Information Pack - 1st Paterson Bolwarra Scouts

1st Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group
Information Pack
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1st Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group
Information Package & Application for Membership
Welcome to 1st Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group. This introduction Pack is to provide you with
some general information on our group. Should you have any further questions, feel free to talk
to any of the leaders.
Our group currently has three sections in operation.
These are:
Joey Scouts
boys & girls 6yrs to 8yrs
Cub Scouts
boys & girls 8yrs to 10.5yrs
Scouts
boys & girls 10.5yrs to 14.5yrs
Group name:
1st Paterson/ Bolwarra
District name:
Lower Hunter
Region name :
Hunter & Coastal
You will hear reference to events being group, district or regional events. This indicates at
which level it is being organized and also gives an indication as to how big an event it is.
Leader Contacts
Group Leader
Allan George
(02) 49301523
Joey Scouts
Annette Redman (Acting JSL)
(02) 49385015
Cub Scouts
TBA – contact Group Leader
Scouts
Stuart Holle (SL)
Kerrie Ptolemy (ASL)
(02) 49300595
(02) 49300794
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Meetings
Meetings for sections are conducted on a Monday and Thursday nights as detailed below.
Joeys meet at Woodville School of Arts Hall, Woodville.
Cubs meet at the Bolwarra Public School Hall, Bolwarra Rd.
Scouts meet at Woodville School of Arts Hall, Woodville.
We operate during school terms and membership is open to both boys and girls. Fun days,
camps and outings are also held on weekends throughout the year.
Joeys
Thursday Night 5pm to 6pm
Cubs
Monday Night 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Scouts
Thursday Night 6:45pm to 8:45pm
What is Scouting?
Scouting is a world-wide youth movement, with over 28 million members. It is a voluntary,
non-political, non-denominational, education movement for young people, open to all.
Activities are based on the interest of the young people involved with an emphasis on useful
skills and service to others. Scouts everywhere apply the Scouting method, which includes:
1. A commitment to a code (the Promise) of living
2. Learning by doing (badgework)
3. Progressive and stimulating programs of varied activities, with many activities taking
place outdoors, which encourage the physical, mental, social and spiritual development
of the young people.
4. A sense of the value of service in the community.
Scouting offers opportunities for the young people to work together and develop hobbies and
skills. They potentially can develop a mature ability, dexterity and learn to appreciate the great
outdoors. To achieve these goals parents need to be very involved – interpreting and
explaining the messages behind activities, encouraging participation, assisting with badge
work (reading the yellow (cubs) and green (scouts) books), ensuring that youth members
attend a high level of activities e.g. section nights, weekend activities and District and Regional
events.
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Each section has an award scheme incorporating challenges in the case of Joeys,
boomerangs for cubs and cords for scouts. These awards involve activities around the
environment, personal care, community involvement, crafts and outdoors.
Activities with other groups are held at District, Region, Zone and State level. Scouts have the
opportunity to extend this to a national level by participating in the Jamboree which is held
every 3 years during January.
What you can expect
Joeys – learning basic scouting traditions, games, craft, outings and a camp (a parent must
accompany).
Cubs – learn scouting traditions, games, craft, outings, camping, limited hiking and canoeing.
Scouts – learn scouting traditions, games, ropes and construction, hiking, camping, cooking,
canoeing / kayaking / rafting, limited first aid, abseiling, caving.
Venturer – organise and run your own programme with leader oversight.
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Founder of the Scouting Movement
On his return from Africa in 1903, Baden-Powell found that his military training manual, Aids to
Scouting, had become a best-seller, and was being used by teachers and youth organisations. Following
his involvement in the Boy’s Brigade as Brigade Secretary and Officer in charge of its scouting section,
with encouragement from his friend, William Alexander Smith, Baden-Powell decided to re-write Aids
to Scouting to suit a youth readership. In August 1907 he held a camp on Brownsea Island for twentytwo boys of mixed social background to test out the applicability of his ideas. Baden-Powell was also
influenced by Ernest Thompson Seton, who founded the Woodcraft Indians. Seton gave Baden-Powell a
copy of his book The Birch Bark Roll of the Woodcraft Indians and they met in 1906. Scouting for Boys
was subsequently published in six installments in 1908.
