s er th he w g, Scoutin Sainsbury’s

Sponsors: Active Kids and The Big Adventure. Resources and equipment available. www.scouts.org.uk/sainsburys

Chubb Fire & Security

Sponsors: Scout Fire Safety Activity Badge. Activity packs available. www.scouts.org.uk/chubb

Eat in Colour

Sponsors: Beaver Scout Healthy Eating Activity Badge. Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/healthyeating

Environment Agency

Sponsors: Scout Angler Activity Badge. www.scouts.org.uk/ environmentagency

Merlin Entertainments

Offers available to UK attractions. www.scouts.org.uk/merlin

Met Office

Sponsors: Meteorologist Activity Badge. Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/metoffice

Microsoft

Sponsors: IT Staged Activity Badge.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/microsoft

National Grid

Sponsors: Cub Scout Home Safety Activity Badge.

Activity packs available. www.scouts.org.uk/nationalgrid

Natural England

Sponsors: Cub and Scout Naturalist Activity Badge.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/naturalengland

Ordnance Survey

Sponsors: Cub Scout and Scout Navigator Badges.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/ordnancesurvey

Wall’s

Sponsors: The Big Adventure and the Scout Camp Cook Badge.

Resources coming soon. www.scouts.org.uk/walls

The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative

Sponsors: Cub Scout Global Conservation Activity Badge. www.scouts.org.uk/omsco

Pets at Home

Sponsors: Beaver Scout Animal Friend and Cub Scout Animal Carer Badges.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/petsathome

Police

Sponsors: Scout Community Challenge Award. www.scouts.org.uk/police

Puffin

Sponsors: Scout Adventure Challenge Award.

Posters and skills cards available. www.scouts.org.uk/puffin

Rolls-Royce

Sponsors: Cub Scout Scientist Activity Badge.

Activity packs available. www.scouts.org.uk/rollsroyce

ShelterBox

Global programme partner. www.youngshelterbox.org

Venture Abroad

Adventure holidays for Scouts. www.scouts.org.uk/ventureabroad

WD40

Sponsors: Scout DIY Activity Badge.

Online resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/wd40

Worcester Bosch Group Sponsors: Cub Scout Global Challenge Award. www.scouts.org.uk/bosch

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Inspire

The Met Office hopes that Scouts are enjoying achieving their Meteorologist Activity Badge and learning all about weather and climate

A

n exciting additional activity for Scouts to take part in between March and May this year is the Opal Climate Survey. The Met Office is working together with the OPAL project – Open Air Laboratories – to encourage people of all ages to become interested and involved in their environment.

For more information on taking part in the climate survey, and to order your survey packs, visit www.opalexplorenature.org The Open Air Laboratories network is an exciting new initiative that is open to anyone with an interest in nature. It aims to create and inspire a new generation of nature lovers by getting people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment.

O.S., not S.O.S.

As every Scout knows, you should always be prepared. And when you want to explore the great outdoors, then you should be prepared with your Ordnance Survey map

Ordnance Survey is the national mapping agency of Great Britain, and has been providing maps to keen outdoors enthusiasts for many years.

The Ordnance Survey Navigator Activity Badges for both Cubs and Scouts help you learn vital navigation skills. The skills you learn with these badges will prove to be invaluable throughout life – and not just when you’re going walking in the hills.

visit

Ordnance Survey map shop to find out about the latest map offers. leisure.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

more info Visit the Met Office area on The Scout Association website for the full range of resources. www.scouts.org.uk/metoffice

Top Ordnance Survey products for Scouts OS EXPLORER MAP – the perfect map to take on your walks, hikes, rides and rambles Covering every part of England, Scotland and Wales with its 4cm to 1km (2½ inches to 1 mile) scale, the OS Explorer Map series has been adopted by walkers, riders, runners and climbers.

OS LANDRANGER MAP – your ideal planning partner for days out and holidays Perfect for day trips and short breaks, the OS Landranger Map series covers Great Britain with 204 detailed maps. Each map provides all the information you need to get to know your local area in great detail.

WEATHERPROOF MAPS – get active with the weatherproof versions of OS Explorer Map and OS Landranger Map The maps in this series are often known as ‘encapsulated’ or weatherproof maps.

They contain the same information as the standard map series, but are covered in a lightweight protective plastic coating.

74 Scouting February/March 2011

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Partnerships

FURRY – AND NOT SO FURRY – FRIENDS The Cub Scout Animal Carer and Beaver Scout Animal Friend badges are designed to help young people gain confidence in handling animals. But nothing beats discovering a new animal face, as a group of Wimbledon Scouts discovered

Favourite pets When asked which was their favourite pet of the day, Cub Scouts

showed diverse tastes. James said: ‘I liked the snake because I liked the feel of it, especially when he slithers around.’ Naomi went for a more traditionally cuddly pet: ‘The rabbit was nice and furry.’ For Emma, the physiological structure of the bearded dragon was most attractive: ‘Its skin falls off, which is cool.’

