Bardon Scout Group
Parents
Introduction
Handbook
Contents
*Welcome
*The Aim and Principal of Scouting
*Sections in Bardon Scout Group
*Eligibility
*What is Expected from each Family in the Group
*Group Committee
*General Costs
*Weekly Subscriptions
*Camps and Activities
*Uniforms
*About the Sections
*Joey Scouts
*Cub Scouts
*The Scout Troop
*Venturer Unit and Rover Crew
*Adult Volunteers
*Uniformed Leaders - Scouters
*Group Council
*Leader Training Meetings
*Office Bearers and Leaders of the Bardon Scout Group
*
This Parent Handbook is printed by the Bardon Scout Group. Its purpose is to give present parents and in particular new parents in our Group all details about Group policies, costs, parent support and general group organisation. The costs, times etc may not remain the same so the handbook will be updated regularly for incoming parents.
Welcome to Bardon Scout Group. We thank you for enrolling your child/children with our group and hope that you and your child/children spend an enjoyable and beneficial time with us.
Chris Goninon - Group Leader
The Aim and Principal of Scouting
The Aim
of the Scouting Association of Australia is to encourage the Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual development of youth so that they may take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens.The Principal of Scouting as identified by the founder, Lord Baden-Powell, is that Scouts should serve God, act in consideration of the needs of others and develop and use their abilities to the betterment of themselves, their families and the community in which they live.
Sections in Bardon Scout Group
Below is a summary of the Sectors catered for by our Group and the associated times each Section meets.
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Joey Scouts |
Boys and Girls aged between 6 and 8 years old. Meets Tuesday evenings 6:30-7:30pm & Wednesday evenings 5:30-6:30pm |
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Cub Scouts |
Boys and Girls aged between 8 and 11 years old. Meets Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:30pm |
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Scouts |
Boys and Girls aged between 10.5 and 15 years old. Meets Thursday evenings 7:00-9:00pm |
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Venturer Scouts |
Boys and Girls aged up to 18 years old Meets Thursday evenings 7:00-9:00pm at Oakleigh |
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Rover Scouts |
Young Men and Women aged between 17 and 26 years old. Meets Wednesday evenings 7:30-9:30pm |
Any youth is eligible to join our Group whether they have had previous Scouting experience of not, provided that:
What is Expected from each Family in the Group
In the Bardon Scout Group when your child/children become Scout members, your entire family in someway becomes part of the Scout Movement. To be able to achieve the Aim and Principal, as set out on the previous page, we need the help from all the parents. As a parent of a Bardon Scout you will be asked to:
The Annual Group Camp
The Annual Group Break-Up
Group social activities and field days
"Remember…Scouts is NOT a baby sitting club, your participation is vital to its existence"
The Group Committee is comprised of the parents of the youth in the Bardon Scout Group and meets once a month usually at the Den in Bee Street Bardon.
Currently the Group Committee is meeting on the second Tuesday evening at 6:30pm in the Lyall Den. For further details please phone one of the Committee members. Details are on the last page of this brochure.
The role of the Group Committee is to be responsible for Group property, assist the Group Leader with finance, public relations and publicity, obtaining accommodation/camping groups and adult help for the Group, including Leader recruitment and youth membership recruitment. The Group Committee are appointed to assist the Group Leader and therefore operate to satisfy his/her reasonable requests and those of the Group Council (ie Council of all Leaders in the Group)
To enable the Group property to be developed and maintained as well as supplying finance for equipment for all Sections, the Group Committee hold regular Working Bees and Fundraising activities and with these ALL parents are expected to assist.
The Group Committee has an Executive of people which is the core of the Committee. The Executives include Group Leader, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. We nominate candidates for these positions with the exception of the Group Leader at the Annual General Meeting held in April/May each year.
ENROLMENT FEES
Two fees are required by Bardon Scout Group on initial enrollment to cover:|
Annual Fee |
$36.50 each member |
b) A donation to Bardon Scout group to assist with group operations
|
Enrollment July |
$90 individuals |
$160 families |
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A $7.50 reduction for each month after July |
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Any family that has difficulties in paying the fee is requested to contact the Treasurer or Group Leader to discuss what arrangements can be made. |
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Each year the Annual Fees are required to renew the membership.
