explorers supplement

The magazine

for Explorer Scout Leaders

December 2010/January 2011

scouts.org.uk/pol

Looking goodMake

death masks

This is the lifeA survival

camp in Scotland

KITTED OUT KITTED OUTWe get you ready for 2011

NEWTraining Modules

EXPLORER FINAL.indd 1 11/11/2010 14:32

IFC_ExplorerSupp_DecJan.indd 2 11/11/2010 16:08

3scouts.org.uk/pol

Another year over

4 NewsA round-up of what’s happening in the section

6 Say what you wantExplorer Scout Forums: why they might work for you.

8 ‘You look like death’Ayers Explorers make decorative masks

10 New activity resolutionLet our listing be your launchpad into new adventures

12 Highland (fun and) gamesNidderdale Explorers go coastal in Scotland

15 Your Programme, Your VoiceThe results are in from the latest survey

16 Badge in focusThe Science and Technology Activity Badge

17 Who ya gonna call?New partnership with Save the Children

18 Jamboree dreamsOur next dreamer is Steven from Norfolk

Charlotte Tow’s new year resolution is to spread the word about the exciting opportunities available to Explorer Scouts across the UK. She introduces this issue

Welcome to the New Year issue of Explorer. I hope that the winter months

continue to be as exciting and adventurous as those in warmer weather. In this

issue, we look at the benefits of running Explorer forums and how they can be

part of a fun programme. Use the New Year as a reason to see what your

Explorers have enjoyed about the past Scouting year, and what they want to get

from the next one.

New year, new lookYou may also notice that this issue has a slightly new look. We hope to be able

to share plenty of programme ideas with you and put a focus on what you’ve all

been up to. Take a look at the upcoming challenge events that are happening

around the country and hopefully see you at some of them.

If you have anything you wish to see included in the supplement, or have any

great stories and ideas to share with others within the section, get in touch at

[email protected]

Sub zero GilwellMany of you will be getting excited about Wintercamp, which kicks off

on 7 January at Gilwell Park. Your Explorers will be able to take part in many

activities, from outdoor Quasar to sphering and a digger challenge.

Don’t forget that there are also many activities just for leaders – go to

www.wintercamp.org.uk for more information.

Explorer Scout Support TeamThe Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QWTel: 0845 300 1818

ADVERTISINGRichard [email protected] Tel: 020 8962 1258

Cover image: Peter Howard

Contributors: Hilary Walker, Eddie Ward, Kim Harris, Tom Hylands

GET ONLINE, GET MOREYou can read all six magazine supplements on the main Scout website at www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

Contents


4 Explorer December 2010/January 2011

news

Young Leaders news: A reminderA few of you have asked about how many Young Leaders are allowed in each section. We recommend a maximum of three per section, to make sure that all Young Leaders have a chance to take a full part in the leadership team and get properly involved in running the section. As always, common sense is the key and as long as your Young Leaders are having fun and developing, everyone’s happy.www.scouts.org.uk/youngleaders

scouts.org.uk is going through a revamp and beta pages to support the Network section are available to view and look through. These include the most up to date information, a new menu system and a fresh look and feel. Look for the ‘Information and Resources’ area at www.scouts.org.uk to see for yourself.

scouts.org.uk is going through WWWhat’s going on?

Queen’s Scouts honouredThe latest class of Queen’s Scouts received their

awards from UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt at a

plush reception in London’s Science Museum. Chief

Scout Bear Grylls also popped in for lunch with the

award holders as part of his tour of London and the

South East. This year’s national reception will be the last

in the current format. Future certificate presentations

will be organised and hosted at a Regional and/or

Country level.

The National Scout Service and Parade will be held at

Windsor Castle on Sunday 1 May 2011. Those Explorers

who have recently achieved their Queen’s Scout Award

will receive an invitation to attend in January. To avoid

disappointment, encourage them to RSVP as soon as

possible (before the deadline).

