Welcome to the Winterslow Explorer Scout Unit
This pack contains basic information on Explorer Scouting, meeting location and times, subscription details, uniform requirements, and example kit lists for activities. Registration form and annual consent forms are also included.
Explorer Scouts
The Scout association is the largest uniformed co-educational youth organisation in the UK with around half a million members. Explorer Scouts is the fourth section of the Scout Association and caters for people aged 14 to 18 years old.
Explorer Scouting is for young people who like to face varied challenges in all facets of life. It provides a balanced programme of activities base on the principles of the Scout Promise and Law to fulfil the purpose of scouting:
“The purpose of scouting is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as responsible citizens and members of their local national and international community”
The programme and these challenges are organised to a large extent by the Explorers themselves (with appropriate guidance from the adult leadership). Explorer scouts have the opportunity to take part in adventurous activities, local conservation projects, creative projects, camps and expeditions and many other activities. Participation, skills and experience are recognised and rewarded with activity badges and awards and Explorer Scouts can also participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme.
Explorer Scouting is provided by the Scout District, so there are also lots of opportunities to take part in the programmes of the other District Explorer units. In the Salisbury and South Wilts area there are now 6 Explorer Scout units based in Downton (Radnor Explorers), Laverstock, Wilton, Harnham Salisbury (City Explorers) and of course Winterslow!
Winterslow Explorer Scout Unit Weekly Meetings
These meetings will take place every Friday during term time at Winterslow Methodist Hall 7.30-9.30 pm.
(On occasions we may meet at alternative venues or at different times to suit programmed activity)
Uniform
Explorer beige shirt
Blue Activity Trousers and Scout belt (plus smart shoes for official events!)
District Explorer Necker
(Woggle and badges are supplied by the unit on investiture)
Uniform can be purchased from the Scout Shop, Dennis Marsh House, Kingsland Road, Salisbury, SP2 7DG.
For activities, red Winterslow polo shirts are available from Kay Putman (£6.00).
Subscriptions
The subscription for all Explorer Scouts in Salisbury and South Wilts District is currently £30.00 per term (3 terms per year). Please make cheques payable to Salisbury Scout Council Explorer Scouts.
Example kit lists
These are not intended to be exhaustive kit lists, more detailed lists will be provided for specific activities. These lists are intended to give you an idea of the sort of personal equipment an Explorer Scout will require (and to provide possible solutions to birthday/Christmas present dilemmas!!)
For weekly meetings as programme requires:
Torch or (preferably) headtorch
Waterproof cagoul and overtrousers
Walking boots or outdoor trainers
Small rucksack
Small notebook and pen (to make a note of what you need for the next meeting etc)
For camping:
3 or more season sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Unit Activity shirt (Red Winterslow polo shirt)
Activity clothing per day, suitable for time of year and activity
Waterproof cagoul and overtrousers
Towel and personal wash kit
Tea towel
Personal first aid kit
Torch, spare batteries and bulb
Walking boots or outdoor trainers
For hiking:
Personal first aid kit
Strong boots and good quality walking socks
Activity trousers (not jeans or heavy tracksuits)
Rucksack with waterproof liner (AKA black bin bag or similar!)
Emergency whistle
Emergency rations (Mars bar or similar)
Waterproof cagoul and overtrousers
Additional warm top
Reflective armband or high visibility jacket for night hikes
Torch with spare batteries and bulb
Personal map, map case and compas if you have them
50 p for phone box
Contact details
Chris Green
Assistant Explorer Scout Leader
124 Winterslow Road
Porton
Salisbury
SP4 0JX
Tel: 01980 610602
Mobile: 07866661109
Email:
Communication system
Whenever any activity or event is run within Scouting it is a requirement that a communication system is in place. This is to ensure; everyone involved is aware of how communication will take place between Leaders, participants and those not on the event, there are details of who is present should anything go wrong, and there is a system in place in the event of an emergency.
Given the poor mobile reception in and around Winterslow an additional point of contact for weekly meetings is detailed below. This additional point of contact may be used If you need to contact your child for any reason during a meeting and can’t get through to me, or if we need to contact parents.
Helen Green
124 Winterslow Road
Porton
Salisbury
SP4 0JX
Tel: 01980 610602
Explorer Scout Registration Form
Dear Parent
Re: Membership Records
The Scout Movement in the United Kingdom is a membership organisation. To enable it to operate, and to communicate with its Members, it is necessary maintain records about them.
