Scouting June/July 2014

Scouting

014 June/July 2

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Guiding lights Explorers help lead the way in Birmingham Scouting for All

Let the Games begin

A new chapter for UK Scouting

Scotland’s Scouts prepare to welcome the Commonwealth to Glasgow

Scouting Editors Lee Griffiths, Matthew Jones, Vicky Milnes and Kevin Yeates With thanks to... Nigel Ballard, Daniel Barnett, Ralph Doe, Susan Ecklund, Marianne Foster, Chris Frankland, Nicola Gordon-Wilson, Garry Griffiths, Glenn Harvey, Ben Hoare, Jim Hopkins, Simon Ingram, Ben Jackson, Chris James, Sam Marks, Dan Price, Adam Peden, Danielle Scott, Gareth Watson and Bryan Wendell The national magazine of The Scout Association ISSN 0036 – 9489 © 2014 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 Published by The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 Fax: 020 8433 7103 Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Website: scouts.org.uk/magazine Please send all 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.

Scouting is produced by Immediate Media Branded Content, 6th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN Editor Anna Scrivenger Art Editor James Daniel Project Manager Duncan Reid Director of Immediate Media Branded Content Julie Williams Group Publishing Director Alfie Lewis Cover Images Jon Challicom, Peter Dibdin ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Tom Parker Email: tom.parker@immediate.co.uk Tel: 0117 314 8781 It is important to note the differing structures of UK Scouting in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, for ease of reading this supplement refers to all variations of ‘County’-level groupings simply as County.

You can read Scouting magazine and Get Active! online at scouts.org.uk/magazine.

116,700 average UK circulation of Scouting (1 Jan–31 Dec 2013)

After-dark adventures As Chief Scout, I know that Scouts are fantastic at finding opportunities for adventure – whatever the time of day or night. Sleeping under the stars is a classic Scouting experience, and one that every young person should try. I was only four or five years old when I slept outside for the first time. I was probably just 10 yards from my house, but it felt like I was at the ends of the earth. Camping gives you an amazing sense of achievement. You’re out of your comfort zone and it could be rainy and windy outside your tent, but the experience is magical – you can’t beat it. It’s the essence of what Scouting is about.

This issue explores the many adventures Scouts can have from dusk to dawn. Turn to page 44 for some unusual night-time activities; have you tried night cricket with your Scouts or taken them on a bat walk? And our star gazing guide on page 59 will help your Scouts discover the wonders of the night sky.

Scout adventures happen around the clock and that makes me so proud of our incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to make those adventures happen.

Our members come from all walks of life and have all kinds of other commitments.

On page 49 we meet a fireman who regularly works night shifts alongside his busy Scouting role. Job shares can be a great way to make volunteering more flexible for busy lives, as we find on page 33.

Enjoy the issue, and make the most of night-time Scouting this summer.

Find us aned exclusiv extras at SCOUTS. ORG.UK/ MAGAZINE

© Immediate Media Branded Content. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue.

This magazine can be recycled, for use in newspapers and packaging.

Please remove any gifts, samples or wrapping and dispose of it at your local collection point.

PEFC/16-33-795

We are proud to say Scouting is PEFC certified. For more information go to pefc.co.uk. Promoting sustainable forest management.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Bear Grylls Chief Scout

Point Blippar here to watch Bear’s special video blog about camping out and nocturnal adventures.

SCOUTING 3

Every issue we ask three readers to share their thoughts on the subjects we cover. If you fancy joining our reader panel for an issue, email scouting.magazine@scouts.org. uk to sign up. And keep an eye out for our handy reader panel stamp throughout the magazine.

We asked our readers… What’s your proudest Scouting moment?

Danielle Stott, District Explorer Scout Leader ‘My proudest Scouting moment so far is organising my first camp for my permit, with the newly opened District Explorer Unit. We went to North Wales on a greenfield camp for a weekend.

It gave me confidence that as a leadership team we could do it. The Explorers and Leaders had a great time.’

Chris Frankland, Assistant Scout Leader ‘My proudest moment so far is when I was asked as a Queen Scout to attend as part of the guard of honour at the 2013 Remembrance Day parade. It was really exciting to be part of the training we had to do and then to be part of a tradition stretching back decades.’

Ben Jackson, Assistant Cub Scout Leader ‘One of my proudest moments was completing the first stage of my leadership training for being an Assistant Cub Scout Leader. While it is not the complete training, it is the first step on the journey and one that I am really proud to have started.’

4 SCOUTING

ON THE COVER

7

24 36

Scouting for all An important message from the UK Chief Commissioner Taking the lead An action-packed Group whose Explorers lead the fun Creating a welcome Scouts in Scotland count down to the Commonwealth Games

UP FRONT

13

19 20 22

News Summer Scouting snippets Housekeeping Important Compass updates What’s on A bumper edition of summer Scouting adventures Mailbox You, your news and your say

FEATURES

30 33

44

Holding our heads high Do you feel valued, proud and empowered in your Scouting?

Fair share Two heads can be better than one in a volunteer role From dusk till dawn Amazing after-dark activities to inspire your programme

REGULARS

66

Last word Space scientist Maggie AderinPocock aimed for the stars…

36

24 THE KNOWLEDGE: Scouting after dark 49

50 53 55 56 58

59 61

Volunteer Firefighter Mel Buck juggles antisocial work hours with being District Commissioner Advice Expert help for nights away and after-dark adventures Bedwetting How to deal with this common camp incident Food An American midnight-feast favourite for campfire ovens Walk Explore the dark side of Dartmoor on a night hike Nightwalk wildlife guide How to track, spot and identify the best of British wildlife at night Stargazing Try this clever star-spotting guide to the midnight sky Fun and games Nocturnal-themed word puzzles, plus a great Group adventure to win!

Discover new features with Blippar, which unlocks even more extras in this mag via your Smartphone.

Download Blippar to your phone, then whenever you see this icon, point your phone’s camera at the page and watch what happens on your screen!

June/July 2014

Scouting for All

The Strategic Plan 2014–2018 is the start of a new chapter for UK Scouting, says Wayne Bulpitt, UK Chief Commissioner. It will help us achieve our 2018 Vision and bring real change to the lives of young people and our local communities

S

couting for All is a great title for this plan, and I’ll tell you why. Not only is it exciting and ambitious, for me it unlocks all of its constituent parts. If we can make Scouting inclusive at every level, it will also mean that we are growing, positively engaging with all elements of our community and helping make young people’s voices heard.

The Strategic Plan is made up of four key objectives.

By 2018 we want Scouting to be: 1 Growing

We believe Scouting changes lives, which is why we want every young person to have the opportunity to get involved.

2 Inclusive

Because every young person deserves the opportunity to take part in Scouting, we are working to remove barriers to participation.

3 Youth shaped

Pictures: Jon Challicom, Rob Scott

We believe that every young person should be able to shape their Scouting experience.

4 Making a positive impact in our communities

Scouting makes a difference, not just to the individual but also wider society.

With the new objectives comes a new approach; this has been distilled from ‘what works’ locally and is based scouts.org.uk/magazine

on the approach taken by those who have been most successful in bringing positive change to Scouting.

How the plan evolved

The plan took its lead and inspiration from Vision 2018. Scouting in 2018 will make a positive impact in our communities, prepare young people to be active citizens, embrace and contribute to social change.

To put this into action we then spoke to hundreds of members about what our real challenges are, what our aspirations look like and what the true impact of Scouting should be.

In so many ways, the plan is about unlocking Scouting’s potential and

By 2018…

ȓ We will have 500,000 young people in Scouting. ȓ We will have 150,000 volunteers.

ȓ We will be working with young people in 200 of the most deprived parts of the UK. ȓ We will empower all young people to drive our decisionmaking with 80% saying they are shaping Scouting.

ȓ 70% of the public will see us as relevant to modern society. ȓ Scouts will be delivering 8,000 community projects each year.

SCOUTING 7

SCOUTING FOR ALL bringing the benefits of Scouting to those who need them most. Crucially, young people were at the heart of this consultation, contributing ideas and thoughts on be.scouts.org.uk.

year. Everyone has a role to play.

From this, it is easy to see how the plan belongs to all of us, and how we are all responsible for its success.

What the plan means for you

We are actively communicating the plan over the next four months.

We will be sharing the plan directly through the magazine so check here for updates and milestones as well as scouts.org.uk and in ScoutingPlus. The plan is now live and work has begun.

Take some time to look over the plan and get together locally to identify how you will be achieving your targets.

Remember, when we say Scouting for All, we are thinking of inclusion in its widest possible sense. We want people of every background to enjoy the fun, adventure and opportunities Scouting offers regardless of their social background, race or religious belief.

Someone introduced you to Scouting, now it’s your turn to help a new adult or young person to enjoy the lifechanging adventure we offer.

Not only is the Strategic Plan a clear outline of our objectives over the next four years, it is highly specific in its targets. This makes it easier to know when we are successful.

Perhaps most importantly, the plan sets out what is expected from members in every part of Scouting.

For example, Counties will be supported to set an individual growth target relative to them; Districts will then have an objective of opening a specific number of new sections and Groups will be asked to ensure they have three active sections. Leaders are asked to ensure young people make a smooth transition from one section to the next. Young people are asked to bring a new friend to Scouting each

What happens next?

‘The only way to make sure everyone is included is to be as open as possible!’

(YOUNG PERSON ON BE.SCOUTS.ORG.UK)

8 SCOUTING

By 2018 We will be: ȓ Sharing successes ȓ Innovative

ȓ Results-focused

ȓ Working in partnership and collaboration ȓ Evidence-driven ȓ Youth-shaped

ȓ Using digital technology

Blipp here to find out more about our strategic plan for 2018 – and how you can work towards it.

June/July 2014

SCOUTING FOR ALL

The plan comes together…

Following the recent announcement of our Strategic Plan 2014-2018, Scouting for All, we were inundated with your positive comments ‘At Brent 6th Dartford we started with one of each section and now have two Beaver Colonies, two Cub Packs – and we’ll soon be opening a second Scout Troop.

Our next great adventure is to open an Explorer Unit to accommodate our fast-growing membership.’

Sue Ingram, Group Scout Leader, Brent 6th Dartford Scout Group

‘The Council has given us a temporary lease to the local youth centre, which will help us expand with a third Beaver Colony, a third Cub Pack and a second Scout Troop. Of equal importance, we will provide a meeting place for Further Education, (Art Classes) two youth clubs, yoga class, Brownies, Guides, NHS Support for those with mental health issues and computer classes. It’s going to be a very busy part of the small town of Troon!’

David Mathieson, Group Scout Leader, 28th Ayrshire (Troon) Scout Group

Tracy Charlton: ‘We have started up our own Scout Group – 19th Grimsby. 10 so far and growing...’

#Scouting4all has been trending on Twitter…

@igwatson

There’s nothing beats helping others achieve their goals, especially young people! @UKScouting #scouting4all

Sarah Bradbury: ‘Scouting has

made a massive difference to my life; I’ve met some fantastic people and love every second of it... and I keep telling people the same.’