Boys and girls spontaneously formed Scout troops and the Scouting Movement had inadvertently
started, first as a national, and soon an international obsession. The Scouting Movement was to grow up
in friendly parallel relations with the Boys' Brigade. A rally for all Scouts was held at Crystal Palace in
London in 1909, at which Baden-Powell discovered the first Girl Scouts. The Girl Guide Movement was
subsequently founded in 1910 under the auspices of Baden-Powell's sister, Agnes Baden-Powell. BadenPowell's friend, Juliette Gordon Low, was encouraged by him to bring the Movement to America, where
she founded the Girl Scouts of the USA.
In 1920, the 1st World Scout Jamboree took place in Olympia, and Baden-Powell was acclaimed Chief
Scout of the World.
At the 5th World Scout Jamboree in 1937, Baden-Powell gave his farewell to Scouting, and retired from
public Scouting life. February 22nd, the joint birthday of Robert and Olave Baden-Powell, continues to
be marked as Founders Day by Scouts and Thinking Day by Guides to remember and celebrate the work
of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide of the World.
In his final letter to the Scouts, Baden-Powell wrote:
...I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have a happy life too. I believe that
God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness does not come from being
rich, nor merely being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards
happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful
and so you can enjoy life when you are a man. Nature study will show you how full of beautiful
and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you
have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one. But
the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world
a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling
that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. 'Be Prepared' in this way,
to live happy and to die happy - stick to your Scout Promise always - even after you have ceased
to be a boy - and God help you to do it.
Excerpt from Wikipedia
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Fees
We are a voluntary organization. Our group receives no financial support from government. We
rely on fees levied and fundraising.
Initial Registration Fee $30.00
Term Fees for 1st Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group are currently $55.00 per term, with a $5
discount if fees paid within the first 4 weeks of each term. This fee is to be paid to the section
leader.
Activities
Special activities such as cinema visits, fun days, cuboree, rallies, camps, excursions will
generally have an additional cost to cover entry, travel, food or venue / equipment hire. These
costs are kept to a minimum and payable in advance of the activity.
All activities away from regular meeting locations are notified in advance on an “Activity
Notification Form” which is required to be completed by parents and returned, with payments
when required, by closing dates specified on the forms.
The closing dates in advance of the activity are required to allow time for organizers at Group,
District, Region and Branch levels to make final arrangements to cater for numbers attending
with equipment, food, accommodation etc.
If a scout (Joey, Cub or Scout) has to cancel their participation in an activity a refund can only
be made before the closing date or if a replacement member is found.
Term fee payments are required to be up to date for youth members to attend any
activities.
Uniforms
It is a requirement of Scouts Australia that all scouts (Joey Scout, Cub Scout, Scout) following
investiture must wear their full scout uniform at all regular meetings, and to and from activities.
This is a requirement to ensure that youth members are covered by scout insurance policy.
Leaders must approve of non uniform activities on a limited basis, where uniforms are not
suitable or may be damaged.
The required uniform is a dark blue shirt with the relevant section colour across the sleeves
and collar. The group scarf, awarded at investiture, must be worn in the correct manner.
Badges must be sewn onto shirt within a reasonable time frame following presentation. It is
suggested that shorts or trousers be the same as worn to school.
Uniform items can be purchased online at http://www.thescoutsshop.com.au/ .
Should you have any problems with the uniform please talk to your section leader.
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Parental Involvement
Parents and youth members become involved in scouting for a wide variety of reasons. Some
of these may include educational values, opportunity for new experiences or even simply
because they feel their child may enjoy the experience. Involvement in scouting is FUN for the
parent as well as the child.
1st Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group is run entirely by volunteers and to achieve our vision of
what your child should experience through scouting we need your help. Our leaders give up
their time and effort to plan and implement effective programmes, attend training as well as
juggle family and work commitments. Your support of the leaders and your children by
assisting whenever called upon will ensure that we can deliver on our promise to offer new
experiences and have fun.
