Explorer June July 2010

The magazine

for Explorer Scout Leaders

June/July 2010

scouts.org.uk/pol

Happy underground

A caving diary

You and themScout Active Support can really help both

REASONS TO BE CHEERFULTO BE CHEERFUL

We report on a year of growth for Explorer Scouting

EXPLORER_FINAL.indd 1 12/05/2010 15:12

IFC_Explorer_JunJuly10.indd 6 12/05/2010 14:12

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WELCOME

In her last entry for Explorer, Gemma Veitch is saying goodbye. They say itÕ s not over

until the É hang on, Gemma, what are you doing with that microphone?

As most of you will be aware I have now left The Scout Association to move

to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. I have had such a fantastic time over the past

three years and had the privilege of meeting quite a number of you during

my time here.

The Explorer Scout section is amazing (although I may be biased about that!)

and as adults working with Explorer Scouts we have the chance to support

young people at a time of life when their worlds are expanding and they are

preaparing to face the greater pressures of adulthood.

Over the past few years I have been extremely impressed with the standard

of programmes and activities available for our 14-18 year olds. The events I have

attended have been varied and brilliant fun!

New facesCan I also take this opportunity to welcome Charlotte Tow to The

Scout Association. Charlotte is taking on the role of Programme

and Development Adviser and will now be the first point of

contact for the Explorer Scout section. You can contact Charlotte

at [email protected]. I am sure you will make her very

welcome.

Thank you all again for the incredible memories over the past few years.

New lady in town!

Your Explorer Scout Section Working GroupAlex Minajew, UK Commissioner for Programme Charlotte Tow, Programme and Development Adviser

Contact them at:[email protected]

Programme Team, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QWTel: 0845 300 1818

ADVERTISINGRichard [email protected] Tel: 020 8962 1258

4 The fastest-growing sectionExplorer Scouting is growing; we try to fi nd out why

7 Getting the bestCan you help new leaders by becoming a Training Adviser?

8 Scout Active Support... and you How working with Active Support Units can add value

10 Scout Active Support... and them

Activities can provide a focus to help 18 year-olds continue their Scouting journey

12 Life in the slow laneGo narrow boating to revolution-ise your summer camp

14 Going downThe day the Jesters went caving

16 Book clubResources you ought to have

17 Postcard adventuresYour international stories wanted

18 Jamboree dreamsRhys is in, but what’s he offering?

REUNION 2010Bookings are now open for this yearÕ s Gilwell Reunion event, held at Gilwell Park over the weekend of the 3-5 September. The event is open to all adults in Scouting.

For more information about the event go to www.scouts.org.uk/reunion

Charlotte Tow

Contents


4 Explorer June/July 2010

The fastest-growing section

The census results for 2010 are in, and itÕ s good news for the Explorer Scout section. All thirty-eight thousand of us, writes Elis Matthews

Coasteering in Cornwall


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GOOD PRACTICE

T here are more UK teenagers in Scouting now

than at any point in the last decade. Explorer

Scouting was, of course, not in existence in

2001, when dwindling Venture Scout numbers

were recorded at 19,250. In this year’s census results,

numbers of Explorer Scouts have risen to 34,689, a

growth of 8.5 per cent on last year’s count.

When the figures were released in April, national and

local press reported the boom, zeroing in on the fact that

Scouting is increasingly popular among teenagers. Since

the introduction of the Explorer Scout section, numbers

have been growing yearly, with large numbers of males

and females joining and staying in the section.

Number crunchingThe overall growth of Scouting in the 2010 census was 3.7

per cent (17,562 more adults and young people). In the

Explorer section, that amounts to 2,713 more young

people, a rise that is in no small way down to the hard

work put in by leaders and supporters in 2,291 Units who

run varied programmes of exciting activities.

The table below shows the growth level of male and

female Explorer Scouts and suggests that this year’s spike

in additional boys may be down to the so-called ‘Bear

Effect.’ The announcement 12 months ago of adventurer

Bear Grylls as the Movement’s tenth Chief Scout caused

young males with lofty aspirations of living wild to both

join the adventure and stick with it.

