scouts

ine The magaezaders L for Scout y 2009 April/Ma

It’s a record!

Keeping track of achievements

Out of this world

Celebrating International Year of Astronomy

R E H T E G O T S D HEhyAScouts are taking the lead W

scouts_4509.indd

1

18/3/09

16:41:58

IFC_SCOUTS_Scouting_AprilMay09.indd 6

16/3/09 14:54:33

Your Scout Support Team Alasdair McBay – UK Adviser (Scout Section), Ed Wilson – Programme & Development Adviser Contact them at: programme@scout.org.uk Scout Support Team The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW; Tel. 0845 300 1818 Advertising Tom Fountain tom@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258

WELCOME INTRO

Tomorrow’s leaders today Alasdair McBay highlights the importance of developing leadership among young people and heralds the publication of a new version of Scouts . . . Taking the Lead

THE GOLD FILE

Name: Darren Age: 13

For me it’s the range of activities that makes Scouting great. At an international camp at Blair Atholl I did gorge walking, hill walking and stilt walking all in one day!

Darren

MOVING ON AGE RANGES

Hopefully, most readers will have seen the recent communications regarding revisions to the rules concerning transitions between the Scout and Explorer Scout sections – if you haven’t, go to www.scouts.org.uk/agetransition

A cornerstone of our programme is the opportunities Scouts have to develop their leadership skills. As well as giving them a more fulfilling experience in Scouting, it will develop their skills to work with others outside the Troop and prepare them for later life.

Every opportunity As well as the formal opportunities, the atmosphere we create can often add value to the informal leadership opportunities which exist in the Troop. This includes the degree to which teamwork is fostered in the games we play; the level to which we reward Scouts who work well together; the way in which appropriate challenges are set and Scouts are asked to develop their communication skills. All have an important part in the Scout section’s programme.

The updated resource Taking the Lead is a resource which is crammed with activities and and will be free to download from www.scouts.org.uk/takingthelead It was written a couple of years ago and the feedback we have received is that the activities are challenging, fun and appropriate for the age range. Although Districts and Counties have used it to develop leadership skills on Patrol Leader training, only a few Scout Leaders tell us that they have used it in the Troop – which is really its target audience.

This publication has therefore been revised and will be relaunched in May. I encourage you to download Taking the Lead and enjoy using the activities with your Scouts.

Contents 4 Record of achievement Give your Scouts the edge when it comes to applications and interviews

7 Take a walk on the wild side Will your Scouts take up the Puffin Adventure Challenge?

We’ve got free resources to help!

8 Programmes on a Plate This issue’s theme is growth

10 Stop being a waster!

Some simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint

12 Meeting sparklers From human noughts and crosses to scrambled eggs

14 Stars in their eyes Some great activities to celebrate International Year of Astronomy

16 Are your Scouts taking the lead?

A new resource to help your Scouts get out in front

scouts.org.uk/pol

scouts_4509.indd

3

3

18/3/09

16:42:10

All too often, as they move on, Scouts’ achievements in the Troop are forgotten. Andrew Corrie presents a useful way of getting Scouts to think about the challenges they have overcome and the skills they have learnt so that they can be used in applications and at interviews

Record of achievement

I

H M A r P S te co

f a Scout achieves the Chief Scout’s Gold Award, the highest in the Scout section, it is right that the achievement should be recognised and celebrated. Many Counties do that by hosting a special reception or awards celebration that highlights the importance of the achievement.

But we can, and should, do more than that – we can help the Scout make the achievement work for them by using it as tangible evidence of what they have done in Scouting.

This can then be used in, for example, a school portfolio, CV, or job application.

Getting it in writing Here is a completed example; on page 6 there is a blank form that could be given to Chief Scout’s Gold Award holders to complete, and used to compile a record of achievement.

4

Scouts April/May 2009

scouts_4509.indd

4

18/3/09

16:42:25

YES/ NO Have I ever planned an activity alone or with others?

Things to write on my CV: My examples: I have plan ned and orga nised gor Ban to I orga nised a visit activ ities for others and for the Patrol as part of the I have been part of the ge. llen Cha ity mun Com plan ning team for larger events like a camp. I plan ned a video project for the Troop weekend camp for six people for the Creative Cha llenge.

