Volunteering for a local scout troop

[Chopper]

I think that Scouting has just crash landed in the gutter!!!!!

I always thought that scout leaders were to be role models for the members. I shudder to think that impressionable scouts might try and follow in their Chief Scouts footsteps, and heaven forbid one should be injured following who many consider, one of the most dangerous and irresponsible people on TV.

 

[Graham_S]

BG is hugely popular with scouts.
whatever you think of him as a person, he is very high profile and will encourage boys and girls to join up and be part of something larger than they are.
for that alone I think they made a good choice.
He is enthusiastic and will bring a lot of energy to the post.

As to volunteering, well done, I get far more out of scouting than I put in (and I put in about 10hrs a week)
More people should, even as little as a couple of hours a week makes a difference.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

It can only be a good thing, the apt, and I would re join as a leader again, I have many Outdoor Quals and experience but the lack of faith will stop me filling the form in. After a German Jamboree, the 'Exchange Home Hospitality' was one of the best 2 weeks of my life and probably changed my attitude to life and stopped me being a racist, thru ignorance before the Jamboree, 30+ different nations.

Nick

Ex Cub, Land Scout, Sea Scout, Sea Venture Scout, Land Ldr, Sea Scout Ldr.

 

[Mang]

I am taking two Cub Packs (about 40 kids) out on a nature/ bushcraft walk around a lake and it holds no fear for me...well not much.

Yes folks, use your skills!

 

[Wilderbeast]

I wonder if there are any specifically "bushcraft" youth groups, I bet they'd be popular if a company was started??!

 

[Sainty]

Just filled in and returned the form. Now I'm really worried. What if the boys don't like me.

Martin

 

[Prodigal Son]

Well done, all of you have joined up on the back of BG's appointment.

I know there will always be those that disagree with the appointment of a 'celebrity' to head the movement but the fact is there are now at least 3 members of this community who are now doing something special with the life skills they have learnt, and that is - pass them on to the next generation!

I was a scout, cub, scout, venture scout and leader (Dad was a scout leader when I was born, hence scout before cub!!) I left the movement to join RAF and then about a year ago decided it was time to put back.

It has been the hardest job I have ever done!! and yet the most satisfying!! Seeing a 12 year old boy (OR GIRL!) start their first (controlled!!!!) fire with a steel, a bit of bullrush and some birchbark ... priceless!!

They WANT to do this stuff and society is making it almost impossible. So if this keeps the fires controlled and gives them an interest in what Mother Nature has given us, they could have Kermit the Frog as Chief Scout as long as it attracted the right leaders to pass this information on!

 

[Prodigal Son]

Just filled in and returned the form. Now I'm really worried. What if the boys don't like me.

Martin

... It's not just boys now, I do hope you realise that we take girls too. Have done for about 10 years!!

Most of my kids ... I really don't know if they like me or not but they keep coming back and they do what I ASK of them, as long as you don't try and bull$hit them you'll be fine.

I took a completely harsh stand when I started - as in, if you don't want to be here - go, if you're here instead of the youthclub - go, I only want Scouts that WANT to be in my troop to learn about Scouting, (and boy has it changed the things they can do!!) My preference is outdoors stuff and whilst not a luddite believe they can play on computers anytime, so might as well do stuff with them they can't do everyday - FIRE!! CAMPING!! COOKING!!

So far we are up from 15 to 24 in 5 months ... So does it really matter if they like you as long as they like what you do??

 

[Man of Tanith]

Hi all
Having thought about this a bit more I have one concern
How much paperwork will I be expected to do?
I am aware I will need a CRB check which is no problem I have one for work, however I am worried I will end up doing risk assesments (again not really a problem I do them for work too)instead of what i would rather be doing ie outdoorsy bits along the lines of what I used to do as a scout- not the standing on top of burning pallets mind you!!
Is it a paerwork nightmare or have I got the wrong end of the stick? I chatted with an ex leader whilst on holiday who seemed to think you needed a risk assessment to do pretty much anything. Is this true or was he just disenchanted?
Regards
Sam

 

[Harmonica]

Another quick question - has anyone had any involvement with the Baden Powell Scout Association?

Glad to hear that we are now up to three volunteers from this thread alone in only two days -we're onto something good here!!