For the Beavers, snakes and reptiles came out top. Beaver Scout Scarlet said: ‘The snakes and reptiles were my favourite because they were unusual and I have never felt them before.’

Lizzie Roussou, Pets at Home Events Co-ordinator, highlighted the importance of the workshops: ‘They help to teach children, from a very young age, the responsibility of

looking after an animal. We tailor them to all ages, but they have to be fun and interactive.’

Find your nearest workshop There are more than 270 Pets at Home stores in the UK. From specialist pet food to toys and training aids, they are packed with everything you need to keep a pet happy and healthy. To sign up for a free workshop, find your nearest store at www.petsathome.com/ storelocator

Free workbooks Workbooks containing everything Beavers and Cubs need to gain the badge can also be downloaded from www.scouts.org.uk/ petsathome www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

75 Pets Partnership.indd 75

Photos: Allan Baxter, taken at Pets at Home store, New Malden

The sponsor of the badges, Pets at Home, runs workshops across the UK to help Scouts gain their badge and learn more about handling animals.

The objective of the workshops is to introduce young people to animal welfare and give them the opportunity to interact with the animals. During a workshop in December last year, Beavers and Cubs from 22nd Wimbledon Scout Group got to hold rabbits, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, and a corn snake called Charlie. These constrictor snakes get their name from the fact they live in corn fields.

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Competition

y h p a r g o t o 2011 ph n o i t i t e p m co We received a fantastic response to last year’s photography competition. Our winner not only got her photograph on the cover of Scouting, but her success was also featured in her local newspaper (see News, page 19).

So, we’ve opened it up for 2011.

This year we want pictures covering the following categories: Your Big Adventure event Urban Scouting Diversity Action And, of course, the usual mix of fun, adventure, friendship and everything else that makes up Scouting. Once again, the winner may well find their photo on the cover of Scouting magazine, and, who knows, perhaps fame will follow.

Good luck!

How to enter Go to www.flickr.com/groups/ scoutingcompetition2011 and upload your photograph. Please ensure that you provide an email address where

we will be able to contact you in the event that you are shortlisted. If your photograph is shortlisted for the cover, you will be asked to provide a

high-resolution version of the image – so make sure you save them in the meantime. The closing date for entries is 1 September 2011.

Christmas quiz 2010 answers Yet again, last year’s Christmas quiz left the editors of Scouting scratching their heads over the festive period. If you had the same experience, fear not, the torture is over. The answers to the 2010 Christmas quiz are now available online at www.scouts.org.uk/competitions

76 Scouting February/March 2011

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CLASSIFIED Appropriate Scout Association authorisation is required by leaders and adults running activities and events, even when using products and equipment supplied by commercial companies. Inclusion in this listing does not imply endorsement by The Scout Association.

SUPPLIERS WOVEN, EMBROIDERED & METAL BADGES, GROUP NECKERCHIEFS, SHIRTS AND LEATHER ITEMS, INCLUDING WOGGLES. World Jamboree Unit, District, County, Group, Anniversary and Event badges manufactured to your requirements. GROUP

NECKERCHIEFS and embroidered polo and sweatshirts also available.

Send your design for an instant quotation to: Manor Enterprises, 3 Beacon Court, Birmingham Rd, Great Barr, Birmingham B43 6NN Phone: 0121 358 7771 Fax: 0121 358 1105

www.scoutbadges.org.uk sales@scoutbadges.org.uk

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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suppliers activities & activity centres suppliers

See us at Active8, Detling showground 6-3-2011

activities & activity centres Les Maingys, guernsey

01403 734424 See us at Active8, Detling showground 6-3-2011

adrian@southwatersports.co.uk www.southwatersports.co.uk

activities & camping

Kayaking Kayak Coaching Stand up Paddleboarding Sailing Raft Building for groups & individuals Childrens Holiday Courses

Best campsite in the Channel Islands, full range of activities.

Enjoy the Island’s history and Blue Flag beaches. Camping for 500, hostel for 32, Sports Hall and Indoor Climbing Wall, Archery etc.

Tel: 01481 256 796 or www.scouts.org.gg

“Runways End” Scout Activity Centre 4 acres of Camping for 200-300 Campers.

Also, a new Modular Building coming on line soon (sleeps 30-40 people). Camping pack

Braunston

holidays brick building with showers/disabled facilities on site activities climbing/abseil,

SouthWaterSportsCentre.indd 1 04/01/2011 14:14 Northants circle, chapel, canoeing on canal nearby, scout

8-12 berth self steer narrowboats fully fitted for all year round cruising.

Plus day boat hire, 12 seater.

