scouts

ine The magaazders for Scout Leer 2010/ Decemb ry 2011 Janua

Mind your own business Introducing the Entrepreneur Activity Pack

In competition

Ways to help your Patrol achieve more

E M O H N O I T C E NO DIR ss skills a p m o c d n ing map a h c a e t n o s Tip

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Your Scout Support Team Alasdair McBay – UK Adviser (Scout Section) Bianca Cole – Programme and Development Adviser

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Winter wins

Contact them at: programme@scouts.org.uk Scout Support Team The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW; Tel. 0845 300 1818 Advertising Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258 Read all other section supplements online at www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

New resources, survey results, advice, anecdotes and tips – Bianca Cole takes a look at what’s on offer in this issue

CONTRIBUTORS

Regulars Eddie Langdown is a Group Scout Leader in central London.

Louise Henderson is a Scout Leader in Moray.

Tony Taylor is a Disctrict Chairman in South Chiltern.

This issue Charlie Barnes is the Menston St John’s Scout Leader.

Helen Johnson is Schools and Youth Fundraising Executive at Save the Children.

Samantha Marks is Programme and Development Adviser – Adult Training.

With 2011 looming on the horizon, many Scout groups will already be busily compiling their calendar of events for next year. As this is your supplement, we would like to ensure that it is driven by what Troops are going week-in, week-out.

With that in mind, I would like to invite you all to send me your 2011 calendars or notify me of any events taking place in your County/District/Region next year that you think we should know about. Email programme@scouts.org. uk and your Troop may feature in these pages.

In this spirit, this issue features an overview of the first year of the Menston Scout Troop. This insight is an honest reflection of the challenges faced and overcome.

Many of you recently shared your views on the Scouts supplement in the Your Programme, Your Voice survey, thank you. On page 8 we publish some of the findings for you all to see.

We have also been busy developing resources you can use in conjunction with Save the Children. These will help you cover the Global zone of the programme, which can be a challenge for some.

Elsewhere, Louise Henderson offers a revealing insight on how to use competition to encourage Patrols and Patrol Leaders.

Prepare yourself for next year’s hikes with Eddie Langdown’s take on teaching compass and maps skills? Eddie’s last piece on axes and saws provoked quite a reaction among some readers and we hope that his articles continue to provoke debate as much as offer ideas and suggestions.

Don’t forget to get in touch if you have any case studies or thoughts on the subjects covered via programme@scouts.org.uk

Contents 4 Go your own way Teaching your Scouts map and compass skills in a fun and interesting way

6 Discovering a Troop The ups and downs of the first year of a new Troop

8 Your Programme, Your Voice What you think about Scouting magazine and this supplement

10 Programmes on a plate The theme is rocket science

12 Friendship passport A new partnership and resources with Save the Children

13 Taking care of business The Entrepreneur Activity pack is launched

14 New modules for leaders Offer overnight experiences with confidence

18 Competitive nature Motivate Patrols and Patrol Leaders

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Go your own way Using a map and compass is an essential trait of a Scout. Developing this in a young person te is a necessary step if they are to fully apprecia wn the adventure that is Scouting. Eddie Langdo has some ideas on how best to achieve this

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ne of my earliest memories as a Scout was of getting lost on night hikes. As a Young Leader, I was dogged for a long time by the experience of my own Scouts disappearing off in every direction except the carefully planned route.

I believe that this often occurs because leaders underestimate the difference between teaching ‘map and compass’ on a clean table-top in a familiar Troop hall and the experience of a small group of 12 or 13 year-olds being thrust out of a mini-bus into an alien, muddy world with only a huge sheet of flapping paper and a compass to share.

In short, we need to insert a couple more steps into the teaching process.

Short hikes I like to expand Troop night training on this skill using photos, Google Earth and video clips to demonstrate what footpaths, junctions, trig points and other landmarks actually look like. When we do make the transition to the outside world we begin with a couple of short training hikes with small groups, carefully choosing routes with plenty of paths through fields, woods and tricky junctions that require careful map reading and compass work. Every Scout should have a compass and a laminated A4 map sheet, to maximise their learning.

