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Transcript of explorers
The magazine
for Explorer Scout LeadersJune/July 2009
Ask a question
for our new feature
Ask a question WHAT IF?
Woggle idolMake your mark
by making your own
Surf’s up Meet the Unit making waves
PITCH PERFECTPITCH PERFECTCamping the Explorer Scout way
scouts.org.uk/pol
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WELCOMEYour Explorer Scout Section Working GroupAndrew Wellbeloved, UK Commissioner for Programme Gemma Veitch, Programme and Development Adviser
Contact them at:[email protected]
Explorer Scout Working Group, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW; Tel: 0845 300 1818
ADVERTISINGSenior Sales Executive: Tom [email protected] Tel: 020 8962 1258
Cover image: HalimaPhoto by Allan Baxter
Meet the members of the Tsunami Explorer Unit, pictured here helping out at a charity farm. See page 14 for the full story.
4 Life under canvasFormats and ideas for Explorer Scout camps, from back-to-basics to expedition camping
6 Who ya gonna call?Meet the team that supports Explorer Scouting at UK level
8 Money, money, moneyModels for fi nancing your Unit, with pros and cons from those who know
10 Woggle power A practical programme to make your Unit’s woggles unique
12 East is EastThe Explorer Scout tour bus reaches the East of England, with ideas for camps and activities
14 Crest of a waveHow the Tsunami Explorer Unit in Cheshire are attracting big numbers, and keeping them
15 Question timeA new feature, in which we ask for your questions that need practical solutions
16 Everything but the kitchen sink
Our guide to what you need to run a successful Unit
18 Playing the gameMaking Module E of the Young Leaders’ Scheme matter
Mel Brammer kickstarts the new season with another exciting edition of Explorer, bursting with features
and practical advice
Let’s hear it for the summer! I’m pretty sure that after the cold winter we have
experienced this year, the warmer season and longer evenings already have you
putting the out in Explorer Scouting as often as possible.
Wherever you are, you can make the most of your local environment,
whether that’s a city park, the banks of a canal, your village, or hiking and
camping your way into the hills. If you’re planning the programme for camp
then don’t look any further than our article on page 4. Speaking of camp, if you
haven’t finalised your plans yet, we have some great ideas on offer in the East of
England that you might want to give a try.
Have you ever wondered who looks after Explorer Scouts at UK
Headquarters? On page 6 we find out who the UK staff and volunteer
supporting the section are, and what they do to support you.
We also investigate different ways to finance the section and different
methods for delivering Module E of the Explorer Scout Young Leaders’ Scheme.
Be a part of itDon’t forget, if you have a question you want the answer to, want to share
some good practice or have done something inspiring with your Explorer Scouts
then we want to hear about it. We are always delighted to hear from you, so
email your contributions to [email protected] with ‘Explorer
Scout Supplement’ in the subject line.
A Summer of adventure
Contents
explorer_6709.indd 3 15/5/09 10:03:26
4 Explorer June/July 2009
Life under canvas Explorer Scouts love camping. It is one of the major activities that bring new members into the section. If you are at a loss for what to do with your Explorer Scouts at camp, check out our ideas
The top three types of camp1. Back to basics. You may have Explorer Scouts who
are fairly new campers mixed in with the survival
specialists, who have been under canvas since they were
eight. This camp gets the experienced sharing with the
uninitiated. Your Explorers should have a bit more
autonomy with catering, much of which will be done
on an open fire. Activities will be mostly on or around
the campsite, involving more traditional Scouting skills.
2. Activity. This type of camp is all about offering
different activity experiences. Occupy the Explorers with
a range of activities, getting wet and getting dry again.
While they should be expected to pitch in with cooking
and washing up, they will appreciate the leaders taking
charge of this area with cooking done centrally.
3. Expedition. The activity on this camp speaks for itself.
The campsite is as mobile as the Unit, with Explorers
working in small groups under supervision, setting
up their own camps and cooking for themselves.
Activities for a back to basics camp• Collectingfirewood
•Firelighting
• Backwoodscooking
• Shelterbuilding
• Toiletdigging
• Gadgetmaking
• Makingovens
• Conservationactivities
• Pioneering
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CAMP ACTIVITIES
In this type of camp, even the simple things like getting
the fire lit and making dinner can take quite a long time.