Tel: 01788 890 784 Visit: www.unioncanalcarriers.co.uk

shooting, archery, cave experience, campfire shop. Many local attractions. Some activities

affected by ongoing campsite improvements .Contact: Becky Riley Booking

Secretary

Runways End Scout Activity Centre Phone; 01252 676849 Email; bookings-runwaysend@02.co.uk

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activities & activity centres Looking for a base to explore Snowdonia?

Look no further!

Bursledon, Southampton.

Visit ‘The Old School Lodge’ - Deiniolen Four miles from Llanberis and the foot of Snowdon this Scout owned and managed lodge is suitable for all ages. The centre can accommodate up to 38 people in 8 en-suite bunk rooms and 2 twin bedded rooms. Resident warden.

For details on prices and a booking form visit out site: www.oldschoollodge.org.uk or contact the booking secretary on 0151 632 4943

023 8040 5151

Expeditions and Sales South Devon 01803 865301

FOr Hire Visit the Isle of Man in 2011 • Multi Activity Adventure Course • Full board • Fantastic Island location • Full adventure activity programme All courses are run in association with Isle of Man Event Services.

Phone 01624 814240 contact@adventure-centre.co.uk www.adventure-centre.co.uk

• Group tuition • Windsurfing, Canoeing, Sailing, Archery, Raft Building • Camping, Café, Bar, Disco, Games room • 1st aid courses

CUMBRIA KESWICK SCOUT GROUP HALL FOR HIRE Do you want to visit Keswick with your young people or as Leaders?

Keswick Scout Group Hall is in the centre of Keswick and is available for hire.

Fully equipped new kitchen, new toilets and shower.

The price is £6.50 per person per night. You will be given a very warm welcome

Croft Farm Leisure & Water Park Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 7EE 01684 772321 Email tom@croftfarmleisure.co.uk

For further details contact: Gill Reader 1st Keswick Scout Group Treasurer bobandgill44@btinternet.com Phone: 017687 72073

nOrtH West CroftFarm_Scouting_FebMar.indd

camping DirectOry 1

13/12/2010

12:23

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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CAMPING DIRECTORY

Broadstone Warren

Scout Site & Activity Centre www.broadstonewarren.org.uk

Phasels Wood Activity Centre Where else can a young person zip the wire, scale the ice wall, conquer the cube, stack the crates, aim for gold, or even go underground, all before lunch?

Set in 95 acres of rural Hertfordshire, Phasels Wood Activity Centre has something for everyone. From camping to indoor buildings, we have everything to help YOU deliver the adventure....

Call us today for an information pack on 01442 252851 or visit our website:

www.phaselswood.org.uk BRAMHOPE SCOUT CAMP SITE Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales Buildings sleeping 20, 32 & 43 in 13 acres + wide range of Activities Full details at

www.bramhope.org.uk

EMPLOYMENT Get paid to use your Scouting skills!

Raw Adventure Day Camps are running throughout SE England this Easter and Summer, and we need Camp Managers and Leaders! Apply online to teach kids aged 8-14 a mixture of pioneering, survival skills, outdoor games and craft. www.rawadventurecamps.co.uk Get involved!

MIDLANDS Burton upon Trent Needwood Forest Scout Campsite Centrally heated, fully equipped, 28 bed building, plus 2 acres woodland & 2 acres field.

Central to Peak District National Park. Cannock Chase, Alton Towers, Waterworld, Drayton Manor Park, Snowdome and Twycross Zoo. For full details telephone Brian Reeves 01283 546536 Email: needwoodforest@talktalk.net

“We’ve got what you want” Avon Scout County Camping & Activity Centre (North of Bristol near M5 Junc 16)

• • • • •

36 acres of fields and woodland full-time Warden flush toilets, washrooms, showers Pack Holiday Centre on-site activities: archery, abselling/climbing, rifle shooting, sports pitch, orienteering, pioneering • off-site nearby Leisure Centre, caving, canoeing, sailing, visits • convenient for Severn Estuary, Mendips, Forests of Dean, Bristol, Bath, Weston-superMare

A friendly welcome assured.

Enquiries to: Booking Secretary Avon Scout County, Woodhouse Park, Almondsbury, South Glos. BS32 4LX Tel 01454 613006 (office hours) or 01454 613259 (out of hours) email office@avonscouts.org.uk www.avonscouts.org.uk/ woodhousepark

MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS www.glasgowscoutshop.com Equipping you for your Scouting adventures!

To Advertise here Please call September on 020 8962 2952 HOLIDAYS ABROAD

Beaudesert Park www.beaudesert.org • 124 acres of parkland adjoining • Cannock Chase Country Park,

Staffordshire

• Camping for 1000 people

• 37 Different woodland sites • Modern toilet facilities with hot

water and free showers • 6 fully equipped, heated accommodation buildings Catering for 12 to 24 people • Woodland chalet for 2 people

On site activities include Abseiling

• Archery • Climbing Wall • Coracling • Crafts • Crate Stacking • Go Karts • Grass Sledging • Greasy Pole • Jacobs Ladder • Lawn Games • Low Ropes • Mini Golf • Orienteering • Pioneering • Rafting • Survival courses • Tree Climbing • Trails and Treasure hunts • Waterslide • Zip Wire.

