Each term there is a programme of events. The same dates are observed as local state schools, breaking for Christmas, Easter and Summer, as well as the half terms. The programme is intended to be interesting and varied, leading towards the challenges and badges described below.

We usually meet each Friday evening at the Hall at 8:00 with a finish at 9:30 pm. If an event is programmed for a weekend, then there will be no Friday evening meeting that week.

Events

The biggest event in the Scout year is our Summer Camp. This takes place in the first week of the summer school holidays for local state schools. So please try to avoid that week for your family holidays. A site is chosen which is interesting, has a range of activities, and yet is not too far away – less than three hours travel. This is such that leaders and other parent helpers can each do half a camp, ie some will do Saturday to Tuesday, and some do Wednesday to Saturday. Most Scouts will have camped for a weekend as Cubs, but a full week away is a major event especially for the younger ones (and their parents!), but we do encourage you to participate.

We can only hold camps – especially summer camp with parents coming with us to camp – if the level of parents able to help is low, then we may have to restrict numbers.

Other major events, which are organised at a County or District Level are:

The Grimsdyke Hyke

A one day, or two day hike, in November where Scouts have to navigate around a course. The one day hike is intended for the younger Scouts, and is about 25km assuming that no navigation errors are made. The two day hike (of 25km each day) includes an overnight stay, for which the Scouts must carry their tents, sleeping bags, food, stove, cooking utensils etc. Both of these hikes are strenuous, but everyone is encouraged to ‘have a go’, there is no shame in having a go, and yet not completing the course. Scouts go in teams of 2-5.

The Quest

This is a one day incident hike, of perhaps 15 – 18 km, in February. This is not only a hike which needs navigation skills, but approx every kilometre, there is an activity to complete, the activities are all based around a theme, and different skills with teamwork will be needed to solve them. Skills required could include speed, strength, agility, balance, feel, music, general knowledge. This is made more challenging by poor weather (it might be snowing), and the fact that it starts at about 3pm, and finishes at midnight – so the majority is done in the dark. Teams are of 4-6.

District Pioneering Challenge

Teams of 6–8 from local Scout Troops will build a bridge across the Misbourne using ropes and poles. This is intended to be an annual event, the first of which was held in September 2006. A Sergeant from the Royal Engineers judged it, and next year they have offered to demonstrate bridge building ‘army style’ – our Group is organising this event.

The County Raft Challenge

A team of six will design, and build a raft on which they need to spend about 15 hours overnight. This includes cooking an evening meal, sleeping, and cooking breakfast. We are allowed to have only one team each year, and we have selected the oldest Scouts, who have not previously competed. At the same time, we are allowed to take some other Scouts to the camp at Longridge, and they can participate in the river events, such as Sailing, Canoeing, and Dragon Boat racing.

Awards

In order to focus the programme of the Troop, there are a number of awards that can be gained. These are divided into Activity Badges and Challenges.

Challenges

One of the principal aims of Woden Troop is to enable Scouts to achieve the Chief Scout’s Gold Award, this is often considered to be equivalent to the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award’, and can be a useful attribute for a first ‘CV’. For this to be awarded, a Scout must gain five of the Challenge Awards below, and then complete a personal challenge.

The Outdoor Challenge, the Outdoor Plus Challenge, the Adventure Challenge, the Expedition Challenge, the Fitness Challenge, the Creative Challenge, the Global Challenge and the Community Challenge.

The troop has focused on achieving the first five of these awards, as they are more in line with the interests of the current leaders and the majority of the scouts.

Activity Badges

There are over 70 Activity badges that can be gained, and many of these can be done outside the Scout environment. For example to qualify for the Equestrian Badge, the Scout must qualify for The Pony Club's 'C' Standard. If they can show the leadership evidence of having achieved this, then the badge will be awarded. Other examples of where Scouts might have demonstrated the necessary competence, but are unlikely to do so within the Scout evenings are Life Saver, Snow Sports and Music.

Besides the ‘regular’ activity badges, there are staged activity badges. Most have five stages, except for Nights Away which has twelve, and Hikes away which has six. They are applicable across all the Scouting sections, for example the Scout may have achieved Stage 1 as a Beaver, Stage 2 as a Cub Scout, then Stages 3 and 4 in the Scouts section, followed by Stage 5 in Explorers. Any of these badges that have been awarded in prior sections may be worn on the Scout uniform. Examples of staged badges are Swimming and Musician.