It’s extremely good for team building and allowing your
Explorers to get to know one another.
Activities for an activity campYou may choose a combination of on-site and off-site
activities, usually aiming for one or two activities
in a morning or afternoon session. To keep costs from
spiralling, make contact with local leaders with the
appropriate activity permits, or book activities with the
campsite rather than using external providers. Try
to balance out your activities, including those that cost
and those that don’t.
Examples are:
• Climbing
• Kayaking
• Bell boating
• Kite buggying
• Conservation work
• Biking
• Archery
• Air rifle shooting
• Caving
• Grass sledging
• Visiting local museums, shopping centres
and other attractions.
Other ways to make your camp stand outTheme it! Themed camps are one way of coming up with
a new range of activities. They work best when you are
planning or attending a larger camp. For example, the first
County Explorer Scout event in Devon was a medieval
weekend. Activities at the camp included an armour
assault course; coracle building; coracle racing; a medieval
themed campfire (with costumes); a display from a
re-enactment group and conservation work.
Give them some space! It is important to allow
teenagers spare time on camp to chill out. Certainly many
of the Explorers will be happy to sit for hours chatting
around a fire. However, too much spare time leads to
boredom, and boredom can lead to trouble. Try to strike
a healthy balance between sufficient free time and bursts
of intensive activity. After all, Scouts is more than just a
youth club!
Get spiritual. A camp is a great time to explore the
spiritual element of our programme, and the Values and
Relationships Programme Zone. You could do this through
flag break, Scouts’ Owns, pause for thought around the
campfire, or ‘thought posters’ tied to trees around the site.
It can also be built into creative and adventurous activities,
with opportunities for reflection given precedence, rather
than simply rushing on to the next thing. Drawing out the
sense of achievement and personal development after
an activity can be as rewarding as the activity itself.
CAMP YELLHave you run a camp that you’d like to shout about, or an idea that you could share? Tell us about it by emailing [email protected] with ‘Explorer Scout Supplement’ in the subject line
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6 Explorer June/July 2009
2
1
Who ya gonna call?
UK Adviser (Explorer Scouts)The UK Adviser role came into existence just over two years ago when the UK Headquarters volunteer structure changed. The UK Adviser is part of the UK Programme Advisory Team, managed by the UK Commissioner for Programme. Up until April, Chris Brammer held the post for Explorer Scouts, and he tells us about the role…
‘Between my team (which includes volunteers in the
section and Gemma Veitch, who does a lot of unseen leg
work) we have been to every Region of England, as well
as Wales and Scotland (sorry Northern Ireland, I didn’t
quite make it to you in person). We’ve listened to issues
and delivered workshops to help adults in the section
in their roles.’
The good newsExplorer Scouting continues to thrive! It’s thanks to the
hard work of all of you, delivering quality Explorer Scouting
week in and week out. Thank you to all of you.
Chris Brammer, who recently stood down as UK Adviser for Explorer Scouts, and Programme and Development Adviser Gemma Veitch give us the lowdown on their roles
Chris Brammer
Gemma Veitch
There are really two strands to the role of being UK Adviser for Explorer Scouts:
Keeping the Programme relevant. Firstly, I was tasked with holding my ear to the section: listening hard to leaders, managers and young people to better understand the challenges they face every day; and working to make sure our programme and resources are of the highest quality, relevant to our young people, and if necessary recommending and implementing changes and improvements.
Delivering support. Secondly, I was charged with providing support to the same leaders and managers. This came in the form of workshops, support events and advice, but less obviously in the form of written and web-based resources (all factsheets for the Explorer Scout section, for example, were mine to keep updated and comprehensive).
explorer_6709.indd 6 15/5/09 10:04:54
SCOUTSHOPS
EQUIPPED FOR ADVENTURE
N
S
Roles at UKHQ
Programme and Development Adviser Gemma Veitch, a bubbly Scot with a big smile, is one of the Programme and Development Advisers, working full time at Gilwell Park.
EXPLORER: Can you give us a brief summary of your job?
What do you do?
Gemma: I support the development of Explorer Scouting
across the UK. A lot of that is working with the
volunteers, the UK Adviser and his team.
EXPLORER: Do you work mostly in the office or
does your job entail you getting out and about
around the UK?