Many nearby off site attractions Ideal for D of E Expeditions

Brochure requests: Tel 01543 682278 info@beaudesert.org Fax: 01543 682623

80 Scouting February/March 2011

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13/01/2011 16:24

RoundRound our place our

Raise the ROOf

O

ur meeting place was in desperate need of a new roof, the cost of which was £40,000.

That’s an awful lot of jumble sales. However, it is such a special and unique building, with wonderful memories for generations of Scouts, that we felt it was our duty to do what we could.

It was built following a fundraising effort in 1930. Its unusual log cabin design was devised by a local architect.

The hut has carved totem poles on the veranda, which are brightly coloured with Scouts holding emblems at the top. Inside, the walls are adorned with animal heads, trophies and tribal artefacts, which have been collected by leaders over the years.

As my parents are both leaders in the Group and I have been attending Scout camps from the age of nine weeks, it was natural for me to want to become a Scout. I am proud to be associated with such a remarkable building. It’s a great place to socialise, learn new skills, and

Photography by Jemma Cox

Scout Groups all over the UK need to fundraise to maintain their meeting places. These labours of love preserve heritage and memories for all, according to Ella of the 3rd Altrincham Scout Group

have lots of fun, but mainly to make some wonderful friends.

The meeting place has been part of my life from a young age. My birthday parties were held there because it is such an unusual building and it seemed a much more exciting place to have my special day with my friends.

We have already managed to raise more than half our target and the project to replace the roof has now been completed.

This was achieved thanks to the hard work of leaders, parents and young people.

A number of local organisations and businesses also generously donated grants, which helped us enormously. That so many people were so determined not to see this piece of local history fall into disrepair tells you everything you need to know about the place it holds both in the community and in our hearts.

find out more Log on to www.altrincham-scouts.org.uk

Tell us

If you’d like us to come round your place, drop us a line at scouting. magazine@ scouts.org.uk

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Interview

Five miles with…

John May

In the grip of winter, Scouting tried to organise a five-mile jog with World Scout Committee member John May. But perilous underfoot conditions and travel gridlock meant that our interview with this former International Commissioner took place, frustratingly, over email Scouting magazine: Tell us about the World Scout Committee.

John May: It’s a bit like being on a District or County Executive, but with the responsibility of the whole world, rather than one’s immediate locality. The World Scout Conference occurs every three years. Here, policy, strategy and standards for world Scouting are decided.

The World Scout Committee – 12 elected people, the Chairs of each world Region and a few others – acts as the Trustee board for the World Movement.

Our job is to make sure that what’s agreed at the conference actually happens.

SM: What is the biggest change you’d like to see in Scouting?

JM: I’d like to see us make more of our Movement’s international dimension.

Every Scout should have the opportunity to get a feel for what it’s like to be part of our global family. Whether that’s Beaver Scouts discovering the games played by Beavers in Canada, or Network Members attending the World Scout Moot.

SM: What’s the most important quality in a good leader?

JM: Humility.

SM: What childhood Scouting experience most inspired you to stay in Scouting?

JM: It was the time I got lost on a hike across Minchinhampton Common in Gloucestershire when I was eleven. Our Patrol Leader had entrusted me with the compass. He didn’t get angry. Instead, he helped me to learn from the mistake, got me sorted out, and made sure that everyone knew that it was I, not him, who had finally worked out how to get us back on course. I still remember the pride he instilled in me then – and I hope that I’ve been able to do something similar for others during my time in Scouting.

help out The World Scout Conference took place in Brazil in January and there will be a report in the next issue. John is currently training for the London Marathon, plodding in aid of Dyslexia Action. You can sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/johncmay

SM: Is there anything in particular that UK Scouting can learn from other Scouting nations?

JM: I’ve always been impressed by the ways in which Scouting, particularly in developing countries, is integrated within the community. I was in Nepal recently and saw Scouts working with street children, providing them with food, board and an education. We’re getting braver in the UK, but it would be truly excellent if our young people felt empowered to take on the task of tackling a real social need – and were able to make an impact.

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THE FOUNDER’S DAY ISSUE

TRAVELLING LIGHT Expedition essentials FOUNDER’S DAY FOcUS We reproduce a Baden-Powell speech ‘GETTING THESE YOUNG pEOpLE OUTDOORS IS VITAL’ Learning from Scouts with special needs

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IT’S A LD R O W D MU kes for a m g n i t u o How Sc living e l b a n i a t s u s

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