the magazine for scout leaders oktober/november 2008 ... · 6 august/september 2008...

The magazine for Scout leaders Oktober/November 2008 scouts.org.uk/pol

LET’S GO GLOBALThe easy way to tackle the Global Challenge

YOUNG PEOPLE NOW How keeping your programme relevant will help Scouting grow

ROOM 101West Lancashire invites you to share their New Century Challenge

Scouts_OctNov08.indd 1 19/9/08 11:23:03

IFC_Scouts.indd 1 18/9/08 11:40:55

3The magazine for Scout Leaders

WELCOME

Contents

3 Think global, act localAlasdair McBay invites us to think again about the Global Challenge

4 Need a new challenge?After the Centenary, West Lancashire Scouts have come up with a New Centenary Challenge. Now it’s your turn to try it

7 Reduce,Reuse, Recycle Introducing Serco as the sponsor of the Environment Partnership Award – plus a new environmental activity kit

8 Programmes on a PlateJoin Tony Taylor for an environmental evening

10 Young people nowAndrew Corrie unpacks the Association’s vision for 2012 and asks just how in touch are you with the young people in your Troop?

11 Meeting sparklersFrom invisible Frisbees to Scout contortionists!

13 The essentialsThere are many resources available, but which ones do you really need?

The Global Challenge shouldn’t mean a global sized headache when it comes to programme planning. Alasdair McBay has a few practical suggestions for incorporating this seamlessly into your Troop nights

In the past, the Global Challenge was one that many leaders found diffi cult to put into their Troop programme. However some have since found it one

of the best ways to put a large number of the principles of our Law and Promise into their activities in a practical way.

Two methods Think for a moment of our Law and Promise the best ways to put them into our activities. The challenge can be carried out by one of two methods – International Contact and International Issues. Traditionally, this has been met by travelling abroad or not and by rais-ing money for those in need overseas. However the core of the challenge is about fi nding out about an international issue and often this can be done without leaving your city, town or village.

International made easy There are many sources of ideas for this part of the challenge – Jamboree-on-the-Air, Jamboree-on-the-Internet, Lands of Adventure and The International Links Scheme or simply by looking at the daily news.Search on www.scouts.org.uk for more information on any these Scouting projects. The internet also provides a source for in-depth study of the issues and real impact can be made when it is combined with positive action – perhaps tackling the Community Challenge or the Environmental Partnership Award?

This is a real opportunity to consider the international dimension of our Movement and the force for good it is on all our lives. Let me know how you get on at [email protected]

Think global, act local

Alasdair McBay, UK Adviser for

Scouts


Try woggle making from natural materials

4 October/November 2008 scouts.org.uk/pol

Promising practices

The New Century Challenge is West Lancashire’s development of Scouting beyond the Centenary. It’s also something you can just pick up and use wherever you are, says Andrew Corrie. Some 4,500 Scouts have already tried and tested it – so we know it works!

I f you are fi nding yourself looking for a new challenge, then this ready-made project could be for you. � is is how it rolled out in West Lancashire: All sections planned their own challenges, written to

complement their own balanced programmes. Every Troop in the County was encouraged to participate with the aim being to complete the challenge during 2008 using the New Centenary activities.

How it works � e challenge is designed to help each Troop leadership team plan and provide a balanced programme through the year. In completing the challenge all the Programme Zones will have been visited. Some Challenges can be completed by getting involved in County and District events.

Every one of the challenge elements fi t with the Programme Challenges and will satisfy all or part of personal interest badges. So it’s possible to get two for one or even three for one. � e Programme Zone wheel helped everyone to understand which Challenge fi tted into which part of the balanced programme.

Tried and tested All the challenges were taken from diff erent Troop programmes and activities seen from around the County and the District. Troops from every District in the County are taking part and so far there is a total participation of Beavers, Cubs, Explorers, Network and Fellowship of 4,500.

