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New
to Scouting ?
What is Scouting all about and what do we do at 1st Avoca
Beach ?
- Scouting
is a wonderful and engaging social activity for young people where they
can learn new skills, participate in a wide range of activities and
progressively learn the virtues of leadership and mateship. Values and
knowledge they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
- OUR
AIM
The
aim of the
SCOUT MOVEMENT is to encourage the physical, mental, social and
spiritual development of young people so that they may take a
constructive place in society as responsible citizens.
OUR
PRINCIPALS
The
principals of
SCOUTING, as identified by the Founder, Lord Baden-Powell, are that
Scouts should serve God, act in consideration of the needs of others
and develop and use their abilities to the betterment of themselves and
their families and the community in which they live.
OUR
METHODS
The
principal
methods used by the Scout Association to achieve its aims are:
- Voluntary
membership of a uniformed group, which, guided by adults, is
increasingly self-governing in its successive age groups.
- Commitment
to a
code of living as expressed in the Promise and Law, the meaning of
which is expanded as the member grows towards maturity.
- The
provision of
a wide range of attractive, constructive and challenging activities,
including opportunities for adventure and exploration both indoors and
outdoors.
- The
provision of
opportunities for leadership and responsibility.
- Learning
by doing.
- Development
in a
range of useful life skills.
- Encouragement
of
activity in small groups.
- Promotion
and
development of self actualisation, confidence and self-esteem.
- An
award scheme
which encourages participation in the full range of activities and
provides recognition of individual achievements.
The
method is of
increasingly self-governing in its successive age groups. In Cubs (ages
8-11), some responsibility is set for SIXERS and SECONDS.
In Scouts
(ages
11-15), the PATROL SYSTEM led by youth PATROL and ASSISTANT PATROL
LEADERS who assume a large part of the responsibility for running,
discipline and programming with adult leaders providing supervision and
guidance.
Overall however the emphasis is learning while having fun, lots of fun !
LEADERS
To achieve the
goals of scouting 1st Avoca Beach has
a dedicated team of leaders, who voluntarily give up their time to lead
SCOUTING. The majority are fully trained for the section in which they
are involved. The leaders are parents !
PARENTS
Whilst
your child may be joining Scouts Australia we consider that YOU
will
also join our Group "family". The Group is only able to function
through the efforts of the parents - as Leaders, Committee members,
working bee and fund-raising participants, helpers at activities,
transport providers, presenters/testers of special interests, etc. We
expect you to take an ACTIVE
part in the life of the Group
throughout your child's membership.
Your
child will also gain
significantly more personally from Scouting when you
contribute
directly and demonstrate that you are interested in your child's
activities and progress.
Scouting
is a training organisation.
Not
a child-sitting service.
PARENTS
COMMITTEE
This is a group
of non-uniformed, interested people
(usually parents) whose main function is to support the Leaders to
ensure an active and healthy Group. An active parents support team and
committee is absolutely essential to the successful running of the
group. Its main functions are to:
- control
Group finance
- maintain
the hall and grounds
- arrange
rosters and events as necessary
- fundraise
for special needs
- support the
Leaders so they are free to concentrate their efforts on the training
and welfare of your child.
What
is expected
of you as a Parent:
- to support
your child and the Group by assisting working bees, fundraising events,
serving on the Parents Committee, become involved with your son or
daughter to show you care enough, help out with transport and to help
out as an adult/helper as needed.
What
can you
expect from the Group:
- the leaders
are trained, capable and caring, unpaid volunteers who dedicate their
time and energy for the betterment of your son or daughter and the
'SCOUTING WAY'. Through interesting and structural programming your son
or daughter should 'enjoy and grow' into a responsible young person.
JOINING SCOUTING
In both SECTIONS
there is a free six week
introduction period where your son/daughter may join in before they
register and buy uniforms, during this time they learn the philosophy
behind scouting as related to their section.
From cubs scouts upward, everyone wears a full uniform. It sets us
apart from other youth groups, but we are not very 'militaristic'. We
have an assembly style parade, and salute the flag, but it's more about
teaching self control, belonging to a group and developing self respect.
We balance amusement with quiet fun, comaraderie and amazing activities
with community responsibility.
Following the induction period we will assess with yourself whether
your son/daughter wishes to continue, at which
time the leaders will discuss the need for a uniform, prerequisites for
joining and the appropriate ceremony for investiture or induction.
On
joining
your child will always be expected to wear an approved navy blue Sea
Scout uniform at all meetings, activities and in public when on
approved scout events. (Exceptions
on a particular activity will be
notified in writing by the Leaders on activity permission notes). Locations
on where uniforms can be purchased can be found in the Links
section of this website under Uniforms. Alternatively,
our Group sometimes has items of second-hand uniform donated by former
members which may be purchased - ask one of the Leaders for more
details.
At
the
Investiture ceremony the Leader will present the appropriate badges to
be sewn on the uniform. Correct placement of the badges on the uniform
can also be found in the Links
section, under
Uniforms > Badge Placement.
