From the Chief

There are so many exciting happenings this month – I hardly know where to start. Perhaps the most

significant event is happening today – the release of the Youth Program Review report on our Promise

and Law and Spirituality. I am sure you will agree that these topics are of great importance to us in

Scouting.

This is the first time in 40 years that we have had a total program review. There have been many people working

long hours to bring you the information that has been reproduced for you to read in this edition of Scouts in

ACTion. Please read through and then log onto the YPR website and give your opinion to the review team.

Whatever your thoughts about the documents I strongly urge you to take this chance to add your views. We have

until 31 December but why wait that long? Read it through, think about it, discuss it with others at one of our

Branch or Region or Group meetings and formulate your vision for these foundations of Scouting. Then log it in.

I must also congratulate the exceptional Les Explorateurs team who so capably put on the Reach for the Stars

activity at Mount Stromlo Observatory recently. The observatory staff indicated that we had around 1900 people

using the car parks on a cold dark night on top of the mountain!

Recently also we hosted the National Chief Commissioner Chris Bates and his wife Janis at our Adult Recognition

Awards at the new venue of the Tim Murray Theatre – complete with a Gang Show item and lots of presentations.

The recipients are listed later in this edition. Congratulations again to our hard working “second mile” adults in

Scouting awardees. We also called in on the National Environment Conference at Camp Cottermouth. Our ACT

Environment Team (consisting of youth and adult members) were very capable presenters and hosts for delegates

from Branches all over Australia. Lastly at the annual Girl Guides ACT and Southern NSW Awards Ceremony Bronte

Sheaves an ACT Scout as well as Guide received her Queen Scout Award. What an amazing Branch we belong to!

Australian Capital Territory Branch September 2015

Scouts in ACTion

Youth Program Review By Chris Bates “Chiefy”, Chief Commissioner, Scouts Australia

Dear Scouts of Australia, Parents, and Supporters, I have some exciting news on the progress of our Youth Program Review (YPR). The YPR is looking at everything that takes place within the Scouting Movement - from the time our youth members join, some as young as six, to the time they finish as a youth member, some as old as 26. Some of you have already been involved in the Review. You may have been asked to give your feedback on an aspect of our program, to complete a survey, participate in a focus group or lead a team. For your participation you have my most sincere thanks. Almost 100 people have been working hard on reviewing the program and its many aspects. With more than a half of the review team under the age of 30, this is without doubt a review of the youth program conducted by and for youth, with the support of adults. In looking to create a more inclusive Movement, the review teams have looked closely at ensuring that the Australian Scout Promise and Law remains a true reflection of our organisation and its members. Their task was to keep the foundations of its meaning, while using more contemporary language that would ensure all young Australians are comfortable making our Promise and living by our Law. (continue on page 2)

Youth Program Review (continued from page 1)

We want all our Members, from our youngest to our oldest, to understand and make the Scouting Promise - with one Promise for all Members as our goal. Our research clearly tells us that there is a need for change to help Scouting grow and strengthen. This cannot be achieved without the involvement of you, our Members. The review recommendations put forward the two options on page two of this letter for your consideration. Please reflect on the suggestions for new wording below, together with the attached document describing some of our research findings and the rationale for the recommended rewording. I invite you to download the two full reports by our Review Teams from ypr.scouts.com.au/promiselaw, which outline in detail our research on the Fundamentals of Scouting and the concepts of Duty to God, Spirituality and Spiritual Development. They have been most enlightening in our pursuit of a Movement that is accessible to and embracing of all our members and the community. After considering the research and your feedback, a final choice will be made by the middle of 2016. We want to know what you think. Which options do you prefer? Are there any words you would alter? Make sure to tell us why. The Promise Option 1 On my honour I promise to do my best, Be true to my spiritual beliefs, Contribute to my community, And live by the Scout Law. The Promise Option 2 On my honour, I promise that I will do my best, To be true to my spiritual beliefs, To contribute to my community, my country and our world, To help other people, and To live by the Scout Law. The Law Option 1 Scouts are friendly Scouts exercise honesty, fairness and loyalty Scouts are resourceful, responsible and trustworthy Scouts treat others and the environment with care and respect The Law Option 2 A scout is honest A scout is trustworthy A scout is responsible A scout is considerate A scout is loyal A scout is caring A scout is friendly A scout is resourceful A scout is fair A scout is respectful to themselves, the community and the environment To leave your feedback, please go to the Scouts Australia Youth Program Review page at ypr.scouts.com.au/promiselaw. Consultation closes 31st December 2015.(Continue to page 3)

Scouts in ACTion

Youth Program Review (continued from page 2)

If contacted by the media in regard to these or any other aspects of Scouting, please remember to follow your Branch media policy and simply refer them to your Branch or State headquarters. I very much look forward to your comments on these options of the Promise and the Law, and which you prefer saying – have a go at saying them out loud! Thank you for your continued support of the Scouting Movement.

Imagine the Possibilities,

Chris Bates “Chiefy” Chief Commissioner

Scouts Australia For more information on the Youth Program Review please visit their website, www.ypr.scouts.com.au

Performing Arts Work Shop (PAWS) 2015 The PAWS weekend is a performing arts activity for Cubs. We are limited to how many participants we can take, so make sure you apply soon so you can be a part of this great activity. The Cub PAWS will be held over the weekend of Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November 2015. Throughout the weekend participants will learn and rehearse a short performance as well as learn about other aspects of performing arts such as how a theatre works, make up, costumes and theatre equipment. The weekend will finish with a once off free performance to an audience of family and friends.