A closer look � e activities are each inspired by a letter in the words: New Century Challenge. For example this is how the plan looks in the Scoutcraft and Adventure Zone. Again linking with the New Centenary Challenge, the duration, distance or target always relates in some way to the digits 101. Clever, eh?



NEW CENTENARY CHALLENGE

N NAUTICAL The possibilities are endless. Activities could range from visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia to taking the ferry to the Isle of Man.www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk www.steam-packet.com

101 hours Basic/Nautical & Advanced Skills

NIGHT HIKE A night hike can be a real challenge for your navigation as well as being great fun. Why not incorporate this activity intoa weekend’s camp programme?

10.1 Km Hiker

E EQUESTRIAN There are many fi ne stables in West Lancashire providing equine opportunities for young people.www.equestrian.co.uk

10.1 hands Equestrian

W WOGGLE MAKING

Make a woggle out of natural materialswww.woggleshop.com

10.1 minutes

Craft

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

Shelter, warmth and food. Spend time practicing building shelters, lighting fi res (and keeping them going) and cooking before undertaking a survival challenge.www.raymears.com

101 hours Survival Skills

COMMUNITY ZONE

N NIGHT IN A CARDBOARD BOX

Homelessness is still a real issue today. It’s estimated that over 100,000 children are classifi ed as homeless each year in the UK. This challenge is not just about spending a night in a cardboard box, in preparing beforehand Scouts should be encouraged to explore the reasons for homelessness and practical ways that Scouts can help.www.shelter.org.uk

10.1 Hours Nights Away

E EXPOSURE Make your Troop visible in the community 101 minutes

Public Relations

W WORLD COMMUNITY

Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet are popular International Scouting events held every year in October. You will need access to Amateur Radio and the help of a Radio Ham to take part in the 51st JOTA. Taking part in the 12th JOTI can be done by using the web address and following the instructions. www.joti.orgwww.scout.org/jota

10+1 QSLs or Contacts

Radio CommunicatorIT


www.scout.org/jota


6 August/September 2008 scouts.org.uk/pol

CREATIVE EXPRESSION

C CAT WALK Using materials that can be recycled, create an outfi t and display it on a cat walk. This might mean building a cat walk as well. Crank up the David Bowie, invite your parents and display the Troops latest fashion collection.

101 minutes Craft

CAMERA Take 101 photos of local places and create a quiz. 101 images Photographer

CAR MECHANIC Complete the Mechanics Activity Badge. 101 minutes Mechanics

CHEF Ready Steady Cook type meal. 101 minutes Chef

CIRCUS SKILLS Spin, catch or juggle an object. 10.1 minutes Circus Skills

CLOGS Make /decorate a pair of clogs and use them. 101 minutes Craft Heritage

COMPUTERS Use the internet to fi nd 101 international scout websites. 101 websites IT

CONSTRUCTIVE Make a structure from 101 recyclable objects. 101 objects Craft

CRAFT Make something using Scoutcraft. 101 minutes Craft

E ELECTRONICS Make a Morse code set and send 101 characters. 101 characters Survival skills, Electronics

ENTERTAINMENT Take 101 photos of local places and create a quiz. 101 images Photographer

N NEWSPAPER – GET IN IT

Get in it … for the right reason. 101 minutes Public Relations

T TENT DECORATION

Decorate a tent with a design to represent your Troop or District. 101 minutes CraftArtist

U UNIFORM Design a Scout uniform that could be used in 101 year’s time. 101 years CraftArtist

R ROCKETS Get a white coat, pens in the top pocket and become a rocketeer. Using a rocket kit build and fl y your own model rocket.www.nasa.govwww.deepskyrocketshop.co.uk

10(0)1 Meters (Altitude)

Aeronautics

ROAST DINNER Cook and serve a roast dinner for four people. 101 minutes Chef

ROPE ART Tie decorative knots or make woggles. 101 cm of rope Craft

Y YELLOW Use 101 shades of yellow to make a collage or picture. 101 cm of rope Craft