Attendance
To
be effective, Scouting
requires regular attendance from your child. If they are going to be
absent from a meeting, where possible please notify the Leader in
advance (via their Patrol Leader for Scouts).
If
a member is
absent from three consecutive meetings without prior notice they may
forfeit their place, and it may be allocated to another child waiting
to join.
Punctuality
is
also expected. Cub and Scout meetings start with a Parade in full
uniform, including saluting the Australian flag - any late members
should not break into the meeting during this serious portion, but wait
at the side until the Leader invites them in.
Fees
Term
fees are due at the start of each new term.
$60 per Term (for
1st child) and $40 per term for each subsequent child member.
This
fee is inclusive of group costs and member registration/insurance fees
forwarded to The Scout Association. The group costs cover the expenses
of books, badges, scarves, craft and resource materials used in
activities, together with maintenance and ongoing costs towards the
upkeep of the hall. These costs are also supplemented by fundraising
which each member is expected to participate in; supported by family
members, parents and guardians.
The term fee also includes
the first
$4.00 per member towards any costs associated with a local, external
activity. But does not include camp fees or costs
towards any
designated district or regional scout activity.
There
are no costs for new, prospective members ("new chums") trialling
scouting for up to the first six weeks. However any costs that may be
required for participation in an external activity must be payed by the
participant.
Joining
fee. A once off joining fee of $20 is payable by all new members due
immediately upon investiture into the pack or troop. This fee is
forwarded entirely to the Scout Association.
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-
Cub
Scouts
Boys
and Girls 8 to 11 years
- Adventurous
Activities.
- Develop
life Skills whilst having fun thru play and
adventure
- Make
new
Friendships, earn Badges and have Fun.
Fun to Join
Cub
Scouts
have a lot of
fun doing a lot of interesting things! There are games to play, codes
and skills to learn, places to see and new friends to meet.
Cub Scouts all help
each other, and try
to help other people too.
Each week you'll get
together with
other boys and girls your age and be led into adventure! You'll wear
your own Cub Scout uniform to show you're one of us. And you'll be able
to collect special badges to put on your uniform to show your
achievements.
Fun Out and About
Cub Scouts get
to see a lot and do a lot. We spend weekends away together camping,
fishing and exploring. We go to sports meetings, go canoeing, do indoor
rockclimbing, go ice skating or to the zoo, the museum, or the fire
station. We learn bushcraft, and go hiking through the bush at night !
There's
a lot
more Cub Scouts do too.
Why not come along and find out?
Fun in a Pack
You'll
find
there are around 24 boys and girls in your Cub Scout Pack. All of them
are just like you. They all might have different interests and be good
at different things, but they all want to enjoy themselves and have
fun. Like you, they'll be learning new things each week and discovering
how great it is to be a Cub Scout.
Fun from the Start
At your first
Pack meeting you may feel a bit shy to begin with but it won't take
long to get to know everyone. You'll learn the Scout Salute, the
Handshake, the Motto, the Grand Howl, Pack Calls, the Cub Scout Law and
the Cub Scout Promise. The leaders will help you. You'll soon be making
friends with the other Cub Scouts and having a terrific time!
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-
SCOUTS
Boys
and Girls 11 to 15 years
- Wide
range of girls and boys with different back grounds.
- Have
lots of Fun, Self Development, Adventurous Activities.
- Team
work,
Leadership and Organisation Skills, Character Building.
Action
packed
When
you become
a Scout you're accepting a challenge to plunge into action. You could
find yourself exploring a mountain wilderness, soaring on warm air
currents high above the earth at the controls of a glider plane,
helping in emergency rescues, surfing a giant wave at Avoca, operating
a radio station, photographing wild animals, skiing down a mountain,
searching for gold, canoeing down a swift river, camping in the bush,
recording your own songs or sailing across the ocean with the salt
spray in your face.
Scouting
gives you the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of exciting
activities. It also gives you the greatest opportunity of all - the
opportunity to develop real friendships by sharing the experiences of
learning, growing and exploring the world with others.
Action
you create
Scouts
aren't
told what to do by adults. Your Scout Leaders are there to help you and
give you direction but you are involved in planning your activities and
making decisions with the other members of your Scout Troop.
Action
to lead
As you learn
and gain experience you'll discover not only more about the world
around you and the adventures you can have, but more about working
together and becoming a leader too. Under the guidance of your Scout
Leader you can move up through the ranks to accept the challenge and
adventures of leadership.
Action
in a Patrol
As a Scout
you
will become a member of a Scout Patrol. You work as a team, helping
each other, depending on each other and each having a say in decision
making. Your Patrol will have from four to eight members, and be led by
a Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader
organises your meetings and takes part in Troop Council meetings with
other Patrol Leaders.
Action
in a Troop
Several
Scout
Patrols make up a Scout Troop. The Troop usually meets in a Scout Hall
and is guided by a Scout Leader. Broad program planning, Troop
management and routine business is handled by the Troop Council, which
is made up of all Patrol Leaders and the Scout Leader.