Gemma: It is mainly office based but on average I am out
of the office four days a month doing evening and
weekend work. This can take me right across the UK,
meeting lots of the volunteers who are doing fantastic
work with the Explorer Scout section.
EXPLORER: What’s the best part of your job?
Gemma: Seeing Scouting in action. I also really enjoy the
events we support such as the Queen’s Scout Reception
and Gilwell 24 as they show what young people can
achieve and the activities that Scouting gives them
access to.
EXPLORER: What has been the most challenging aspect?
Gemma: Moving from the north east of Scotland to
London certainly threw up some challenges!
Professionally, trying to make sure that as a national
organisation we put strategies in place to support
flexibility within the Explorer Scout setup and provision.
To get in touch with Gemma and the Programme Team,
email [email protected] or call 0845 300 1818.
scouts.org.uk/shop01903 766 921
Take the Scout towel with you to camp, and be prepared
for any situation.
Made from 100% cottonSize 153 x 75cm
i.SCOUT Polo Shirt and T-shirts
£11.74 (polo shirt) £7.83 (T-shirt)
i.Scout is a theme running across a range of clothing and souvenirs. Available in black, orange, purple and kiwi (T-shirt only). Get ready for summer camp with your i.Scout tops and other souvenirs. Sizes: S-XXL. XXXL (black only).
Kick it, stomp it, crush it, the Really Big Oball bounces right back to
a perfectly formed sphere. This is an amazingly fun and durable outdoor
toy. Easy to grab or catch with vibrant colours. The Oball can
be used indoors or out, anywhere your Unit wants to play.
Protect yourself from the sun
with this 100% cotton navy adult-sized
baseball cap, embroidered
with the Scout logo.
Really Big OballItem code: 1026847
£12.50
Scouts ‘Be Prepared’ Towel
Item code: 1024948
£13
Scout Baseball CapItem code: 1025891
£5.75
All profits go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101 (England and Wales) and SC0384837 (Scotland).
A GROWING SECTIONThe Explorer Scout section experienced another year of growth in 2008-09, with numbers up 5% to 31,948 youth members. This includes a 10.1% growth in the number of girls in the section, which translates to nearly 800 more female Explorer Scouts. The overall trend from the 2009 census shows a growth in membership of 3.2%.
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8 Explorer June/July 2009
MODEL 1: EXPLORER SCOUT FINANCES IN THE DISTRICT ACCOUNT
Advantages
The District Treasurer collects in subs and other money.
You just present receipts or request a cheque to get money.
Disadvantages
Getting a cheque requires a bit more forward planning and the District Treasurer needs to be actively on board with the section.
Considerations
Prepare a budget in advance to demonstrate to the District Executive that you know what you are likely to spend and how much you will collect in. If there is a difference between the two sums they can prepare accordingly.
Keep your own records of money in and out.
Money, money, money
T he most important thing to know is that the
District Executive is responsible for Explorer
Scout finances. This means that any changes
you propose will need to be agreed with the
District Executive, so take your suggestions to the next
meeting and ask them to think about a way forward.
The District Executive must ensure that Explorer Scout
finances operate wit hin the rules laid down in Policy,
Organisation and Rules (POR), and in accordance with
charities legislation. Assuming this framework, there is a
degree of flex ibility as to how Explorer Scout funds are
actually administered, based on local needs.
The majority o f Explorer Scout finance falls under
two models, right.
It all adds upThere are other considerations to bear in mind when
thinking about how best to organise the finances for
Explorer Scouting. Be sure to think of the following before
coming to your own conclusion.
It is said that the love of money is the root of all evil. Perhaps, but having some is always helpful. Is Explorer Scout finance in your District working? It may be time to review the way your money is organised to ensure that your financial engine is well oiled, writes Mel Brammer
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FINANCE
MODEL 2: KEEPING YOUR OWN ACCOUNT
Advantages You have more control over money.
Disadvantages
Requires more record keeping.You need to collect subs and membership fees yourselves.You may need the administrator or a parent on the sub-committee to look after the fi nances.
Considerations
The District Treasurer should still be a signatory on any accounts.You should prepare a budget and keep a record of all money coming in and going out.You must send a copy of your bank statements and your accounts to the District Treasurer at least every quarter.
