Are Your Kids or Grandkids

[echnidna]

Are Your Kids or Grandkids involved in scouting?
Scouting caters for ages 6 to 26 as youth members.(Girls and Boys)

The kids really have a ball and learn many life skills and develop life lasting friendships

Scouting is the largest youth organisation in the world.
Only 5 countries don't have scouting in the whole world.

This link will show you the value of scouting
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bpcamp/Bruck16.html

If your Kids or Grandkids are not involved, why not?

Are you a Leader, if not why not?

Adults have a ball as Leaders.
They have as much fun as the kids.
Meet good people worldwide.

Even Old Pharts are wanted as leaders or support personnel.

Enquire at your local scout group.

[Wood Borer]

I have never been a scout neither have our kids and our grandkids are too young but it is a most worthwhile organisation from what I have heard.

Their shops known as Snowgum stock excellent products for camping which I buy my gear from.

[ele__13]

Hi to everyone have borrowed this from the link that Bob put in re Scouting I am an activity leader for Jamboree of the Air or JOTA in Bundaberg District and have spend a great deal of time as a leader in the Cub Joey and Venturer sections of the movement my kids have been involved and will prob one day go back as leaders/ helpers .

So, what really happens to a Scout, when they have left the Scouting movement?
Records show that for every 100 people who join Scouting:
Rarely will one be brought before the juvenile court system.
4 will become Queen's Scouts. At least one of these will say they value their Queen's Scout Award above their College degree.

MMMMMM and another one of those 4 would be me !! i was presented to the Governor of Victoria (Sir Brian Murray) on the 5th of May 1984 .
Yes my Queens Scout has opened many doors for me in my life and its an award i worked extremely hard to get and for me still is one of the proudest moments in my life !!!! cheers jules

[ele__13]

oppps forgot this bit sorry hehehe jules

[CameronPotter]

I was a Sea Scout (what is a Queen's Scout - I assume that it is some kind of award).

I really enjoyed it, but the frustrating thing was that I knew enough to attain the highest level badge of every type basically, but nobody had the time to test me... Grrr. :mad:

The funny thing is that my Scout Leader trusted my knowledge enough to have me test other people for some pretty major badges (I can't remember what they were called now) - even though nobody had tested me for them. Mind you, I didn't really rate the award of badges all that high. I think that the problem was that I wasn't interested in any of the smaller ones and wanted to go straight for the big green one (highest badge)... But never got around to it.

Oh well. I can safely say though that I wouldn't rate it as highly as I rate my "college" (meaning uni of course) degree.

That being said, I reckon that it was a blast and I really enjoyed the time I spent there. When I have kids I will probably become a Scout Leader.

Cam

[silentC]

I was a scout. Didn't get on with one of the leaders so I left. Still got me woggle somewhere.... :D

Used to hate bob a job week. Where I live is mostly old age pensioners. You'd work your butt off to wash their car or mow their lawn and they'd reward you with a measly 20 cents! There you go sonny, there's two bob since you worked so hard. :p

[ele__13]

[quote=CameronPotter]I was a Sea Scout (what is a Queen's Scout - I assume that it is some kind of award).

A Queens Scout is the highest award you can earn as a youth member is worke don int he Venturer section between the ages of 14- 18 i am the first and still the only female to have one in the area i grew up in Victoria
mmm well each to their own but my uni degree in many ways isnt worth the paper its written on but hey thats only my opinion and it had a bout a zillion hrs of blodd sweat and tears to get the flaming thing ....

cheers Cam have a gr8 day jules

[CameronPotter]

Ahhh. I didn't go on to Venturers...


i am the first and still the only female to have one in the area i grew up in Victoria

But that is really cool. Something that will always be able to be treasured. Well done!

Cam

[Felder]

Gold Boomerang in Cubs
Green Cord in Scouts
Queen's Scout in Venturers.:)


Yes - I may be considered a nerd by some, but dammit - I loved my time in the Scouting movement.

Abseiling, white-water canoeing, canyoning, Australian Jamboree (SA, 1988), Dragon Skin, a trip to NZ to walk the Milford Sound Track..........great experiences, and all stuff I would not have done if I wasn't a part of it.