 

[Prodigal Son]

Man of Tanith, it depends on what position you want to do, as The Scout Leader it pretty much falls at your feet to do the paperwork. Yes everything needs to be risk assessed, but considering we have the total responsibility for other peoples kids, I think it's only right you need to think about what you are doing. It shouldn't ever stop you from doing things, just make you aware of the dangers and how to avoid them.

If you are joining an established troop chances are it will be as an Assistant S.L. which usually means you get all the fun with minimal amount of paperwork. Obviously if you take on more of the admin stuff your Scout Leader may show his appreciation in beer, 'cos it can get a bit much sometimes.

You bring to the table what you have, you share it and along the way you learn new skills. You will be expected to do a certain amount of training, again, a lot of this will depend on how much you already know and your experience. There are only 3 mandatory modules to begin with.

I do hope you give it a go, you guys are the type of people that scouting can use, enthusiasm and a love of the outdoors - what scout troop wouldn't welcome you?

edited to add: YES Enhanced CRB check is a must - my child is a cub ... I would hate to think... nah, not going there!!

 

[Prodigal Son]

Another quick question - has anyone had any involvement with the Baden Powell Scout Association?

Glad to hear that we are now up to three volunteers from this thread alone in only two days -we're onto something good here!!

Go to escouts, they have a few members over there ...

 

[scrogger]

I believe (might be wrong) the Baden Powel Scouts are an offshoot and are a very much back to basics type of organisation. I was interested in this but my group scout leader says they do not have the same ethos!! not sure what that means!!!

Man of Tanith I dont think its too over the top its very much a common sense thing really if you think its dangerous it probably needs a risk assesment. We just had a boy injure himself playing softball!!! accidents do happen and they are boisterous as well.

Like I say common sense should prevail and if anything goes wrong deal with it in the manner required you will be told all this in the training which is fantastic.

hope this helps

Andy

 

[Tengu]

Think what it will do to your CV

 

[Prodigal Son]

Yeh, but don't think what it'll do to your social life!!

 

[Man of Tanith]

Prodigal son
thanks for the reassurance I aint scared of paperwork i just do a lot of it in my job and was hoping i wouldnt get lumped with more in my own time
although beer bribes wont work for me im more of a tea fan if i am honest
i fully understand why a CRB is necessary whilst i dont have children of my own i can understand any one wanting to know thier child is safe
I'll be calling the district commissioner in my area in next few days and having a chat with em see where it goes from there!
Regards
Sam

PS whats a social life?

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Good on you. Some troops seem to do hall based stuff whereas others, some good photos on here in the past, do lots of camping. There is a cracking photo of an English troop hammock camping out on the DD hammock site.

We just wanted to camp, always wild and build stuff, pioneering, arial slides, climb, canoe etc. Building bivvys, natural shelters was mental fun.

Kids at my school want to camp and canoe. When I was a PL cooking and looking after 6 kids for two weeks was a great way to build a team and responsibilty. Nowadays, how many adults would let a 13yr old cook three meals a day for 6 ?

Nick

 

[Womble]

There is a cracking photo of an English troop hammock camping out on the DD hammock site.


heh... 1st Aldershot I believe, just down the road from my lot at the 14th.

 

[crazydave]

anyone can be a leader or a helper if they pass the crb. if you just want to help then help. if you like doing outdoors stuff and are prepared to organise and run a camp then you can do so but its harder than it first appears when you realise what little attention spans the little B@ggers have.

the ration of 1 to 5 is a bit pathetic though, I used to take nearly 30 on local camps where there was just me as there would be no camps otherwise.

the baden powel scouts have had a lot of bad press and they dont get on with the regular movement in a similar vein to the rm bg or survival bushcraft debates they are still working for the kids though. I camped next to a couple at the moot last year and we had a great time but that could just be my view as I was teasing them about being heathen devil worshipers

you cant just turn up and expect to clone a group of rms though as in behaviour they are naturally all bg types. if you have the inclination then you could have outdoor days at the loacal woods or district scout site where those that want to can come and learn stuff or go foraging. the rules and regs are very restrictive now though so be warned the scout association has lost its definition of common sense approach.

 

[Prodigal Son]

Crazy Dave,

Ratio's are:
1 leader - 6 Beavers
1 leader - 8 Cubs
1 leader - 12 Scouts