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I have used roughly the same short routes with my Scouts for 15 years – familiar to me but always new to them. A couple of leaders are constantly at their shoulder observing, checking every twist and turn. We ensure that their compasses work overtime and we batter them with questions, extending their observational abilities.

Progress outdoors It can be a long time before our Scouts learn to read the countryside as well as they can read a map and (hopefully) proceed towards that magic moment, when they begin to marry the two.

But please don’t get stuck in basic theory of map and compass. Try to regularly progress away from the Troop night training with flash cards, map quizzes and compass games and into the nearest tangle of fields, footpaths and green lumpy bits.

There is a huge sense of achievement for us leaders in finding our mud-splattered little group sitting waiting on a village green or arriving at the train station proclaiming happily, and confidently, that they had only made one mistake, if any. If we train Scouts properly, pre-walk and check routes carefully, they can move on to Explorers having successfully proved they can hike without direct adult supervision.

Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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Brighten up Troop meetings with different ways of teaching map skills

ING ENJOY YOURSELF WHILE TR• AIN t We mim ic a whin ing Patrol moan ing abou

, When we take our Scouts out on short hikes tricks some in throw to like rs leade the towa rds the end of the day. This keeps it interesting and enter taini ng both for us and the young people while ensu ring that the message and the skills are getti ng through.

You might like to try some of these or think up your own: • We intentiona lly take the wrong turn to see if they follow us, argui ng fiercely that they are wrong.

being lost and how the previous Patrol Leader was better than them .

• We insist they demonstrate exact ly why they believe a particular turni ng to be correct. They must use contours, beari ngs, or other clues around them to conv ince us.

Rega rdless of what techn iques you employ, it is vitally important to always praise good decisions.

Is Eddie pointing in the right direction or is he totally lost?

If you think any of the tips in this column are helpful, let us know. Alternatively if you have some other thoughts about ways to teach this essential Scouting skill, please get in touch.

The address for all correspondence is scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Any particular interesting thoughts could get printed in a future issue.

I have found over my time of Scouting that it pays to wear a glove on the hand which is holding the wood being sawn by the bow saw. My Troop also wears safety goggles to protect their eyes.

If my Scouts fail to conduct themselves correctly when using these items of equipment or carrying them, they will lose their qualification and not use that item until they have taken a retest to use it.

Mick Lynn, Scout leader at the 1st Ballyclare responded to Eddie’s previous article about axes and saws. Here are some of his thoughts: Naming the parts of an axe is not boring. It’s how you present it to the Scouts that makes it interesting. I believe that you have to know about the item of kit before you start to pass it around.

There are no fun ways of teaching Scouts to chop and saw wood and the teaching of such areas should be focused on the safety and seriousness of what they should be learning.

MORE SKILLS

Using a map and compass is just one of the many classic skills covered in A Complete Guide to Scouting Skills – available from Scout Shops for just £9.99. www.scouts.org.uk/shop

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Discovering a Troop

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was sipping tea after Remembrance Sunday, about to take my Brownie daughter home when a woman in Scout uniform came over for a chat. I forget exactly when she asked me to set up a Scout Group but it certainly didn’t take long. I was given the classic ‘it’s only an hour a week’ line and, before I knew it, I was starting off on the road to creating a Troop.

Menston, West Yorkshire, had Beavers and Cubs but unfortunately it had never had anyone to run a Scout group. When asked ‘what would make you a good Scout leader?’ at my appointments advisory committee I truthfully answered: ‘I’m the only one on your list.’

Other parents from Beavers and Cubs jumped on board.

New friends helped us. We visited, and learned from, other Troops. We did some courses and tons of readingup. We Googled Scout games, watched Scout investiture videos online. Pretty soon, we had a plan.

Ambitious... and mad Soon enough it was September, our first night. I was hoping for a maximum of 18 but 20 turned up. Bang! Full up overnight.

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In truth, at the start our programme was a bit too ambitious - which happens often with eager new volunteers. But, having made a few snips to the schedule, we decided to have our first camp a few weeks later.