See you in Sweden?Day visitor tickets are now available

to purchase from the Swedish

Jamboree team. Adult day

tickets for 28 July – 6 August

cost 150SEK (approx £14). For

more information and to buy

your tickets visit

shop.worldscoutjamboree.se

Day visitor tickets are now available


New modules for leaders

Is there a night away, sleepover, camp or residential experience on your

horizon? No matter what type of overnight experience you are planning

or helping out with, it is essential that you have the right tools for the job,

says Samantha Marks

For more about training – [email protected] more about Nights Away Permit Scheme – [email protected]

more info

The Scout Association now offers two modules

to enable you to provide overnight experiences

with confidence. In order to become more

flexible and relevant in the training available,

Module 16: Nights Away has changed and a new Module 38: Skills for Residential Experiences has been created.

Module 16: Introduction to Residential ExperiencesThis gives an introduction to the place,

value and organisation of residential

experiences, and their importance in

Scouting. This will be a shorter version

of the obligatory module that all

section leaders need to complete.

Module 38: Skills for Residential ExperiencesThis focuses on the skills to plan and run

a successful residential experience for

young people. It reflects the skills needed for

a Nights Away Permit and aims to help

leaders gain new skills and consolidate

their knowledge.

These changes will give you more flexibility and

choice over the training you receive.

The Nights Away Permit Scheme remains a separate

national scheme, so while these modules aim to give

you all the knowledge you need, if you want to gain

a Nights Away Permit, you will still need to be assessed

separately (you don’t need a Nights Away permit

to get your Wood Badge).

Remember though, that there are no pre-requisites for

gaining a Nights Away Permit – you don’t have to attend

either of these courses to get one. In fact, if you have a

Nights Away Permit then you can automatically validate

both of these modules without attending any training.



Say what you want

Forums within the Explorer section are often viewed, by both leaders and young people, as unappealing, boring or simply impossible. And while adventurous activities, camps or international trips are the obvious highlight of the year, forums are a great way to find out exactly what the young people want to do and what they thought about previous activities

What is a forum?A forum is a chance for leaders and Explorers to discuss

the way the Unit is run and the content of the

programme for the upcoming term or year. A major

focus of the Explorer section is allowing young people

to make leadership decisions and take a big part in

running the Unit. Many will wish to play an increasing

role in planning and organising events. The forum is the

perfect way to do this and will encourage Explorers to

think about all the factors involved in programme

planning, as well as getting them excited about, and

engaged with, the opportunities that are available.

Flexi-timeThere are many ways that a forum can be run and, as

always, flexibility is the key. Forums should be run at

least once a year, but may also be done termly. They

can be run at the beginning of the year, to discuss what

is coming up, or at the end to reflect on the year gone

by and plan ahead. They may be attended by all

Explorer Scouts, or by a few representatives (remember

to get the views of the whole Unit).

Although a forum can be run in the style of a formal

meeting, it is often more useful to create a casual

atmosphere or make it part of a wider activity or event.


7scouts.org.uk/pol

BEST PRACTICE

Form oF Forum‘The forum we use is based on the Executive Committee system from Venture Scouting days. Young people are elected to sit on an exec, and expected to fulfil their roles to have an input into programme planning, running the Unit, managing equipment and every are of the Unit’s life. The committee feel empowered and take their roles seriously, and the upshot is that as leaders we have a group of switched on and motivated Explorers to call on when we need help with something,’Hilary Walker, Matrix ESU, Aylesbury

This will help maintain interest and encourage Explorers

to express their views. Why not hold the forum at the end

of a camp to see what the Explorers would like to do

moving forward?

IdeasThere are many ways to make forums appealing to both

you and the Explorers.

1. Hold a debate. Split the Explorers into two groups and

get each one to come up with a programme idea

around a particular zone. You can even allocate the role

of chairperson or have a judging panel.

2. Get the young people to pick random items out of a

bag and come up with as many programme ideas as

possible related to that item. Then get the Unit to pick

which ones they want to do and get planning.