Money, money, moneyAsking Groups to contributeYour District may have decided that as Explorers is a
District section, all money for Explorer Scouting, such as
leader and District Explorer Scout Commissioner (DESC)
expenses and training will either come from the Explorer
Scouts themselves, fundraising, grant applications and/or
a District membership subscription levy. In some Districts
the Explorer Scout section is also supported financially by
the Groups. This particularly applies to the Explorer Scout
Young Leaders’ Scheme, as it can be argued that this
directly benefits Groups.
FundraisingFundraising is more difficult without a supportive Executive
Committee. In a Group, the Group Executive will take the
lead. Does your District Executive support the fundraising
efforts of the Explorer section, or is it largely left to the
Explorer Scout Leaders?
Applying for grantsExplorer Scout Units cannot apply for lottery grants
or many other grants on their own. This needs to go
through the District, as the District Scout Council is the
charitable body.
Gift AidGift Aid can be collected on money paid for subs and
membership fees, which can be a lucrative way of raising
money as you can reclaim income tax paid on the money
that the parents give to Scouts. If your District is collecting
Gift Aid on Explorer Scout finances, does the money come
back to the Explorer Scout section? If Gift Aid is not being
collected, then discuss with your District Executive how to
set it up. See the Gift Aid factsheet (FS190006) for more
information.
The way you currently finance Explorer Scouting in your
District was probably decided six years ago when the
section was new. Sit down with the District Executive and
review the model you have in place, before deciding
if any improvements can be made.
For full details refer to the factsheets Explorer Scout Finance (FS452013) and The Role of the District Executive in supporting the Explorer Scout Section (FS452012)
more info
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10 Explorer June/July 2009
Outline: The Explorers will make two different styles
of woggle, Turk’s Head and Pipe.
Programme Zone: Skills
Time: About an hour
Numbers: You can do this with any number of
Explorers provided you have enough paint,
paintbrushes and broom handles! If you have too
many, consider running this alongside another activity
and swap over after an hour.
Note: It is probably a good idea to have a separate
table set out for each type of woggle (the pipe
woggle can get pretty messy).
Pipe wogglePlastic piping about 2cm in diameter
Hacksaw and workbench
Sharp knife (Stanley or similar)
Paper and pencils
Paint suitable for painting on plastic
Sandpaper
Fine paintbrushes
Newspaper or plastic sheeting for covering
the table and floor
Turk’s Head woggleColoured cord or washing line in Unit colours
Broom handles
Candle
Step-by-step instructions (get these from
www.scouts.org.uk/pol - Activity ID: 44091)
How many of your Explorers turn up every week without a woggle? Try following these instructions and give them the chance to make their very own in Unit colours or their own designs
Woggle power
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PRACTICAL PROGRAMMES
Woggle power
Instructions for Pipe Woggle1 Cut the plastic piping into pieces about 3cm long
using the hacksaw and workbench. Ensuring that you
have a suitable surface to cut on, cut each piece down
the length using the knife (this allows a bit of ‘give’
when pulling your scarf through it). You may wish to
do this step for the Explorers in preparation to save
them all queuing to use the saws.
2 Sand down the raw edges of the pipe to give
a smooth finish.
3 Get the Explorers to think about the design that they
will paint on their woggle and draw it out on paper
first.
4 Paint on any background colour and leave woggle to
dry. Once the first layer has dried, add a second or
some more detail.
SUBMIT If you have a tried and tested programme idea then don’t keep it to yourself. Submit it to Programmes Online at www.scouts.org.uk/pol and send it to the supplement team, including photos, at [email protected] with ‘Explorer Scout Supplement’ in the subject line.
Instructions for Turk’s Head Woggle1 Cut a metre of thick cord or coloured washing line
using a sharp knife. If you’re using nylon cord then use
a candle to seal the ends. Watch out, hot plastic
can burn!
2 Allow plenty of time for the Explorers to get their
heads around the instructions and to try things out a
few times. Once they’ve worked it out, progress is
quite fast and they can start to help others.
3 You can carefully melt the ends of the nylon cord
together to seal, or for washing line woggles, suggest
that the Explorers put them in a warm oven for a few
minutes to melt the threads together so that the
woggle will hold its shape.
The Explorers will now have two new and
completely different woggles to choose from and know
how to make more.
Young Leaders can teach small groups of Beavers, Cubs
and Scouts the Turk’s Head woggle. This will help them to
build up confidence in their leadership style and in giving
instructions.