Was a leader at Cubs for a while, but decided it wasn't 'cool' when I was 18ish.

Now-a-days most of my spare time is spent with the local Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, but I'm spending that time with a lot of people I met during scouts. Would love to put some time back into the movement....hopefully one day....:)

Great organisation - shame it is seen as 'daggy' or 'uncool' by some.:(

[jmk89]

Yeah. Scouts can be really good, but so much depends on the leaders and the amount of time they are able to put into it. Cam put his finger on it - if they can't do the testing for the badges, then the whole activities regime falls over. If they won't supervise organising camps and go on them, then there is no camping and no chance to do the activities that makes scouting good fun.

I was lucky - we had a scout leader who was an ex-RAF fighter pilot and we ere able to do Air activites. It got me into aeroplanes and gave me years of great hobby time.

I hope I will have time to get involved again when Rob and Anna reach the right age.

[Gumby]

dyb dyb dyb

I went through cubs and scouts. Didn't go on after that though.

I was the only sixer with only one eye open and the only patrol leader without a million badges on my shirt. :D

We had fun though, nuggeting new chums etc :eek:

[CameronPotter]

Yep. The first day I went to scouts, they tied me and my friend up on chairs! Problem was, I got out pretty quickly... After that, they learnt to tie knots better. :p

[Gumby]

Yep. The first day I went to scouts, they tied me and my friend up on chairs! Problem was, I got out pretty quickly... After that, they learnt to tie knots better. :p

We had one get away once. :mad:
You weren't at 13th Caulfield by any chance ? :o

I bet they don't do that stuff now.

[johnc]

Scouts is a good activity for kids, having gone from cubs through to venturers and spent a few years as a leader were all experiences with a lot of rewards. Friends made in those times you carry for many years.

John

[Daddles]

I was a scout and had a great time.
My son joined the scouts ... and the first group was a noisy rabble. So we changed groups. That was good ... until a junior leader left, and the mob became a noisy rabble (this junior was running the show it appears).
He's never been back and I don't blame him. It was expensive and gave back bugger all. But it's all about the leaders - get good ones, and it can be great, but there are too many stories about duds and I know more blokes with crap experiences than good ones. Guess I struck out lucky as a kid.

Richard

[Iain]

I'm an ASL with a local group (Scouts), we encourage the PL's, APL's and TL's to organise and conduct their own activities which goes down pretty well, we step in and put it back on track when things start to go a little pear shaped.
The kids get on well, the leaders all have kids in the troop and have a ball.
Funniest incident I recall was about a year ago we took them out on a night walk along an old disused railway line, suddenly one of the leaders pulls them all up and sends them over an embankment to look for something, I wondered what the hell was going on just before he announced that he was busting for a pee and needed to get rid of them all.
We now have 24 Scouts, 4 leaders although one works night shifts a lot and we don't see much of him and SWMBO is on the verge of being pushed into the fray.
Arranging interesting activities is one of the strong points and keeps them interested.

[Iain]

i was presented to the Governor of Victoria
What happened, didn't like you and handed you to Doug:D :D :D :D :D

[echnidna]

A few observations about various posts.

Reportedly over 90% of Queen Scouts value that award far more highly than their uni degree. When you think about it. anyone could get a uni degree coz they can just keep going back again and again and again until they achieve a pass mark in specific subjects.

Personality clashes can occur between people anywhere. I feel that if it occurs in a primary school between teacher and pupil it can totally stuff up the kids future. If they don't get a decent education in primary they are stuffed in secondary school etc as they just don't comprehend the basics.

If a personality clash happens in scouting there are some workarounds
1. Maybe just talking over the difficulties can overcome it.
2. Go to a different group.
3. Mum & or Dad can become a leader. If they think the leader is lacking obviously they should be able to do it better. This must benefit their own kids as well as all the other kids.

Bob a job got its name changed because of the low value it ended up with as our currency became worth less and less. Initially it was a great name, then renamed to "Scout Job Weeks"

While the original link in this thread
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~bpcamp/Bruck16.html
applies to scouting, I daresay there would be very few schools, IF ANY. that could demonstrate the benefits in later life.