2008-2009 2009-2010

M F T M F T

778 776 1,554 1,710 1,003 2,713

3.4% 10.1% 5.1% 7.3% 11.9% 8.5%

Growth of Explorer Scouts split by gender

Why they love itNews of the growth was covered on BBC London and on

national radio stations, as well as in countless local

newspapers and media outlets. Recruited to talk about

Scouting, Explorers Grace and Alexander enthused about

a mix of activities and a world of fun. Speaking about the

experience, Grace said, ‘To begin with it was kind of

daunting, but as we did more and more work I got more

comfortable with it and began to enjoy it.’

To Alexander, the secret of Explorer Scouting’s success

lies in the activities: ‘Nowhere else could you live in the city

and still get chances to go rock climbing and abseiling

without going out of your way.’ He joined Scouting in the

last year, aged 15 when a friend invited him along. ‘He

was always banging on about it, so I decided to take him

up on his offer. I went to an evening session and have

never looked back since. The friends I have made and the

things I have done will surely stay with me for the rest of

my life.’

ItÕ s grown up northThere is no one-size-fits-all reason for the rise in numbers;

an adventurous programme, better communication

between sections, the creation of more Units and

population variance all play their part. Two examples from

north England show that different initiatives bear fruit and

that it’s not all about numbers.

>>

The proportion of growth among girls remains

impressively high, but it’s the surge in boys that can be

taken as a concrete success story.

Numbers of girls are on the up



In Carlisle, the Ayers Explorer Unit experienced growth

of 30 per cent. Explorer Scout Leader Eddie Ward puts this

down to a steady flow from Scout Troops, plus an influx of

‘teenagers joining Scouting for the first time, some at 17.’

Eddie has also seen a trend among his Explorers to proudly

tell friends about the eclectic mix of opportunities, which

they post on social networking sites. They’re just as willing

to tell Explorer about their adventures.

Rachel, 16, enthuses: ‘I’ve had so many opportunities to

try out new, challenging and adrenaline pumping activities

such as glacier walking in Switzerland, coasteering in

Newquay and endurance challenges across Cumbria. All

my friends are dead jealous - it just goes to show Scouting

is equipped for the modern day and it’s not all campfires,

badges and knots.’

Simply the bestIn South Ribble District, West Lancashire, it’s been

a different kind of year, but no less successful. District

Explorer Scout Commissioner Martin Sumner has seen

no numerical growth, with numbers staying the same as

2009, but he sees it as a process of refinement and

development rather than growth for growth’s sake.

‘We’ve continued to bring new Explorers in, but we’ve

also got rid of some who were treating it more like a youth

The fastest-growing section>>

Growth on the grapevine If youÕ ve grown Explorer Scouting and would like to share your secrets get in touch with us. Email [email protected] with Ô Explorer Scout SupplementÕ in the subject line.

club, and not bothered about being Scouts.’ This fine

tuning has resulted in more Explorers achieving DofE and

Chief Scout’s Awards and more potential leaders for

the future. The quality of the Programme being offered

means that there’s no need to advertise Explorer Scouting

as word of mouth generates enquiries from outside

of Scouting. ‘There’s no tool more powerful than Explorers

telling their friends,’ confirms Martin.

The futureÕ s brightThe next big project for many involved in Explorer

Scouting will be the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden,

but Martin is keen to offer international Scouting to all his

brood. ‘I try to take ours abroad in the mid point between

Jamborees. We went to Kandersteg last year and had

a wonderful time. Next year I’m arranging an international

camp for the Explorers who won’t make it to Sweden.’

For Alexander and Grace, there’s plenty to look forward

to. ‘We’ve got a summer camp in Derbyshire and hiking

competitions,’ says Grace. Alexander chips in ‘It’s all an

adventure, to be honest. I know that whatever my

Unit lines up will be fun and full of surprises.’

An adventurous programme has attracted new Explorer Scouts

in droves


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Training advisers

Getting the bestTraining Advisers play a vital role in the training of Scout volunteers. Rosie Shepherd explains what they do, and why it makes a difference

T raining Advisers are some of the most

important people in adult training, and most

learners would agree that having a good

Training Adviser has a big impact on their

training experience.

If you would like to help people who are new to the

Explorer Scout section to really settle in and enjoy their

new role then becoming a Training Adviser is a practical

way to help them out.