Leader’s advice:‘If you’re going to run this activity then make sure that you
cover the entire painting area with newspaper before you
start, and bring a damp cloth to quickly wipe up any spills.’
What one Explorer Scout said:‘We don’t really have any excuses for not wearing
a woggle any more, do we?’
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12 Explorer June/July 2009
The Explorer Scout tour bus has continued its mammoth journey, this time wending its way to the East of England. Here is just a snippet of what the region has to offer, with attractions to keep your Unit busy
East is EastGetting therePlane: Stansted Airport or Luton Airport
Train: The East Coast Main Line and train links out
of London
Road: M11, A12, A14, A11, A10 and A1.
CampsitesCambridgeshire. For a variety of campsites in
Cambridgeshire, including Barton Crofts Scout Centre,
Wisbech, and Holt Island, Huntingdon, visit
www.cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk/campsites
Gilwell Park. Chingford, Essex. A huge campsite with an
array of buildings, camping areas and activities.
www.scouts.org.uk/sac
Belchamps Scout Centre. Hockley, Essex. Large
campsite with indoor accommodation and a huge range
of on-site activities.
www.belchamps.co.uk
Skreens Park Scout Campsite. Chelmsford, Essex.
Parkland with wooded area and lake, two indoor
accommodation blocks, some on-site activities available.
www.skreenspark.org
Thriftwood International Scout Activity Centre. Brentwood, Essex. Woodland with clearings, several
indoor accommodation blocks and loads of activities.
www.thriftwood.org.uk
Phasels Wood Scout Camp and Activity Centre. Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. Meadow, woodland and
activity fields. Indoor accommodation. Wide variety
of on-site activities. www.phaselswood.org.uk
Tolmers Scout Camp. Cuffley, Hertfordshire. Woodland
and meadow with a small lake. Indoor and outdoor
accommodation and plenty of on-site activities.
www.tolmers.org.uk
Bidwell Guide and Scout Centre and Two Mile Bottom Camp Site. Thetford, Norfolk. Purpose-built
accommodation and training centre and gladed woodland
for camping. www.bidwellcentre.org
Eaton Vale Activity Centre. Norwich, Norfolk. Camping
on the banks of the River Yare with indoor
accommodation available and plenty of activities.
www.eatonvale.co.uk
Bradfield Park Campsite. Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Brand new campsite in historical parkland. Some on-site
activities and one indoor accommodation block.
www.bradfieldpark.co.uk
Wolferton. Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. Back-to-basics
camping field. Good for cycling and walking expeditions
and within walking distance of the coast. For contact
information see the campsite directory on
www.norfolkscouts.org.uk
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REGIONAL REVIEW
ActivitiesZSL Whipsnade Zoo. From £8.70 per person
for advance group booking. Established to breed
and re-release endangered species, the park contains
over 2,500 animals. www.zsl.org/whipsnade
Cycling. There are several great routes in this part of the
UK, and you won’t find many hills in the East Anglian
fenlands of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk! Try the 15-mile
route from Cambridge to Ely along a peaceful towpath.
Imperial War Museum. Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
Europe’s largest collection of historic aircraft. Free for
under 15s or from £11.80 for over 15. A great place
to complete the Aviation Skills Badge.
www.iwm.org.uk/duxford
Long Distance Paths. The Peddars Way and Norfolk
Coast path link to form a 94-mile walking track, and there
are several other long distance routes to choose from.
For a full list and a great deal of other useful
information look at The Ramblers website
www.ramblers.org.uk/info
Boating. The Norfolk Broads offer a wide range
of boating experience with many narrow boats for hire
and watersports activity providers.
Seaside. For the traditional summer holiday
experience take your Explorers to Southend-on-Sea
in Essex or Southwold in Suffolk to play on the beach.
Don’t forget your bucket and spade!
Sandringham Estate. Not only a country retreat
of the Queen with fascinating history, but also a huge
and rambling country park with free entry and countless
walks and bike rides to enjoy.
www.sandringhamestate.co.uk
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14 Explorer June/July 2009
Crest of a waveTsunami Unit in Warrington West District, Cheshire has 38 Explorer Scouts. Mel Brammer speaks to Explorer Scout Leader Karin Quarrie to find out the secrets of their success
Where have all the Explorers come from?We have a good take up from the older Scouts, but also
have some from the Guides, and the Explorers’ friends
keep asking if they can come along.