Each Section has a fee to be paid at each weekly meeting. This fee (subs) gives the Section the small funds it needs to purchase minor equipment that is required for the activities during the year. The fee is to be paid whether a youth member was present at the meeting or not. The Subs are as follows:
|
Joey Mob |
$1.00 per week |
|
Cub Pack |
$1.00 per week |
|
Scout Troop |
$1.00 per week |
|
Venturer Unit |
$1.50 per week |
|
Rover Crew |
$16.00 per quarter |
Camps and Activities
Most activities and camps will have a fee, however, you will note that we always to try keep these to the bare minimum costs. In the case where a member has paid to attend an activity or camp but did not attend, it will be the decision of the Leader in charge of the activity or camp as to whether a refund can be granted.
Each member of the Section is expected to have suitable personal gear to enable him/her to camp successfully without having to borrow gear. Generally this will include: suitable clothing, uniform, hat, shoes, socks, togs, towel, underwear, plates, cup, cutlery, tea towel, sleepingbag, toiletries and raincoat. Scouts and older youths will also require a hiking pack, waterbottle, airbed (optional), torch, mess kit, and personal shelter.
Always refer to the camp forms for list of personal gear required to be taken on each camp. Camp forms are issued prior to each camp.
Every Scout member is expected to own and wear the Scout uniform as set out by the Scout Association of Australia, on the appropriate occasions.
When to wear the uniform are as follows:
|
Joey Mob |
QLD scarf and Joey woggle to all meetings and activities |
|
Cub Pack/ Scout Troop |
Full uniform to all meetings, parades and activities unless otherwise informed Full uniform with exception of shoes (sandshoes instead) to and from all camps Camp dress on the camp |
|
Venturer Unit / Rover Crew |
All formal business meetings and as decided by the Unit/Crew Council |
A full description of the uniform is laid out in the Appendix along with a copy of the Scout Outdoor Centre price list. Second hand uniforms are satisfactory if within the current uniform standards.
Joey Scouts are the youngest Section, catering for boys and girls from 6 to 8 years old. As such they have no uniform except a Queensland scarf and Joey Scout Woggle. Unlike other Sections there is no badge work but emphasis is placed on crafts and games. They may have one-night camps and have a going-up ceremony to the other Sections. Like the Cub Scout Section is called a "Pack" the Joey Scout Section is called a "Mob".
The Cub Scout Pack is the second stage of the Scout Movement, and here the boys and girls begin to learn all aspects of Scouting. The Packs work on three age groups generally 8, 9 and 10 years old. The Badge Scheme is designed roughly to fit into these age groupings.
Badges The Badge Scheme consists of the Bronze, Silver and Gold Boomerangs and associated Achievement Badges. Cub Scouts work on their Boomerangs at their meetings, outings and camps, but study and prepare for their Achievement Badges at home. Badges are passed by Leaders (especially Boomerangs) or by examiners with skills in different fields.
Sixes Cub Scouts in the Pack are placed into Sixes at the Leaders’ discretion. The Six enables more efficient organisation within the Pack. Each Six has a leader and an assistant (Sixer and Seconder) who are appointed by the Cub Scout Leaders and are based on age, experience, attitude and ability.
Pack Holiday Where possible the Pack has a camp, called a Pack Holiday, a couple of times a year. These are usually in a building although tenting is allowable in Cub Scouts.
The Scout Troop follows the Cub Scout Pack in the Scout Movement. A Cub Scout goes up to Scouts, usually by a special Going-Up Ceremony and can do a Link Badge to ease his/her entry into Scouts. The change in uniform required to go into the Troop is a Scout Hat to replace the Cub Hat and the removal of the Cub Colour Patches, Boomerangs, Achievement Badges and possible Sixer and Seconder Stripes. These are not removed until the Cub comes up into the Troop.
At the investiture ceremony, the Scout is presented with the Scout Hat (purchased by parents) and his/her Patrol Colour Patch after he/she makes the Scout Promise on the Troop flat. A Scout who has not been a member of the Cub Pack is also presented with the Scarf (purchased by parents) as well as the general uniform badges.