‘Our Cub Pack has over 40 Cubs, seven leaders, two section assistants, an occasional helper and two Young Leaders. I encourage volunteers to have a big say in our programme; everyone is very enthusiastic, which is the way I like it.’

Dave Reuben, 1st Quinton, 169th Birmingham Cub Pack (Rea Valley)

@KentCubScouts

#scouting4all = MORE time + MORE fun + MORE adventure + MORE friends + MORE young people having more say in @ukscouting. #woohoo!

@AndrewBurdett1

Man, we’re going to change the world. Biggest ambition: for 70 per cent of the public to see Scouting as relevant. #scouting4all @UKScouting

Peter Archibald: ‘#Scouting4all is

the inclusive Movement we have now become, celebrating diversity and standing for equality, creating opportunity and delivering happiness.

Proud to be part of our growing success.’

@syscouts

‘We have a planning team of Explorers who bring ideas.

We guide them towards a balanced, fun program. Our Unit of three grew to 68, so we opened a new Unit on a different night and now have 83 Explorers in all.’

@MerseysideScout

Karin Quarrie, Tsunami Explorers, Warrington

South Yorkshire Scouting is growing! Increased 10% in the past year. #scouting4all

Our members achieve great things and go on to do greater things. They change lives and communities. #scouting4all Expand

Let us know

There will be inevitable challenges as the next four years get underway, and we are keen to hear your thoughts about the Strategic Plan. We have already received queries related to achieving greater youth numbers, getting more adult volunteers involved and introducing more flexibility for leaders; an FAQ containing the responses to these common themes can be downloaded from scouts.org.uk/2018resources. We’d love to hear more about your adventures towards 2018 or any queries you have; email vision2018@scouts.co.uk. scouts.org.uk/magazine

SCOUTING 11

June/July 2014

The latest Scouting news and unmissable events

Blipp here to watch our film for this year’s London Pride.

Pride in Scouting

Come along to London Pride in June to show the world that Scouting welcomes everyone

The streets of London welcome the LGBT community – we’ll be there celebrating!

Picture: Dave Bird

J

oin us to celebrate London Pride on Saturday 28 June!

We’ll be promoting the message that Scouting is open to all, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. This is the sixth year that The Scout Association has attended Pride, supported by FLAGS, our National Scout Active Support Unit which supports LGBT adults in Scouting.

Whatever your sexual orientation, you’re invited to join us and celebrate scouts.org.uk/magazine

the diversity of Scouting. Last year there was a fantastic response from the crowds who watched the Pride parade through central London.

Andy, a volunteer from the South East, said: ‘I really enjoyed hearing the cheers and positive comments.’

Vic, a leader from East Sussex, says: ‘I can’t wait to take part again – we had such a laugh last year. I hope we continue to spread the message that Scouting really is for everyone.’

Before the parade, we will be holding a networking event where you can meet members of FLAGS. Find out more and book your place at scouts.org.uk/events or email diversity. inclusion@scouts.org.uk. Young people aged 16 and 17 may attend with parental consent, and under 16s may attend alongside a parent or carer. FLAGS is supporting attendance at several local Pride events this summer – check out flagscouts.org.uk for details.

SCOUTING 13

UPFRONT

THE SCOUTS A USER’S MANUAL

An introduction to Scouting

Who we are What we do How we help How to join

Ten-year-old Cub, Amber Pheasant, shows off her winning badge design

Blipp here to see all the fantastic entries to our centenary badge competition.

Winning centenary badge

Amber Pheasant, a Cub Scout from Nottingham, has won a competition to design a badge celebrating the Cub Centenary in 2016.

Following over 7,000 entries, Bear Grylls chose the winning design to represent one hundred years of Cub adventure. The Cub Scout Centenary Badge will be worn by Cub Scouts across the UK during the celebrations.

Ten-year-old Amber, who attends 1st Burton Joyce Cubs, said: ‘I’m so excited about winning the competition. It’s amazing that Bear Grylls

READY FOR REUNION

chose my design and that it will be worn by Cubs all over the country.’

Bear Grylls commented: ‘I’m so proud of all the talented young people that entered this competition. It was hard to choose a winner but Amber’s fantastic design stood out.

A big well done to Amber and to everyone who entered.’

We’re planning an exciting programme of celebrations for the Centenary in 2016 – visit scouts.org.uk/cubadventure2016 for updates.

Book your place for the 88th Reunion at Gilwell Park; a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and be inspired. Reunion is open to all adults in Scouting and will be held on the weekend of 5–7 September 2014.

With a huge array of workshops, stalls and exhibitors, there’ll be plenty of new activities to try, and a great programme of entertainment.

Be sure to pack something tartan – Friday night kicks off our 2014 Commonwealth Games theme, while Saturday night is a tribute to the 1980s. Find out more at scouts.org.uk/ reunion. Do you have a skill to share at Reunion? Register your interest on the site and the team will be in touch. Merchandise can be pre-ordered when booking a place, until 31 July.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

THE SCOUTS: A USER’S MANUAL

Do you want to share the fun of Scouts with potential supporters? The Scouts: A User’s Manual is a great overview of Scouting and an easy way to show people what the Movement’s all about.

Download the brochure from the Print Centre at scouts. org.uk/brand.

SPORT HERO

Steve Judge, Cub leader at 6th Eckington, will be defending his six-year title as British champion at the British Paratriathlon event in August.

After a car accident in 2002, Steve overcame life-threatening leg injuries to become World Paratriathlon champion. As a motivational speaker, he shares his achievements to inspire others: ‘Scouting’s helped me to achieve goals, from Cub activity badges to the Queen’s Scout Award. Through dedication and perseverance I overcame my injuries and became an elite athlete.’ Watch Steve’s video at bit.ly/1nGewHG and find out more at steve-judge.co.uk.

SCOUTING 15

UPFRONT

Listening to young people

Young people have been telling us their views on Scouting and how it can be even bigger and better. We’ve listened to their feedback and are taking action to make sure that the Movement really reflects what young people want. We’re planning: · A National Youth Council allowing young people’s views to have an impact nationally. · A Youth Commissioner – a young person appointed to ensure that young people are involved in every decision that shapes their Scouting experience. · Partnerships with a range of charities so we can make a real difference on issues that young people have highlighted as important – for example, mental health.

We’ll continue to provide be.scouts.org.uk as a place where young people can share their views with The Scout Association and each other. Check out Member Resources for info and ideas on how to involve young people in decision-making. Search the term ‘youth council’ for a range of tips and case studies.

EXPLORER SCOUT DESIGNS APP

This young computer coding whizz has made life easier for all of us

scouts.org.uk/magazine

An Explorer Scout has designed a new app for Scouting. Michael, 14, of Dorking Roundabout Roosters, created the ‘Scout forms’ app to raise funds for a Scouting trip to Finland next year: ‘My mum is a District Commissioner and was always talking about the forms she had to work with. That started my idea for an app with Scout forms. I knew it would help people.’ Michael has been interested in programming since his father taught him his first lines of HTML code at the age of 10. The app took a couple of months to make and Michael is already working on a new project: ‘My younger brother is in Cubs and I’m designing him a computer game for his birthday.’ The Scout forms app is available from the Google Play store for Android and will soon be released for Amazon Kindle Fire.

YOUNG LEADERS’ SCHEME RECOGNISED

The Young Leaders’ Scheme has been recognised as a development programme by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), one of the UK’s leading providers of leadership and management qualifications. The ILM’s accreditation shows the quality and credibility of the Young Leaders’ Scheme to organisations when Young Leaders apply for jobs or further education. For info see the Young Leaders’ Scheme section in Member Resources.

NOAH’S BEAVER SLEEPOVER

Noah, a six-year-old Beaver from 1st Haverhill Scout Group, has come up with 10 top tips for having a great Night Away.

Have a look at his video at youtu.be/j_Y_lN7YS_U and share it with parents, leaders and young people about to have their first night away.

JOIN THE RSPB BIG WILD SLEEPOUT

Register your Group for the RSPB Big Wild Sleepout between 16 and 22 June. This initiative aims to get young people and families to spend a night sleeping outside and discovering the world of wildlife on their doorstep. See rspb.org.uk/thingstodo/ sleepout for details.

SCOUTING 17

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TURN ED

ING TO SCOUT

UPFRONT

The latest on our membership system and Print Centre

COMPASS EXPLAINED In the next six months, you’ll be able to start using Compass. It’s a free, secure tool from The Scout Association to help you keep track of Scouting. In this issue, you’ll find a booklet explaining how Compass will support your Scouting admin and cut paperwork. Here is a further reminder of some of the ways Compass will help you…

The basics

s Manage your own records, admin tasks and keep your contact information up to date. s Manage the process of young people and adults joining Scouting and transferring between sections

with online application forms and disclosures.

Running your section

s Log young people’s attendance and badge progress. s Store contact information for young people and their parents in one place. s You can send direct messages, eg to change a meeting time or remind them to bring their kit. s Organise camps and complete the Nights Away approval form online.

Managing adults

s Update training records and invite members to training courses.

s Manage award nominations.

When you can get started

Counties/Areas/Regions have agreed when they will switch over to using Compass. Compass Champions and many members locally are working hard to clean and gather existing membership data, to ensure Compass has the most accurate information.

Contact your Compass Champion for the latest information about when you will be able to start using the system.

Find out who your Compass Champion is and read more about Compass at scouts.org.uk/compass.

New materials for you Take a look at some of the new materials available now on the Scout Print Centre.

Log in at scouts.org.uk/brand and click on the green Print Centre button in the bottom right-hand corner.

I am Noah video

Check out this engaging adult recruitment video entirely created by 6-year-old Beaver Scout, Noah, in the multimedia section.

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT SERVICES March 2014

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There are over 500 templates on the Scout Print Centre, including: s Scout Billboard creator Create your own billboard poster and export for your website or magazine. s Custom poster and flyers Create your own posters and flyers, including your own header. Choose from a range of images under Materials/Posters and Flyers/Custom poster or flyer.

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

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Deleted factsheets FS295428 Photographing and Video Recording Scout Events – now members resources content FS120503 Using radio communications – now members resources content

SCOUTING 19

There’s so much happening this summer, so here’s a bumper crop of upcoming events, training opportunities and dates to help you plan

July

5

JUL

National Scout Car Championships This year’s races will be held in Manchester. Visit scoutcars. org.uk for more details about this fun and frantic pedalpowered event.

11

JUL

Scouts of the World Discovery

Network members who have registered for their Scouts of the World Award can complete the ‘Discovery’ element of the requirements and explore global projects for their 14-day residential. Visit scouts.org. uk/events to book.

25

JUL

Love Parks Week Join forces with hundreds of park lovers to celebrate the UK’s green spaces. Find out what’s on in your local area and get involved at loveparksweek.org.uk.

11–13

JUL

14

JUL

Bastille Day

Mandela Day

The most hotly anticipated national event of the year for Explorers is back, as Gilwell Park hosts 24 hours of adventure over a whole weekend. Book now – tickets are selling fast. Find out more at gilwell24.info.