YODELLING Yodel a popular song for others to guess. 101 cm of rope Craft

FAITHS & BELIEFS

C CELEBRATION OF OTHER CULTURES AND BELIEFS

Take part in a celebration from another culture. 101 minutes World Faith

E EARTH Calculate your carbon footprint. Run a carbon neutral Scout night. 101 minutes Group Environment Award

T THANKS Find a new way to say thank you to others. 101 minutes World Faith

U UNIFORM Learn how to take care of and wear your uniform correctly (e.g. wash and iron!!!) 101 minutes World Badge

R RELIGIOUS VENUES

Visit at least three different religious venues. 101 minutes World Faith

REMEMBRANCE Attend and assist at a Remembrance Day service 101 minutes Heritage

Y YELLOW No clues for this challenge, it’s up to your imagination and creativity. 101 ? Take your pick!

The complete list of challenges can be found on www.scouts.org.uk/pol




Reduce, reuse, recycle

Serco sponsors the Environment Partnership Award and makes a new pack available to help you and your Scouts clean up the neighbourhood

We are delighted to announcer that Serco is now sponsoring the Environment Partnership Award. As a service partner to local government and a socially

responsible company, Serco recognises it has a major role to play in educating and enabling local communities to work towards greater sustainability.

� e partnership with Scouting emphasises that we all have a duty and responsibility to care for and protect the environment for the benefi t of future generations. � e award has two key themes: Your Neighbourhood and Your World. By capturing the energy, passion and enthusiasm of young people, Serco is committed to making a very positive impact in tackling these important issues at source.

Your NeighbourhoodLitter in our streets and public spaces make an area look run down and can be a breeding ground for crime and other anti-social behaviour. We all need to do our bit therefore to help keep our local neighbourhoods and clean and litter free so they can be enjoyed by everybody in the local community.

Your World � e Earth has a growing population and a dwindling supply of scarce natural resources such as energy, food and clean drinking water. By thinking carefully about what and how we consume and by acting responsibly we can reduce our consumption and better preserve these scarce resources for the benefi t of future generations.

Free resources pack Serco has combined these elements to design a project and resources pack for local Scout Groups. It should help you plan, organise and undertake a clean-up of a local neglected, littered or derelict area. It will also help you consider wildlife, natural habitats and the local environment as well as understand the importance of reducing consumption by reusing and recycling. � e pack will explain how to organise neighbourhood clean up activities, as well as information on how to obtain specialist equipment such as safety vests, gloves, litter-pickers and refuse & recycling sacks.

Order your free pack today Visit www.scouts.org.uk/serco to fi nd out how to order.



ACTIVITY TIME ZONE/METHOD INSTRUCTIONS

PROGRAMMES ON A PLATE

POP This month’s theme is the environment, written by Tony Taylor

Flag break 5 mins Introduce the environment theme by talking about the pressures on our surroundings. There is a need for more housing for a growing population, which in turn requires more roads. There is a need for more food to be grown. And there are all the forecasts about the effects of global warming.

Know your area 10 mins CommunityGames

There are many versions of this game such as ships or compass bearings. Call out the name of a location, such as police station, nearest hospital, motorway or public house. The Scouts must then run to the wall of the meeting place that is closest to this location. The last Scout to arrive is eliminated from the game until you fi nd a winner. Leaders should prepare a list of suitable locations before starting this game.

How it was 30-60 mins CommunityThemes

This activity is about map reading. Get hold of some old maps of the area around your meeting place. Old Ordnance Survey maps are frequently available on internet sites such as eBay. Compare them with a current map. Ask the Scouts to produce a report (written or verbal) on how the area has changed in the last fi fty or even one hundred years. Pay particular attention to the spread of buildings and any loss of open spaces or woodland. The Scouts could extend their report by going out and taking photographs of the areas that have changed.