Two nights at Blackhills; crate climbing, abseiling, archery, shooting, firelighting, backwoods cooking, wide games and more. We had a campfire with Philip Davies MP and both the District Commissioner and Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts.

I look back now and think ‘how did we pack it all in?’

We must have been mad to have a two-night camp right out of the gate, but somehow it worked. It also gave the Scouts their first badge – Outdoor Challenge, which we’d identified as the first badge they should get.

Programme tangents As we headed into our first autumn we made trips to a fire station, a mosque, the Royal Armouries and participated in the Remembrance Parade. The Promise Challenge was our main focus at this time (it still is, although we spread it throughout the year these days).

At first we weren’t sure what to do when it was cold

Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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Case study

ut Troop t year of the Menston St John’s Sco Charlie Barnes ref lects on the firs ) which will be familiar to the reader s nce erie exp ny ma h wit bt dou (no

and dark but soon discovered that some of the programme writes itself.... Guy Fawkes, Christmas, Pancake Day, Eid. Sometimes wonderful tangents from these lead elsewhere; Chinese New Year – lanterns – flying – visit to flying school – Aviation Badge. It was like discovering perpetual motion within the programme.

During this time we gained new Scouts and, just as importantly, another leader. More parents helped out. We assiduously learned knots and lashings, staying one page ahead of our Scouts. We did the County Pioneering Camp and most of the Scouts got their badge. Now, with the Promise Challenge, Outdoor Challenge and Pioneer Badge (and others) under their belts, they really felt like ‘proper Scouts’. But were they? Not just yet.

A Troop is born To me that moment came on our first Expedition Challenge – a hike and overnight stay on Ilkley Moor. We had a campfire and I asked them all to give me a word or phrase that summed up Scouting. Among responses like ‘awesome’ and ‘cool’ were ‘friends’, ‘looking after each other’, ‘like a family’ and ‘reunited’ (they all went to the

village primary school but had since moved apart). We realised at that point that we didn’t just have a load of young people who all turned up on a Thursday in uniform but a real, bona fide, Scout Troop, with its own in-jokes, songs, favourite wide games and culture. They realised it too, and at that moment the Scout Membership Badge, with its rope and reef knot, had meaning for all of us.

We ‘got it’.

In the last year we’ve gone climbing, abseiling, kayaking, sailing, mountain walking, mountain biking and more. We’ve gutted fish and made a suspension bridge.

We’ve cooked Chinese food and examined ‘magnetic deviation’.

However, I must admit that nothing was as special as that moment overlooking Ilkley when we really became a Troop. I’ll never forget it. That’s why Scouts is who we are, and not just where we go on a Thursday. And that is, to use the favourite word of our Scouts, awesome.

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

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

Below are the highlights of the results along with suggested changes that will be implemented as part of the review:

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

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

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

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

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

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Changes One of the results of the questionnaire is the standardisation of the content in the supplements, so that similar content can be found in comparable places in each supplement. A further outcome is the creation of a pool of writers which will relieve the pressure on current contributors and provide a wide range of expertise.

If you are interested in writing for the magazine and its supplements please email the editorial team at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk

YPYV SURVEYS

Your Programme, Your Voice (YPYV) is a regular online questionnaire created and run by the 6-25 Programme Team. Questions are asked about the Programme and other related issues on a regular basis. Members are alerted by email when there is a new YPYV available.

To participate, please make sure your email address is on record on the members area of www.scouts.org.uk

Do you receive the correct supplement?

Do you receive ScoutingPlus – our weekly news email? If the answer is ‘no’ then perhaps you should check and/or amend your details on the members area of www.scouts.org.uk

Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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Promos

Weather with you The Meteorologist Activity badge, brought to you by the Met Office, is your key to helping Scouts understand the weather and make the most of the great outdoors

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here are a number of great resources available online including a booklet full of tasks and supporting information about the weather.

There is also a poster, which can be displayed in Scout meeting places and other buildings to encourage Scouts to achieve the badge.

The Met Office is also working together with the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) project to support the badge.