What does a Training Adviser do?The role is to support learners through the Adult Training

Scheme, from start to finish. This includes meeting them

to decide what learning they need to do, helping them to

access suitable learning, and signing off completed

modules (validation).

As one learner said in a recent questionnaire: ‘My

Training Adviser was fantastic. She was not only there for

validation but offered practical and sensible advice on

numerous occasions based on her knowledge and past

experience.’

How much time does it take?This is one of the most flexible roles in Scouting, and the

time it takes depends on the number of learners that you

support. Some Training Advisers support one learner at a

time; others support more. It’s up to you. As a guide, on

average learners meet with their Training Adviser six times

during the three years it takes to complete their

Wood Badge.

How do I become a Training Adviser?If you think you might be interested, the first step is to talk

to your County/Area Training Manger, or Assistant District

Commissioner (Adult Training) in Scotland. They will be

able to tell you more about how training is organised in

your local area, and what kind of support you would have

as a Training Adviser.

The training requirement for the role is to complete

Module 25 Assessing Learning (Training Adviser). This will

give you the necessary tools and skills to do the role. If you

are a District Explorer Scout Commissioner you may

already have completed this module.

‘A good Training Adviser can be so motivating and

encouraging and makes the whole training experience a

good one’ was the feedback of one newly appointed

Explorer Scout Leader.

Train upDownload resources for your own training at www.scouts.org.uk/learnersresources or purchase from the Scout Information Centre Ð 0845 300 1818 | [email protected]


Scout Active Support... ... and you

Do you need more adult help? Are there

skills missing from your leader team? Have

you got enough money? Do your

Explorers want to get involved in new

projects? Then read on for more

information about Scout Active Support

Active Support Units could pass

on specialist skills like sailing to Explorer Scouts


What is Scout Active Support?Scout Active Support is a way for adults to provide

support to local Scouting in a flexible way. Scout Active

Support – like Explorer Scouting – is divided into Units. A

Scout Active Support Unit is based at Scout Group, District

or County level, and there can be more than one Unit at

each level.

How is a Scout Active Support Unit set up and utilised?The responsible Commissioner must appoint a Scout

Active Support Manager when he or she has

identified support needed within the Group, District

or County.

The function of the Unit should ideally link to the

Group, District or County Development Plan. A service

agreement should be written that lays out the support

that the Unit will provide over the coming 12 months

such as covering leader absence, supporting international

expeditions, and the support the Group, District or County

will provide to the Unit (such as provide first aid training,

pay membership fees and so on).

Group Scout Leader, District Commissioner,

County Commissioner or nominee

Scout Active Support Manager

Scout Active Support CoordinatorScout Active Support Coordinator

Scout Active Support Unit


Scout Active Support... ... and you

Do you need more adult help? Are there

skills missing from your leader team? Have

you got enough money? Do your

Explorers want to get involved in new

projects? Then read on for more

information about Scout Active Support

Scout Active Support Units

could pass on specialist skills

like sailing to Explorer Scouts


What is Scout Active Support?Scout Active Support is a way for adults to provide

support to local Scouting in a flexible way. Scout Active

Support – like Explorer Scouting – is divided into Units. A

Scout Active Support Unit is based at Scout Group, District

or County level, and there can be more than one Unit at

each level.

How is a Scout Active Support Unit set up and utilised?The responsible Commissioner must appoint a Scout

Active Support Manager when he or she has

identified support needed within the Group, District

or County.

The function of the Unit should ideally link to the

Group, District or County Development Plan. A service

agreement should be written that lays out the support

that the Unit will provide over the coming 12 months

such as covering leader absence, supporting international

expeditions, and the support the Group, District or County

will provide to the Unit (such as provide first aid training,

pay membership fees and so on).

Group Scout Leader, District Commissioner,

County Commissioner or nominee

Scout Active Support Manager

Scout Active Support CoordinatorScout Active Support Coordinator

Scout Active Support Unit


Scout Active Support Units

can help at Group level,

whether it’s by organising

catering or helping at camps

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SCOUT ACTIVE SUPPORTSCOUT ACTIVE SUPPORT

How can Scout Active Support help an Explorer Scout Unit?A Scout Active Support Unit can do anything that supports

Scouting. It is a way for adults to volunteer some time to

Scouting in a flexible way that suits them. The ways that

Scout Active Support can aid Explorer Scouts are almost

endless; below are a few examples.