The Countryside Code 60 mins CommunityActivities outdoors

Teach the Scouts the Countryside Code. Download the Education Activity Booklet for Voluntary Group Leaders from the website www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk This contains ideas for activities relating to the Countryside Code (once known as the Country Code). In particular it suggests a walk in the countryside, suitable for Groups in rural areas. For those living in towns and cities, you could organise a day’s outing to the countryside after learning the Code and completing some of the other downloadable activities.

Scrap Heap Challenge 60 mins Community, Creative expression Design and creativity, team-building activities

Make a collection of scrap materials such as cardboard and rigid plastic sheets, pieces of wood and stiff wire. Have some tools ready, too. Introduce the challenge by describing how wind turbines can be used to generate electricity with almost zero effect on global warming. Then ask the Patrols to make a model windmill that can be turned by a hair dryer.

Environment 10 mins Community Games Give each Scout a piece of paper with the word ‘environment’ printed at the top. All good Scouts will be prepared with their own pencil! Ask them to write down as many words of four letters or more as they can, using the letters in word. Each letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the word.

Flag down, Prayers 5 mins Exploring Beliefs and Attitudes Prayer, worship and refl ection

Thank you for our world. Help us to respect the area in which we live. Help us to protect the world by being energy conscious in our everyday lives.

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



Activity time Zone/method instructions

Flag break 5 mins Introduce the environment theme by talking about the pressures on our surroundings. There is a need for more housing for a growing population, which in turn requires more roads. There is a need for more food to be grown. And there are all the forecasts about the effects of global warming.

Know your area 10 mins CommunityGames

There are many versions of this game such as ships or compass bearings. Call out the name of a location, such as police station, nearest hospital, motorway or public house. The Scouts must then run to the wall of the meeting place that is closest to this location. The last Scout to arrive is eliminated from the game until you find a winner. Leaders should prepare a list of suitable locations before starting this game.

How it was 30-60 mins CommunityThemes

This activity is about map reading. Get hold of some old maps of the area around your meeting place. Old Ordnance Survey maps are frequently available on internet sites such as eBay. Compare them with a current map. Ask the Scouts to produce a report (written or verbal) on how the area has changed in the last fifty or even one hundred years. Pay particular attention to the spread of buildings and any loss of open spaces or woodland. The Scouts could extend their report by going out and taking photographs of the areas that have changed.

The Countryside Code 60 mins CommunityActivities outdoors

Teach the Scouts the Countryside Code. Download the Education Activity Booklet for Voluntary Group Leaders from the website www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk This contains ideas for activities relating to the Countryside Code (once known as the Country Code). In particular it suggests a walk in the countryside, suitable for Groups in rural areas. For those living in towns and cities, you could organise a day’s outing to the countryside after learning the Code and completing some of the other downloadable activities.

Scrap Heap Challenge 60 mins Community, Creative expression Design and creativity, team-building activities

Make a collection of scrap materials such as cardboard and rigid plastic sheets, pieces of wood and stiff wire. Have some tools ready, too. Introduce the challenge by describing how wind turbines can be used to generate electricity with almost zero effect on global warming. Then ask the Patrols to make a model windmill that can be turned by a hair dryer.

Environment 10 mins Community Games Give each Scout a piece of paper with the word ‘environment’ printed at the top. All good Scouts will be prepared with their own pencil! Ask them to write down as many words of four letters or more as they can, using the letters in word. Each letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the word.

Flag down, Prayers 5 mins Exploring Beliefs and Attitudes Prayer, worship and reflection

Thank you for our world. Help us to respect the area in which we live. Help us to protect the world by being energy conscious in our everyday lives.


10 October/November 2008 scouts.org.uk/pol scouts.org.uk/pol

The Scout Association’s Vision for 2012 is based around six key areas (growing, youth, diverse, focused, sound and relevant). All very well, says Andrew Corrie, but what do they mean in practice for Leaders running a Scout Troop?

To help us continue to develop and grow a strong, unifi ed movement we all need to sign up to a single plan which drives everything we do. In the next few

supplements we will be looking at each area, exploring how it is relevant to us week to week.