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- Origin
of the World
Scouting Symbol
" Fleur-de-Lis"
In
Scouting's early
years, critics accused Baden-Powell of trying to turn boys into
soldiers, holding up as evidence the Scout symbol, which they called "a
spear-head, the emblem of battle and bloodshed". The Founder quickly
replied, The crest is the "Fleur-de-Lis", a lily, the emblem of peace
and purity.
In truth, he had chosen as Scouting's emblem the sign for the North
Point, universally shown on maps, charts and compass cards, because "it
points in the right direction (and upwards), turning neither to the
right nor left, since these lead backward again..." Lady Baden-Powell
added later, "It shows the true way to go."
Baden-Powell explained the origins of this sign. In the Middle Ages,
mariner Flavio Gioja designed it to make the seaman's compass more
reliable. In Italian, North was "Tramontana". Gioja used a capital "T"
to mark it, and in deference to King Charles of Naples, whose crest was
the Fleur-de-Lis, combined the letter with that emblem.
To explain the meaning of the Scout emblem, Baden-Powell said, "The two
stars on the two side arms stand for the two eyes of the Wolf Cub
having been opened before he became a Scout... The three points of the
Fleur-de-Lis remind the Scout of the three points of the Scout's
Promise..."
In the World Scout emblem, the Fleur-de-Lis is surrounded by a circle
of rope tied with a reef knot to symbolize the strength and unity of
the world brotherhood of Scouting: "Even as one cannot undo a reef
knot, no matter how hard one pulls on it, so as it expands, the
movement remains united."
The
three tips of
the Fleur-de-Lis represent the three main parts of the Scout promise:
duty to God, obedience to the Scout Law, and service to others. The two
five-point stars stand for truth and knowledge, and the 10 points on
the stars remind us of the 10 points of the Scout law. The ring holding
the emblem together represents the bond of brotherhood.
- The
symbol is white on a royal purple background, colors Baden-Powell chose
because, in heraldry, white stands for purity and purple for leadership
and helping others.
Since Scouting began, over 200 million Scouts have worn the Scout
symbol, making it one of the more highly recognized emblems in the
world. Today, over 150 World Scouting countries and territories, more
than 16 million members continue to wear it with pride.
Famous
Scouts
"I
was in the Cubs in
the Hurstville area for about two years, around 1938-39. It was
important to me, as it was the first time I had been involved in
something that taught some discipline and sharing with others."
"
My first opportunity
to go camping and rough it happened during my time with the Cubs, and I
can remember swimming in a creek when camping between Waterfall and
Bulli and coming out with leeches all over me! We learnt how to make
fires, cook and fend for ourselves- a great first experience. I feel it
was a great start to the real world. I can still tie the rope knots I
learnt. All in all, I feel it did me a lot of good."
-
Sir Jack Brabham
"Scouting
gave me as
much responsibility as I could handle. It didn’t set any
limits
on my desire for adventure. I remember we built a raft and took it from
the Central Coast down to Sydney. It was an incredible adventure.
Another time, when I was about 10 or 11, I accompanied a
Queen’s
Scout from Bundeena, through the Royal National Park and then up the
escarpment. It gave me a lot of self- esteem.
"It’s
that side
of Scouting that attracted me. I liked the philosophy and the altruism,
but it also gave me the chance to test myself in the bush. You were
left to your own initiative to do fairly incredible things. It really
instilled a sense of your own capabilities and gave you a chance to
overcome your fears and insecurities."
-
Peter Garrett
“I
was a Cub Sixer and Scout Patrol Leader for around 2-3 years. Being
an adventure boy at heart, I loved the jamborees, the bush survival and
the motto ‘Be prepared!’ This is a motto I have
carried
into all
aspects of my life. I enjoyed the team building and the sense of
achievement it gave me, but most of all it was heaps of fun!”
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Jamie Durie
" The main
thing I got from Scouting was goal-setting. I still set goals in my
work now. You learn that you can achieve as much as you like. You
decide which goals you want to reach, it’s an individual
thing. I
also learned a lot about teamwork, having to work together and about
leadership. You are given positions of responsibility in Scouting as
you earn them, like Assistant Patrol Leader and then Patrol Leader."
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Ian Malcolm
"
I began as a Cub at
eight and went right through to Rovers at age 23. I was very much a
loner and Scouting gave me mateship, taught me organisation and how to
motivate people. That’s why I was able to be the success I am.
I
owe a lot to
Scouting. It had to be the most fantastic influence on my life. It
taught me responsible risk- taking.
I’ve
got a
tremendous amount to thank the Scouting Movement for. Scouting allows
people to be individuals, but also to work as a team. I found in my
business that what I’d learnt in my early days in Scouting,
to
get on with people, was incredibly important."
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Dick Smith
"The
importance of a high moral code, which is at the foundation of the
Scout Movement, cannot be stressed too highly."
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Nelson Mandela
1st Avoca Beach, a
family group !
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