How do you manage 38 teenagers?They don’t all turn up together every week. We offer a
varied programme so they dip in and we usually get 27 or
28 for a meeting night. It helps having a really good team
of leaders. Caroline, Chris and Hannah are the Assistant
Explorer Scout Leaders and Darren is Unit Assistant. We
could always do with more of course! We don’t want to
get to the point where we have to turn away potential
Explorer Scouts just because we are short of adult help.
What’s in your programme?The Explorers contribute to the programme, and
sometimes run the meetings. We do plenty of camping,
and if they want to attend an event further away then we
try to arrange it … it’s all about opportunities. We offer all
the DofE programmes so there’s training for expeditions
and hiking in the programme. On top of this we play
games, have fun investitures and do all the usual
Explorer activities.
What’s the favourite activity?Nearby is a charity farm offering trips and holidays to
children and young people with special needs. We go
there for a weekend and do bits and pieces of
maintenance around the farm, and in between we relax
and have a great time. All the Explorers who go to the
farm want to go again.
Are there any other secrets to your success?Communication. After every Explorer meeting we email all
the Explorer Scouts, some parents, older Scouts, the other
Explorer Scout Leaders and the Scout Leaders. It tells them
what we did (ie what they missed if they weren’t there!)
and gives them all the information they need ready for the
following week. Nobody can say that they don’t know
what’s going on!
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15scouts.org.uk/pol 15scouts.org.uk/pol
Q&A
Crest of a waveHow do we make Values and Relationships more exciting? How do I get more Explorer Scouts to weekend activities? If you’ve got a question, we want to answer it…
I n future issues of Explorer we are going to be
focusing on real issues, and real solutions that
other people can share. If you have a solution to
one of the questions below, or have a question
that you would like us to tackle, then get in touch at the
usual address. We kick off with some common questions.
We’re aware of a large rural
area of our District with
no Scout Groups and no
Explorer Scout Units – we want to appeal to teen-
agers further out of town
(some are half an hour or
more away) but we’re not
sure how to go about it. Any
ideas?
We have a large Unit,
but how do you get busy teenagers to commit to activities on weekends or outside
their normal meeting night?
Our active and adventur-
ous programme has lured
many new members from
outside the Movement. Now
that we’ve got them, how
do we get across the values
side of Scouting and the
principles behind what we
do? How do I share the
magic of Baden-Powell’s
vision with teenagers?
In our District we are trying to grow
Explorer Scouting, but
don’t seem to have
much support from the
Groups or the District.
How do we tackle this?
I find it very easy to come
up with good programme
ideas for the Outdoor and
Adventure, Physical Rec-
reation and Skills Zones,
as do my Explorers. How
do we come up with some
more exciting activities for
Values and Relationships,
Community Service and
Global?
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16 Explorer June/July 2009June/July 2009
Everything but the kitchen sink
ResourcesUnit Essentials, The Unit Programme and The Unit Programme Plus (all available from www.scouts.org.uk/
shop) are pretty standard and if you have them to hand
then you can always refer to them. In particular The Unit Programme is a useful one to have a few copies of, as the
Explorers can check up on badge requirements, or can
use the tools in there to help plan a programme.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award resources, in particular
the Handbook for Leaders, should be kept handy. You
can download pages relating to activities Explorer Scouts
are undertaking from www.dofe.org
Information and admin• Programme folder. Copies of your current
programme and more information, letters etc on
forthcoming activities.
• Members folder. Copies of record cards
for all members with medical and
emergency contact details. This goes to all
Explorer Scout activities. You should have
a list containing all this information for
every Explorer Scout in the District, as they
should all be able to turn up to any activity
on offer by any of the Units.
• Box of badges. Always keep a few
spare badges for Nights Away, Hikes
Away, Participation and Membership,
as you will then be able to quickly award
them when an Explorer has earned them.
Also keep a list of which badges have
been awarded.
• Money. A record of who owes what.
We take loads with us to Explorers every week, as we don’t have any storage at our meeting place and we like to be prepared for anything! Mel Brammer takes a look at the type of thing that might be useful to have in an Explorer Scout cupboard (or the boot of your car) and why
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17scouts.org.uk/pol
ExplorEr Scout toolbox
Everything but the kitchen sink
Games box• Avarietyofballsofdifferentshapesandsizes.