Bastille Day celebrates the founding of modern France.

Search Programmes Online for great activities for Scouts to theme an entire meeting.

Aims to honour the legacy of South Africa’s former president. Why not find out more about the ANC or Mandela’s time in prison on Robben Island?

28

JUL

Eid-al-Fitr The end of Ramadan, when Muslims celebrate the end of a month of fasting and give thanks to Allah.

28

JUL

First World War centenary

The one hundredth anniversary of the start of the First World War in 1914. Search Programmes Online (with the term ‘First World War’) to find a range of activities suitable for Explorers. Read CEO Matt Hyde’s blog on why Scouting should be proud of its history at bit.ly/1ieSXPg.

10

AUG

Prudential Ride London–Surrey 100

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AUG

Picture: Thinkstock

JUL

Gilwell 24

August

Playday Playday is the national day for play in the UK. Why not play a wide game or try a new sport with your section?

20 SCOUTING

18

Ride London–Surrey 100 will be the biggest and best celebration of cycling in the UK in 2014, bringing together thousands of cyclists, including the world’s top professionals. Are you up for the challenge? Register at bit.ly/P97kIv.

June/July 2014

UPFRONT

2014 SUMMER JAMBOREES: A SELECTION Norjam 9–16 August, Norfolk, norjam2014.org.uk Red Rose 26 July–2 Aug, Westmorland, redrose.org.uk

Wings 2–9 August, Berkshire, wings2014.org.uk Chamboree 1–9 August, Cheshire, chamboree.org.uk

12

15

AUG

AUG

International Youth Day

Mount Kilimanjaro trek Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

To reach its summit is an exhilarating physical and mental challenge that will push you to your limits. Our six-day trek is an unforgettable experience and a great fundraiser that makes a real difference to UK Scouting. To find out more contact challenge.events@scouts.org.uk.

This year, the UN-recognised day focuses on issues surrounding youth migration.

17

AUG

Epping Forest Scout Conservation Project

Explorers can get to grips with forestry conservation, a great way to fulfil the requirements of the residential element of the Queen’s Scout or DofE Gold Awards. Book your place at explorerproject.co.uk.

22–25

AUG

National Scout Sailing Regatta

Join the fun and excitement of the National Scout Sailing Regatta, which will be hosted by the 3rd South Shields Sea Scouts. Entries welcome from all Scout Groups, Units and sailing clubs.

Visit uksailingregatta.org for info.

Further ahead Gilwell Reunion 5–7 Sep Join more than 2,000 other adult volunteers for a fun-filled weekend at the home of Scouting, featuring training, workshops, activities and entertainment. For more information and to book, turn to page 13. k/reunion scouts.org.u

scouts.org.uk/magazine

22–30

AUG

DofE Gold Award expedition assessment or training A great opportunity for Scouts trying to get DofE Gold to complete their practice or qualifying expeditions in Snowdonia, using Yr Hafod Scout Activity Centre as a base. For more information call 01189 810009 or email yr-hafod.sac@scouts.org.uk.

Intense 12–14 Sep Intense is an action-packed weekend for all Scout Network members, taking place at Woodhouse Park Scout Activity Centre. There’ll be entertainment, traditional campfires and plenty of adventurous activities. For more info, visit intense.uk.net.

SCOUTING 21

mailbox June/July 2014

@UKScouting | scouts.org.uk/facebook | scouts.org.uk/TV Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk | Write to: Scouting magazine, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW

Point Blippar here to see loads more of your wonderful photos.

PHOTO OF THE MOMENT Hero high-five

This photo shows Jason Lattimer high-fiving a Beaver and Cub at the Day of Celebration and Achievement at Windsor. Jason (of Biggleswade Phoenix Explorer Unit) is my son; he’s 19 and got his Queen’s Scout Award by volunteering in Borneo for a year, at a school for disadvantaged youngsters run by monks.

Beverley Lattimer, Explorer Scout Leader

CLEAR VISION

I think the vision to move Scouting on by 2018 is fantastic, in particular to grow the movement to have more than half a million members. I write this as an 18 year-old who is currently doing leader training. At my Group, it

22 SCOUTING

is not uncommon for people to stay involved after leaving Explorers; I think that what is truly fantastic about the Group is that it is able to keep young people involved and interested even as we reach adulthood and start to have different interests.

Philip Hutchinson, Scout Leader, 1st Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough District Editor’s note: Let us know how you are already making Scouting better: vision2018@scouts.org.uk. @SloughExplorers: Thanks @THORPEPARK for such an amazing day! All the Young Leaders had a good time! We’ll be back!

John E Fry: I’ve qualified as a ski instructor in Andorra!

Now my Explorers can learn the ropes on the slopes with someone they know!

PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE

I am a Young Leader at 13th Tynemouth in Northumberland and work with a great team. Being Young Leader was the best choice I could have made, as it is a pleasure and a privilege to work with some amazing people – now friends, particularly Scout Leader Mr Michael Morland who has been at the Group for about 30 years. Together we run a local camp site for people to visit. I’ve been involved in this Group for over nine years and have loved every minute.

Daniel Thirlaway, 13th Tynemouth June/July 2014

UPFRONT

OVER HEARD

The funny things Scouts say On Scout camp, I asked a Scout to go and find us some sticks and got this response: ‘Where from? We’re in the woods!’

Scout, in tent: ‘Where’s the light switch?’

HIGH CLIMBS

Our 84 Cubs did some fundraising for their Community Challenge Award. Over two evenings they did a sponsored crate climb and between them achieved the height of local landmark Kinnoull Hill (222m), raising £1,000 for Scottish Air Ambulance.

Fiona Glen, CSL, 10th Perthshire Cubs

Paul Hasling: A great weekend for

Scout, on camp washing-up duty: ‘Where’s the dishwasher?’ Leader: ‘It’s standing here talking to me.’

@DerrenPhillips:

Well that came out better than I had any right to expect! #wsj2015 #origami

Cub on camp holds up a hurt finger: ‘It’s OK Akela, it’s not disconnected.’

Cub, packing bags at Asda: ‘Thank you for shopping at Morrisons.’

One of my Beavers told his mum I’d been investigated. He meant invested. Awkward!

@ScoutsAberdeen: Alex takes a #ScoutSelfie to celebrate gaining all 33 Cub activity badges and his Silver Chief Scout Award.

nine of mine. We started in the afternoon with route planning, meal and then they set off for night hike (without us). We met them at camp and in the morning they cooked breakfast, packed and hiked back to base. They were a young bunch and carrying all their kit, they did really well even though it was a first time out for a lot of them.

Tweet us using #overheardscouts, get in touch via Facebook or email to tell us what you’ve overheard.

KNOTS AND LASHINGS

and lashings form an essential pioneering or angling, knots Whether you’re climbing, and you’ll soon know the Practise in your spare time part of your outdoor knowledge. and a bight . difference between a bend

Rope terminology

a piece of rope has two ends!

You won’t need to be told that ropes it’s useful to understand However, in order to work with their different parts. the terminology used to describe

UÊ Working end

The end of the rope you’re using to tie a knot.

UÊ Standing part Any part between the two ends.

UÊ Standing end

Knots

for thousands of years, and People have been tying knots they remain as vital as ever today. despite modern technology caving and angling, and In sports such as sailing, climbing, fishing, truck driving and even in work such as firefighting, right knot is essential. surgery, the ability to tie the it’s just as important to All knots have a purpose, and is, and when the knot should understand what that purpose at tie it. Using the wrong knot be used, as it is to be able to the wrong time can be dangerous.

How ropes are measured circumference. For

by their Ropes are normally measured 25mm in diameter. example, a 75mm rope is approximately

Hanking a rope

in it from getting knotted while Hanking your rope prevents your thumb and little finger storage. Wrap the rope around the roped bundle together, in a figure of eight. Now, holding and wind the free length firstly remove with your other hand the length. Pull the short over itself, and then back down draws in. Form a loop with the free end to find the loop that it firmly. The hank standing end through, pulling should now be tight. To free the whole rope, pull on both ends.

The opposite end of a rope to that being used to tie the knot.

UÊ « A loop made

PROJECT: A-FRAME SHELTER

As you’d expect, an A-frame shelter resembles a letter ‘A’ when viewed end-on. It’s one of the most popular and versatile kinds of emergency shelter as it can be built relatively quickly, can be built to any size, and is quite sturdy if constructed properly.

Difficulty Before you begin work on your A-frame, check that the site is suitable – for example, don’t build it near an animal trail or ants’ nest. Check that there aren’t any dead branches above you. Think about where the sun rises and sets and the direction of the prevailing wind – you can judge the terrain and surrounding flora to help avoid an exposed position. Avoid lower ground between two high points, as cold air can collect in such places and rain run-off may be a problem.

Spend time selecting and gathering your materials first, so that you can then concentrate on building your shelter in one sustained session. To a certain extent you can improvise the foliage depending on what you find on the forest floor.

by turning the rope back on itself and crossing the standing part.

Recently some young people have been taking part in the new drinking game, neck nominations, which unfortunately has had horrible consequences for many of those involved. However, the Scout Movement (mainly Explorers and Network) have put our own twist on this, nominating each other to post their favourite pictures wearing a necker. So many people are getting involved in it now, and a really positive thing has come out of this: everyone sharing their memories of Scouting.

Cerys Williams, Explorer, Fareham West #neckernominate

scouts.org.uk/magazine

How to make fire out

of water

If you really want to impress, how about making fire from water? This takes a lot of practice and patience but it does work.

Put a sheet of cling film in a mug. Half fill the mug and gently lift the cling film, wrapped around the water, to form a water crystal ball. Under bright sunlight hold this crystal ball over your dark-coloured tinder, moving it up and down like a lens until you beam a bright dot of light on to the tinder.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

How to make fire from

ice

Break a reasonably thick piece of ice from a river or stream (up to 6cm depth is ideal).

Carefully, using a knife or saw, scrape away any dirt or imperfections and begin to form it into a circle. Use the heat from your bare hands to help melt the[ ice into a disc, turning it to prevent your hands from J^[ 7#<hWc[ _i W \Wlekh_j becoming too cold. Once your ice is ready, wedge Z[i_]d e\ ikhl_lWb iY^eebi it securely on its side in an elevated position between the sun [j and your [l[hom^[h[" Xkj Zed¼j \eh] tinder (crumbled, dried leaves for example). Angle the ice so that the sun forms a oekh ]hekdZi^[[j small circle on the tinder.

The tinder should light in dramatic fashion – so stand well back!

UÊ Bight A loop made

Fuzz stick Choose a dry stick around 2–3cm in diameter. Now, using your knife, slice down the stick’s sides making sure that they remain attached. The idea is that the these thin shavings are easier to light than the main stick. If you create a number of fuzz sticks and place them in amongst your larger fuel, this will be an effective way of starting your fire.