When 9:30am – 4:30pm Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2015

(The performance will start at 2:30pm on Sunday 8 November 2015)

Who Cubs aged 9 years or older by 7 November 2015

Where Tim Murray Theatre at Canberra Grammar School

Monaro Crescent, Red Hill, ACT

$50.00 per participant – There is a limit of 50 participants so make sure you get in early so you don’t

miss out. Go to www.canberragangshow.com.au to book your place

Scouts in ACTion

2015 National Adult Recognition Awards

Rover Service Award – Sam Roald, ACT BRC Chair

Special Service Award Adult Leaders: William Allen Birralee Scout Group Alan Anderson Weston Scout Group

Bjorn Berge Kama Scout Group

Elizabeth Daly Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scout Group Christopher Dare Majura Mountain Scout Group

Richard Erlandson Southwell Scout Group

Sian Finch Amaroo Scout Group Susanne Gardiner Majura Mountain Scout Group

Joanne Guth Phoenix Scout Group

James Lehane Northern Region Benjamin Paton Lake Burley Griffin Sea Scout Group

David Smith Amaroo Scout Group

Leah Bach ACT Branch

Adult Supporters: James Daly Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scout Group Alexander Farrow Lake Ginninderra Sea Scout Group

Daniel Galbraith ACT Branch

Rohan Gaskill Majura Mountain Scout Group Stuart Godley Majura Mountain Scout Group

Glen Hatherly Diamantina Scout Group

Gary Heslop Lake Tuggeranong Sea Scout Group Kellie Horne Erindale Scout Group

Mark Horsfield Erindale Scout Group

Robyn Kiddy Erindale Scout Group Katherine Lehane Les Explorateurs Scout Group

Wendy Mattress Mount Rogers Scout Group

Michael O’Doherty Erindale Scout Group Tresna O’Doherty Erindale Scout Group

Caroline Oshyer Erindale Scout Group

Kristine Schilling Kama Scout Group Ricky Wilson ACT Branch

Meritorious Service Award Adult Leaders: Calista Beck ACT Branch

Anthony Butt Birralee Scout Group

Tristan Cross Lake Ginninderra Sea Scout Group Wendy Elford Mount Taylor Sea Scout Group

Debbie Freeman Birralee Scout Group

Ian Hewitt Macarthur Sea Scout Group Clinton Jacka Lake Burley Griffin Sea Scout Group

Victor Kalkman Mount Rogers Scout Group

Matthew Mason ACT Branch Paul McMaster Southwell Scout Group

Continue to next page

Scouts in ACTion

Samuel Nash-Slattery Birralee Scout Group

Caroline Sund ACT Branch

Adult Supporters: Paul Boric Mount Mugga Scout Group Jocelyn Eskdale Mount Mugga Scout Group

Mark Holmes ACT Branch

Chris Horscroft Crace Hill and Amaroo Scout Group Stuart Oxborrow Mount Mugga Scout Group

Peter Quggin The Arthur Shakespeare Foundation for Scouting

Karen Sloan Mount Mugga Scout Group Daniel Sloper Majura Mountain Scout Group

Silver Wattle Adult Leaders: Rosemarie Edwards Weston Scout Group

Wendy Freeman Southern Region

Leslie Hickey Mount Rogers Scout Group

Outstanding Service Award Adult Supporter:

Stephen Lambert

Chair, Camp Cottermouth Committee and President, The Arthur Shakespeare Foundation

for Scouting

Silver Koala Award Adult Leaders:

John Feint

ACT Branch

Sue Groves

Diamantina Scout Group

Neville Tomkins OAM

Scouts Australia

Silver Kangaroo Award Adult Leaders: Rob Fredericksen

ACT Branch

John Sim

Stromlo Forest Scout Group

Congratulations to all the

awardees!

Scouts in ACTion

Scouts blast off from Mount Stromlo Observatory By Kate and James Lehane

Scouts and Guides aimed high and reached for the stars on Saturday 15 August with Les Explorateurs Scout

Group, together with Mount Stromlo Observatory, hosting a special astronomy night for Scouts and Guides

and their families from across the ACT and surrounding region. We even had a Scout bring his family all the

way from western Sydney especially for the night. An estimated total of 1900 turned up on the night.

The event was an extension of Mount Stromlo Observatory's popular public astronomy nights and provided a

great chance for our members to directly engage with science. On the night attendees were taken on a ‘tour

of the universe’ with talks by professional astronomers and scientists from Mount Stromlo Observatory,

featuring a range of exciting topics including meteorites, lasers, the immense size of the universe and

collisions and explosions in space. Outside, star-gazing was facilitated by volunteers from the Canberra

Astronomical Society.

Registered Scouting and Guiding members received a limited edition Reach for the Stars cloth badge. The

astronomy night was complemented by supporting program resources that enabled leaders to deliver

space-theme activities before and after the event. The ACT National Science Week funding also enabled us to

purchase copies of the Australian Backyard Astronomy book, for each of the groups that attended on the

night. We've heard quite a few groups have had heaps of fun using these!

Scouts in ACTion