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Ways to be Involved
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Attend AGM – all parents are invited (this is usually held on a night during the first
school holidays of the year)
Support fundraising – either by putting your hand in your pocket for a group fundraiser
(pie or lamington drive, trivia night) or by volunteering to assist at a public fundraiser
(Bunnings, Steamfest). Our group has a lower quarterly fee than other groups as we
have been able to supplement funds by fundraising.
Ensure children arrive on time for scout meetings – opening / closing parades are a
vital component of each meeting – if children or you question their value then you need
to question if scouts is for you.
Parent roster – assist at weekly meetings to ensure their smooth running by setting up
a craft activity, supervising an activity base or clearing away following an activity thus
minimising the delay between activities and keeping things flowing.
Badge testing – this is generally done in small groups or one on one, it is essential
work, but time consuming for leaders.
Guest speakers – we try to incorporate into the programme opportunities for the youth
members to see and experience community awareness and this is a wonderful way for
them to gain an understanding of what people do for work or leisure.
Become a leader – this is one of the best ways to help (we’re becoming a dying breed);
yes I’ve heard all the excuses now tell me why you would like too. As a leader you can
take a more active role in what direction the group takes – there’s not enough emphasis
on badge work – you can change that, there’s not enough of the old games we use to
play – you can change that, there’s not enough craft or singing – you can change that,
there’s not enough community involvement – you can change that. You can do a lot as
a leader.
The group is only as strong as the level of parental support allows it to be – if we don’t get
volunteers to be leaders then eventually there is no group – if we don’t get volunteers for
fundraising then the programme gets boring (games at the hall) because there is no funds to
organise outings and activities.
Scouts Obligations
Members of the Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group are expected to take an active and
constructive role in the activities of the group.
Attend all Scout meetings unless ill or away.
Arrive on time to all Scout meetings.
Participate in Anzac parade.
Attend at least 2 scouting events (outside of normal weekly meetings) during a calendar year.
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Discipline
It is not the role of the leaders to teach youth members respect or discipline (these qualities will
be encouraged), this is a parental responsibility.
All scouts (Joey Scout, Cub Scout, and Scout) are expected to behave with respect and
consideration. Inappropriate behavior will not be accepted.
Leaders will correct youth members who are behaving dangerously, disrespectfully or in an
anti social manner. This may take the form of a telling off, sitting out of a game or activity, extra
work or if the indiscretion is deemed severe enough suspension for an agreed period of time.
If your child has already encountered problems with discipline or behavior please discuss the
matter with the sectional or group leader.
Because of the types of activities undertaken in scouting, youth members who refuse to
respect the rules as set down by the various leaders will struggle to gain any benefit from
participating.
Transfer To and From another Group
If a youth member needs to transfer to another group for any reason a special transfer form
needs to be obtained from the group or sectional leader.
No transfer will be approved if group fees are not up to date.
Scouting Activities – Safety & Security
Under Scoutsafe Risk Awareness guidelines to minimise risks of injury or damage to
property during Scout activities the following requirements apply to Scout meetings and
Activities:
1. Jewelry should not be worn
2. Mobile phones, ipods, electronic games and other similar equipment may be
taken to and from Scout activities and meetings, however during the activities
and meetings all items are to be placed in a secure container.
3. Any accidents or injuries, no matter how minor, shall be reported on a Scouts
Australia Incident / Accident Report form (form M6)
Investiture as a Scout
After approximately six (6) weeks – if the child decides they want to continue to be involved
and are willing to commit to the traditions of the scouting movement and the rules of the group
they will be invested.
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This involves your child knowing (reciting) and understanding the respective section’s Law,
Promise and Motto. They will then be presented with the group scarf, a woggle and the
relevant badges to be sewn onto their shirts in the prescribed positions.
When the decision to invest is made then all fees will need to be paid. At this point the relevant
forms are submitted to the regional office for processing.
1. Application for Membership (Y1)
2. Prohibited Employment Declaration forms (M5) (For each parent or guardian)
Welcome to the 1st Paterson / Bolwarra Scout Group and we look forward to
a long and enjoyable friendship together.
1st Paterson Bolwarra Scouts has a group website at www.patbolscouts.org.au.
This website contains coming events, A1 forms, photos of past events, latest
committee minutes and more.
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