14th Southampton (Highfield) Scout Group

Camp

Info for Parents

Leaders	To be a leader involves a lot more than just turning up once a week and trying to control a small riot! Our leaders undergo training and then take time to plan an interesting programme in accordance with the aims and objectives of scouting. The weekly section meetings can be quite grueling for the leaders but you can help them out by: Offering to help on a regular or occasional basis Staying to help tidy and lock up at the end of the meeting sometimes The section leaders report to the Group Scout Leader. The Group Scout Leader reports to the District Commissioner. All leaders are vetted by the Scout Association's national vetting system and now also by the government's Criminal Record Bureau.
Group Council	All parents and leaders are automatically part of the Group Council. The Group Council meets once a year to elect an Executive Committee to take decisions on behalf of the whole group. Others who are not on the committee can take on specific supporting roles and we would encourage everyone to do one job or another for an least one of the potential 14 years that their child is in the group.
No Girls?	In line with the rest of the Scout movement, the Group officially became a mixed group from 1st January 2005. The waiting list is now open to accept girls as well as boys as places become available.
Money Matters	The Group is a registered charity. None of our leaders receive any payment for the many hours they put in. Our two main sources of income are subscriptions and fund raising. Tax payers please complete one of our Gift Aid forms to allow us to reclaim tax paid on contributions. As of January 2009 Subscription Rates (per term) are: Beaver Scouts £25.00 Cub Scouts £25.00 Scouts £25.00 10% discount on second and subsequent members from the same family. This represents tremendous value for money and, we hope, does not exclude anyone from scouting. Our subscriptions secretary will send your bill home with your child at the start of each term. Please help us keep the admin simple by delivering your cheque, payable to Highfield Scout Group Exec, to the address on the bill. Don't send it along to the meeting with your child as the leaders have a lot to think about at the meetings and we are trying to take this burden away from them. During the year, please help us raise funds by supporting our fund-raising events.
Promoting Good Behaviour	All leaders and helpers have different styles and methods of working with the young people. The leaders are trained to cope with various kinds of behaviour and the Scout Association has certain policies and rules to be followed when problems arise. Often our most difficult job as leaders is getting the young people to be quiet and listen during the quiet moments of the meeting - maybe because other parts of the meeting are exciting and noisy! Please can you discuss the following ideas with your children so we can work together for maximum effect: Scout meetings will be best for everyone if... All scouts come to meetings regularly All scouts join in and work as a team Leaders and scouts listen to one another No one makes fun of anyone else because of their colour, religion, abilities or disabilities There is no bullying No one makes a noise in quiet times like prayers or when game rules are being explained.
Camping	Although Beaver Scouts are not old enough to go camping overnight, we like to have some exciting Days Away for Beavers, and they are also invited to visit the District Camp one day while the others are there. For Cubs, sometimes we organise a joint Cub Camp with another Cub Pack. Also, both Cubs and Scouts can look forward to the District Camp, which is usually the first May Bank Holiday weekend. The Scout Troop like to go camping a lot. We do our own cooking outdoors on open fires and we often camp at Ferny Crofts, the County Scout Campsite in the New Forest. We sometimes enter the Emlyn competition - a local competition based on expert camping skills. Also, both the Cubs and the Scouts can look forward to the District Camp, which is usually the first May Bank Holiday weekend.
Knives	Knives are fascinating especially to boys. They can be useful tools, but they can also be used as weapons. During their time in Scouts we like to teach the young people how to use a knife safely as a tool. If your child owns a knife, or if you are thinking of buying them one, then please teach them when and how to carry it and use it. This applies to all kinds of knives including penknives. The police in the UK have said that nobody should be found carrying a knife of any blade length at any time except when collecting it from storage or returning it after a specific use. No Scout should carry a knife around on camp or at any other time. Scout Leaders may provide training in how to use a knive safely, and may occasionally grant permission for knives to be used for particular tasks. These are the only times that knives may be collected from storage and used.