YES/ NO member?

Have I ever worked as a team e on my CV: writ to gs Thin My examples: I have worked with others Assisted the campsite serv ice on tasks need ing teamwork. team . Helped on the Troop ect. proj conservation YES/ NO Have I ever led a sma ll team? write on my CV: to gs Thin : My examples I led a hike in the Peak I took part in a two -day Dist rict including an n expedition for the Expeditio over night camp for a team ch whi team a led I ge.

Cha llen of three. I also took a lead ing the for raft built an oil-d rum role in a pioneeri ng Outdoor Plus. chal lenge project.

YES/ NO e or with others?

Have I ever made decisions alon CV: my on e writ to gs Thin My examples: rience of mak ing expe have I we ol Patr the of As a member decisions as part of a group make the decisions together and hav ing to make decisions all the time. We decide on the on my own .

Troop’s activ ities at the Troop Leadersh ip Foru m.

I had to make the decision to use the escape route on our Patrol hike.

Have I ever made a pre sentat ion of a project to an au YE S/ S/NO dience?

My examples: Things to wr ite on my I took a leading role in CV: I have made short prepar ing and par tic ipating pre sen tat ions of projec ts to in a Scouts’ Ow n. I gav e aud iences and I have a tal k at ou r open nig used ht about some visua l aids ou r sum mer camp usi ng photographs and vid eo. There were about 40 people in the aud ience, inc lud ing parents and Cubs.

PRACTICAL SUPPORT

Have I ever instructed others in a skill?

YES/NO YES/ My examples: Things to write on my CV: I have instructed others in I have taken responsibility the safe handling of stoves for instruct ing others, and their fuels for my helping them gain Outdoor Plus Challenge. new skills.

I have also instructed Scouts in watersk iing for my Promise Challenge.

Have I ever worked unsupervised?

YES/ YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV: As part of my Commu nity I have worked unsuper vised Challenge I had to survey in a number of activities. facilities for visuallyThey have often required impaired people and report me to make decisions back to the Troop. I have and to show initiative. acted as equipment quarter master at camp.

Have I ever taken notes of a meeting?

YES/NO YES/ My examples: Things to write on my CV: I have taken notes at the I have some experience Troop Leadersh ip Forum. of taking notes at meetings involving up to eight people.

Have I ever handled and recorded money?

YES/ YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV: I helped to plan the budget I have handled money, kept for a Patrol day trip, and records, and helped with a weekend camp. I kept budget planning. all the records including income and expenditure

Have I ever represen ted the Pat rol /Troop ?

My examples: YE S/NO Things to wr ite on my As a Pat rol Leader I oft CV: en I hav e represented my Pat represent the views of rol my and Troop at meeti ng Pat rol . I was in the Dis s and in tric t act ivi tie s, bot h as a member Sw im mi ng Ga la. I wa s in the of a tea m an d as an tea m that won the cam ping ind ividu al ent rant. compet ition.

scouts.org.uk/pol

scouts_4509.indd

5

5

18/3/09

16:42:46

6

Have I ever made decisions alone or with others?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever instructed others in a skill?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever represented the Patrol/Troop?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever led a small team?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever worked as a team member?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever planned an activity YES/NO alone or with others?

My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever made a presentation YES/NO of a project to an audience?

My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever handled and recorded money?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever taken notes of a meeting?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Have I ever worked unsupervised?

YES/NO My examples: Things to write on my CV:

Record of achievement

QUAD BIKING

QUAD BIKING HIKING

SAILING QUA QUAD BIKING

QUAD BIKING

SAILING

HIKING

POWERED FLYING

18/3/09

Note for leader: You may like to blow this up to A3 size to provide more space.

copy and fill in

âœ

scouts_4509.indd

HIKING QU

H QUAD BIK QUAD

POWERED PARA FLYING HIKING

HIKINH

SNOWB

16:43:19

copy and fill in

Take a walk on the wild side If your Scouts are looking for adventure, then the Adventure Challenge, sponsored by Puffin could be just what they are waiting for. Dragon boating anyone?

G

o snowboarding with Max Gordon, stunt kiting with Young Bond, hot air ballooning with Artemis Fowl or dragon boating with the Young Samurai. These are just some of the activities your Scouts could take part in to complete the Puffin Adventure Challenge.