Details of the challenge and activity badges can be found here.

Uniform

The Scout Uniform, which consists of a shirt, along with appropriate badges, a scarf, woggle, trousers, and an optional belt should be worn on all Scouting occasions. Occasionally, it will be determined that uniform is not necessary on a particular evening – you will be informed of such situations, if in doubt, then contact a leader, or wear uniform.

At the opening and closing ceremonies of each meeting, and whenever it is worn in public, shirts should be tucked in, and scarves tied neatly. Where other ‘local’ badges are awarded, these will usually be placed on the right below where the Challenge badges should go.

This diagram shows where the badges should be placed – where it says ‘Name tape’, this comprises two tapes, one with the Group name, the other with the section name – in our case - Woden Troop.

Personal Equipment

Scouting involves camping, walking and other outdoor activities. Whichever time of the year these activities are done, there will be a need for a certain level of equipment. Unfortunately, this can be expensive. Some items such as sleeping bags, and rucksacks, will last a long time, and they can be used by various members of the family. Others such as clothing may be passed down to younger offspring, but with children growing quickly, they may not last an individual very long, and you may not have younger offspring.

We have ‘obtained’ some equipment – notably boots, rucksacks and compasses. These can be borrowed for Scouting purposes. They should be returned in at least as clean a condition as they are loaned out.

Patrol Structure

The Troop is divided up into patrols; each patrol has a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader. It is our intention that PLs and APLs are selected on the basis of age / school year. This is to give each Scout the opportunity to have a leadership role. If there are two or more candidates, who are similar in age, then the leadership will choose the person(s). Criteria used will include behaviour, attendance record, and effort in scouting activities.

Sometimes a Scout will be ‘promoted’ to becoming a Senior Patrol Leader. This will normally happen where an older Scout is staying as a Scout rather than moving into Explorers, perhaps to finish off an Award. A Senior Patrol Leader will no longer be part of the patrol structure, he/she will be expected to help the leaders, for instance in setting up at the beginning of an evening, and or packing up at the end.

Investiture

About a month after a new recruit joins, we hope that they will be ready to be invested. This means that they understand what Scouting is all about, and they are ready to make their promise to the Troop. Investiture will normally take place in the Scout Hall at the end of a meeting, but can take place on camp, or at some other activity. The precise timing of the investiture depends on there being a suitable meeting at which it can take place, and when it is convenient for the parents should they wish to attend – which we encourage them to do. Until they are invested, Cub Scout uniform can be worn, though if they are sure they wish to become a Scout, they can wear Scout uniform, in either case they should wear their group scarf. At the investiture ceremony, they are presented with their Membership, County, District and Troop name badges. We hope that Scout uniform will be worn at the investiture ceremony, but if they are unsure yet whether to commit, then this can be a reason for delaying the ceremony.

Rules

In order that our evenings run smoothly, and all Scouts and Leaders can get the most out of Scouting, we have decided upon some basic rules of conduct.

When being spoken to, whether by a Leader, other adult, or another Scout, you must pay attention.

Respect each other – in particular do not abuse each other, physically or verbally.The main area of the hall is the only area that Scouts should be in – specifically, the stage, the kitchen and the ladder to the store room are out of bounds, unless a Scout is directed by an adult to go there. The toilets are not for hiding in or playing games.

Treat the hall with respect – if you have muddy shoes, then scrape the mud off before entering, do not damage any equipment – this applies out of the hall as well.

There are various levels of sanctions for Scouts who do not abide by these rules. These vary from a ‘sin bin’ where for a period during an evening, they will be taken away from normal activities, and made to do some menial task, such as cleaning or tidying up the Scout room. Repeated offences or serious offences will mean that their parents are informed; followed by barring from the troop for some weeks. Finally they will of course be asked to leave the troop.

Attendance and Leaving

Scouts are expected to attend every week there is a meeting. They should not ‘pick and choose’ evenings that they think are more interesting – equally if it is difficult for parents to get their child to Scouts, then try to get other parents to help.

There is no compulsion on letting us know, but we would be grateful if you could let us know if your child will not be attending scouts, especially if this is for an extended time – they may be ill, or it could be that they have to attend rehearsals for a drama production.

Of course if the Scout wishes to give up Scouting, then let us know – please discuss it with us first, it may be that there are events coming up in the coming term, that are more favourable, or if he/she doesn’t get on with others in his/her patrol, then perhaps we can fix that also.