Badges The first badge that a new Scout must do is the Scoutcraft Badge which gives him/her some basic Scouting skills. The Scout can then work on the rest of the badge scheme that consists of Target Badges and Challenge Badges. The Target Badges are broken into levels – Pioneer, Explorer, Adventurer (in that order) and these roughly suit the increasing age levels. The Target Badges are completed at meetings, outing and camps and are generally tested by leaders.
The Challenge Badges are individual ones to be worked on at home and are tested by appointed advisers. The idea of the challenge is that the Scout is set a particular challenge in the area that he/she has chosen and does not receive a badge for work that is already done. The Patrol Activity Badge in the Challenge Badges is one that a Patrol of Scouts must work on for a set amount of time and is supervised by the Troop Council.
The amount of Badgework that a Scout completes will be for the most part up to the individual. Opportunity will be given for Badgework during meetings etc but the practicing and testing of the Badges must be organised by the individual. Badgework may be done at the Scout Den as arranged by the Scout Leader.
Patrols Scouts are placed in Patrols for ease of instruction and organisation in the Troop. Each Patrol has an appointed Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader who are selected by the Patrol, Troop Council and Leaders, based on age, experience, attitude, ability and Scouting record. Most of the outings, camps and activities are organised according to the Patrols which form the basis of the Troop. Patrols decide on their activities etc at Patrol meetings or Patrol Council and these are then discussed at the Troop Council of Patrol Leaders. Both girls and boys may become Scouts but the presence of girls may not be possible if the Troop has no female Scout Leader in the Group.
Each Patrol has a Patrol Patch and a Patrol Name which should be presented at investiture Flat. Patrol Leaders, Assistants and Scouts are placed into various Patrols for reasons of numbers, suitability and friendships. Boys and girls need not stay in one Patrol for all of their Scouting years, but may be changed into a different one for a variety of reasons.
Appointment of Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders is no necessarily permanent and may be changed for the benefit of the Patrol or individuals.
Troop Council The Troop Council is the planning and organising body of the Troop. It is composed of the Patrol Leaders and Scout Leaders of the Troop and the Assistant Patrol Leaders upon invitation. The Troop Council also makes all decisions regarding any Troop matter conducts all programming. Decisions of the Troop Council are final pending confirmation of the Group Council.
Camps Bardon Scout Troop encourages Patrols to hold at least one camp per month, whether it be purely a Patrol Camp or a Troop Camp. It is expected that all Scouts attend camps whenever possible with the District Scouts Camp and the Group Camp being the most important. Travel to and from camps is in uniform with the exception of Scout shoes, their camp shoes are acceptable. All Scouts assemble at the Den before traveling to camp and must return to the Den at the conclusion of a camp to assist with the unloading and repacking of equipment. The camp is over when the gear is packed away.
Uniform All meetings, activities and travel to and from camps require uniform to be worn unless otherwise stated. This includes Scout shoes (except camps) and all parts of a Scout Uniform as required in PO&R. The correct woggle for the Troop is the Queensland woggle and the shoes are either black or brown with no other colouring.
Attendance All Scouts are expected to attend all meetings, outings and camps wherever possible with the exception of holiday activities which are optional. If a Scout cannot attend a meeting, activity or camp, the Scouts Patrol Leader or Scout Leader must be notified.
Transport Parents are always needed to transport Scouts to and from camps and activities. Generally one car is required per Patrol for each journey. If transport cannot be obtained for any Patrol for a camp or activity, then the Patrol may not be able to attend that camp or activity. All Scout parents are requested to assist with the transportation of their son’s/daughter’s Patrol. A transport charge may be applied where cost of fuel may be heavy ie a distant camp. Please note that Leaders are not responsible for providing transport although we usually help.
These two Sections are the final stages in the Scout Movement. They cater for the older teenager and young adult. It is at this stage that members do most of (Venturers) or all of (Rovers) their own planning and organisation with Leaders acting in an advisory capacity only. The field of activities and training is far wider here than in the previous sections.