Why not invite them to go on a thrilling, daring, action-packed rollercoaster of a ride with Puffin’s bravest action heroes? Just ask your Scouts to follow these four simple steps to gaining the Puffin Adventure Challenge.

PARASCENDING

Step one Choose activities from the 25 cards provided, including quad biking, sailing, stunt-kiting, snowboarding, surfing and dragon boating.

G

D

Note for leader: You may like to blow this up to A3 size to provide more space.

Step two Take part in three different activities, ideally HOVERCRAFTING on separate occasions. For each activity: SAILING ING QUAD BIKINGQUAD BIK • know the safety issues involved and SAILING PARASCENDIN G understand the use of any equipment needed HOT-AIR BA LLOO FTING RCRA HOVE NING AIR HOVE HOTRCRA FTactivity ING for the PARASCENDING BALLOONING NG SAILI G SAILING QUAD BIKIN HOT-AIR AFTING HOVERCR PARASCENDING HOT• show an awareness of environmental issues DING AIR PARASCEN ING SAILING BALLOON BIKING UAD HOVERCRAFTING BALLOONING around the activity (such as erosion at popular climbing areas) • know about further opportunities to take part in the chosen activities.

HOT-AIR BALLOONING

Step three Make a note of it on your record poster.

ING HOVERCRAFT HOT-AIR G G BALLOONIN WATER SKIING PARASCENDIN G LIN PARASC CYC G END SAILIN ING HOT -AIRARDING WBO SNO POWERED BAL RCRAFTING LOONIN QUAD BIKING HOTG AIR HOVERCHOVE RAFTING ING FLY HIKING PARASCENDING HOT-AIR BALLOONING HOVERCRAFTING HIKING G NG SAILI DING PARASCEN PO BIKIN WE ING SAILING RE QUAD BALLOON BIKING D QUAD FLYING SNOWBOAR DING CYCLING G R SKIIN WAWATE TER SK IING CYCLING SNOWBOARDING POWERED POWERED G HIKINDING FLYING HOT-AIR PARASCEN SKIING WATER HOVERCR SNOW AFTING FLYING BOARDING CYCLING POWERED BALLOON RDING INGCYCLING SNOWBOA HIKING WATER SKIING FLYING

QUAD BIKING

SAILING

Step four Congratulate yourself – you’ve just become an adventurer!

ARTEMIS FOWL

DANGER ZONE

YOUNG BOND

PERCY JACKSON

YOUNG SAMURAI

Free resources

HIKING

HIKING HIKING

Order your free pack now at www.scouts.org.uk/sponsor Just click on the Puffin logo; you’ll also find quizzes, G WATER SKIIN CLING CY activity sheets, word searches and DING SNOWBOAR CYCLING lots more online.

G R SKIIN WATE CYCLINGWATER SKIING

POWERED RED FLYING WE SNOWBOPO ARD ING FLYING HIKING SNOWBOARDING POWERED POWERED SNOWBOARDING FLYING FLYING Young Bond, By Royal Command and Eye Logo are trademarks of Ian Fleming

SNOWBOARDING

scouts_4509.indd

WATER SKIING

puffin.co.uk

Publications Ltd

CYCLING

7

CYCLING

WATER SKIING

scouts.org.uk/pol

7

18/3/09

16:43:47

Zone/Method

Instructions

N/a

A Scout Troop will get most of its new members from its feeder Cub Scout Pack(s). As part of the transfer process, you should invite the older Cubs and their leaders to a special Troop meeting to get to know the Troop. You could also hold a ‘bring a friend’ evening occasionally for non-Scouts to find out about Scouting.

Beliefs and attitudes, Games

To help your visitors get to know the Troop and vice versa, try some of these: • Give everyone a sticky label and a pen. Ask them to add their name and a picture or a few words as a clue to one of their hobbies or interests. Everyone then wears their label as a badge.

• Ask everyone to line up in the hall in alphabetical order of first name.

• Ask everyone to line up in the hall in age order.

• Ask everyone to get into groups according to their hobby or interest.

• Ask everyone to get into other groups according to things such as their school, address or birth year.