How to make fire from

a drinks can

After you’ve drained the last dregs of your fizzy pop, don’t throw away the can (you should recycle it anyway) – the base can be used as a parabolic mirror to train sunlight on your fuel source.

by turning the rope back on itself without crossing the standing part.

The first thing you need to do is increase the reflective surface by rubbing the base of the can for a few minutes with steel wool (toothpaste works too). Keep polishing until you can see your face in the base.

Now hold up the bottom of the can towards the sun. On the end of a small piece of wood, place a tiny bit of bone dry dark-coloured tinder.

Given enough sunlight, the tinder will begin to smoke. You’ll need to experiment moving the end of the stick closer to and further from the can to get the optimum heat from the sun, but about 5cm distance is considered best.

UÊ Bend A knot

used for tying one rope to another.

UÊ Hitch A means of

fastening a rope to another object – such as a post, spar, pole or log – without using a full knot.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE MANUAL

STAR LETTER Necker nominate

Total time Allow 1 hour +

FIRELIGHTING TIPS AND TRIC KS

Picking up firelighting skills is much like learning magic – what initially mysterious is revealed seems quite to be quite straightforward . Learn some of these will always stay warm tricks and you in the Great Outdoors.

Alternatively, take your torch apart and use the reflector.

Remove the bulb and poke the tinder through the hole where the bulb was.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

MANUAL

WRITE IN TO WIN

Our STAR LETTER writer wins a copy of the Outdoor Adventure Manual: Essential Scouting Skills for the Great Outdoors. Available from scouts.org.uk/shop at a special price of £14 (RRP £21.99).

SCOUTING 23

REAL TROOPERS

TAKING THE LEAD Discover the secret behind one Group’s soaring success across the sections…

WORDS LEE GRIFFITHS

Pictures: Jon Challicom, Daniel Barnett

O

nce you’re in, you never leave. That’s the general consensus at 237th Birmingham in Castle Bromwich.

As the Explorers gather outside their Scout home on a Tuesday evening and enjoy some downtime before the week’s activities kick off, you quickly get a sense of camaraderie and belonging. These teenagers clearly want to be here, and after spending five minutes with the Group, you can see why they’d never want to leave.

In short, 237th Birmingham are brilliant at what they do. Everyone does their bit, which means everyone gets something out of it. Enthusiasm, passion, creative thinking and a little bit of hard work has ensured 237th Birmingham’s dramatic growth

24 SCOUTING

during recent years to become the largest Group in the County. With 237 members, it’s a fitting number for 237th and a healthy one at that.

With two Beaver nights, three Cub nights, three Scout nights and one Explorer night, the Group’s schedule is always jam-packed and their HQ is always buzzing. All sections are vibrant, happy and thriving; there are more than enough leaders to go around (including Young Leaders) and there’s even a parents’ committee that looks after many of the Group’s organising duties. It’s a perfect picture of Scouting – so what’s the secret?

‘There’s no magic formula,’ says Garry Griffiths, Group Scout Leader.

‘If you put on a great programme, you’re going to attract young people and they’ll stay through all sections.’

‘The quality of the programme is what keeps the young people here,’ agrees Amanda Cardall, County Communications Manager and Group Secretary. ‘It’s an exciting Group and we do a lot. The enthusiasm then rubs off on the parents.’

It sounds easy enough, but a programme that keeps everyone happy is easier said than done. For answers, we went to the Explorers…

Get with the programme

‘Explorers is the age when you really want to start shaping your own Scouting,’ says Tom Stock, Explorer Leader. ‘Young people become more autonomous at that age and they want to prepare for the world beyond school. Academia only gets you so far but there’s that something else that June/July 2014

REAL TROOPERS

REAL TROOPERS

237TH BIRMINGHAM

The Explorers at 237th Birmingham shape their own Scouting and share ideas

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Castle Bromwich, West Midlands Founded: 1932 Members: 237 Did you know? In the past 12 months, Scouts at 237th Birmingham have spent over 800 nights away.

SCOUTING 25

REAL TROOPERS

There aren’t enough nights in the week to fit in all the fun this Group makes for itself. Tom Stock (inset) helps keep the ideas flowing

you need to really make your mark – I think Scouting does just that.’

The Explorer section is when things start to change for the Scouts of 237th. The Explorers are hungry for independence and desperate to push their Scouting to its limits, and it’s this electrifying energy that the younger sections see and aspire to.

Energising the Explorers is key to the Group’s success. Exciting trips in the UK and abroad, and unique themed events, keep the Explorer section busy – and having them lead on the events engages them further.

There’s a young committee of Explorers at 237th who gather ideas from all the Scouts and present them to the leaders. The processes are kept pretty casual – nothing too official. An Adventure Holiday was one of many ideas that got the Explorers excited.

‘The numbers on our bi-annual overseas summer camp had risen too high to take both Scouts and Explorers,’ says Tom, ‘so the Explorers came up with the Adventure Holiday. It’s based in the UK so it’s cheaper, but actionorientated so it’s perfect for Explorers.’

‘Explorers is the age when you really want to start shaping your own Scouting’ TOM STOCK, EXPLORER LEADER

‘We’ve got an Extreme Trip coming up, and an idea for a night-hike sleepover,’ says Tom. ‘The Explorers organise themed events themselves; we did a Top Gear one last year.’

26 SCOUTING

Showcasing the adventure

Always keen to give the younger sections something to look forward to while sharing their adventure with friends and family, the Explorers

regularly showcase their activities.

Daniel, a former Explorer and now leader, is a budding photographer (he helped us out with some great pictures for this article) and the Group’s unofficial videographer; he’s made some amazing videos of the Group’s trips.

‘The videos are important because they advertise what we do at 237th, and some of the trips we’ve been on,’ says Daniel. ‘They are also a great way to reminisce about previous adventures, and share with friends.’

‘Daniel’s film from the France trip was shown at the Group AGM so the younger sections saw it,’ says Alex, an Explorer. ‘They get excited and motivated by what they can look forward to when they’re Explorers.’

Keeping momentum

Keeping young people on through all sections can become trickier the older they get, but that’s something this June/July 2014

REAL TROOPERS

There’s a strong camaraderie across the sections. Daniel (below) captures the fun on camera

‘They organise themed events for themselves’ TOM STOCK, EXPLORER LEADER

Group is especially good at. Giving young people the responsibility to take the lead in their Scouting seems to work wonders for them.

‘The Young Leaders’ Scheme is the lifeblood of the Group,’ says Tom. ‘I did it myself and it’s helped me in my personal life. We have 12 Explorers as YLS and they help out at other section nights. They’re not just an Explorer; they’re an integral part of the Group.’

‘We encourage every Explorer to do the DofE,’ says Matthew Pursall, Scout leader. ‘They’re then directed towards the YLS, and when they start doing that, they don’t want to stop.’

Matthew adds: ‘There aren’t many opportunities at 16 to get a real sense of ownership so that’s what we try to provide at our Group.’

The fun even continues beyond Explorer age. ‘It’s been a big thing with us to not lose people when they turn 18. I went off to Uni and while there I was still invited to come back for the camps and trips, so I stayed scouts.org.uk/magazine

in touch. It’s easy to keep involved, especially with virtual programme planning and social media.’

Not enough days in the week

Having an exciting, youthshaped programme is an amazing achievement, but there are concerns regarding the Group’s future.

‘The challenge is how we are going to accommodate another Explorer night,’ Garry muses. ‘Our many Scouts will eventually move up. There are not enough days in the week.’

Not having enough days to accommodate everyone’s enthusiasm is a nice problem to have, and numbers continue to grow thanks to a great leader support team and enthusiastic Scouts. ‘It really is like one big family,’ says Matthew.

‘Everyone pulls in the same direction and you can rely on them.’

More information

For brilliant programme ideas to get your Scouts inspired, visit Programmes Online at scouts.org.uk/pol.

Blipp here to see Daniel’s videos of the Group’s Explorers in action.

SCOUTING 29

VISION TOWARD 2018

Holding our heads high By 2018, our members will feel empowered, valued and proud. Graham Haddock looks at the last part of our vision statement

P

ride is one of the seven deadly sins and is commonly perceived to be a bad thing.

Why, therefore, should we aspire to be proud as Scouts?

I suppose it comes down to context.

As Scouts, we have much of which to be rightly proud in a positive sense.

Let’s look at a few of them.

We have been growing in membership for the past eight years.

Our youth membership has increased from 358,383 in 2006 to 433,859 – up 21%. Meanwhile our adult membership increased from 87,860 to 100,757 – up 15%. And this year our total membership grew by over 2.5%, to 550,457. We are the largest co-educational uniformed youth organisation in the UK and we should be proud of that.

We provide key life skills to our youth members including team working, leadership, discipline, a code of conduct, values and respect for others. We should be proud of

30 SCOUTING

that. We widen their horizons by introducing them to the outdoors, to adventure and fun, to other countries and cultures and so much more.

We should be proud of that, too.

Our young people work hard to gain the awards and badges in our training scheme. You only have to look at their faces and their parents’ smiles to know that they are all proud of their achievements and we should be proud to be part of a Movement that helps to get them there. And if you should attend the Annual Scout Service and Parade for Queen’s Scout Award holders at Windsor Castle, you’ll know how true this is.

Our profile in the media has never been better. Scouting has been the subject of more good news stories in the past 10 years, both locally and nationally, than ever before.

When everything else we hear in the media is doom and gloom, these good news stories makes me feel proud to be a Scout. Scouting

has every right to stand tall in today’s society and feel proud of what we have achieved, what we are achieving and what we hope to achieve in the future.

Are we really valued?

Increasingly we know that we are valued by society for what we do. In 2010, The Scout Association commissioned a study into the impact that Scouting made on people and communities. We know that 88% of our young people said that Scouting helps them improve their social skills, teamwork ability, leadership and confidence. 92% said that Scouting helped them build good, long-lasting relationships.

80% of community organisations and local businesses felt that Scouting benefited their organisation, and 69% said Scouting involvement benefited their clients or service users.

So our youth members and wider society value what we do, but what do we adults do to make sure that we June/July 2014

value each other? When did you last write to thank someone for doing something for you in Scouting? I suspect that we could all get better at saying thank you when it is merited.

Getting even a brief letter or email of thanks speaks volumes, and might just motivate you to help out again.

And while we are asking questions, when did you last consider nominating someone for an adult good service award? If you don’t start the process, who will? If you have attended our Annual Parade at Windsor, or a local County AGM or awards ceremony you will be only too aware of the impact on our adult volunteers of receiving a welldeserved St George’s Day Award.

So why should we feel empowered?

Being empowered means being given the authority or power to do something. What does this mean in a Scouting context?

Each of us in Scouting, whether a scouts.org.uk/magazine

young person or adult, should feel able to influence what we do in our organisation and as an organisation.

Where this will have an impact will depend on where you Scout.

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts should be empowered to choose what they want to do in their programme.

This would include activities, badges, camps and elements of the weekly section meeting. Explorer Scouts and Network members should be so empowered in making these choices that they should be in control of almost every aspect of what they do in Scouting. This is true youth involvement at section level in action.