An Explorer Scout Unit is planning an international

expedition. The District Scout Active Support Unit

could support them in planning the trip, including

fundraising.

A County Scout Active Support Unit could provide

opportunities for Explorer Scout Units across the

County to gain experience of water activities

by coordinating six experience days annually.

A District Scout Active Support Unit could work with

the Explorer Scout Units in the District to coordinate

events outside of usual meeting times specifically

for Explorer Scouts.

A District Scout Active Support Unit could be a source

of extra adult help in leader absence, or to teach skills

that the existing leader team do not hold, such

as pioneering.

UNIT SETUPContacting your District Commissioner about local Scout Active Support Units is probably the quickest route to the Scout Active Support Manager. If no Unit exists, this may prompt the DC to start a new Unit to support your need.

For more information, see www.scouts.org.uk/activesupport

If you have any good news about your partnership with a Scout Active Support Unit, we would love to hear about it. Please email [email protected]

What else can a Scout Active Support Unit offer?Scout Active Support is another option for young people

to become involved in once they turn 18. Scout Network

offers those aged 18-25 access to the higher levels

awards, such as Queen’s Scout Award, while joining a

local Scout Active Support Unit presents them with a

choice to give something back to Scouting and perhaps

remain involved with supporting their old Explorer Unit on

a flexible basis.

Scout Active Support can work both ways: if your

Explorer Scout Unit is looking to get involved with a

project, there might be a Scout Active Support Unit based

at a local campsite who are looking for extra manpower

to finish a building project.

Scout Active Support Units are great contacts for

passing on traditional Scouting skills to the Explorer Unit

that you may not have yourself. They could be a good

source of local historical knowledge, and be able to deliver

programmes on a range of subjects, increasing the variety

you can offer in the programme.

A Scout Active Support Unit could offer you support

during a camp, doing badge assessments, backwoods

cooking, conservation project, administrative support,

parent liaison, find out how a Unit local to you can

support your Explorer Scout Unit.

*Though the term ‘County’ is used here for simplicity, Scout Active Support happens equally in Areas, Islands, Bailiwicks and Scottish Regions.

2

1

3

4



Scout Active Support É ... and themEver been in ‘that’ dilemma? Members of your

Unit are approaching 18 and you’re trying to

encourage them to stay involved in Scouting.

Work or university beckons, and perhaps

relationships are flourishing. They have no inclination to

join or help set up the local Network, and aren’t interested

in helping with a section. What do you do?

One answer could be to appeal to their interests and

offer them an opportunity to keep the adventure Scouting

offers while being more flexible in their involvement.

How so? Three words: Scout Active Support.

Activities Ð the flexible adult roleProviding your Members with opportunities to try new

things is one of the fundamental approaches to

programme planning. Incorporating adventurous activities

into your programme builds interest and enthusiasm in

things that many young people never get a chance to try.

Indeed, it is one of the reasons why many young people

join the Movement. Of course, you know that. But it can

also be a way to get them to stick with it when life

changes and they no longer have the time to be ‘regular’

attendees.

Ensuring that young people not only have the

opportunity to try activities, but also the chance to meet

and work with local Scout teams focused on these

activities can be an ideal route to keeping them involved

beyond the date they would normally decide to leave.

It opens up the opportunity for them to stay involved in

Scouting as a flexible member of an activity Scout Active

Support Unit, leading activities for other members of their

County or District. Enabling them to continue learning an

activity that they enjoy while supporting others in

accessing it can be vital in encouraging them to make the

transition into leadership at a future date. At the same

time, it provides a valuable resource to every other leader

in your District and County who can call on their skills

on a flexible basis.

Who to talk toMost Counties or Regions will have their own experienced

activity teams, who operate as Scout Active Support Units.

They can help you run an adventurous activity, and may

even run a programme of events themselves. They will

provide you with advice and support on how to get

involved in an activity and possible locations to do it.