Outdoor and Adventure Design and creativity, Games

Prepare four bases with activities that involve active participation. The Scouts and their guests need to visit each one for fifteen minutes in typical Patrol groups.

• Have a barbecue ready for cooking. Everyone cooks and eats their own sausage or burger (meat or veggie) or toasts marshmallows on sticks.

• Have a craft table with the materials for everyone to make and take away their own item such as a novelty woggle, friendship bracelet, facemask or plaster cast.

• Play map bingo using standard map symbols. Call out grid references for the players to locate.

Award a small prize for a completed row and a whole card. Play the game in pairs with an older Scout to help out.

• Collect together some games that can be played in pairs such as Connect 4, darts, draughts, indoor boules and dominoes. Make sure that there are enough games for everyone to play something.

Fit for Life, Games

Divide the hall into four equal areas with ropes on the floor. One team defends each area. Throw a soft ball into the hall. The teams must try to keep it out of their area. A leader blows a whistle every ten seconds and judges which quarter the ball is in. The winner after ten minutes is the team with the least points.

N/a

Before closing the meeting, invite your guests to talk about their experience. Thank them for attending and say that you hope that you’ll see them again soon. Lord, thank you for our family of Scouts.

Thank you for the opportunities its gives us to grow from Beavers through Cubs and Scouts to Explorers and Network.

For more great ideas visit www.scouts.org.uk/pol scouts.org.uk/pol

scouts_4509.indd

9

9

18/3/09

16:44:14

O

ur climate is changing as more and more pollution is pumped into the air. Every time you use certain energies, more greenhouse gases are produced, making the planet warmer and disrupting the weather and seasons.

Explain to your Scouts that energy is used for everything – making and moving things, heating, cooking, lighting and so on. Look around you and see if you can find something that doesn’t use energy now or didn’t need energy to make. There probably isn’t much!

Positive action Scouts can do their bit to cut the amount of energy use in the UK. We have power stations using huge amounts of coal and gas and spewing out tonnes of pollution into the air just so that millions of people can leave their TVs on standby. Ask your Scouts to take the quick test below and count how many green things they do already – and just as importantly, encourage them to pledge to do different things in future.

Stop being a waster!

There are many organisations that can offer help and resources with elements of the Global Challenge. Andrew Corrie is your global guide 10 Scouts April/May 2009

scouts_4509.indd

10

18/3/09

16:44:30

GLOBAL CHALLENGE

help cut TRAVEL Make one journey a week greener and l or Scouts schoo to walk could you pollution. Maybe , clean, rather than going by car. And cycling is a quick too. about get to and healthy way e chargers STAN DBY Don’t leave TVs on standby or mobil are the last you if lights plugged in and turn off to leave a room. If everyone did this it would save enough energ y to close two power stations. your bin, RECYC LE You can recycle nearly every thing in includ ing paper, card, metal, and plastic. Some counc ils collec t your recycl ing or you can take it to recycl ing bins at most super markets. you need – KETTLE When boiling a kettle, boil only what the don’t waste electr icity and time (the fuller it is wait). to have longer you g up the HEATING Cold? Put on a jumper rather than turnin ws heating. If the radiators are on, make sure windo snug elf yours keep – rly prope closed are doors and and warm . save hot water.

WATE R Take a shower rather than a bath and a bath – than A shower uses a lot less hot water er. quick and it’s peelings COMPOST Compost green waste like vegetable st or garden trimm ings. You could get your own compo st compo and waste green t collec ils counc some or bin it for you. bulb in your LIGHTS Ask if you can fit an energ y saving light bedroom or Scout meeti ng place. These bulbs use r a lot less energ y and last up to twelve times longe than traditional ones. out where FOOD When you are next in the super market find three things come from. Try looking at flowers, lettuce, and meat. Are they local or have they been flown in from overseas? and provides NATURE Plant a tree (it uses up carbon dioxide a wildli fe habitat). You could also help scientists monitor the effect of climate change by surveying wildli fe on Nature Detec tives (www.naturedetec tives.org.uk)