Growing and relevantA growing youth membership balanced across gender, age, and ethnicity.

Troops will only grow if they regularly offer exciting, challenging, active, adventurous, and fun programmes. Work to keep the Members you already have, and recruit new Members.

A relevant Movement with a strong public perception socially, politically, and commercially. How is your Troop perceived by its members? What would non-members (potential members) make of your Troop.

To grow your Troop, it needs to be relevant to the lives of your members. Of course you fi ll in their record cards don’t you, so you already know something about them – such as hobbies, religion and education. But why not try and fi nd out more about them? At the same time use it as an opportunity to raise issues around environment community, and global.

Their shoutThe charity World Vision recently undertook a National Youth Survey. How about asking your Scouts to complete it as a way to get to know a bit more about them? It should help you make the Troop and the programme more relevant. And of course you can also use the Troop Leadership Forum and Troop Forum to get their latest views.

Young people now



OUR VISION

How much responsibility do you think you have for your age?• Too much• Too little• Don’t know

Which of the following are you responsible for at home?• Washing up• Walking the dog• Washing the car• Looking after younger sisters and brothers• Keeping my room tidy• Helping out with the household chores – cleaning, hovering, etc• Helping out with the weekly shopping

Apart from Scouting how do you spend your leisure time?• Playing computer games• Going on the Internet• Watching TV• Watching DVDs/videos• Listening to music• Socialising with friends• Watching sports• Taking part in sports• Playing musical instrument• Reading

If someone gave you £100 that you had to spend, what would you do with it?• For myself• Treat myself and give the rest to charity• Treat all my friends to a day out and give the rest to charity• Give it all to charity• Save it in a bank account

How much of your money do you give each year to charity to help people in need?• £5• £10• £15• £20• more than £20• nothing

In the past year what ways have youhelped people in need other than giving money?• Visited old people• Helped old people• Collected for charity• Helped at a charity event• Nothing• Other (please say)

__________________________________________

How do you get to school?• Walk• Cycle• Public transport• Parent’s car• In friend’s parent’s car

Who would be the best person to champion the cause of children in poor countries?• Prince Harry• Fearne Cotton• Natasha Bedingfi eld• Jamelia• Kylie• Wayne Rooney• David Beckham• Other (please say)

__________________________________________

If you had one wish to make the world a better place what would it be?• The end to war• Everyone had enough food and clean water• Everyone could get a good education• Everyone could get a job they enjoyed• Everyone could get medical treatment when they needed it

National Youth Survey



i.SCOUT is the official merchandise of the Scout Association. All profits go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SCO38437 (Scotland).

i.SCOUT ad.indd 1 18/9/08 13:58:39

From a right royal carry on to a game of imaginary Frisbee, Andrew Corrie introduces even more zany meetings ideas to keep your programme fi zzing

Greetings, your Majesty� e group stands or sits in a circle. A volunteer goes to the centre and closes their eyes, or is blindfolded. � e Leader silently selects a Scout in the circle. � at Scout must say ‘Greetings, your Majesty’ in a disguised voice. � e Scout in the middle opens their eyes and tries to guess who it is. If they are wrong, the game is played again. If they are right, they swap places.

One-two-three� is is a good introductory warm-up game. In pairs, Scouts face each other. Each pair starts counting from one to three between themselves over and over. Each time either Scout says ‘one’ that person claps their hands. � en whenever a Scout says ‘three’, they bend their knees. A. ‘One’ (claps hands) B. ‘Two’ A. ‘� ree’ (bends knees) B. ‘One’ (claps hands) A. ‘Two’ B. ‘� ree’ (bends knees)

Ten second objects Play this game in Patrols or small groups. � e name of an object is called out and the group has to make the shape of that object with their own body while the leader counts down slowly from ten to zero. Examples could be: a car, ship, washing machine, fi re, clock – anything you like. Patrols could also be given a few minutes to devise two objects of their own which the other Patrols try to guess.