3. Run a game show. A good method of doing this is to

survey all members in advance about the recent

activities they have undertaken and things they would

like to do in the future. You can then run a Family Fortunes style game show allocating points based

around the answers guessed. The prize could be the

opportunity for the winners to plan the programme for

a particular meeting.

4. Split the Unit into six groups – one for each Programme

Zone. Then task them with planning at least one

programme for the term around that zone. This will

ensure that the Explorers are doing things they want to

do, and feel integral to the running of the Unit.

All in all, forums are essential in making sure that Explorer

Scouting is relevant and fun for all young people. Give one

a go and see how many amazing thoughts and ideas your

Explorers come up with!



‘You look like death’

Ayers Explorer Scout Unit from Carlisle, Cumbria are one of the UK’s most mobile Units, often out and about. We caught up with them during a rare meeting at the Scout hut, where they were trying out a new activity – death masks

SummaryDeath masks are castings taken of the face just after a

person has died. The ancient Greeks made casts out of

gold, while others, like the Egyptians and early Europeans,

opted for plaster or wax. Often death masks were made

of royalty or other influential figures like artists, poets and

philosophers. From these casts, sculptors could create

busts or statues in the person’s honour.

Zones• Values and Relationships

• Skills

What you need• Elastic bands

• Petroleum jelly

• Cotton wool pads

• Straws

• ModRoc plaster of paris bandages (you will find lots on

eBay)

• Scissors

• Bowls of water and paper towels.

Instructions1. Tie back hair (elastic bands will do).

2. Cover face with petroleum jelly, use liberal amount on

eyebrows to prevent sticking to the plaster.

3. Place cotton pads on the models’ eyes.

4. Provide straws for breathing.

5. Cut the bandages into small strips.

6. Dip the bandage in the water.

7. Apply bandages carefully in thin layers, smoothing as

you go to ensure detail.

8. Once a few layers have been built up, leave to dry for

five to ten minutes before carefully removing the mask.

The mask will take several hours to dry fully and should

be handled carefully.

Tips and warnings• Put a plastic sheet or old towel on the floor to

catch drips.

• Make sure no-one runs about if the floor gets wet.

• Have towels to hand so that the models can wash their

faces afterwards.


9scouts.org.uk/pol

Matty, 16, said, ‘I wasn’t too keen on being a model to

start with, it was a bit gross covering my face with

Vaseline, but after that it was quite relaxing having the

mask applied.’ Alex, 14, added, ‘You have to trust your

team members but it was great fun. After I’d had my mask

made everyone else in my team wanted a go.’ Jessie, 16,

summed up a potential pitfall of the activity: ‘My mask

didn’t turn out too well as I couldn’t stop laughing. It was

good fun.’

For Explorer Scout Leader, Eddie Ward, this meeting was

a success: ‘Other than planning meetings we aren’t often

in the Scout hut, but we are always looking for new

programme ideas. This was really easy to do and the

materials didn’t cost much. I think the Explorers were

surprised how much fun they had doing this. They all

proudly took their masks home at the end of the night.’

He added, ‘With more time and materials it is possible

to use the plaster casts as a mould to make silicone or

latex masks too.’

Ayers and gracesAyers Explorer Scout Unit are very proactive in their use of

social networking and the internet, for both internal

communication and external relations and promotion.

Eddie explained, ‘We have two Facebook pages, one is

a private one for our members and leaders only, which we

use for discussion and planning activities. With a large Unit

this is a great help. The other page is our public one. We

have built up a great network of friends on our travels and

keep in touch with them via this page. It’s a great way to

share ideas and knowledge. Google Translate comes in

handy for the many Medialähettiläät! friends we made at

the Finnish Jamboree earlier this year.’