Tick if this applies

Call to action

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

❍ I do this

❍ I’ll do

this in future

already

this in future

already

this in future

already

this in future

already

this in future

already

this in future

already

already

already

already

already

this in future

this in future

this in future

this in future

more info On pages 89 to 104 of the new Scout Handbook you will find material to help with Area 2 of the Global Challenge as well as details of the Green Footprint Award www.greenfootprintaward.org.uk See also pages 22 and 23 of the October/November 2008 edition of Scouting magazine available at www.scouts.org.uk/magazine See also www.scouts.org.uk/climatechange

scouts.org.uk/pol 11

scouts_4509.indd

11

18/3/09

16:44:46

e l k r a p s g n i Meet and crosses ateur dramatics, human noughts Andrew Corrie introduces some am uts’ balance in more ways that one and a money game that will test Sco Paper bag charade Give each Patrol a paper bag into which you have put ten unrelated items. These could include items such as a potato, a pencil, a paper clip, a fork, some string, a peanut, cotton wool, a cube of jelly, a notebook and a rubber band. Each Patrol is then asked to perform a sketch using all the items in the bag.

to prevent the girls from completing a row of three girls.

The next girl tries to sit so as to continue the girls’ line and block the boys’. Boys and girls alternate taking seats until either the girls or boys complete an unbroken line of three, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, or as is sometimes the case, all lines are blocked.

Easter eggs Give each Scout a pencil and paper. Let each one see how many words they can make up from ‘Easter eggs’. The one with the longest list of words wins the game.

Coin stretch Each Scout stands with their heels close up to a wall behind them. Place a coin on the floor in front of them just eighteen inches from their toes. The winners are the ones who can pick up the coins in front of them without losing their balance.

Miss the bell

Squares

This sparkler is fun and easy to arrange. A bell is suspended in a hoop about eight inches in diameter, and a small ball is given to the Scouts. They take it in turns tossing the ball through the hoop without causing the bell to ring. One point is scored each time the ball goes through, and three points are scored if the bell does not ring.

Scouts in pairs. Each pair is given a sheet of paper with a square made of eight lines of dots, eight dots wide like this:

Human noughts and crosses This is ideal for a mixed Troop. Place three chairs in a row – then three chairs directly behind each of the first three chairs to make a second row. Complete the square by putting three more chairs directly behind the first two rows. You now have a noughts and crosses square made of nine chairs.

The first girl sits on any chair of her choice. A boy takes a chair of his choice bearing in mind that he must sit so as

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Scouts take turns drawing a line horizontally or vertically to connect any two dots. The object is to complete a square and to prevent your opponent from completing a square. Each time a Scout succeeds in completing the fourth line of a square they put their initials in it.

12 Scouts April/May 2009

scouts_4509.indd

12

18/3/09

16:44:58

GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

lers

Zip zap

The person who finishes a square draws the next line. The Scout with the most squares containing their initials wins the game.

Form a circle with the leader in the centre.

When the leader points to someone and says ‘zip’ the player must give the name of the person on their right before the leader counts to ten. If the leader says ‘zap’ the player must name the person on the left. Anyone who gives the wrong name, or is too slow drops out, or becomes the leader.

Card toss Place a hat on the floor about two metres away from a chair. Have each player in turn sit in the chair, take a pack of playing cards, and toss them one at a time at the hat. It looks easy, but if a beginner gets more than five cards into the hat on the first try, they are doing well.

.

3

3#/54 3(/03

The Big Adventure Uniform Badge Item code: 1026680

£1

%15)00%$ &/2 !$6%.452%

scouts.org.uk/shop 01903 766 921 750 ml Drinks Bottle Item code: 1024947

£3.75 A stylish drinks bottle with a flip dust protector cap; also features a rubberised grip.

Many of this year’s summer camps are part of The Big Adventure. This is the official badge and can be worn by everyone on the top left chest pocket. See www.scouts.org.uk/bigadventure for more.

15cm Squidgy Rocket

Item code: 1023849

£2.20

Scout Handbook Item code: 1026561

£8

With 300 pages of practical skills, advice and ideas for adventure, the Scout Handbook is a must-have for all Scouts.

With tips on gaining all nine Challenge Badges, together with diagrams and full colour photographs, this handbook will help every Scout to go for gold and gain the Chief Scout’s Gold Award.

Featuring the Scout logo, this 15cm high lightweight foam rocket is ideal for throwing safely around any campsite!

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

scouts_4509.indd

13

18/3/09

16:45:09

Stars in their eyes

Have your Scouts ever looked up at the night sky through a telescope? Have they seen Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons?