In 2010, at Scouts Scotland’s Youth Summit, 100 young people produced a Youth Manifesto.

One of the statements contained in that manifesto was an ambition that Scouting membership should be open to those of all faiths and none. Last year, we announced an alternative version of our Promise which will

achieve just that. And while our Fundamentals were under review at the time, that Youth Manifesto might well have been the stimulus needed to encourage us to make this momentous change.

It could be argued that those Youth Summit participants felt empowered to make a difference and they should be proud of the outcome.

And now to business

Earlier this year, the Trustee Board of The Scout Association agreed a four-year strategic plan to help us to achieve our Vision in 2018. Since May, everyone in Scouting has been made aware of the plan. Targets and actions for every County, District, Group and Section as well as for HQ will be suggested. In making these targets and actions, every member should feel able to make a real difference and help us to achieve that Vision. And on the way, we hope that we will all feel increasingly empowered, valued and proud.

SCOUTING 31

FLEXIBLE VOLUNTEERING

FAIR SHARE have a larg e am ou nt of lea rs, which really ws for the role to b e ve exib le : useful sid er ing the job and s t p atterns I work. h te m we will agree wh will run each ek a d with the am ou nt of lead ers, we are er sho rt of help . Agreeing on a term -b ased n of wh will b e resp onsib le for each week eally i p ortant, bu t also com mu nicating uld y u find you rself unab le to atten d . Usi ram es Online is useful should you l som ething out of the hat! is F ankland ta t S t

Too much to take on alone? Conquer the tasks of volunteering by sharing a role – a flexible way to reap the rewards

Illustration: Stephen Cheetham

A

s people’s lives and jobs get busier, sharing a Scout role is a brilliant way to fit volunteering around other commitments. Most Scout roles can be divided between two or more people.

‘It’s up to you how a role is split,’ says Kester Sharpe, Deputy UK Commissioner, Adult Support. ‘The key things to keep in mind are what needs doing and what time, strengths and interests the volunteers have. Also, make sure you tell your Scouting colleagues who is doing what in the job share so they don’t get confused.’

Read on to find out about some volunteers who successfully share their Scout roles and their tips for making it work. scouts.org.uk/magazine

have number a larg e am ou nt of which lea rs, which really ‘We have a large of leaders, really wsrole for the b e ve useful exib le : useful allows for the to berole verytoflexible: ingand theshift job patterns and s tI pwork. atterns I work. considering sid theerjob h tewemagree we will agree wh each will run each ‘Each term who will run ek a the d with theof amleaders, ou nt ofwe lead week and with number areers, we are of help . Agreeing on a term -b ased never short er of sho help.rtAgreeing on a term-based of wh will b e respfor onsib for each week SCOUTING plan of whon will be responsible eachleweek eally i pbut ortant, t also com mu nicating is really important, so is bu communicating uld yyourself u find unable you rself le to atten d . Usi should you find to unab attend.

Using is useful you Programmes ram Onlineesis Online useful should youshould need to l somout ething of the hat! pull something of theout hat!’ is F ankland Chris Frankland ta tLeader S t Assistant Scout

33

SCOUTING 33 SCOUTING 33

FLEXIBLE VOLUNTEERING

DYNAMIC DUO

Gareth Watson and Jim Hopkins have been sharing the role of Chief Commissioner for ScoutsWales since January. Gareth has taken on the operational side of the role, while Jim works on strategic projects such as the Jamboree and Constitution.

This fits in with their different lifestyles. As a vet, Jim is often on call and unable to travel. Gareth owns an IT business and is more often available to travel to events across Wales.

Job sharing is a great idea – it means that having a young family and busy career doesn’t stop me from taking on this role and enjoying Scouting.

Jim Hopkins Because there are two of us doing the role, we’ve been able to make a much bigger impact. There needs to be a strong relationship behind the scenes of any job share.

Gareth Watson

STRIDENT TRIDENT

Nigel Ballard, Dave Humphrey and Liz Welch share the role of District Commissioner for Colchester North District. Work and family commitments left each of them unable to take on the whole role alone, so they divided tasks according to their different strengths and interests. Dave looks after discipline and the welfare of members. Nigel supports Group Scout Leaders, making sure they’re up to date with training, and runs the Census. Liz oversees administration and is the Membership Co-ordinator, ensuring the smooth running of the District.

We realised that our skills complemented each other and felt that three heads were better than one. We call ourselves the three-headed monster! We have a good system where colleagues can email any of us and we’ll forward it to the right person to deal with. Anybody can communicate with any one of us and they will get an answer from the expert. Sharing the role means we can focus on what interests us.

Nigel Ballard

TOP TIP Define early on who does what and

make your colleagues aware of this. Make sure you share your role with someone you can get on with and communicate with.

34 SCOUTING

TOP TIP If you’re embarking on a job share, look at the whole role and pick the bits you feel comfortable with – and one for a challenge. Also, make sure you’re comfortable working together.

June/July 2014

FLEXIBLE VOLUNTEERING

More information

To find out more, watch the ‘Thinking differently about volunteering’ videos at scouts.org.uk/video.

SIX PACK

11th Winchester Beaver Colony has six Beaver Leaders. At the beginning of every term, the leaders meet up to divide the responsibilities between themselves and two Young Leaders.

They take on different activities depending on their interests – there are some leaders who run activities on healthy eating and first aid. Another leader is more interested in hiking and wide games, while others prefer creative, artistic activities.

The team use online tools to keep records and Doodle to arrange meetings.

Winchester is a large commuter city with lots of people working long, irregular hours. The Group was struggling to find people who could volunteer – sharing the role means that we are all able to help out. We’ve got a really good mix of skills and we’re all committed to making it work. I manage the waiting list, Klaudia sends out the weekly emails to parents, and Andie works with the two Young Leaders.

TANDEM TASKFORCE

Susan and her husband Dave have shared the role of District Explorer Scout Commissioner in Caithness for over a year.

Role share veterans, they have shared Scout roles for 40 years in the United States and more recently Scotland. They shared the role of Explorer Leader and when the District Explorer Scout Commissioner moved to another role, he invited them to take it on. They share all aspects of the role, adding value with their different skill sets. The arrangement suits their other commitments – Dave has a hectic work schedule as a Senior Project Engineer at URS while Susan is studying for a doctorate in nursing.

I enjoy working with my husband. It helps that we bring different perspectives to the role – I’m more of a detail person and Dave is good at strategy and seeing the bigger picture. Our skills complement each other well.

Susan Ecklund

Marianne Foster

TOP TIP Speak to your District Commissioner or

other Scout colleagues to see if there are any Groups in your area where the volunteers successfully share roles.

Find out if they have any hints and tips.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

TOP TIP A couple who share a Scout role should

make sure they have time for interests outside Scouting.

It’s good to communicate regularly so you’re aware of what you’re both working on.

SCOUTING 35

Pictures: Peter Dibdin

Blipp here to see Newburghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cubs and Beavers enjoying their Commonwealth Games project.

36 SCOUTING

June/July 2014

Creating a welcome COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Scouts in Scotland ha world to Glasgow ve been preparing to welcome the for the 2014 Comm onwealth Games WORDS ANNA SC RIVENGER, VICKY MI LNES

scouts.org.uk/magazine

SCOUTING 37

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Sport, paint and fun combine at Newburgh; while Scouts have been enjoying Commonwealth-themed camps at Auchengillan (below)

T

his summer, the Commonwealth Games comes to Glasgow, with 71 Commonwealth countries competing in 17 different sports.

It’s a chance for Scotland to welcome the world, as overseas visitors pour in to the city. And it’s also a chance to inspire Scotland’s young people, involve them in the excitement and deepen their understanding of the outside world.

Across the country, young people have been engaging in the Games, learning about different countries and cultures, celebrating a world of sport and forging international friendships – thanks largely to a fun programme of themed activities and resources developed by Scouts Scotland.

From Orkney to the Borders, Scouts have been gearing up for the Games by designing mascots, competing in mini-Games, going on scouts.org.uk/magazine

themed scavenger hunts, discovering traditional games from other countries and learning about the Commonwealth with maps and fact-finding missions.

Many Groups are enjoying Commonwealththemed camps. At Auchengillan Activity Centre in March, 1st Falkirk and the Antonine Explorer Unit competed in mini Games, learned the New Zealand haka dance and sampled dishes and pastimes from different Commonwealth countries. In May, Clyde Regional Council invited one thousand young people from several uniformed organisations to Auchengillan, for plenty more Commonwealththemed fun.

Some lucky Scouts and volunteers will be participating in the Games, for example

baton-bearing or signing up to volunteer at the Games (see page 42) and a commemorative badge has also been designed after a Scotland-wide competition was won by Kai, a Cub Scout from 31st Ross and Sutherland (Portree).

Alongside this, Scouts Scotland has, with other uniformed organisations, been invited to produce artwork to welcome delegates to the Commonwealth Games Village. Each District across Scotland has been paired with specific countries, and the best posters will be displayed in that country’s HQ during the Games.

SCOUTING 39

The young people have learnt about Malawi’s sport, culture and geography as part of the project

‘They’re learning about other cultures and the outside world through sport’ ADAM PEDEN, ASSISTANT CUB SCOUT LEADER

Out of Africa

In the picturesque waterfront village of Newburgh, on the Tay Estuary in Fife, Beavers and Cubs have been working on their posters alongside their other Commonwealth Games programme activities.

‘All the participating groups were allocated a Commonwealth country, and we got Malawi,’ explains ACSL Adam Peden. ‘I’m not sure if this was by coincidence or design – our local church and school also have links with Malawi, so our children were actually much more aware of it than they might have been.’

The Commonwealth Games offers a natural opportunity to build on these links. ‘I took this one by the horns,’ says Adam. ‘I was enthusiastic, and so were the kids.

‘We started doing activities and scouts.org.uk/magazine

learning about Malawi and the Games in February and have been working on these posters for a few weeks. The posters are at the centre of what we’re doing, but we run activities every night covering the Commonwealth countries, sports, facts about Malawi – and running around having our own Games. And a lot of creative work, with paints and paper.’

‘The Cubs have been doing lots of homework about Malawi and finding out as much as they can,’ says Young Leader Duncan Butler. ‘We asked all the Cubs to gather knowledge about the Commonwealth nations, the Games and how Malawi has done over the years.’

United by sport

Interestingly, all of Malawi’s Commonwealth Games medals are

in boxing – and all were won when the Games were in Edinburgh (1970 and 1986). Scotland has proved an auspicious location for Malawi’s athletes… so far.

‘A lot of the kids picked up on this in their artwork,’ Adam points out, gesturing towards an array of vivid boxing-related designs created by Newburgh’s Cubs and Beavers. The young people came up with ideas for the artwork themselves and worked in teams to make it happen.

‘We all talked about different ideas together and then we did it. I did a very big poster with the map,’ says Cub, Reuben, showing off his poster.