If your kids\ grandkids aren't involved in scouting they are missing out on the experiences of a lifetime.

[echnidna]

This is actually Sheryl here. I have been involved in scouting for over 25 years. It has been marvelous for confidence, socialisation and FUN.

I have been fortunate to start before my kids and keep going after they have left. Sometimes it is hard work, but the enjoyment on the cubs faces and the understanding on the parents faces make it worth it. It can be a thankless job - most voluntary things are, but last year I was presented with my Silver Koala - a distinguishment award for leaders.

I am also fortunate to have married Bob (the real echnidna) as he joined up also to become a joint manager here at the scout camp. 1 grandson has been in scouts and one grand-daughter I am going to have the pleasure of investing into Cub Scouts on Anzac Day this year. I am now District Leader for Cub Scouts (7-10 year olds) and this role makes me a manager and mentor to the cub scout leaders of the district.

Anyone wishing to know more about what they can do as support for this great organisation that teaches by doing things, instead of just talking about them, and a large non government funded recreational activity that is not just a particular sport - but covers many things, let me know!!.

Woodies could go and assist the scout members with their handcraft badges, on a once off basis.

So what do you say?? are you prepared to help out a local group of kids and adults who want to have FUN whilst they learn.

Any feedback on scouting would be appreciated - constructive criticsm or whatever. We are always looking for new ideas from new people. I have taken note of the comments already posted. Thank you.

Thank you for your time in reading this, regards, Sheryl.

[Iain]

You are a DL, we SL's and ASL's regard them as tyrants, running amok and giving us poor buggers a hard time:eek:
June Wright is ours and she gives me heaps, not that it's always undeserved:rolleyes:
How do you find the time, for DL I mean, and the one bloke I really admire is Russell Brad, running a business, organising the Jamboree and numerous other tasks, that man must work 48 hour days, and all for ($) nothing.

[echnidna]

You are a DL, we SL's and ASL's regard them as tyrants, running amok and giving us poor buggers a hard time:eek:
June Wright is ours and she gives me heaps, not that it's always undeserved:rolleyes:
How do you find the time, for DL I mean, and the one bloke I really admire is Russell Brad, running a business, organising the Jamboree and numerous other tasks, that man must work 48 hour days, and all for ($) nothing.


The SL's and ASL's up here regard the DL's as mushrooms.::rolleyes:

btw, why aint you up here for the straddy, the bush is so wet that the leeches have gone on holidays :eek:

[Iain]

The Scouts have gone to Staddy at Mt Eliza, I got to stay home because I had to work:mad:
Bloody leeches, Gilwell would cave in if they left I think, that place is rotten with them.

[rodm]

I was a sixer in cubs and PL in scouts - Seaweed sucker. I left scouts when I was old enough to join the army cadets.

Occassionally I think about the skills and life values it taught me at a very impressionable age. Oh yeah the camps were a hoot.

Our bob a jobs were rated on the number of jobs done rather than the money collected. It made us understand the value of helping others but I must admit I also got a bit nicked off working for hours weeding and only getting a shilling from somebody that you knew could aford more.

This post has got me thinking about going back but I don't think my shirts will still fit. :D

[echnidna]

This post has got me thinking about going back but I don't think my shirts will still fit. :D

There is a different uniform now so the old shirt size is not an acceptable excuse:)

[rodm]

True :)

[graemet]

Went right through from Cubs to Senior Scouts, Queens Scout in 1959 from Roden Cutler who was the State Chief Scout then. Some of the best experiences of my life, certainly some of the best lessons in leadership and self reliance. My kids had too many other activities, school and sport, to continue although daughter was a Brownie for a few years. Pre TV and computers, the scouting movement gave a focus for kids, but life was simpler then, and it was cool to go bushwalking, camping, tying knots and building flagpoles. It still amazes me though, when I find an otherwise practical person can't tie a reef knot or tie a load onto a trailer.
Cheers,
Graeme