Zip zap boingA sport played with an imaginary Frisbee. Everybody stands in a well spaced circle. One Scout starts by passing the Frisbee to their left or right, saying ‘zip!’. � e next person catches it and passes it on with a ‘zip!’ When everybody has had a go, the word ‘boing!’ is introduced. Anyone may now change the direction of travel by raising their hands as though defl ecting the Frisbee and saying ‘boing!’ It is then passed back the other way with a ‘zip!’ Finally ‘zap!’ is introduced. Here anyone may pass the ‘Frisbee’ across the circle with a ‘zap!’ Eye contact is essential throughout. People may ‘boing!’ back and forth to one another (as long as they don’t go on for too long). Make sure people don’t say ‘zip!’ when they mean ‘zap!’

Meeting sparklers


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KEY: E Essential - considered essential that an adult in this role has immediate access to this resource in order to fulfi l the role. R Recommended - access to this resource will help an adult carry out this role more effectively. U May be useful - an adult in this role may fi nd it useful to access this resource from time to time.

i.SCOUT is the official merchandise of the Scout Association. All profits go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SCO38437 (Scotland).

i.SCOUT ad.indd 1 18/9/08 13:58:39

At the beginning of the year, new resources were published to support the updates to the balanced programme. Here, Programme and Development Adviser, Jenny Winn explains which are most suitable for you

The essentials



CHIEF SCOUT'S GOLD AWARD

NAME: Chelsea

AGE: 14

ROLE: Patrol Leader, Foxes

Patrol, 5th Mount

Gerald Scout Troop

MY PATROL: ‘Being a Patrol Leader can be tricky but I think the secret is

to listen to what other people have to say.’

NAME: AGE: ROLE: Patrol, 5th Mount

Gerald Scout Troop

The gold � le Alasdair McBay, UK Adviser for Scouts, chatted to three young people who recently gained the Chief Scout’s Gold Award when he visited the Scottish International Jamborette at Blair Atholl

NAME: Darren AGE: 13

ROLE: Assistant Patrol

Leader, Cobra Patrol,

59th Greenock

MY PATROL: ‘I reckon my Patrol is the best in the Troop because we

are more hard working than the others! Also our Patrol

Leader, Kay, doesn’t let us fool around.’

GOLD MOMENT: ‘The best thing I’ve done in getting his Gold Award was

attending a big Centenary Camp where I learned how to

abseil. I really enjoyed getting my Outdoor Plus Challenge

although I could do without all the washing up at camp!’

NAME: Cara

AGE: 13

ROLE: Assistant Patrol Leader,

Peewit Patrol,

Clackmannanshire

MY PATROL: ‘I’m the bossy one in my Patrol but the Peewits always get

along really well.’

GOLD MOMENT: ‘I’ll always remember the first time I sat in a canoe in

Scouts. I really enjoyed making lots of new friends at Scouts

and here at the Jamborette. I like the sense of responsibility,

both for myself and for others, that I get through Scouting.

The best challenge I did as part of my Chief Scout’s Gold

Award was the Community Challenge, where the Troop

helped to design and build a public garden in Clackmannan.’

GOLD MOMENT: ‘I really enjoyed taking part in the Creative Challenge as

part of my Chief Scout’s Gold Award. I made bean bags and

lots of crispy bakes! I also camped at my local campsite, Barr

Wood a lot. The most unusual time was when my Troop

built a platform and camped two metres off the ground. I

recently visited the Scout Centre at Lochgoilhead when I

went sailing, climbing and gorge walking. The best thing I

can remember doing in Scouts was when I visited the World

Scout Jamboree – I couldn’t believe how many people there

was from so many different countries.’

Do you want to be in the Gold File? If one of your Scouts has recently gained their Chief Scout’s Gold Award

email us at [email protected]


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OBC_Scouts.indd 1 12/9/08 17:15:12

the magazine for scout leaders oktober/november 2008 ... · 6 august/september 2008...

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