‘We wrote “Go Malawi” on the poster and painted someone boxing and the colours of the flag.’

‘One team came up with a great tagline,’ Adam adds. ‘Malawi is

SCOUTING 41

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

At the heart of the Games

Adam was keen to spearhead the Commonwealth programme

‘We’re going to see the men’s athletics finals’ REUBEN, CUB SCOUT

known as the Warm Heart of Africa, and they came up with “Scotland welcomes your warm heart” on the poster. It could be a winner!’

A global family

The young people can’t wait for the athletes and sports fans to descend on Glasgow this summer.

‘There was more excitement when they discovered that Jamaica was a Commonwealth country,’ Adam adds, ‘and that Usain Bolt may be coming to Scotland!

‘They’re most excited about the mountain biking and the rugby, which many of them do themselves.

They’re quite protective about curling, a Scottish sport that a lot of them follow.’

Many of the Cubs will be joining in the excitement first-hand. ‘We’re going to go and watch the Men’s athletics finals,’ says Reuben. ‘I’m excited about cycling, too. We’ll support Malawi, but if Malawi were up against Scotland I’d probably cheer on Scotland.’

42 SCOUTING

Adam hopes that the legacy will continue after the Games are over.

‘We plan to continue the interest; running themed games at our meetings. They’re learning about other cultures and the outside world through sport.

‘We’ve also showed them the photos from a trip to Malawi that a nearby Scouts Group undertook in 2011. Along with all our other activities, this has really helped them appreciate that Scouting is a global family, with Groups all over the world… and that international trips like this are a real possiblity for them.’

More information

Any Group can get involved in the Games… Scouts Scotland have a wealth of Commonwealth Challenge resources available for download from tinyurl.com/qdwy5ky.

Scouts and volunteers across Scotland have been caught up in the excitement of the Commonwealth Games, with some landing an exciting role to play.

Among the batonbearers – nominated community heroes who will carry the baton through Scotland to the stadium in Glasgow – will be Kenneth Robertson, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Programme) for Scotland.

Thousands of Games volunteers, known as Clydesiders, will be making sure that the Games run smoothly. Among them will be Michael, 22, who has cerebral palsy and is involved with the 77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group: ‘I’m really excited about being involved in the Games, particularly in the Opening Ceremony,’ he says.

Games and highlights

The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games run from 23 July–3 August.

Here are a few highlights: s Opening ceremony: 23 July, Celtic Park s Triathlon: 26 July, Strathclyde Country Park s Rugby Sevens: 26–27 July, Ibrox Stadium s Marathon: 27 July, around city s Mountain biking: 29 July, Cathkin Braes s Closing ceremony: 3 August, Hampden Park Find out more at glasgow2014. com and at bbc.co.uk/sport/ commonwealth-games/2014.

June/July 2014

Scout Groups share their amazing after-dark activities…

MORSE-CODE PICTIONARY

Helford River Beavers from Falmouth, Cornwall, enjoy after-dark Morse code on a regular basis: ‘On dark evenings we wrap our Beavers up warm, take them outside and give each of them a card with the Morse code alphabet on it,’ says Beaver Leader, Martine Paynter.

‘Each Beaver is given (or brings in) a torch and we practise the letters together, doing short and long flashes.

We then play Morse-code Pictionary, where one Beaver or team flashes a letter or word and the others have to work out what they’re sending. They love it!’

Illustration: Oivind Hovland

AFTER-DARK EGG HUNT

With Easter 2013 arriving early – before the clocks went back – 1st Highworth Beavers in Swindon decided to put an interesting spin on their annual Easteregg hunt. The Group covered the Easter eggs in glow-in-the-dark paint and bright sequins, and then the Beavers, armed with torches, went in search of them.

‘We decided to stay near the Scout hall to avoid tripping over too many tree roots outside,’ says Beaver Leader, Jane Dobson.

‘The Beavers had great fun and still managed to earn all their chocolates at the end!’

44 SCOUTING

June/July 2014

OUT THERE

BAT WALK

Tipped off by one of its Scouts, 8th Ealing in west London ventured to the local park to investigate some rumoured bat activities.

Dismayed at not finding anything during their search, the Group were ready to pack up and head home when their bat detectors went haywire.

‘We looked up at the sky and saw an amazing flying display from the bats,’ says Scout Leader, Mark Yates. ‘At one point we saw a bat swoop down and catch the moths that were flying around the street lamps.

The park ranger informed us that this was the pipistrelle: Britain’s smallest bat and the most common in London.’

Read more about bats on page 58.

GLOWSTICK CRICKET

It’s like regular cricket, but more fun.

With the aid of necklace and bracelet glowsticks, Scouts can enjoy a test match long after the sun goes down.

‘We tape glowsticks to the front of the cricket stumps and put one or two necklaces down the length of the bat so the bowler can see the stumps and the bat,’ says Chris Pugh, Scout leader for 1st Bradford-on-Avon Scout Group in Wiltshire. ‘The Scouts wear glowsticks too so everyone can see where the fielders are.’

And for the cricket ball? ‘We use a flashing dog ball,’ explains Chris. Genius!

NEVER-ENDING NIGHT HIKE

When Phoenix Explorers in Durham embarked on a moonlit hike, they faced some tricky obstacles and inadvertently invented their now-infamous never-ending night hike.

‘We set out at 9.30pm and were due to finish at 3am, but got delayed,’ remembers David Stokes, Explorer Scout Leader.

‘We had to micro-navigate across a golf course when sudden mist settled. Then a leader slipped and needed first aid, and the “footpath” petered out so we spent an hour fighting through trees in the dark. Our Explorers call it the “never-ending night hike”.’ scouts.org.uk/magazine

SCOUTING 45

OUT THERE

VIKING FESTIVAL

Scouts from Leeds Templars District watched a Viking longship burst into flames under the moonlight at the Up-Helly-Aa festival. District leaders Barry Jackson and Paul Oddy spent weeks constructing a 24ft longship, with carefully painted dragon’s head, before displaying it and finally setting it on fire.

Hundreds of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, dressed in Viking attire, gathered to watch the spectacle and some camped overnight. The idea came from DC Iain Farquharson-Welsh, formerly a Scout leader in the Shetlands, where Up-Helly-Aa is a tradition.

A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Giving their Cubs a night to remember, 1st Anderida Scout Group organised an extraordinary night at the museum, which they called Dino Snore.

The Group stayed over at the Natural History Museum and enjoyed an evening of making T-shirts and going on a torchlight treasure hunt among the dinosaurs before settling down in their sleeping bags for the night, among the wildlife in the galleries overlooking the great hall.

‘It was really fun looking at all the dinosaurs in the dark!’ says Cub Scout, Jack. Lauren concurs: ‘Dino Snore was one of the best sleepovers I’ve ever been to.’

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

Mark Atkinson, Leader at 1st Stourport (St. Michaels) in Worcestershire, created a Mission: Impossiblestyle adventure for his Scouts. The mission brief reveals that one of the Scout leaders is actually an evil genius and that Scouts must make their way through a laser security system in the dark and dismantle a (fake) bomb.

‘The laser obstacle course took me three months to build,’ says Mark. ‘I made a frame from waste pipe with 30 low-power lasers mounted on it, each of which hits a sensor on the opposite side. An alarm goes off if any of the beams get broken. A smoke machine made the beams stand out.’

More info

Tell us about your after-dark adventures at scouts.org.uk/magazine.

46 SCOUTING

June/July 2014

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Advice and know-how to inspire and inform VOLUNTEER IN PROFILE

‘It’s never the same day twice’

Lowestoft District Commissioner and firefighter, Mel Buck, explains how he balances high-pressure nightshift work with volunteering…

I

first got involved as an Occasional Helper for my local Group where my son attended for about one hour a week. I then became an Assistant Scout Leader, then a Group Scout Leader, an Assistant District Commissioner and now I’m a District Commissioner. I’m not quite sure how that all happened!

hour or I could be out for eight hours – you never really know. It gets a bit crazy at times but you keep going.

There’s a lot of work involved in being a DC but it’s not so bad when you’re working shifts. My shifts are on an eight-day rotation so it’s never the same day twice. The advantage of working nights is that the afternoons are free to attend meetings and I’m flexible. I keep my Scout uniform in the car so I can go straight from the fire station to Scouts when I need to.

Engaging with the community is a big part of both my work and volunteer roles. The whole District has visited my fire station at some point. I tell young people about cats being stuck up trees and they say they’ve never seen that, so I say what a great job we must be doing!

The community all know what I do. My wife says we can’t go anywhere without someone chatting to me about fire fighting or Scouting – it happened in every aisle of the supermarket recently – we might have to start shopping online!

Sometimes when I’m on duty I carry an alerter; I could well be called off on a fire emergency while I’m at Scouts, but the District understands that I might not be able to attend something as I might be at a fire call.

When I have to leave meetings for a fire, I need to rush to a certain fire station and then quickly get to the emergency. I could be out for half an

I enjoy helping people and making them smile.

Scouting gives young people the life skills they need and somewhere to have fun and adventure. But we need more volunteers. Everyone has something to give; giving the smallest amount of time could lead to your greatest memory.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

More info

For more inspirational interviews with heroic Scout shift-workers, visit scouts.org.uk/magazine.

SCOUTING 49

theknowledge

How can we prevent accidents during Scout activities after dark?

Bea Lowton, Beaver Scout section assistant

Whatever your Scouting query, our experts have an answer for you

What is best practice for walking on the road with Scouts at night?

Phil Moon, Assistant Scout Leader Glenn Harvey, Scout Information Centre Adviser says: Where there is no pavement, the Highway Code states ‘walk on the

50 SCOUTING

right facing oncoming traffic’. On sharp right-hand bends however, it might be safer to cross to the left so you can see further around the corner and drivers can see you sooner. High-vis jackets with reflective strips should be worn by at least the person at the front and rear of the party. Always walk in single file.

A good-quality torch will help show your presence, but don’t shine it at drivers.

If you have several parties hiking at night, it is good practice to inform local police in case they get reports of young people wandering the streets. Finally, be considerate of homeowners by not shining torches at houses or making unnecessary noise.

Ralph Doe, Unity (Scout Insurance Services) says: This might sound like stating the obvious but from our experience simple checks on lighting and torches can help. Slips and trips can be reduced by checking that your lighting works before you leave. If you’re playing games in the dark involving torches, make sure everybody has a working torch. No torch, no taking part.

What’s the Nights Away guidance for accommodation for males, females and leaders?

Peter Drury, Cub Scout Leader Sam Marks, National Development Officer (Safeguarding) says: You’ll find guidance on our code of practice (the Yellow Card), which says that you need to think about the personal privacy of young people, and that adults and young people need to have separate sleeping accommodation. Look for separate June/July 2014

volunteer rooms and facilities to allow this.

If you’re staying in a single room space with younger sections, consider pitching pop-up tents indoors to create separate sleeping areas, although you’ll still need to think about appropriate behaviour and conversations, as canvas is very thin!