This will include details of name; address; date of birth; contact telephone numbers. We will also be keeping details of your son’s/daughter’s progress through Scouting (badges gained etc). Information held in our Scout Group may be shared from time to time within Scouting including Headquarters of the Association.
New legislation came into force in March 2000 which covers the protection and processing of personal data. Adults and young people have the same rights under the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act covers paper based (as well as computer based) information.
Certain information is classed by the law as ‘Sensitive Personal Data’ in a Scouting context this may include information about your son’s/daughter’s:-
· Health (to ensure that we are prepared for medical emergencies it is important that we hold relevant information).
· Disabilities (to ensure a safe integration of your son’s/daughter’s participation in activities, details of any disability need to be known).
· Religious or similar beliefs (this will help us ensure that we make appropriate arrangements when necessary)
· Racial or ethnic origin (again this will help us ensure that we are sensitive to cultural needs of our Members)
To hold this ‘Sensitive Personal Data’ we will need your explicit consent.
All the information will only be used in connection with your son’s/daughter’s membership of the Scout Movement in the United Kingdom – this will include membership management and communications.
Any of the information provided will not be passed to any third parties outside the Scout Movement without your consent. You can give your consent by completing the questions on the form.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Chris Green
Assistant Explorer Scout Leader (Winterslow Unit)
Explorer Scout Registration Form
Name of Explorer Scout: ______
Date of Birth: ___/___/______
School: ______
Previous Troop (if applicable): ______
Doctor: ______
Practice address:
NHS Number: ______
Names of Parents / Guardians: ______
______
Address:
Post Code: ______
Telephone number/s: ______
______
Mobile number/s: ______
______
Email address : ______
Medical or other details you think we should know about:
‘I accept that the Scout Group will be keeping information about my son’s/daughter’s membership of the Scout Movement for Scouting purposes’.
‘I give explicit consent to the holding of information of my son’s/daughter’s health; disabilities; religion/faith; race/ethnic origin again for Scouting purposes’.
Signed: ______Date: ___/___/______
Relationship to Young Person:______
Consent Forms
The following are Annual Consent Requirements that will have to be completed and returned to the Unit at the start of September each year. They are intended to cover the sorts of Explorer activities that may take place during normal unit meetings.
Consent for General Scouting Activities
Explorer scouting is based around a progressive programme. At all stages we challenge the Explorers to develop physically, mentally spiritually and intellectually. In particular, they will be involved in activities and award schemes which will emphasise their life skills, development and decision making so that with their increased experience and maturity they can become more independent and less reliant on direct supervision from the adult leaders. Activities may include fire-lighting, cooking, navigation/map reading exercises, pioneering etc.
Please sign below if you have read and accept these principles.
Signature:______Date: ___/___/______
Consent for Cycling, including Mountain Biking
Road and Mountain biking have an element of risk of personal injury and as such will require appropriate equipment and protective clothing (helmets must be worn at all times whilst cycling). All cycling activities will be run in accordance with the Scout Association Rules.
Please sign below if you are willing for your child to take part in these activities.
Signature:______Date: ___/___/______
Consent for Hikes and Orienteering
Hiking and orienteering require the participants to understand map reading and basic navigation. Explorers will develop these skills in small teams whilst being carefully observed and tracked with more experience there may be occasions where hiking and orienteering may be used in competitive challenges where participants can plan their own routes and are timed through established checkpoints over different terrains. All activities will be run in accordance with the Scout Association Rules.
Please sign below if you are willing for your child to take part in these activities.
Signature:______Date: ___/___/______
Consent for Water Activities
Water activities such as canoeing, sailing, rafting and swimming have inherent risks but also broad appeal. We need to know if your child can swim 50 m in light clothing. Not being able to do so will not necessarily exclude them from these activities as the instructors will ensure that they are always adequately monitored and where possible mentored to improve their skills. Again all activities will be run in accordance with the Scout Association Rules.
My child can / cannot swim 50 m Please sign below if you are willing for your child to take part in these activities.
Signature:______Date: ___/___/______
Consent for Photograpy/Video
During your child’s time in Scouting photographs or video may be taken in the course of an activity or scouting programme. These will be used to record the activity and will be available to you and your child. Occasionally, photograps and video may be used in connection with publicity (on no occasion will personal details be disclosed).
If you are content for photographs/video to be taken of your child to record their time in Scouting please sign below:
Signature:______Date: ___/___/______
If you are content for photographs/video to be taken of your child to be used for publicity for Scouting please sign below
Signature:______Date: ___/___/______
Explorer Information 26/09/2009