AYERS ONLINEFind Ayers ESU on these social networking sites:Twitterwww.twitter.com/AyersExtreme Facebookwww.facebook.com/ayersesuOr catch them on their blog at www.AyersExplorerScouts.org



Every year countless events happen up and down the country for the Explorer section. Here we explore just a handful. Use our directory as a starting point to plan a new, exciting event into your calendar for 2011. Compiled by Tom Hylands

Apex Challenge

Where: West Yorkshire

When: 7 - 9 October 2011

What is it? A weekend challenge to

gain the most ‘apex’ points through

activities such as assault courses, skill

games and rock climbing.

www.apexchallenge.co.uk

‘Apex is one of the most professionally run events our Unit has been to, it’s a great weekend and I would recommend it to anyone!’ Eddie Ward, Explorer Scout Leader

Southern 50

Where: Greater London North

District, London

When: 19 February 2011

What is it? 50 mile, 50km or 30km

hike that tests orienteering skills,

teamwork and physical ability.

www.scouts-gln-southern50.org.uk

Sun Run

Where: Near Cheltenham,

Gloucstershire

When: 1 – 3 July 2011

What is it? A camp, a festival and a

race all in one for Explorers aged 15

and over. Combine a weekend

meeting people and enjoying a range

of activities on offer then complete

either a 26.2 or 13 mile run on the

saturday night.

www.sr-mc.co.uk

Ten Tors 2011

Where: Okehampton Camp,

Dartmoor

When: 14 – 15 May 2011

What is it? Challenging hike split into

three different distances ranging from

35 to 55 miles in Dartmoor National

Park.

www.exeter.ac.uk/tentors

Operation Dragnet

Where: Cumbria

When: July 2011

What is it? A weekend to travel 35

miles to the finishing point whilst

evading capture!

www.dragnet.org.uk

‘Dragnet is really competitive and great for getting to know people in your team really well. I am still reliving memories from when we had to camp out in torrential rain to running in and then the moment we found out we had won, all of the waiting had paid off.’ Andy, 18

Nottingham Monopoly Live

Where: Nottingham

When: July 2011

What is it? Competition to get around

the places on the Nottingham

Monopoly board.

www.monopoly-live.co.uk

Mersey Moot

Where: Tawd Vale campsite,

Merseyside

When: September 2011

New activity resolution


11scouts.org.uk/pol

What is it? A weekend camp for

Explorer Scouts, Network and Senior

Section Guides giving them the

chance to make new friends, try

specialised activities and take part in

‘the social gathering of the year’

www.merseysidescouts.com/moot

Sussex Downsman Hike

Where: South Downs, Sussex

When: 1 October 2011

What is it? A test of endurance with

hike categories at 45, 60 and 80 miles

www.downsman.com

Gilwell 24

Where: Gilwell Park, Chingford

When: 8 – 10 July 2011

What is it? 24 hours of fun-filled

activities at the home of UK Scouting

www.gilwell24.info

‘It’s a fantastic event that we return to every year. What other event gives you the chance to do everything from bricklaying to the high trapeze for 24 hours with 3,000 other scouts?’ Alex, 17

Theme Park Camp

Where: Surrey

When: September 2011

What is it? A camp, a party and a visit

to Thorpe Park all in one weekend!

www.summitnetwork.org.uk/tpc

Awesome 2011

Where: TBC, Wales

When: TBC, previously been held in

September

What is it? Awesome, or, The

All-Wales Explorer Scout activity

camp offers Explorer Scouts a

weekend of total outdoor adventure

www.scoutswales.org.uk/explorers/

awesome

Charnwood 2011

Where: Whatton House,

Leicestershire

When: 30 July – 6 August

What is it? International camp for

Scouts, Explorers and Guiding

equivalents.

www.charnwood.org

Haarlem Jamborette

Where: Spaarnwoude, Netherlands

When: 31 July – 9 August

What is it? Ten day international camp

for Scouts aged 10-16. Theme is

Energy Unlimited: World wide

wonders.

www.haarlemjamborette.nl

Roverway 2012

Truly international European Scout

and Guide event, where friendships

are made and adventures had. The

next one is in Finland in 2012. Involves

meeting, hiking, camping and

sharing. The strapline for the 2012

event is ‘see. feel. follow.’

