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Welcome

Urban Outdoors

Activties on ScoutBase UK

Outdoors Show 2004

Doing a LONE

Diary Dates 2004

Anquet mapping

NSGSO

Recent Air Activities

Faulkes Flying Foundation

GB youth shooting squad

New British record

Map reading made easy

Expedition leaders' planning course

Nights Away

County Assessor funding

Hill Walking authorisations

Factsheet update

Welcome

Vacancies

...and finally

Association of Scout and Guide Campsites

Air Gun Law and Young People - and the Antisocial Behaviour Act

Assessor Qualifications as at May '04

Welcome to the May 2004 issue of the activities newsletter from the National Commissioner for Activities and the Activities Office at Gilwell Park. In this issue we take a look at:

• Urban Outdoors
• Activities on ScoutBase UK
• Outdoors Show 2004
• Variety of opportunities
• Young People going 'One Step Further'
• And Finally ...something serious to look at

And also provide information sheets on:

• Association of Scout & Guide Campsites
• Air Gun Law and Young People
• County Assessors Qualifications

Following the launch of the 'Urban Outdoors' project, the website has become the UK's number one featured site when searching for 'urban outdoors'! Hundreds of the free, full colour resource 'Urban Outdoors 1: The Activities Playground' were ordered within the first two weeks, and we are getting some really positive feedback. We have heard from Leaders using the activities in their programme, from those who are featuring them as bases at larger camps and even ideas to hold residential experiences based around the resource.

We are delighted to be able to say that 'Urban Outdoors 2: Promoting Scouting and Fundraising' is now available, looking at how the ideas in Urban Outdoors 1 can be used to raise the profile of Scouting or help with fundraising. This second Urban Outdoors package is an online resource that can be downloaded from the Urban Outdoors web pages.

Please take part in getting the message out to Leaders working directly with young people that a visit to the web-site can be the start of some new ideas for their programme.

For those of you that have so far missed out on this exciting concept, it is a project based on ideas from young people on what they see as really 'cool' activity ideas that can take place away from the traditional activity areas, thereby turning urban environments into an activities playground. Free copies of this resource can be ordered through the urban outdoors website, or from the Information Centre.

http://www.urbanoutdoors.org.uk/

Following a mountain of work by the ScoutBase team, the Activities pages on ScoutBase have been relaunched after a massive overhaul. The new pages are designed to be easy to use and show the most relevant and up to date information.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/

In particular the new A-Z of Activities is designed to act as a one stop shop for Leaders looking for information on any activity. This area has a full page for each activity and includes details such as; links to guidance available, contacts for any governing bodies, an overview of what the activity involves, details of the steps to take in providing the activity, and, soon, details of events happening within the activity and links to providers. It is hoped that this will become a more and more used and useful tool for Leaders to get all the information they require about an activity.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/factfile.php

We are looking to constantly modify and improve the ScoutBase Activities pages as a tool for Leaders, so would welcome any comments or ideas for them to:

activities@scout.org.uk

The third Outdoors Show, held at the NEC at the beginning of April, once again proved to be very popular with an estimated 50,000 people attending. Once again the Scout area proved very popular, and it was really nice to talk to so many Scouters who are so positive and enthusiastic about the Outdoors and their Scouting. The large number of uniformed Scouters attending the show was also commented upon by a number of people. This year, as well as running a stand promoting Scouting in the Outdoors, Scouting Members were also busy elsewhere. Firstly we ran a team challenge encouraging show visitors to participate in a number of the participatory activities available, and also to work as a team. Congratulations to the teams of 11th Grimsby, Slap Heads, and 21st 3 who each win a rucksack filled with kit.