In March 2011 we hope as many Scouts as possible will join in the OPAL climate survey, which the Met Office is leading.

For more information on taking part in the climate survey visit www.opalexplorenature.org

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More information The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is an exciting new initiative that is open to anyone with an interest in nature. They aim to create and inspire a new generation of nature-lovers by getting people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment.

Online resources To find out more and avail yourself of the online resources visit www.scouts.org.uk/metoffice

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Activity

Time

Zone/Method

In

Flag break

5 mins

Outdoor and Adventure Technology and new skills

The not scie

For stic

Let them fly

10 mins

Outdoor and Adventure Technology and new skills

Infl Try bal

An air rocket

15 mins

Outdoor and adventure Technology and new skills

Cu pen it in ins you the

A balloonpowered vehicle

30 mins

Outdoor and adventure Design and creativity Team-building activities

Ch stri For pla

Launching water rockets

30 mins

Outdoor and adventure Design and creativity Team-building activities

Thi an the

Outdoor and adventure Design and creativity Team-building activities

Roc abo as mo and

ce, This issue’s theme is rocket scien written by Tony Taylor

POP Programmes on a plate

Parachutes

30 mins

December2009 2010/January 2011 10 Scouts June/July

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Wa car exp com

hod

Instructions

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The expression, ‘it’s not rocket science’ implies that the science of rockets is difficult. It is not. Science is about investigation. What may be tricky is rocket technology – putting the science to a practical use.

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For this series of activities you will need a good supply of balloons, drinking straws and sticky tape.

Inflate a balloon and release it. The air coming out of the balloon drives it forwards.

Try attaching nozzles made of various lengths and thickness of drinking straws to the balloons. Do they give any amount of control to the flight?

Cut a 5cm by 8cm rectangle of paper. Roll the paper into a cylinder 5cm long around a pencil. Tape the edges and slide it off. Snip one end of the cylinder so that you can make it into a point. Slide it back onto the pencil and tape it up. Remove the pencil again and insert a straight plastic drinking straw in its place. Blow hard into the straw. See how far your paper air rocket goes. Add paper fins to the rear end of the rocket. Blow hard into the straw again and measure how far it travels with fins.

Challenge the Scouts to work as a team to make either a balloon-powered boat or a string-guided vehicle. For the boat, provide a hull made from a piece of polystyrene.

For the string-guided vehicle, use a toilet roll centre on a string hung across your meeting place.

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This activity must be carried out outside. The rockets may be launched vertically if you have an open space. In a built up area, launch the rockets from a ramp inclined at 45 degrees to the ground. Make sure that everyone is behind the rocket when it is launched.

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Water rocket kits can be bought from most toy shops. You will need to provide an empty carbonated drinks bottle. You will also need a bicycle pump. Get the Scouts in teams to experiment with different sized bottles and with different amounts of water to see which combination produces the greatest range.

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Rockets return to the ground on parachutes. Provide the Scouts with pieces of cloth – about 1m square, string and a piece of modelling clay of about 50g mass. Their challenge, as a team, is to make a parachute that, when thrown into the air folded, will return the modelling clay slowly to the ground. They can alter the shape of the cloth and the number and length of the strings tied to it.

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Faith and awareness events coming soon February 2011 2 Candlemas Day (Christian) 8 & 15 Parinirvana - Nirvana day (Buddhist) 8 Vasant Panchami (Hindu) 14 Valentine’s Day (Christian) 15 (20 Shia) Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) (Muslim) 18 Magha Puja (Buddhist) 28 Feb - 13 March Fairtrade Fortnight

March 2011 1 Hola Mohalla (Lunar Calendar) (Sikh) 3 Mahashivratri (Hindu) 8 International Women’s Day 8 Shrove Tuesday (Christian) 9 Ash Wednesday (Christian) 17 St Patrick’s Day (Christian) 19 Holi (Hindu) 20 Purim (Jewish) 22 World Water Day

For more great ideas visit www.scouts.org.uk/pol scouts.org.uk/pol 11

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t r o p s s a P p i h s d Frien This month sees the start of our partnership with Save the Children, a charity that works in the UK and across the world to ensure children get proper healthcare, food, education and protection. It has much to offer both Scouts and leaders as Helen Johnson reveals

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he ‘Friendship Passport’ resource pack is packed full of fun and simple activity ideas; including games and competitions featuring a different country each year.