www.roverway.fi

Faith and awareness events for February/MarchFebruary 2011 2 Candlemas Day (Christian)

8 , 15 Parinirvana – Nirvana day

(Buddhist)

8 Vasant Panchami (Hindu)

14 Valentine’s Day (Christian)

15 (20 Shia) Milad un Nabi (Birthday of

the Prophet Muhammad)

(Muslim)

18 Magha Puja (Buddhist)

28 Feb - 13 March

Fairtrade Fortnight

March 1 Hola Mohalla (Lunar

Calendar) (Sikh)

3 Mahashivratri (Hindu)

8 International Women’s day

8 Shrove Tuesday (Christian)

9 Ash Wednesday (Christian)

17 St Patrick’s Day (Christian)

19 Holi (Hindu)

20 Purim (Jewish)

22 World Water Day



Highland (fun and) games

During the summer, Upper Nidderdale Explorers descended upon the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Scotland’s remote west coast, and Unit Leader Kim Harris filed this report of coastal canoeing, birdwatching and lights out antics

Our base for this memorable summer

adventure was the home of renowned

Antarctic explorer Trevor Potts, a fantastic

centre currently rated as one of the coolest

campsites in Scotland and augmented by Trevor’s personal

collection of whale skeletons. Adventurous activities were

led by Rob Eagelstaff who, along with Trevor, has crossed

the Baring Straights in a kayak and emulated Shackleton’s

historic Antarctic voyage. Making up the team were

leaders Dave Hubbert and I, whose most significant

exploits took place on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

With 25 in the group and ages ranging from 18 months

to very forgetful, we decided to travel light. Armed with

two 20-seat minibuses, a long wheelbase Landrover, 15

canoes, two boat trailers, a gear trailer and what felt like

all our worldly possessions, we set out. For the 12-hour

journey the rain continued, easing briefly to allow us to

buy provisions at the last supermarket before the

Highlands closed in.

Making campScotland is made up of a very big hill broken into smaller

ones and some parts of our campsite were still above

water when we arrived. We erected the equipment tent

first and then forcibly ejected the Explorers which swiftly

resulted in a tidy and well set up encampment. The

following morning all that remained was to suggest a few

minor improvements such as groundsheets and the

advantage of using all of the tent poles provided before

the adventure could really begin.

On the waterCoastal expeditions in open boats are quite an

adventurous activity and much practice in the preceding

months took place to ensure that the basic skills could be

completely forgotten prior to arrival! Once at the centre,

we built up from on-shore training, to sheltered water

practice and on to inlet crossings, which enabled us to

restore knowledge and engage in some interesting

excursions towards the end of the week.


13scouts.org.uk/pol

>>

‘While the Yorkshire Dales offer an excellent opportunity to learn basic skills in a safer and more tame environment, Scotland takes it to the next level and offers the element of challenge and danger that pushes you to develop your skills and reach your full potential. The trip has inspired me to continue working to become a more accomplished canoeist, and also help to teach younger members of our Scout group basic skills so that they can have the same adventure one day!’Charlie, Young Leader

A crucial skill when using open boats

on the sea is the ability to rapidly

construct a catamaran. Pairs of boats lay

a three-metre spar across each end

allowing a one metre gap between hulls.

These spars were secured with bungee

cord, pre-formed to have a monkey’s fist

on one end and a loop on the other. We called them

‘goolie thongs’, I’m not sure why. We aimed to get the

Explorers to construct a catamaran in 60 seconds, and as

leaders we felt more confident once this target had been

achieved.

Unidentified flying objectsEducational activity took the form of a visit to one of the

area’s oldest archeological sites as well as a talk on the

local eagles. The archaeologists, all university graduates,

were enthusiastic, describing their role as ’Making up ideas

about the possible use of a 3,000 year-old pile of stones.’

