Gone is the bottle green shirt and mushroom trousers, in with a new 'street-cred' uniform of smart Teal Green shirt with Royal Blue combats.
(Almost the same colours as this text!)
BUT not only do we have a new uniform, but a whole new programme, known as a 6-25 year programme, starting with Beavers at 6, through Cubs, the SCOUTS, and now the two additional sections of the EXPLORERS (14 - 18 years approx.) and the NETWORK (18 - 25 years). and if that is not enough the young person can stay on to become a fully warranted leader until they are 65 (Subject to police checks).
The aim is to provide a fully balanced programme through six defined areas known as the 'PROGRAMME ZONES' which include Scoutcraft & Adventure, Global, Community, Creative Expression, Fit for Life and Exploring Beliefs & Attitudes.
In addition to 70 Proficiency badges that the scouts work towards in their own time, there is also the opportunity to participate in 8 Challenges, Group Badges and Staged Interest badges.
2003 sees a whole new era for the Scout Association, and especially for 1st Chadsmoor as they launch into the first of the Challenges
THE OUTDOOR CHALLENGE AWARD
1st Chadsmoor had just undergone a leadership change, so we decided that this with a test camp in April would give the scouts chance to get to know me and vice versa.
The new challanges give the opportunity to build the requirements to the needs of the scouts, however we thought that a camp based upon basic scoutcraft principles, using the ten examples given in Troop Essentials would be a good start.
The scouts had varying camp experience, although many had only camped with the cubs before, so the first big shock was that they had to put up their own tents!
Another new experience was the introduction of camp gadgets, and the famous washing up stand, stolen from an idea of a local guider friend of mine.
Chadsmoor used a babybath for washing-up, and I was determined not to have scores of soggy wet t-towels hanging around all camp. So I made one concession - I bought a drainer. The scouts set about on the frame work to hold the bath and the drainer - and success. They used it all weekend, and not ONE T-Towel was used all weekend. I suppose it helped that it was probably one of the sunniest April weekends in recent history, so there wasn't really to much moaning from the washers up (apart from one who swore that the washing-up liquid rotted his fingertips!)
Well with BIvvy building (and demolishing), instruction in Knife, bowsaw and axe and the inevitable firelighting, the weekend was a reasonable success and all scouts have now earned their OUTDOOR CHALLENGE
Next it's the SPRING BANK CAMP at Drumhill in Derbyshire, over Whitsun, which will be like a holiday in comparison, and later in the year some of the scouts are going to an International Scout & Guide Camp in the heart of Robin Hood country, Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire.
Then it's back down to earth in September for an 18-point incident hike around our local site at Beaudesert.
All this plus as many hikes and outdoor activities as we can fit in the year (there's only 50 weeks to fill!)
WATCH THIS SPACE!!!