It is from members of the Unit and Crew that members of the movement begin to feed back into the system as Cub Instructors and Joey, Cub or Scout Leaders.
Both the Venturer Unit and Rover Crew elect members to a council for their section and as with the Group Council plan activities and organise events etc for the year.
In Venturers and Rovers, females are welcome as members.
Venturer Unit When a Scout progresses to the Venturer Unit, he/she can do a Link Badge to ease the progression. The uniform changes by the removal the Scout Target and Challenge Badges and the wearing of the Venturer Beret and epaulettes.
The Venturer Badge Scheme consists of a variety of awards (Venturer Badge, Venturer Award, Major Interest Award) and culminates in the Queen’s Scout Award. The awards are made up of the following areas: Citizenship, Environment, Expeditions, Expression, Fitness, Ideals, Pursuit and Service.
Rover Crew When a Venturer advances into Rovers he/she can also do a Link Badge to ease the progression. The uniform changes by the removal of all Venturer Awards and Badges (with the exception of the Queen’s Scout Award) and at the Induction Ceremony the new Rover Squire (trainee Rover) is presented with the Rover Badge, Rover/Scout Beret and Shoulder Knots. After a period of Squire Training, the Rover Squire is taken to the appointed place and invested as a Rover Knight (full Rover Scout Crew member) and presented with the Rover epaulettes and red shoulder knots.
The Rover Award Scheme culminates in the BP Award gained through the areas of Community Service, Scouting Service and Personal Development.
Parents/Guardians/Interested adults are encouraged to contact the Group Committee or an Uniformed Leader to find out more about helping with the Troop. Involvement can be as a Leader, as part of the Group Committee or helping out with special events, including fund-raising activities. The members really enjoy their parents/guardians being involved in Scouting activities. It is your chance to be part of an exciting and interesting community and to make the activities and opportunity for your child/children be the best they can be.
The Scouters (Uniformed Leaders) in the Scout Association are not paid for their time and all work that they do in the Group is voluntary. The Scout Association is very clear that Home and Job must come before the Scout Group. Parents are asked to remember this and should be willing to assist where required to ease the loads of the Scouters.
In addition to the running of the different Sections of the Group, Scouters are also obligated to attend various meetings to ensure the efficient running of the Group and the District. These include Group Council and Leader Training Meetings.
A monthly meeting of all Scouters in the Group where programs, training, needs, problems, advancements and Scouting policy is discussed. The Group Council is held on the first Tuesday of each month.
The organisation of the various Sections (Joey, Cub, Scout, Venturer) and all matters pertaining to the Scouting aspects of the Group is solely up to the Scouters of each Section and the various Councils of the Group, which includes the Group Council.
A monthly meeting for the Section Leaders of the District where District events, problems, training and other matters are discussed – presently held on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Scouters of the Group are always available to hear problems or suggestions for movements.
If any problems should arise, please don’t hesitate to discuss it with the Section Leader or the Group Leader.
Office Bearers and Leaders of the Bardon Scout Group
Leader Position Name Phone Number
Group Leader Chris Goninon 3353 0712
Rover Advisor Marshall Holmes 3266 6043
Assistant Venturer Leader Peter Schrader 0419 676 942
Scout Leader Terry Moloney 3846 2003
Assistant Scout Leader Clair Balfour 3369 3535
Assistant Scout Leader Rob Don 3369 3535
Cub Scout Leader Kath Harrison 3369 2839
Assistant Cub Scout Leader Kate Van Paridon 3371 0244
Cub Scout Helper Junita Taylor 3217 9826
Joey Scout Leader (Tuesday) Peter Jull 3369 0357
Assistant Joey Scout Leader (Tuesday) Bronwyn Moloney 3876 2003
Joey Scout Helper (Tuesday) Asa Yanagi 3367 2931
Joey Scout Leader (Wednesday) Fraser Ilhe 3856 2062
Committee Position Name Phone Number
Chairperson David Maunsell 3371 9801
Treasurer Peter Bayard 3368 3061
Secretary Jim Mclellan 3369 3726
Group Leader Chris Goninon 3353 0712