Secondly we ran the Ray Mears Survival Area which proved to be one of the most popular attractions at the show with a constant throng of visitors coming to try out their survival skills or learn new ones. Although Ray himself was not able to attend the show, he very generously agreed to his name being used and provided guidance for the stand. The area included a chance to have a go at water filtration, animal trapping and shelter building, as well as testing your knowledge against the Survival Simulator. In fact the simulator was so popular that we have put a version of it on the Activities Resources page of ScoutBase UK for Leaders to download and use if they wish.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/resources/index.htm

Do you hold a competition, event or workshop that you think can be promoted as a National event?

Currently there are a number of events that apply annually, or as a one-off, to be recognised as Locally Organised National Events (LONE) and are promoted to the wider Movement e.g. National Scout Sailing Regatta, National Scout Air Rifle Championships, National Scout Car Races. Virtually all of them are open to complete novices although, occasionally, some people go on to greater things.

So, can you run a National competition, event or workshop in.... Dragon Boating, Circus Skills, Urban Outdoor Challenge, Indoor Climbing, whatever? All administration needs to be handled locally but you can claim the branding 'National' and be promoted across the country.

LONE application forms and guidelines are available from the Activities Resources page on ScoutBase at;

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/resources/index.htm

National Scout Car Races

Blackpool
3rd July 2004
Info:
leachmf@aol.com
07949 585512

National Sea Scout Pulling and Canoeing Regatta

Kingston upon Thames
3rd - 4th July 2004
Info:
keith.maund@btinternet.com
020 8399 5846

Sky High 2004

North Luffenham Airfield
9th - 11th July
Info:
http://www.sky-lincs.fsnet.co.uk/frameset-new.htm?intro-new.htm
ann.underwood@sky-lincs.fsnet.co.uk
01964 543883

National Scout Sailing Regatta

South Shields Sailing Club
28th - 29th Aug 2004
Info:
http://www.soshields-sailing.co.uk/ScoutNats2004.htm
0191 4564169

28th National Scout Air Rifle Championships

Walton Firs, Surrey
15th - 17th October 2004
Info:
http://www.dohoo.clara.net/nsarc2k3

Anquet provide electronic mapping for computers. This is a tool that we have used and promoted in the past as it can be used as a learning aid in map work, planning routes etc, and also gives the ability to print out map sections, meaning everyone in a walking group can have their own map.

Now they have gone even further, and their latest editions allow you to see a 3D virtual landscape on the screen of your map. This can be seen on it's own or as a split screen with a normal map, and can be seen from a number of heights and angles, or even flying along a prescribed route. We believe that this will provide a valuable tool towards making map reading both enjoyable and 'real'.

More information on Anquet products can be found on their website at:

http://anquet.co.uk/

This summer once again gives us the opportunity to hear our very own National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra in Concert, before they jet off for a tour of Estonia. The concert takes place on Saturday 31st July at 1930 in the High Cross Church, Camberley, Berkshire. Tickets cost £8.00 and are available from the Organiser; Derek Jackson, 8 Dorndon House, School Road, Hurst, Reading RG10 0GD. Cheques payable to 'The Scout Association'.

Recent Air Activities around the country have included:

• An Air Activities Camp at Calcot Peak, Gloucestershire organised by the newly formed Popular Flying Association Educational Strut and Gloucestershire / Wiltshire Counties.
• Buckinghamshire have organised practical Scout assistance at the Microlight Fly-In at Popham Airfield.
• West Sussex has had a major and highly successful Aviation Skills training weekend at Broadstone Warren.
• Greater London South County report good progress on their new Scout Aviation Centre at Biggin Hill.

Faulkes Flying Foundation has opened two new sites at Long Mynd Shropshire and Gransden Lodge, near Cambridgeshire. These now extend support for subsidised gliding opportunities for Scouts, with other bases at Rufforth nr York, Nympsfield nr Stroud and Dunstable in Bedfordshire. Please note that the Lasham site is not longer operational.

http://www.fffoundation.co.uk

Congratulations to Explorer Scout Chris Lacey who has recently broken the 10-metre Under 21 British Junior air rifle record twice in one weekend. Chris, a member of the Great Britain Junior Squad, first broke the record at Intershoot in The Hague, with a score of 590 out of a possible 600. He followed this up the next day with a score of 592 - until the day before, this had been the Senior British record!