Do they know what it really means when Mercury is entering Capricorn? Well now’s their chance, says Ed Wilson

T

his year is International Year of Astronomy, a year long celebration of everything space science. It marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei and Thomas Harriot taking their first look through a telescope at the night sky. Throughout 2009 there will be events up and down the country giving everyone the opportunity to take a closer look at our universe.

New activities The Institute of Physics and The Scout Association have got together to make it even easier for Scouts to get involved. A series of astronomy-based activities have been developed that can be done during a weekly meeting or at summer camp.

Each of the activities available at www.scouts.org. uk/pol such as naked-eye observing and building a model of the solar system out of loo roll, come with full instructions and relevant background information. Here’s a sneak preview:

Host a visit from a local astronomer Most areas have a local amateur astronomy society.

Astronomers are often practised at talking to 14 Scouts April/May 2009

scouts_4509.indd

14

18/3/09

16:45:25

ASTRONOMY

beginners and demonstrating how to use a telescope.

Make sure that your astronomer knows the age range of your group before the visit.

You can find your local society and contact details through the Federation of Astronomical Societies: www.fedastro.org.uk

Water rockets Basic equipment needed: • Two litre plastic bottle • Foot pump • Water • Cork or rubber bung and tubing • Plastic or cardboard for fins • Plastic, cardboard or wood for launch pad Preparation time: • 2-3 hours Duration: • 2-3 hours

Safety considerations: • Water rockets can fail without warning and sometimes fly off in odd directions. Make sure everyone is behind a line and fires their rockets only when told.

See the NPL site www.npl.co.uk/waterrockets for more detailed instructions. Once you’re happy split the Scouts into teams and let them start building with adult supervision.

What’s going on?

The air pressure inside the bottle increases as you pump air into the bottle. When you release the bung, water is forced out and down making the rocket fly up. This is an example of Newton’s third law – every action has an equal and opposite reaction. more info To find out what’s going on near you, take a look at the events map and calendar on the International Year of Astronomy website www.astronomy2009.co.uk/index.php/gem

Scouts rise to the

Regatta Outdoor Challenge Thousands of you have already ordered free Regatta Skills cards, which give Scouts the knowledge they need to achieve the Regatta Scouts Challenge Badge.

Have you ordered yours?

F

rom learning to pitch a tent to cooking a meal on the campfire, the skills cards are simple stepby-step guides to achieving the requirements of the Regatta Outdoor Challenge. The outdoors is a key part of our section programme and we all know how important it is that Scouts have a good grounding in camping and outdoor skills.

Order your free copies now If you haven’t already ordered your skills card pack and poster visit www.scouts.org.uk/regatta And if you need to gear up for the outdoors then check out the new spring/summer ranges at www.regatta.com scouts.org.uk/pol 15

scouts_4509.indd

15

18/3/09

16:45:38

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Leadership in the Troop Leadership training is as important now as ever.

Although Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders are younger than they used to be, we still have a duty to start developing their leadership skills. This needs to be done in a safe and controlled environment – taking into account their age, maturity and experience.

We should be stretching and challenging young people but not expecting too much of them. In the next supplement we will look at the concept of Troop leadership training in which adults and Patrol Leaders/ Assistant Patrol Leaders/older Scouts are trained together to help them all fulfil their potential.

?

• Scouts can be given pieces of card and asked to write the score on the card • Scouts close their eyes and hold up the appropriate number of fingers • Using playing cards 1-10 play a card in the box for your score of the particular activity or session.

Dartboard Using a dartboard and pins, if twenty is the top score, how would you score the Troop meeting overall?

Stick the pin in the corresponding segment of the dartboard. If you haven’t got a dartboard, draw one on a large sheet of paper.

Letting your Scouts have their say

Thermometer

In the meantime why not start helping your Scouts to give feedback? When running activities, events, or training sessions it is useful to get feedback from participants at the end of an activity, the Troop meeting, or the end of the day. This provides information on various aspects of the activities, organisation, and domestic arrangements and will help you next time you are planning something similar. There are many ways of collecting this feedback which are both easy and fun. Here are some ideas:

On the thermometer were you ‘hot’ with all the activity, or bored and ‘cold?’

