Are Your Kids or Grandkids

[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

[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
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
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.:

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.

[echnidna]

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

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