From exploring a country’s geography, culture, games and traditions, to examining the issues facing children and the work of Save the Children, the passport will take your Troop on an exciting journey across the globe.

The aim is for each Scout to fill their passport with all the available stickers for each activity – and to get it stamped by raising money or awareness, as friends of Save the Children’s work.

The country we’ve chosen has been a big secret until now, but is important to both Scouting and Save the Children. To find out where the Friendship Passport can take your Scouts in 2011, just visit our partnership website at www.savethechildren.org.uk/scouts

Get involved The Friendship Passport is a flexible programme of activities that can be completed over a day, week, month or more.

To receive your leader’s resource pack, including stickers for the passports and a great prize when you finish, register at www.savethechildren.org.uk/scouts or email scouts@savethechildren.org.uk All of the activities are also available to download individually from www.scouts.org.uk/pol

SAMPLE ACTIVITY How clean is your water?

This activity will teach Scouts how to make a basic water filter and to analyse materials that dirty water may contain.

Equipment: • 2 plastic bottles cut in half • Napkins • Gravel • Sand and cotton wool balls • Dirty water.

Instructions: 1) Turn the top half of the plastic bottle upside down inside the bottom half.

2) Layer the filter materials inside the top half of the water bottle. For an added challenge, use only two of the materials to build your filter.

3) Pour the dirty water through the filter.

What does the water look like?

4) Take the filter apart and look at the different layers you have used. Can you tell what each material removed from the water is?

5) Wipe the bottle clean again, and experiment with different filter materials, or even dirtier water.

Note: This is an experiment activity and the water may still not be safe to drink so please do not consume.

12 Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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launch Chris Evans and Richard Harpin the Entrepreneur Challenge

Taking care of business

Chloe and her taste test experts

Richard Harpin, CEO of HomeServe and the man behind the Scouts Entrepreneur Challenge, started his life in business selling conkers and sweets to his friends.

Now a 10-year old Scout is following his template for success and your Troop can too

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hoever heard of garlic and cheese flavoured dog biscuits? What about peanut butter and carrot? Scout Chloe from Norfolk is creating quite a stir with these innovative flavours. She was inspired by the Scouts Entrepreneur Challenge and has been busily networking and selling her creations locally.

The Scouts Entrepreneur Challenge was launched by Scouting Ambassador Chris Evans in July. It celebrates the skills of displaying a mind for business and taps into the enterprising nature of a Scout.

Proving this, Chloe has come up with her own ingredients, logo and packaging, worked out the costing and created a marketing strategy. She works from home and perfects her products on her own dogs.

Business development Like all good business people, Chloe spotted a gap in the market and exploited it. ‘I’ve looked at what other dog foods are out there and I think I’m offering something different, with unusual flavours which my dogs absolutely adore,’ she explains. ‘I will donate 25 per cent of what I make to charity. I think this could be a business that could develop and grow.’

Your Scouts can now do the same using the

Entrepreneur Activity pack. The booklet contains business ideas which Scouts could try out and outlines the requirements for completing the Entrepreneur Challenge.

There are also online resources for leaders.

According to Programme and Development Adviser Steve Moysey, ‘Scouting has always existed to promote leadership, creativity and effort. We hope the Entrepreneur Challenge will foster the business leaders of tomorrow.’

Certainly with Scouts like Chloe grasping the entrepreneur spirit, the future looks bright.

A GUIDE TO BECOMING A SCOUT ENTREPRENEUR

more info Entrepreneur Activity packs are available from the Information Centre.