The lady from the RSPB accepted the inevitable voiceovers

of the film clips with good grace, but regrettably strayed

into the realm of midges. Some confusion ensued and by

bedtime one or two were quite concerned about midges

with a two-metre wingspan.

We learned a lot through the general hilarity of the

evening and the following morning were rewarded by two

golden eagles soaring over the Sound

of Mull. These subsequently turned out

to be RAF Tornado jets, but credit must

be given for the improved observational

skills.

Eat what you catchThe focus of the week was to provide a ’hunter gatherer’

experience and whilst the Explorers were enthusiastic,

I questioned our wisdom when watching them fish off

Kilchoan Pier. Amid noisy hilarity, huge lead weights were

cast in long distance challenges, lines of hooks whirled

indiscriminately and the locals sadly reeled in with no hope

of a fish supper. Within 15 minutes, 30 good mackerel

were landed, the leaders of course taking credit for

choosing the time and location. With plenty of driftwood

available a delicious late night snack ensued, cooked

on a beach fire worthy of a Viking funeral.

Shoreline wildlife proved interesting to study but we

experienced a minor setback when Dave launched his boat

following a lunchtime break in a remote cove. I can stand

up and paddle a boat but have never before seen anybody

do so hopping on one leg and shouting, I personally feel

that my suggestion to use his boat for the temporary

storage of shore crabs was a good one and trust that

once the injuries heal, he will too.


Quotes of the campMy particular thanks go to young leaders Charlie and

Charlotte for their organisational ability, and for having the

foresight to purchase large quantities of Elastoplast when

the Explorers decided to buy knives at the village shop.

Many thanks of course to all of the leaders and equally

to our Explorers who were complemented on their

manners and behaviour many times by the besieged

villagers, they were a pleasure to be with. Passing

comments such as ‘Does my bum look big in this [climbing

harness]?’ or ’Why are all the signs in English and in

French?’ will stay with us for a long time.

LOL in the darkFinally, for any Explorers that might be reading this, if you

want to send a clandestine late night message to your

boyfriend or girlfriend, don’t forget that texting illuminates

both tents. That does tend to give the leaders a bit of a steer!

Highland (fun and) games>>

All profi ts go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

01903 766 921

Size 45mmThe award medal on a ribbon lanyard with safety break.

With the Be Prepared logo, this is suitable for a laptop with a 15” screen.

Warm hoodie with i.Scout printed on the sleeve and chest.

Scout laptop bagRef 1027383

£15

Designed as a mini daysack, this may be used by any age group and is easy to slip through a belt or trouser loop. Would make a great stocking fi ller.

Kelly Green i.Scout Hoodie Ref 1027995R

£23

Scout Medal with ribbon Ref 1028360

£2.50

Hot Pink i.Scout Hoodie Ref 1027208R

£23

Warm hoodie with i.Scout printed on the sleeve.

NEWAccessory bag with Scouts Be Prepared logoRef 1027421

£2.25

‘I learned first-hand the dangers of the waters and how to overcome them on the sea. The best bits were the end of the day when we sat around the fire cooking fish we had caught, apples and marshmallows. I really like the special bond between the leaders and the Scouts.’ Harry, 16


15scouts.org.uk/pol

YPYV

The Programme Team recently ran a Your Programme, Your Voice (YPYV) questionnaire about Scouting magazine and its supplements and received nearly 3,000 responses

T his questionnaire was designed so that we

could gauge readers’ feelings about the

magazine and its content. Questions ranged

from what readers think of the content in both

the main magazine and the supplements, to the type of

adverts that are featured.

To provide feedback to you as a valued member of the

Movement we have listed highlights of the results along

with suggested changes that will be implemented as part

of the review:

Highlights• Most of our readers look forward to receiving the

magazine, and will read over 50% of it.

• Over 50% of respondents find the magazine relevant

to their role, and feel that the content in it isn’t just

for new leaders.

• Most feel that receiving the magazine bimonthly

is the right frequency.