Further congratulations to Scout Melanie Flowers of 3rd Hampton Hill Scout Group, Twickenham, who became the English Women's Junior Air Rifle Champion at the ESSU (English Smallbore Shooting Union) annual competition at Bisley.

And yet more shooting congratulations to the following five members of Hampshire Scout Rifle Club who gained admission to the GB Youth Development Squad at Bisley:

• Stephen Waters (Bramshill)
• Rebecca Saint (Meon Valley)
• Rebekah Pidgley (Meon Valley)
• Amit Chauhan (Harrow & Wealdstone)
• Nathan Sutherland (Harrow & Wealdstone)

Further congratulations are due to Explorer Scout, Rhys Jones, who recently became the youngest ever Britain to climb Mount McKinley in Alaska. (20,320ft or 6,193m. That is quite a few trips up and down Ben Nevis and over two thirds of the Everest summit height!)

Mount McKinley is the tallest mountain in North America, and the coldest mountain in the world outside the Antarctic. Rhys and the rest of the team, who were all climbing as part of their training for a Scouting attempt on Everest in 2007, were at one stage trapped in their tent for almost a week on the mountainside due to the snow storms, but successfully made it to the top once the weather improved.

A map reading made easy leaflet is now available from the Information Centre for all Cub Scouts and Scouts undertaking the Navigator Badges. To order your free copies, contact the Information Centre on 0845 300 1818

Organised by the Young Explorers Trust at Hesley Wood Centre, Sheffield over the weekend of 30th & 31st October 2004, the course is open to anyone who is intending, hoping or just interested in leading expeditions with young people in this country or abroad. It will offer planning, selecting members, equipment, food, member training, management of a team in the field, insurance, fund raising, safety procedures, project work and how to minimise the environmental impact of an expedition.

The cost of the course will be £80.00 residential or £65.00 non-residential.

Further information and application forms can be obtained from: The Course Director, 68 Ridings Fields, Brockholes, Holmfirth, W.Yorks. HD9 7BG.

We are now coming close to the final implementation date for Nights Away Permits. As a reminder, all Nights Away events from 1st September 2004 onwards need to be carried out under a Nights Away Permit. This means we all need to look at getting a permit before then if Nights Away events aren't to cease in September.

More details on the Nights Away Permit scheme, the benefits of the scheme, and promotional Nights Away events are available on the Nights Away pages on ScoutBase UK.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/nightsaway/index.htm

The development grants board have once again made funds available to support County Assessors, in gaining the qualifications they require to work as Assessors, for courses through the 2004-2005 financial year.

Any potential County Assessors can apply to the Activities Office at Gilwell for 50% of the course fee by sending; a letter from their County/Area Commissioner stating that the applicant will be working as a County Assessor for at least two years after going on the course, and a copy of the course invoice. A list of the qualifications required to become a County Assessor can be found at the back of this newsletter for further reference.

A reminder that we are into the last few months that it is possible to get a hillwalking authorisation without having been on a WGL or ML training course. As of 1st of January this will be a requirement of all new or renewed authorisations. However, existing authorisations are not affected, so anyone gaining or renewing an authorisation between now and the end of the year doesn't need to have attended the training course until their current authorisations runs out and they need to renew it.

The following are new or updated factsheets within the last six months:

• FS120004 (Edition 5) UPDATED [PDF]
  Target Shooting
• FS120419 (Edition 2) UPDATED [PDF]
  Caving Route Plan
• FS120408 (Edition 3) UPDATED [PDF]
  Caving
• FS120711 (Edition 2) UPDATED [PDF]
  United Kingdom Air Operator's Certificate Holders
• FS120072 (Edition 4) UPDATED [PDF]
  Youth Hostelling
• FS120078 (Edition 7) UPDATED [PDF]
  Home Contact
• FS120007 (Edition 3) UPDATED [PDF]
  Joint Adventurous Activities with Girlguiding UK

Welcome to the newest member of the National Activities Team. Piers Osborne, who is an active Scouter in Cornwall, joins the team as National Activity Adviser for Swimming.