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SCOUT ACTIVE SUPPORT

The important thing is allowing them the opportunity to

meet your Explorers. By doing so, it will ensure that your

young people are aware of the other roles that they can

take on in Scouting when it’s time for them to move on

from the Unit.

Alternatively, there are more general Scout Active

Support Units. The Unit members are likely to have a

wealth of experience and skills, and may be able to advise

you on how to run an adventurous activity, or at least

where to begin. If your Unit has agreed that they want to

focus on a specific activity, and the skills exist, you could

talk to your District Commissioner about amending the

Scout Active Support Unit’s service agreement to support

young people in gaining the necessary skills. Again, ensure

that your Members get a chance to meet and work with

the Scout Active Support Unit. This will enable them to see

what the Unit does, and make it a viable route to consider

when they leave.

First step to leadershipBy remembering that there are other roles available as

adults in Scouting and ensuring young people are aware

of them and meet current members in those roles, we can

encourage more to stay involved beyond the age of 18.

And once they start to support Scouting as an adult, there

is always the possibility that they will make the leap across

to leadership.

JUST ASK!Get the whole picture at www.scouts.org.uk/activesupport

With adventurous activities a massive

reason why teenagers join, donÕ t

underestimate the role they can play

in keeping Explorer Scouts in Scouting

after they reach 18. Andy Melia

explains how specialised Scout Active

Support Units could be just the ticket

SCOUT ACTIVE SUPPORT



Year after year we go off to camp, predominantly staying in tents. Why not change the scenery and embark on a water-based odyssey with a narrow boating holiday, asks Tom Hylands

Narrow boating may be viewed as a quaint activity that doesn’t fit with the notion of a modern Movement. However, you can’t underestimate the number of skills and experiences that piloting a boat along a canal requires: navigation and route planning; steering and precision; working the locks; discovery; self-sufficiency; teamwork; cooking and the appreciation of heritage and culture.

Narrow boating

Adventure A-Z

Life in the slow lane

Getting startedThere are many Scout-friendly companies that offer

reasonable prices for weekends or longer. If you look to

the National Community Boats Association (NCBA), it

won’t take long to find an association in your region that

can offer this activity.

As an Explorer Scout, Alec Stanworth from Eastcote,

London, experienced both weekend and week-long

expeditions on narrow boats, the most recent on the

Grand Union Canal. He said: ‘The best part is the fact that

there is always something to do, whether it’s steering the

boat, being out on the locks or just generally helping out.

I never got bored!’

Pace yourselfThere are also chances to do activities as the journey goes

on. The majority of canals travel through towns giving the

opportunity to include activities such as ice skating and

bowling. You are never far from ‘civilisation’ and there will

generally be plenty of conveniences, such as supermarkets.

Alec comments: ‘Narrow boating has a nice pace of life.

You’re not hurrying to write a programme on the spot

and there are so many opportunities to do additional

things’.

In order to offer narrow boating, the person in charge

needs to have a leadership activity permit for narrow

boating. Both the NCBA and Royal Yachting Association

(RYA) run courses which can give valuable skills towards

gaining a permit. Also check www.scouts.org.uk/activities

for details of training and assessment opportunities. The

A-Z of Activities will give you all the relevant links and

rules. The Narrow Boating factsheet (FS120655) contains

more details and essential information.

Narrow boats, broad ProgrammeThe major plus for setting your camp on a narrow boat

is that it’s easy to tie into all areas of the Balanced

Programme. For Outdoor and Adventure, the core skills

of planning and navigating are right there onboard, but

also whenever you venture away from the towpath on

hikes and explorations. Also, there’s nothing stopping


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Activities

A-Z of activities: www.scouts.org.uk/a-zCommunity Boats Association: www.national-cba.co.ukBritish Waterways: www.britishwaterways.co.ukNational Directory of Waters: www.scouts.org.uk/waterways

more info

you mooring up at an appropriate location and going

off for a night in tents.

For community, there would be opportunities to get

involved in the life of the waterways, with service projects

directed by the lock-keeper or canal authority.

Creatively, you could engage the Explorers in painting

landscapes, composing folk songs about their cruise or

cooking in the often-cramped galley on the boat.