• Most are happiest receiving the magazine as a hard

copy, rather than electronically. However it is worth

noting that Scouting and its supplements are all

available online. www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

• People would like to see more Scouting skills, activities

and ‘how to’ guides in the magazine and supplements.

• Most find the supplement and its content useful

to their role.

One of the results of the questionnaire is the

standardisation of the content in the supplements, so that

similar content can be found in comparable places in each

supplement. A further outcome is the creation of a pool

of writers which will relieve the pressure on current

contributors and provide a wide range of expertise. If you

are interested in writing for the magazine and its

supplements please email the editorial team at

[email protected].

YPYV surVeYsYour Programme, Your Voice (YPYV) is a regular online questionnaire created and run by the 6-25 Programme Team. Questions are asked about the Programme and other related issues on a regular basis. Members are alerted by email when there is a new YPYV available. To participate, please make sure your email address is on record on the Membership database.

Do you receive the correct supplement? Do you receive ScoutingPlus – our weekly news email? If the answer is ‘no’ then perhaps you should check and/or amend your details on our Membership database at www.scouts.org.uk

Your Programme, Your Voice

All profi ts go back into Scouting. The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

01903 766 921

Size 45mmThe award medal on a ribbon lanyard with safety break.

With the Be Prepared logo, this is suitable for a laptop with a 15” screen.

Warm hoodie with i.Scout printed on the sleeve and chest.

Scout laptop bagRef 1027383

£15

Designed as a mini daysack, this may be used by any age group and is easy to slip through a belt or trouser loop. Would make a great stocking fi ller.

Kelly Green i.Scout Hoodie Ref 1027995R

£23

Scout Medal with ribbon Ref 1028360

£2.50

Hot Pink i.Scout Hoodie Ref 1027208R

£23

Warm hoodie with i.Scout printed on the sleeve.

NEWAccessory bag with Scouts Be Prepared logoRef 1027421

£2.25



In this country, the subject of weather is never far from our lips. As we know, Scouting never stops and winter weather can provide great opportunities to complete the Science and Technology badge by focusing on meteorology

M any of the Explorers may have already

gained the Scout Meteorologist Badge,

so let them share what they already

know; then get out there and observe,

measure, learn and have fun.

The Met Office website has some great information about meteorological observations, forecasts and maps. www.metoffice.gov.uk

Get measuringSplit the Unit into groups to design and build a

meteorological measuring device. Each group can then

explain what aspect of weather the device measures and

how it works.

Search for ‘weather’ on Programmes Online to find how to make some example weather instruments. www.scouts.org.uk/pol

The Explorers can then use their equipment to observe the

weather and see the patterns that occur. It may be worth

getting them to take their devices home so that they can

take measurements each day, and satisfy the 25 hours of

participation required. Get your Explorers to think about

why observations are so important to forecasts.

Produce a weather mapWith the observation complete, it’s time to show off their

results and skills. Spend a Unit meeting getting Explorers

to produce a weather map, including fronts, rainfall and

isobars. They can research the features of a weather map

then display the results of their observations on the map,

in the most creative way possible. If different Explorers

have been focusing on different aspects of the weather,

group them together to produce a map showing the

various things that meteorologists have to consider when

producing a forecast.

Film a weather forecastGet the Explorers to present their results in the style

of a TV weather forecast. Use the maps produced in the

previous meeting as the basis for their forecast. They can

then get creative in showing what the weather has been

like, how clouds are formed and their meteorological

effect. The Explorers can work individually or in groups,

nominating one ‘presenter’ and each will have two

minutes to present their forecast. If possible, film them

and share with the rest of the Unit, or even another

Group within the District.

To finish, discuss as a group the benefits of using

weather maps to plan Scouting activities and the

occasions when weather may influence what

the Unit does.

CALL OUTHave Explorers in your Unit recently gained a badge or completed part of an award? Is there a badge you would like to see featured in the supplement? Share your methods or what you have been doing with others in the section. Email your ideas to [email protected], with ‘Explorer Badges’ in the subject line.