Smiley faces Sheets can be prepared with sad, indifferent, or smiley faces, and the Scouts asked to tick or draw which represents how they feel the activities made them feel.

Rating activities 1-10 Scouts can be asked to score the activities from 1-10.

The scores can be recoded in a number of ways: • Numbers can be read out and Scouts stand up when the score they have given is called • One side of the room can be allocated score 1 and the other side 10 and Scouts stand on a line between the two

scouts.org.uk/pol 17

scouts_4509.indd

17

18/3/09

16:46:13

y a d o t w e n g n i h t e m o s y r T ces what’s Sainsbury’s Lindsay Evans introdu 9 new in the Active Kids scheme for 200

S

ince joining the scheme in 2007, Scouts have redeemed up to £1m of equipment, providing free sports equipment, cooking resources, active experiences and coaching. And this year we hope you will claim back even more.

For Active Kids 2009 (AK09), Sainsbury’s have sourced the latest equipment and experiences which will be relevant to your Group. New resource packs have been produced building on the ideas and activities from previous years, designed to help promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle. This year Sainsbury’s Active Kids have added much more outdoor activity equipment to the catalogue, from a stainless steel flask to walkie talkies, even a Vango 6 person tent!

Well equipped We’re especially proud that many AK09 items can be used to support specific badges and programme initiatives, as well as providing outdoor and recreational equipment.

As ever the success of your AK09 efforts depends on how enthusiastic, organised and inventive you are.

Setting goals will help to keep you motivated and focused. It’s the ideal chance to get everyone involved and excited about what can be achieved.

To help you set targets and goals you can create an online wish lists of all the items that you are aiming to collect for, these can be edited and updated as often as you like.

Parents and other collectors can review your wish list and check your progress to date to see what’s left to collect!

Collecting vouchers Taking part is simple; you can earn Active Kids Vouchers when you shop at Sainsbury’s until 3 June. For every £10 spent in Sainsbury’s supermarkets or every £5 spent in Sainsbury’s Locals you’ll earn 1 Active Kids Voucher.

Not signed up yet?

Then check in to www.sainsburys.co.uk/activekids

18 Scouts April/May 2009

scouts_4509.indd

18

18/3/09

16:46:27

IBC_SCOUTS_Scouting_AprilMay09.indd 6

16/3/09 14:53:38

OBC_SCOUTS_Scouting_AprilMay09.indd 6

16/3/09 14:54:01

February’s Top 5 Programmes on Programmes Online

Ref

Activity name

41459

Red Nose Day 2009 – Do something Funny for Money – What is it all about?

42451

The exact water challenge

39393

Human dominoes

38007

Points down

41406

Spotlight challenge

This issue’s theme is growth, written by Tony Taylor

POP

Activity

Time

Zon

Flag break

5 mins

N/a

Getting to know you

15 mins

Be att Ga

This is what we do

60 mins

Ou Ad De cre Ga

Quarterball

10 mins

Fit Ga

Flag down and prayers

10 mins

N/a

Programmes on a plate

8

scouts_4509.indd 8

Scouts April/May 2009

19/3/09 16:59:18

It’s three years since Taking the Lead was published, says Andrew Corrie. Now a new and updated version is on the way that can help you develop young people’s leadership skills

Are your Scouts

? d a e l e h t g n i k ta T

• • • • • • • • • • • •

he original Taking the Lead was packed with practical programme material and activities to use with young people covering a wide range of leadership skills. These included: Your role in a team Working as a team Reaching decisions as a team Speaking in small groups Keeping personal records Standards and codes of conduct How to lead Dealing with challenging behaviour Gaining respect Teaching skills Running an activity How Scouting helps you

It has been revised and updated and and will be available in May to download from www.scouts.org.uk/takingthelead

What do we mean by teamwork?

We all like to be part of a team and teams exist in many different contexts. Scouts will be members of a range of different teams, in Scouting, at school, and in their sports and hobbies. Before developing the skills needed to lead a team it is helpful to develop a better understanding of what a team is and does, and why we work in teams. The activities in Taking the Lead explore these issues. The resource focuses on how we operate within a team including team meetings and the decision-making processes.

16 Scouts April/May 2009

scouts_4509.indd 16

19/3/09 16:59:53