There is also the potential for leaders to be kept up all night by Beavers and Cubs talking, or for young people to be woken up by leaders snoring. You’ll also need to consider proximity and access to toilets or changing facilities. Every situation is different, so my best advice would be to ring HQ to get specific guidance.

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e u s s i g Thebi ‘I’m about to run my first Night Away with my section. Any advice on making this a success?’

Barry Swain, Cub Scout Leader

I’m taking my Cubs on a night hike. Can you recommend a good head torch?

Harriet Sullivan, Occasional Helper Simon Ingram, Editor, Trail magazine, says: While the cheapest headtorches are a false economy, a decent one needn’t be expensive.

A model which has proven its reliability to everyone from Scouts to mountain guides over the years is the Petzl Tikka 2 – a robust combination of light weight, weather resistance, power and affordability. At £35 it’s a great investment, and available from most outdoor retailers, including Scout Shops. scouts.org.uk/magazine

Nicola Gordon-Wilson, Programme and Development Adviser, says: ‘Have some alternative activities up your sleeve in case of wet or even hot weather! Be flexible – if it would help to move an activity indoors or change the schedule, do it! There’s nothing worse than 30 wet and miserable Cubs on camp. Also, if the Cubs are catering, don’t underestimate how long it can take them to make a sandwich…’

Chris Frankland, Assistant Scout Leader, says: ‘It’s really important to have “lights out” or “quiet on camp” time. We make this part of patrol competitions so Scouts can win Lights Out Awards. Pitch leaders’ tents away from the Scouts – this allows them their own zone, and leaders can be a little noisier in the evening! My favourite night is Campfire Circle; Scouts are allowed to stay up longer that night and they look forward to it.’

Danielle Stott, District Explorer Scout Leader, says: ‘I remember being advised to have a timeline of events and tasks leading up to camp, and I find this really works. Plenty of activities are a must on camp as Scouts can get bored very quickly, which usually leads to mischief. I find that it’s always good to keep a football or a cricket set readily at hand.’

Over to you…

Do you have a query about Scouting, or experience you could share as a member of our reader panel? If the answer to either question is yes, email us at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk with your questions and advice.

SCOUTING 51

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Bedwetting How should you deal with this common camp incident? It’s time to break the taboo

S

pending nights away on sleepovers or camps is an exciting adventure. But many young people also find it daunting, leading to anxiety from being in an unfamiliar place, away from family and other home comforts.

‘What if I need the loo during the night’

It’s a common worry, but often goes unasked due to embarrassment, especially in older sections. It may be a taboo subject, but incontinence affects one in every hundred teenagers. It can be a side effect of medication or a health condition, but in 40% of teenage cases there’s no known cause. Stress can worsen the condition – which includes the worry of coping with it at camp.

Sufferers may feel isolated, frustrated or angry with their body. Pre-teens and teens may try to avoid sleeping away from home, which may escalate as they move up from Cubs to Scouts or feel daunted by longer camps, where they are expected to take more personal responsibility. So how can we help?

scouts.org.uk/magazine

Planning

Give parents a health form for camp (or for new starters) that includes day or night-time wetting on a checklist of other conditions, so you’re aware of it beforehand. Obviously you cannot directly help a young person clean themselves up, but you can put a plan in place and agree this with the young person and their parents.

The overriding concerns must be safeguarding, discretion and minimising embarrassment. Ensure you have another leader with you and that the young person is comfortable with any decision.

If other young people are around, tactfully explain that this could happen to anyone, and to think how they’d feel if they had an accident like this and how they would like other people to behave towards them.

Helping young people to cope Not being able to control your own body is upsetting and confusing for a young person and can seriously affect self-esteem. They often think that they’re the only person in this situation. Explain that they’re not, and that things will get better.

Incontinence is one of society’s taboos, but should not stop young people enjoying camps.

By being prepared and not letting it become an issue, we can all have a summer of fun and adventure.

theknowledge

Top tips

• Pyjama pants are available up to age 15 in supermarkets; some Groups keep spares in the Nights Away kit. Consider privacy when undressing and discreet disposal.

• Check for on-site facilities such as showers and washing machines. With advance notice, most campsites allow use of staff washing machines where a child has a medical need.

• Manage parents’ expectations of what leaders can and cannot do, and suggest packing extra clothes.

• Check whether the young person should avoid the three Cs – caffeinated, carbonated or citric drinks – which can irritate overactive bladders.

• Are they on any medication?

Ensure it’s brought to camp and given to a leader, with instructions.

• Make sure the young person is well hydrated – it’s easier to feel signals from a fuller bladder.

• Plan regular toilet breaks for the whole group.

• Gain the young person’s confidence, so they can tell you if they have an accident.

• Undertake discreet tent inspections that allow you to check for wetness.

• Have a bag for dirty or wet clothes to be left anonymously.

• Make sure your camp kit includes a spare sleeping bag, wet wipes and spare clothing.

More info

The charity Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (eric.org.uk), has practical advice, specialist equipment and forums for parents and young people.

SCOUTING 53

Picture: Alamy

volunteer

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theknowledge

Reader recipe BRYAN WENDELL’S

Perfect peach deep-dish cobbler US Scouting magazine editor and Eagle Scout Bryan Wendell serves up some Stateside-style Scout cooking for evenings by the campfire

Pictures: Thinkstock, Alamy

About the chef

Bryan Wendell is an editor with the ‘other’ Scouting magazine in the United States.

When he’s not working on the magazine or blogging at blog. scoutingmagazine. org, he loves hiking, camping and travelling. Earlier this year he visited London and Gilwell Park, calling it a ‘once-ina-lifetime’ trip. scouts.org.uk/magazine

Ingredients Serves 12–15

• Sliced peaches, 2 tins • 350ml lemonade • 190g plain white flour • 8g baking powder • 115g butter • 1 free-range egg, beaten • 25g caster sugar • Pinch of cinnamon

1

For best results you’ll need a charcoal fire and a 12-inch Dutch oven. Line the Dutch oven with foil.

5

2 3

6 7

Pour the peaches into the oven.

In a separate bowl, mix lemonade with the flour and baking powder to form a batter. It will be lumpy – that’s OK.

4

Stir the beaten egg into the batter and pour this over the peaches.

Cut the butter into small pats and place on top of the batter mix. Sprinkle with cinnamon and caster sugar.

Put the lid on the oven.

When the charcoal is hot and glowing, place 17 coals on top of the oven and 8 coals under the oven. Bake for 45 minutes, rotating the oven and lid every 10 to 15 minutes to avoid hot spots. Serve and enjoy.

SCOUTING 55

theknowledge TAKE A HIKE

The dark side of the moor

If you’re going to go on a night walk, you might as well make it somewhere atmospheric – and when it comes to atmosphere, there’s little to beat Dartmoor…

The striking Widgery Cross overlooks the western expanse of Dartmoor

Night walk kit list LuminAID (£19.95) This solar-powered, inflatable light charges during the day ready to use at night; it’s waterproof and packs flat.

Summit animal character head torches (£5.50) Something for younger sections– choose from a lion, frog, meerkat or dog.

Summit nightvision head torch (£10) James Bond-style night vision.

Summit glowstick whistle torch (£2.50) Glowstick with a whistle; great for hide-and-seek style games.

Vango 36 LED Dynamo lantern (£18.50) – powered by winding-up, so no need for batteries.

All products available at scouts.org.uk/shop.

56 SCOUTING

All products available at scouts.org.uk/ June/July 2014 shop.

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Dartmoor tors – by night Map OS Explorer Sheet OL28 Scouting classification Terrain One – the summit of Great Links Tor is above 500m and (while optional) can contain an element of scrambling on the tors. Navigation requires particular attention and this walk goes close to the boundary of the Okehampton and Willsworthy firing ranges; call 0800 458 4868 or visit access.mod.uk for information about firing times.

Distance 7 miles/11 km Total ascent 250m Start and finish Lydford SX524853

Picture: Alamy

Thick with myth, home to high, outcropstudded terrain and with the added frisson of hosting MoD firing ranges, this legendary Devon moor is certainly not short on interest – and with a stone cross, strange tors and ancient pathways, neither is this walk.

The route Starting in the car park just outside Lydford (A), follow the broad, grassy path that leads straight towards Widgery Cross, which stands on a high tor to the east. Crossing a wider track en route, descend to the river and turn right on a narrow path as far as the memorial to a World War One soldier.

Cross the river here on stepping stones and proceed uphill on a steep path to Widgery Cross (B). You need to head downhill north-east from Widgery Cross towards the outline of Great Links Tor, which you may be able to see on the horizon. You will soon meet a distinct, slightly sunken track; turn right onto this – an old miner’s track – as it passes distant Great Links Tor and turns north.

With a strong moon and clear sky you will see Green Tor on your right across the brook, and also the creepy remains of Bleak House. It’s said that the devil himself lights fires on Amicombe Hill behind this old miner’s cottage – although this could link back to the locals burning peat! (C) scouts.org.uk/magazine

Proceed uphill between the two outcrops of Lower Dunna Goat and Higher Dunna Goat. From here a track continues uphill to the substantial Great Links Tor. Atop the tor is a trig point; with an elevation of 586m, this is one of the highest points on Dartmoor (D).

Descend north towards the disused railway line that is now a major track running across the moor. Turn right onto it and follow this for just over a kilometre until you meet a hairpin bend that redirects the track south-west.

Follow it for another 2 kilometres until a major split in the track. Take the left branch which follows the course of the stream (E). Where the tracks rejoin at Nodden Gate, you will see the grassy mound of a waterworks facility. Next to it is a gate in a wall; go through this,

then another which is almost alongside it. Public footpath signs lead you along the edge of a field then across it to meet a broad track that leads down left to the river. Turn right onto it and follow it back to the car park.

Nocturnal tip Night vision can take two hours to develop fully, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can see when it does. Because the cells in your peripheral vision are more sensitive to low light, it’s often better to look just to the side of an object, rather than straight at it. Always use a head torch when navigating. For hillwalking advice visit scouts.org.uk/a-z.

D

E

C B

A Start and finish

This product includes mapping licensed from Ordnance Survey ® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. License Number PU 100040361. This map was generated and printed by TrackLogs Digital Mapping software. For more information see www.tracklogs.co.uk.

SCOUTING 57

theknowledge TAKE A HIKE

Wildlife spotting Pipistrelle bats

(Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

Where: Parks, allotments, woodland When: Dusk Bats move fast so different species can be hard to identify. However, your local Wildlife Trust may hire out bat monitors that allow you to hear their calls, most of which are too high-pitched for human ears. There are also bat apps to help you identify different species. Pipistrelles are Britain’s most common bat and fairly easy to find. If you throw a small stone in the air, they may swoop in to investigate.

Hedgehog

(Erinaceus europaeus)

Where: Parks, gardens and golf courses When: Dusk Their diet of slugs, snails and caterpillars make hedgehogs a gardener’s best friend but toxic garden chemicals, (including slug pellets and weedkillers) kill huge numbers. Leave out wet cat and dog food (never bread or milk), sultanas and mealworms, and provide an overgrown nook, and sooner or later a hedgehog should find you. If you remain still and quiet you might get quite close. For spotting tips, try hedgehogstreet.org.