Call 0845 300 1818 or email info.centre@scouts.org.uk Resources and activity ideas are available at www.scouts.org.uk/entrepreneur cover.indd 1-2

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** some of the information above appeared previously in an article written by Adam Lazarri for the Eastern Daily Press; Chloe photograph courtesy of the Eastern Daily Press

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New modules for leaders

r p or residential experience on you Is there a night away, sleepover, cam or rnight experience you are planning ove of e typ at wh r tte ma No n? horizo says t you have the right tools for the job helping out with, it is essential tha Samantha Marks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14 Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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Up for a Challenge?

Your Troop now has the opportunity to work with their local police force and make a difference in the community via the police-sponsored Community Challenge

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he award has two parts. Firstly, Scouts undertake activities which help them to look differently at their community. Using the accompanying activity pack, they identify groups of people and their different needs, as well as creating a map to pinpoint any problems that exist, such as graffiti or poor lighting. To achieve level two, the Troop will focus on a local community priority that they shall tackle together.

Local officers will be invited to a Scout meeting where they can discuss what the Troop has learned and provide an overview of how community policing works.

The officer may also help the Scouts choose which issue

they want to tackle and work with them to develop an action plan.

Supporting materials for Scout Leaders and community policing teams are being developed, including briefing packs, activity sheets and ideas on tackling local issues.

Scout Troops and the police have been an integral part of communities for many years. This partnership provides an opportunity for the two to work together and improve the quality of local life. more info For resources and more information please visit www.scouts.org.uk/police

Puffin Competition winner announced Earlier this year, Puffin asked Scout leaders to write a short adventure story for the chance to win a visit from Puffin Adventure Challenge Champion and author of Puffin’s Young Samurai series, Chris Bradford, to their District

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he fantastic winning entry was written by Cheryl Thompson from Buckinghamshire.

Cheryl’s fantastic story The Raven of Doom is now available to read online at www.scouts.org.uk/puffin As promised, Chris will visit the Chesham school where Cheryl’s Scout Troop meets and perform an authentic samurai sword display to an audience of Scouts and their siblings.

Don’t miss out Your next chance to meet Chris Bradford and watch his action-packed martial arts display is at WinterCamp on Saturday 8 January 2011.

You can introduce your Troop to Chris Bradford ahead of this and motivate them to start their quest for the Puffin Adventure Challenge Award by watching his video on www.scouts.org.uk/puffin Whether they’re into sailing, orienteering or cycling, the Puffin Adventure Challenge Award will set your Scouts on the right course.

16 Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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Competitive nature Competition may be out of fashion in schools but within the Scout Troop it can be useful for helping Patrol Leaders to motivate and direct their Patrols says Louise Henderson

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points competition, over the course of a term, can be the best tool that you can give Patrol Leaders to help with their role. What better way to get a Patrol to pull together than the lure of the winner’s necker, woggle or prize of any description?

Scouts are quick to notice unfairness though and the way that points are awarded needs to be equal in weight and origin. Points are easy to award for games – there are obvious winners and losers and all stages in between.

However, if these are the only place where points given, then the sporty Patrol will have an unfair advantage.

Points need to be awarded across the entire Balanced Programme.

Added element In some cases an extra element can be added to broaden the range of points. Awarding them for best decorated or most humorous or staying on task the longest gives scope to sharing out the opportunities. If one Patrol wins every time, you are probably not awarding points as widely as you could.

Try changing the scoring mechanism. For instance where the result is subjective, such as best song or best

paper aeroplane stunt, get the whole Troop to vote on a top three basis (of course, they are not allowed to vote for their own).

Another important factor in fairness is that only the same number of points can be achieved each week. In other words, it shouldn’t be possible to win the entire term prize on the basis of a huge number of points scored on any one evening. The way to get around this is to award points out of ten for each meeting, so the Patrol with the top score gets ten, next highest score gets eight and so on.

An easy life Depending on what you want to encourage you can award extra points outside this system for things such as doing badges at home or turning up for Remembrance Parade. It’s really up to you.

Finally, it always helps to ‘big up’ the winners, but it is maybe better not to announce the bottom half of the table. As with most good practice, it takes a little thought to run a good points competition, but if you get it right your Patrol Leaders will find their lives become just that bit easier.

18 Scouts December 2010/January 2011

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