In terms of values and relationships, the challenges

presented by living in close proximity mean your Unit will

need to foster positive relationships and respect each

other to live in harmony during the holiday. These lessons

can be valuable in future Explorer Scout activities

and are worth exploring.

Take the plungeNarrow boating has a lot to offer a Unit, so why not give

it a go for a day or a weekend? If you have fun then

it’s time to go for a week.

Changing locks or assisting the lock keeper can be an activity in itself


Going downExplorer Scout Leader Alan Martin recounts an underground adventure with his Jesters Unit, and uncovers a hidden world of cascades and waterfalls


The green suits were a hit, so was the boat

O n Friday night at 6pm nine of us leave the

Henderson Scout Hall in Kilmarnock, six

Explorers and three leaders. We’re off to the

North Yorkshire Dales National Park where

we stay at a fantastic place called The Dump – the club

headquarters of the Bradford Potholing Club near

Horton-in-Ribblesdale. After four long but fun hours, we

arrive, empty the bus and prepare our rooms. After Jim’s

famous hot dogs and a few hours of chat, it’s bedtime.

Early startNext morning, we’re woken at 7.30am and enjoy a hearty

fried breakfast, and after making our sandwiches for

lunch, we set off to the first cave of the day – Upper Long

Churns near Selside. We get out of the bus and put on

green, waterproof suits with hardhats and torches – our

uniform for the day. We walk up to the cave entrance and

prepare to go underground.

Goodbye daylightAs soon as we enter the cave, we can hear the waterfall

roaring at the other end of it and it doesn’t take long for

us to get our feet wet. This quickly spreads to other areas

as we descend further into the darkness of the churns.

Wading through the water, which is extremely cold, starts

off easy but the narrower the cave gets, the faster the

water flows and the harder it is to move forward against it.

We get to a point where we’re helping each other climb a

water cascade and the current is too strong for the smaller

Explorers, so we turn back towards daylight, where we

meet other cavers about to attempt the churns themselves.

At that point we head back to the bus, get out of our wet


ACTIVITIES

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Caving factfileThe UK has four major caving regions, each known for their own specific type of cave: • South Wales: Very little vertical

development; some very extensive cave systems.

• Mendip Hills: Limited vertical development; very pretty caves and a fair amount of water.

• Derbyshire: Many fossil caves and navigable mines; muddy.

• Yorkshire Dales: Largest UK cave region; large caves and potholes, many with extensive passages and large volumes of water.

British Caving AssociationThis is the national governing body, which provides guidance and news about the activity. www.british-caving.org.uk

Do I need a permit?If youÕ re going to offer caving as a Scout-led activity, yes. See the A-Z of Activities for more information at www.scouts.org.uk/a-z and the Caving factsheet (FS120451).

What if I canÕ t cave myself?Contact a caving club near the location of your choice. Many will offer caving experiences and have experiences of taking schools and Scout Groups down into the systems. Again, refer to the A-Z and follow the correct procedures. You can find caving clubs at www.trycaving.co.uk

gear and drive to Ingleton to Bernie’s Café for a much

needed hot chocolate and giant Yorkshire puddings.

In the afternoon, we take on another cave, Yordas –

Main Chamber. Yordas is much larger, with an

impressive waterfall at the back. The chamber’s inside is

impressive, 50ft high with the walls reflecting light from

the head-torches onto the water running down. It’s not

as wet as the churns, but there’s still a foot of water

all around to walk through. We get back to the bus

after a quick session of green suit grass sliding.

Back at The Dump, after a shower and a sizeable

chicken curry dinner, we relax in the sitting room by the

fire and talk about what has happened that day and

what we would like to try again next time. 24 hours

later we’re back in Kilmarnock, shattered but smiling.

Isn’t this what Scouting weekends are all about?