• Folddowncrates.
• Beanbags,batsandracquets.
• Whistles.
• Blindfolds(askfriendsandfamilytocollectthefreeones
fromlonghaulflights)
• Gamesbook.Putanythinginherethatyouregularlyuse
ingames.Asyoutryoutnewgames,addtoyour
collection.
Skills•Maps.LaminatedOrdnanceSurveyonesarebest.Getseveralcopiesofyourlocalareaforregularmapwork,
andalsobegintobuildupyourcollectionofotherareas
whereyougohikingorcampingwithyourExplorers.
Trytogetthemusedtoworkingwithboth1:25000
and1:50000.Youmightalsowanttoincludestreet
mapsofyourlocalarea.
• Compasses. Getseveralforregularpracticeattakingabearinganduseonhikes.
• First aid items. Notforrealuse(youwillhaveafirstaidkitinthemeetingplace)buttriangularslings,bandages
etcwillbeausefuladditionforregularfirstaidpractice.
• Piecesofropearoundametrelong–forpractisingknots.
• Matches,flintandsteel,tinofkindling,cottonwool,for
firelightingwork.
• Routecards.
Miscellaneous• Torch
• Chalk
• Playingcards
• Scissors
• Glue
• Pensandpencils
• Paperandcard
• String
• Dice
• Rulerandtapemeasure
• PinsandBlu-Tak
• Penknife
• Disposablecups,platesandcutlery
• Straws
• Firstaidkitandaccidentbook–forobviousreasons!
• Bookofpositivethoughts.Forourweeklyreflection
attheendofthemeetingwhenwetakedowntheflag.
Mostoftheitemsinthiscategoryare‘justincase’,but
theyhaveallbeenusedalot.Wehaveabasic‘toolbox’in
whichwehavegatheredalltheseitemsandmore.
What’s missing?I’m sure that you can think of many more things that you would recommend. If you have anything that you think should be added, we’d love to hear from you. Just send it in to [email protected] with ‘Explorer Scout Supplement – Toolbox’ in the subject line.
explorer_6709.indd 17 18/5/09 17:21:53
18 Explorer June/July 2009
GamE for a lauGh – a casE study‘I went to a Young Leader Unit running Module E. Instead of sitting and listening all evening we had two Scout Leaders from the District running the evening. They played loads of games that would be suitable for the different sections. We all had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. This was a great way to run the Module, as we still had plenty of discussion about appropriateness for different sections and different occasions and risk assessments. Because it was fun I think the Young Leaders will remember it!’ Mary, Explorer Scout Young Leader
Playing the GameMaking Module E of the Young Leaders’ Scheme matterMartin Peake turns his attention to the Game On module in the scheme, and recommends getting some new faces to deliver Young Leader training.
P icture the scene: a group of accountants meet.
They greet each other solemnly and prepare for
the dreary 90-minute PowerPoint presentation,
‘Having fun with spreadsheets’. Someone fires
up Excel to calculate the amount of coffee required…
Hopefully this sounds a million miles away from your
Young Leader meetings, but we need to remember that
some YLs might well repeat training modules during their
spell in the Unit. We owe it to them to ensure that
modules are unique every time. Throw away those
PowerPoints!
Take the Game On module. The objective is to help
Young Leaders deliver effective and appropriate games
for different audiences at different times. Noisy games,
calming games, team and individual challenges all feature,
but the emphasis of the module is on offering the right
game at the right time. Why would you want to deliver
this module yourself?
Ask a Beaver, Cub or Scout Leader who is good at
games to come along and run it for you. Most YLs are
excellent at behaving like barmy Beavers, clumsy Cubs
or stroppy Scouts, and giving them roles to play
emphasises the learning experience. Using Leaders from
outside the Unit gives the Module a totally different
atmosphere, especially if you invite leaders from more
than one section.
Finally, let’s go back to that 17½ year old Young Leader
who joined you when she was 14. She’s good, she’s
experienced, she’s done it before. So why isn’t she running
the session?
explorer_6709.indd 18 15/5/09 10:20:50
IBC_EXPLORER_Scouting_JuneJuly09.indd 6 14/5/09 13:57:18
OBC_EXPLORER_Scouting_JuneJuly09.indd 6 13/5/09 12:42:52