So your child is thinking of joining Cubs/Scouts/Rovers?

1. So your child is thinking of joining Cubs/Scouts/Rovers? We thought you might just like a bit more information …

2. How it all began… How Scouting Started in South Africa The Scout Movement was founded by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. In 1907 he held an experimental camp where he took 20 boys from different backgrounds camping under his leadership. The following year, Scouting for Boys was published and boys inspired by Baden-Powell’s ideas soon formed themselves into Scout patrols. In 1908 Baden Powell set up an office to deal with the enquiries pouring in about the movement. Today, Scouting is a global Movement. It Grew From There … Your child is now one of a family of 28 million young people in 150 countries who join in the fun of scouting every week. The experiences your sons or daughters have in the movement are likely to stay with them for the rest of their lives. Cubs: boys and girls 7 - 11 years Scouts: boys and girls 11 - 18 Rovers: young men and women 18 - 30

3. The adventure of a life time Scouting is all about adventure – at all levels and in many forms. The adventure encompasses many ways that Scouting challenges and stretches the lives of young people. To a cub waking up after his or her first night away from home is as much as an adventure as senior scouts going on the 10 day Cederberg Adventure where they can do hiking, rock climbing, target shooting, orienteering and face many other challenges.

4. Programme The activities that the youngster take part in will depend on their age. Each section gives young people the opportunity to learn by doing. The main programme areas are: Outdoor and Adventure, Personal Development, Community Involvement, Creative, and Beliefs and Attitudes. Adult leaders are trained to deliver the programme, ensuring that our young people stay safe while they enjoy themselves and learn. All new leaders go through a criminal records check to ensure they are fit to work with young people. Advancement Cubs work for various badges which will help them to achieve the next level. Scouts attend courses and earn badges to help them advance to the next level. Scouts are organised into “patrols” of about 6 boys with a patrol leader. The patrol leader is a more senior boy who takes responsibility for the boys in his patrol. The Cub team is called a “sixer.” Advancement is a collaboration between the adult leader, child and parent.

5. Scouting is great for the whole family Parents value what scouting does for their children. Surveys show that parents believe that scouting gives their children more confidence, responsibility and a broader set of friends, a chance to pursue things they might not get to do otherwise, adventure and an extended family. As your youngster progresses through scouting, you will be able to recognise the positive impact scouting has on him or her.

6. What the 1st Blaauwberg parents have to say: “Scouting helps parents prepare their children for life.” “It is not just factual; they learn social skills and how to interact. They have to remember things to bring the following week so they have to take a bit of responsibility for their own stuff.” “I would say that the best benefit has been confidence in his abilities. The cubs are allowed to do things like make a potjiewithout us hovering over them. They make mistakes (like putting the spoon in the sand) but they don’t do that the next time once they have tasted the sand in their meal!” “It has boosted my son’s confidence and helped him interact with others on a very positive level. He gets a tremendous amount of fun and excitement out of Scouts and has done things that he would never had had the chance to do if he wasn’t part of the Scouting organisation. He has climbed mountains, sailed on the open sea, led projects that many adults would struggle with and helped the community.” “My son has a sense of achievement in getting badges – deciding on a badge to aim for, working through the requirements and then earning the badge. He is very proud of the badges he has earned and has already identified the next badge he wants to do. “ “Scouting has given my son the opportunity to learn how to work in teams, take leadership positions and accept responsibility. He has grown in confidence and has learnt to reflect on his own development and advancement. These valuable life skills are preparing him for an increasingly complex and demanding world in a fun way.”

7. Parents can get involved too! • You may feel that you have no skills to help with scouting – but everyone has something to give. • From a parent: “Scouting is fun. I love camping, outdoor activities and doing silly stuff other adults never get a chance to do.” • Parents feel that they are contributing to young peoples’ development. • You can give something back to your community. • You can offer to assist the leaders so that they can do more. • Spend more quality time with your child. • You can share your hobbies and interests. • You could lift scouts when they go to various activities. • If you are a qualified first aider you could run an interactive session? • If you have an interest in nature and could take your child’s group on a fun walk. • Not everyone who helps works directly with the scouts. • You can help with maintenance of the hall, boats and boat shed. • We need marketing and fundraising skills. • Secretarial and organisational skills never go amiss.

8. DID YOU KNOW THAT THESE FAMOUS PEOPLE WERE ALSO SCOUTS? http://thescoutingpages.org.uk/famous.html Nelson Mandela Bear Grylls Richard Branson John F Kennedy Jamie Oliver David Attenborough Richard Hammond Ray Mears David Beckham David Bowie Paul McCartney Billy Connelly John Major Prince Andrew Harrison Ford Bill Clinton Barack Obama Mark Spitz Jacques Chirac Bill Gates Steven Spielberg Out of the 294 men and women selected to be astronauts from 1959-2005, 180 were Eagle Scouts including 11 of the 12 who walked on the moon.

9. FAQs How much does it cost? There is a R150 joining fee which includes start up badges and a cap. After that it is R275 per term starting the beginning of the next term. What must my child wear and where can I get it? Cubs: A Scout shirt, belt, navy shorts or dark blue jeans. Scouts: A Scout shirt, navy Chinos, a scout belt , black polished shoes and a black beret. These items can be purchased that the Scout shop at Scout Headquarters , Riverside Mall, Corner of Main Road and Belmont Road, Rondebosch. Telephone 0860 SCOUTS (0860 726 887) What else do Cubs and Scouts need? An advancement book can be purchased at the Scout Shop in Rondebosch or from Akela. Can my son/daughter take part in all the activities right from the start? Your child can attend the meetings and take part in the activities at the meetings. There are criteria for certain courses e.g. they can’t sail until they have a swimming badge. Only our 8 – 11 year olds are allowed to attend our Annual Camp. Recruits are unable to take part in the Grand Howl, the opening and closing ceremony, until they have been invested. Speak to Akela or the Scouter to for more information. What does being invested mean? Once a cub has joined they attend pack meetings in normal clothes, we go over the cub promise, motto and law, they are told about our founder and how cubs is based on the Jungle Book story written by Rudyard Kipling. Once the cub has decided that he would like to stay we hold an Investiture ceremony. The cub arrives in full uniform, he is presented with 1st Blaauwberg scarf, woggle and badges. He is expected to say the cub promise, and cub law. Cubs that are invested will be able to participate in the Grand Howl. Parents are welcome to take pictures at the Investiture ceremony.

10. Meetings: Scout Hall, corner Willow & Viola Roads, Bloubergrise, Tableview Cubs: Tuesdays 5.45 - 7.15pm Scouts: Fridays 7.30 – 9.30pm

11. Still more questions? Group Scouter (Cubs & Scouts): Elaine Shaw 021 556 0894 072 410 7019 elaine.shaw@mweb.co.za Akela (Cubs):Shirley Beier 021 553 3767 084 447 3472 beier@telkomsa.net Troop Scouter (Scouts): Matthew van den Honert 021 557 2700 082 297 5267 mathewvdh@gmail.com Chairman : John Clutten 021 554 1818 083 324 2421 clutten@iafrica.com www.1stBlaauwberg.co.zawww.scouting.org.za