Book clubWe take a peek inside the new books to support you in your role

Tell us what you think of the new booksEmail us at [email protected]

Faith and awareness events for August/SeptemberAugust 5 Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)

11 First day of Ramadan

(Muslim)

12 International

Youth Day

15 Assumption of

Blessed Virgin Mary

(Christian)

26 Women’s Equality

Day (USA)

September 1 Installation of Sikh Scripture

in Harmandir Sahib (Sikh)

8 International Literacy Day

9 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish

New Year)

10 Eid Al-Fittr (Muslim)

18 Yom Kippur/Day of

Atonement (Jewish)

21 International Day of Peace

22 World Car Free Day

23 Start of Succot (Jewish)

23 Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)

Nights Away£8.50, item code: 1027818

Spending nights away from home is central

to the Scouting experience. The new and

improved Nights Away has everything you need

to run a successful residential experience for

all age ranges in Scouting. With chapters on

health, budgeting, catering, choosing your

venue and even running your daily activities

you’ll wonder how you managed camp without

it. The light and compact format also means

it’s easy to keep in your rucksack.

Includes a dedicated section on Explorer Scouts.

The Unit Programme Plus: Vol. 2£5, item code: 1027887

This new addition to the Programme resource

family is packed with a fresh range of exciting

and ready-to-run activities. The perfect

companion to Programme Plus: Vol 1,

it will help you plan a balanced programme

every week. Specifically designed to cover all

Programme Zones and badges, themes covered

include conservation, global and skills.

And the classicsÉ• A Complete Guide to Scouting Skills,

£9.99 (1027759)

• The Unit Programme, £5 (1024635)

• Unit Programme Plus: Vol. 1, £5 (1024636)

• Unit Essentials, £5 (1024634)

To order any of these and the full range

of books, certificates and

clothing visit www.scouts.org.uk/shop


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Postcard adventuresThereÕ s still time to tell us of your worldwide Explorer trips, so send us your pictures, plans and trailfinding highlights

INTERNATIONAL

T he October/November issue of

Explorer is our international

compendium, to shed light on how

many miles Units have covered across

multiple continents. Timed to coincide with

the Join-in-Jamboree resource, we will be

featuring as many local expeditions and

service projects as we can, but we need to

hear from you to make that happen.

The method1. If you’d like to contribute send an email

to [email protected] with your name, Unit

name, District and destination. Do this by 30 June 2010.

2. Then get your Explorers writing about

the trip and send by 27 August 2010 to

the same address. You are encouraged

to include links to photos and videos

in your submission.

3. We’re also seeking hints and tips from

leaders who have organised trips abroad.

Do you have experience which could help

your fellow leaders? Maybe you were there

when things went wrong. What did you

do? We want real advice from the horse’s

mouth, so do get in touch and we look forward to

reading the results.



Jamboree dreams

Status update1 June • like

Since being selected, Hannah has packed hundreds of bags to raise money for the Unit, and got soaked washing cars in the rain. SheÕ s edging closer to Sweden. If you know someone whoÕ d like to be featured in Jamboree Dreams, let us know at [email protected]

dreams

I t’s been my ambition for as long as I can

remember to attend a World Jamboree. I was a

day visitor in 2007, and being with so many Scouts

from all over the world was fantastic.

Hat in the ringI applied to my County in January and attended a selection

day in March. I didn’t know anyone else and my mate

George was going on the second selection day, so I

couldn’t rely on him. I was nervous because I was one of

the youngest there, and everyone really wanted to be

picked, but with only 36 places, some of us would be

disappointed.

Safari so goodThe day was a mix of team-building games and I was

excited, but it was strange doing team-building with all

these people I’d never met before. We had to create a

frozen picture of a theme given us by the leaders, who

were watching our every move. We worked together to

come up with a safari scene, forming a jeep out of chairs

and our bodies. Some of the games were very up close

and personal, but they helped us to bond and by the end

of the day I felt more relaxed around the other hopefuls.

There was a two week wait before the Unit Leader

called to tell me the good news. I was so happy. George

also got a place, and now we’re focused on becoming

part of the Unit and coming up with fundraising ideas.

There’s a World Cup sweepstake, which I’m finding prizes

for, and I’d like to write to local businesses for sponsorship.

Something to offerI think I’ll bring camping skills to the Unit. I’ve done quite

a bit, and I’m good at making camp gadgets. But I’ve

never camped for three weeks before, so I’ve got to work

up the stamina. Speaking different languages might

be a challenge too. But I can’t wait for my Swedish

dream to be a reality.

Rhys, 13, is currently moving on from his Scout Troop in Chingford to the local Explorer Scout Unit, and his sights are firmly set on the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden


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Documents

Explorer June July 2010