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Moths This one’s a yellow shell moth (Camptogramma bilineata)

Where: Around light sources, especially in less built-up areas When: Sunset onwards British moths can be surprisingly bright and beautiful. A fun, easy way to spot them is to hang a white sheet between two trees, and shine a light at it. Head off for your night walk or other activity, and on your return you should find a gang of interesting moths hanging around. For an identification guide try butterfly-conservation.org.

Badger

(Meles meles)

Where: Woodland, both urban and rural When: After sunset, all year round Catching a glimpse of Britain’s favourite wild animal is a magical experience; to stand a chance you need to find a sett in advance. Look for earthworks in woodland with fresh earth around the entrance. Return at night, wait downwind, and keep absolutely still, silent and dark.

You can also track badger activity by checking barbed-wire fences for grizzly hairs, and look out for latrine holes, with droppings like muesli-filled cat poo.

Blipp here to watch 18-year-old animal expert Alex showing us how to track wildlife in parks, woods or gardens.

Tawny owl (Strix aluco)

Where: Among broadleaved trees When: Warm, clear evenings; the fuller the moon the better Good places to look (and listen) include leafy cemeteries, parks and golf courses with mature trees, as well as urban woods and grasslands. Males and females make different noises, (‘hu-hu hooo’ and ‘keewik’ respectively) and in the autumn, males will often answer back when you call them through cupped hands.

Fox

(Vulpes vulpes)

Where: Built-up areas, parks and roads When: Afternoon until the small hours Britain’s only surviving wild dog, foxes are shy, clever omnivores who are thriving in urban areas where they feed on rats, mice, worms, waste scraps and even fruit. Males bark while vixens let out blood-curdling ‘screams’! They’re shy of humans, so a good way to spot them is to hire a motion-triggered trail cam to capture their activities. Their eyes glow green when light is shone into them.

Find out more at thefoxwebsite.net.

June/July 2014

Pictures: Alamy, Thinkstock

BBC Wildlife magazine’s Ben Hoare shares his night-walk wildlife tips

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Stargazing guide

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Turn to ut to find o page 66 rs inspired sta how the at Night’s The Sky derinA Maggie ng space bri to k c o g Poc to youn science . le p o e p

You can also download an interactive version of this chart from the Brand Centre at scouts.org.uk/brand.

Illustration: Pete Lawrence

The chart depicts the night sky from the centre of Britain at 23:00 on 21 July and 22:30 on 31 July. At other times, the stars may have rotated slightly. Identify a familiar pattern and navigate from there. The edge of the chart represents your horizon, and the centre point is directly above your head. Hold the chart up so that the direction marked on its bottom edge lines up with the direction you are facing. Get as far from artificial light as possible and give eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness.

scouts.org.uk/magazine

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Use this star chart around midnight during July for best results

The shapes marked in red are known as asterisms.

These are unofficially recognised patterns of stars, picked out to represent something familiar. The most famous asterism in the Northern Hemisphere is that of the Plough or Saucepan which can be used to locate the North Star, Polaris.

How to use the star chart

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Spot the ISS

Did you know that the third brightest object in the night sky is the International Space Station? It’s easy to spot if you know when to look up. To find out when it’s passing overhead, enter your location at spotthestation.nasa.gov. British astronaut and former Scout, Tim Peake, will be heading up there next year!

SCOUTING 59

GET ADVENTUROUS with Coach company sponsors new badge

F

or over 40 years National Express has been helping young people and families affordably explore Britain and beyond, and now the UK’s largest coach operator has joined forces with the Scout Association to sponsor its Outdoor Plus Challenge badge.

Sponsoring the badge is part of its new National Express Youth Promise – a range of commitments to support young people in life, work and education. As well as helping young people travel affordably, the operator pledges to offer a creative platform for kids and to enhance employment opportunities for young adults.

Outdoor challenge

The Outdoor Plus Challenge badge is designed to help Cubs develop confidence, mobility and

become more independent. They can achieve the badge by doing a variety of activities, such as planning and undertaking a journey using at least two types of public transport. or T he Outdo National Express also offers a 10% Plus ge n Challe discount on all standard fares for Scout badge Association members – covering all major towns, cities and airports. A special ‘Scouts’ coach has also been created. Look out for the distinctive Scouting livery on the nation’s roads and tweet photos of it to @nationalexpress.

Advice for leaders

National Express has advice on planning transport for trips away. Members can access handy online tips, get quotes on coach hire via the special website area, and benefit from local expertise and a dedicated account manager.

WIN TICKETS TO SHREK THE MUSICAL

For your chance to win a family ticket (for four people) to see Shrek The Musical at a venue near you, simply answer this question.

Roughly how many destinations does National Express serve across the UK? A) 100

B) 1,000

C) 50

HOW TO ENTER

E-mail your answer to partnerships@scouts.org.uk.

Terms and conditions: The closing date for this competition is 30 July 2014. Prize is one family ticket (four tickets) to the show, valid 1 August to 1 December 2014. Additional expenses are the responsibility of the prizewinner, no cash alternative will be offered. The promoter reserves the right to exchange all or part of the prize to one of equal or greater value.

Shrek The Musica l is on a nationwid e tour (launching in July in Leeds) so look out for it in a city near you. Info and book ing: shrekthemusica l.co.uk.

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FUN and GAMES

Crossword and wordsearch by Eddie James

WORLD LADDER JUNE/JULY

Can you get from Dusk to Dawn by changing only one letter in each line to get a new word?

DUSK ____ ____ DARK ____ DAWN For the solutions to last issue’s puzzles, head to scouts.org.uk/magazine. scouts.org.uk/magazine

Across

7 Angry, had a trip – highest point in the Pennines (5,4) 10 Odd scrap for animal welfare body (5) 11 Outing, guided, increased by 300% (7) 12 After end of December, we yearn to change (3,4) 13 Canoeing, sub-aqua, rowing, etc. – and possibly war protests (5,6) 14 An accommodating organisation for outdoor types (3) 15 Senior Guide once ... ’phoned the Queen (6) 17 Chinese system of exercises – from Haiti oddly, around campfire initially (3,3) 21 Animal lair concealed by BadenPowell! (3) 23 Kipper’s inside one on camping trip? (8,3) 25 Cans set out for climbs (7) 26 Devious CIA plot to do with vision (7) 28 Waterbird in peatbog rebels! (5) 29 You’ll aim to make a hit with such interactive game items (5,4)

Down

1 British person taking letter from Scout (4) 2 No cost in moving Cumbrian lake (8) 3 Somerset hills with Scout base at Wedmore – blokes taking short swims (7) 4 Island in Poole Harbour on which the very first Scouts’ camp was sited (8) 5 Dee spy zapped, quick! (6) 6 You’ll know where you are with this scouting activity! (3,7) 8 The sun produces such power (5) 9 Scottish town, one circled by songbird (6) 13 It’s globally symbolic of Scouts membership (5,5) 16 Vital nature – of eastern scenes, maybe (7) 18 But Cusco changed one of our young members (3,5) 19 Small carnivores upset SE Wales (7) 20 London hostel built in memory of our founder (1-1,5) 22 Scouting scarf – chief could be after it! (6) 24 True, an altered world of plants, animals, etc. (6) 27 Mislaid in hostel, Ostend (4)

WIN! Dorset coasteering and rock climbing day Land and Wave is offering a fantastic adventure on the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset for one lucky Scout Group.

Start the day by exploring the coastline from the water in an exhilarating coasteering session. You’ll scramble over rocks, use the waves and tide to help you glide along the coastline, explore stunning sea caves and plunge pools, and impress each other with some exciting leaps and jumps. Will you DARE to do the BIG one?

Spend the afternoon on dry land exploring the fossil-rich cliffs at Dancing Ledge. Here you’ll all learn some rockclimbing basics. You’ll need the teamwork of your fellow Scouts to make it all the way to the top!

To enter, simply visit landandwave.co.uk to find the answer to this question: What does Land and Wave call its youth and family days? a. The Dorset Dare b. Dare Devil Days c. Daring Days Out Email your answer to scouting. magazine@scouts.org.uk or enter online at scouts.org.uk/magazine.

Terms and conditions

1. Closing date Monday 21 July 2. Minimum age 8 3. Available Sunday–Friday, until 26 Oct 4. Voucher must be used in one session

SCOUTING 61

SIDE SPLITTER When is the moon not hungry?

When it is full.

SCOUTING CROSSWORD JUNE/JULY

LAST WORD

MAGGIE ADERIN–POCOCK The Sky at Night presenter and space scientist shares her bubbling enthusiasm with thousands of young people all over Britain Maggie Aderin-Pocock is at the centre of British space science, having developed innovative super-telescopes, inspired young people in schools, and now copresenting the BBC’s The Sky at Night.

With her relaxed, fun approachability she embodies Scouting’s emphasis on informal education and engaging young people in new opportunities. So how did her own journey start?

Dreaming of the moon ‘I think that my first awareness of the night sky was via the moon,’ she reveals.

‘Even as a toddler I was fascinated by it.

‘As I grew up I heard about the moon landings and then everything seemed

saw that no one else had their hand up,’ she told The Guardian. ‘So I thought I must have it horribly wrong and put my hand back down – and then thought, oh give it a try. I answered the question and the teacher was surprised. It’s that enjoyment of getting something right, when nobody else had.’

Overcoming obstacles Maggie was born in London to Nigerian parents who separated when she was four, and at eight was diagnosed with dyslexia and put in remedial class.

Having overcome obstacles that many (including her own teachers) would see as a barrier to becoming a top scientist,

‘It’s about engaging with kids and showing them the relevance of science,’ she says. ‘I can see the wonder of space and because of my job I can tell them about rockets and aliens.

‘Much of my time has been spent sharing the wonders of the night sky with a range of audiences, and now, co-presenting The Sky at Night feels like the ultimate way of doing this. It feels like coming full circle.’

Picture: Martin Godwin

‘It’s about showing kids the relevance of science’ possible. As I got older my desire to visit space grew through reading sci-fi stories and watching Star Trek. My parents noticed this interest, so I got special permission to stay up late and watch The Sky at Night.

‘Suddenly there was more to see than just the moon – I learned about missions investigating the Solar System and telescopes. I was hooked.’

She gradually recognised her own talent for science, and remembers the day, aged 10, that she put her hand up in class to answer what she thought was an easy question: ‘I looked around and

66 SCOUTING

she is an inspirational figure and keen to share her passion with the next generation.

To this end, she has brought her bubbling enthusiasm to over 100,000 young people via her ‘Tours of the Universe’ talks in schools. During one talk to a group of deaf children, a young boy asked his first ever question to his teacher – about space, which she describes as a ‘powerful reaction… But it illustrates how inspiring science can be.

More info

Go to Member Resources to find out about Space Activity Badges and Astronomy Activity Badges.

June/July 2014