Science and Technology


17scouts.org.uk/pol

An invitation to join Save the Children’s Emergency Superhero Network

E very year, more than 60 million children are

caught up in emergencies. Whether it’s an

earthquake, famine, drought or war, children

are the worst affected and we need to get help

to them, fast.

Save the Children have been responding to emergencies

since 1919, so are experts in helping people prepare for,

and recover from, emergencies. They work in over 20

emergency situations each year and played a leading role

in the response to both the Haiti earthquake and

Pakistan floods.

How you can helpThe Emergency Superhero Network (ESN) offers Explorer

Scouts a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in the

crucial first days and weeks after an emergency strikes,

when the clock is ticking on children’s lives.

When you sign up to the network, you’ll receive a range

of emergency resources and activity suggestions. As soon

a there is a new emergency, the ESN will contact you to

explain what’s happened and how they’re helping. You’ll

also be asked to fundraise. Any money you raise will make

a huge difference because many of the life-saving supplies

we need are simple, and cost very little.

How many different uses for…?During an emergency, people have to be resourceful and

survive on very little. A simple tarpaulin might be used

to shelter a family, build a temporary school or use

as a temporary water container.

Give each Explorer an everyday object like a bucket or

sheet and ask them to list or describe as many uses for it

as they can. Using all the resources, the Unit could then

build their own emergency shelter or camp, with

everything a family needs to be safe and protected.

MORE IDEAS AND JOIN THE ACTIONSave the Children’s superheroes raised over £350,000 for our Haiti Appeal, helping them get children the shelter, food and safety they desperately needed.

It’s simple to join in: call Save the Children on 020 7012 6400 or email [email protected]

Who ya gonna call?



Jamboree dreams

Venture Abroad to the Jamboree

If you’re interested in seeing the delights of a World Scout Jamboree for yourself, but you’re not in the IST, you could take advantage of one of the Day Visitor programmes courtesy of our travel partner, Venture Abroad. They have a variety of packages that could suit your Unit. Check out www.scouts.org.uk/ventureabroad for full details.

dreams

the Jamboree campsite in Rinkaby.

• Kristianstad, the nearest town to the Jamboree site lies

on the Hammer Lake and the Helge River.

• The coldest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was

in Vuoggatjamle in 1966 at a staggeringly cold-52.6°C.

• There are six languages recognized and spoken in

Sweden: Swedish, English, Meankieli, Sami, Romanian

and Yiddish.

Top moment The funniest moment we’ve had as a Unit so far would

have to be, in my opinion, turning Don’t Stop Believing into the combine harvester song. [Ed - Maybe you had

to be there?]

Steven, 16, is part of Norfolk’s Central WHO? Unit, and once over the shock of being selected, he quickly got down to learning about the destination country

T o be chosen to go to the Jamboree was really

surreal. Surely there had been a mistake, but

when I recieved the confirmation letter in the

post, and realised I was actually going I was

on cloud nine for two days.

Training runWe’ve done two training weekends and have another

planned. Activities we’ve done include bulding shelving

units, making dining shelters, skinning rabbits, team-

building activities, and many more. Alongside the training

camps we’ve held social and fundraising events, which

have let me get to know people better, and all of which

have been much fun. More training is planned so that

we all feel prepared for the Jamboree itself.

Getting to know youComing from one Explorer Unit, it’s been interesting

getting to know people in another. I’ve found out that

some members are very accident prone, others snore

(including me), and some of us like to have long lie-ins!

I’m sure there’ll be done of that in Sweden as there will

be too much to do.

Swotting up on SwedenThings we’ve discovered about Sweden so far are:

• Sweden is connected to Denmark via the Oresund

Bridge, a bridge we will travel across to get to


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explorers supplement

Documents

new year issue of explorer

new adventures

new partnership

new lookyou

new activity resolutionlet

explorer scout leadersdecember

explorer forums

explorer scouts