Also welcome to Jess Kelly who joins the Activities Office as a Programme & Development Adviser. Jess joins us from the Beaver & Cub Scout Office with a busy activity CV behind her in her voluntary life.

And a final welcome to Lisa Kent who joins the Activities Office from the Beaver & Cub Scout Office as Administrative Assistant.

The National Activities Team is looking to recruit a dynamic, forward thinking volunteer to join the team of National Activity Advisers. The role currently available is:

National Activity Adviser Snowsports

This role of National Activity Adviser Snowsports looks to support the development of the ever-growing area of snowsports as a high adventure activity in Scouting. The role will involve dealing with questions and queries from the Movement as well as driving development issues.

The role of a National Activity Adviser Snowsports requires an in depth technical knowledge and experience of snowsports as a high adventure activity. The successful applicant will be qualified to a minimum of Ski Leader Certificate standard or equivalent and have a significant amount of experience.

The role involves working with external organisations, therefore, membership of applicable National Governing Bodies are an advantage.

The likely time commitment for this role is occasional weekend meetings with time available to respond to queries and development issues as they arise.

The need for good communication skills, an aspiration to develop the activity and an empathy for Scouting are essential attributes for this role.

Application packs and further information are available from the Activities Office at Gilwell Park by telephoning 020 8433 7125 or emailing activties@scout.org.uk. If you have any informal questions about the position please contact Barney Poulton on 020 8433 7123.

As you have read, we have had an extremely busy few months. We have had notable success in getting the Urban Outdoors project off the ground (it is now the UK's number one web-site listing when searching for 'urban outdoors'), a great and busy attendance at the Outdoors Show, and the work on the A-Z of activities on ScoutBase getting off the ground.

Promoting activities, together with presenting and packaging them in a dynamic way forms an important part of what we, in the 'activities community' need to keep high on our agenda. However, we should not lose focus of a key element of support, mainly to District Commissioners, in fostering and understanding the critical role they play in adventurous activities. As the January 2005 milestone approaches in the area of hillwalking rules, this provides us all with an opportunity to ensure that they understand the importance of the authorisation scheme, appreciate their personal limitations and know where to get advice and support. This has been of one of the identifiable needs that has arisen in the research conducted within the authorisation review project, and comes from both District Commissioners and Activity Advisers. Addressing it, within our structure, can only happen locally.

With summer looming, I am sure that you are all looking forward to a busy season and, more importantly, witnessing the fantastic experiences that will be enjoyed by over 400,000 young people (and the 100,000 adults running around supporting them!).

Have a great summer.

Alex Minajew - National Commissioner for Activites

The ASGC was originally set up in 1985 as the CCSW - Council of Campsite Wardens. Its aim was to support the wardens who worked in remote conditions and to act as a communication outlet. Since those early days there have been many changes in the working practices of campsites and activity centres. In many cases centre managers have replaced wardens and there are staff paid to look after the centres and provide activities as well as many volunteers. But the need to share ideas, information and best practice remains as important now as it was in the beginning.

The ASGC seeks to provide support to all centres and campsites, whether run by wardens, centre managers or volunteers. The association are keen to expand its current membership of 120 sites, to help even more centres around the UK.

What are the objectives of ASGC?

These are to promote a safe and healthy working environment for staff, volunteers and visitors and to encourage the provision of activities and facilities that develop young people and support the youth programme of the Scout Association and Girl Guiding UK. Membership of the ASGC is open to all involved with the running and administration of Scout and Guide Association campsites and activity centres.

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

You will receive a regular newsletter and the latest information from both the Scout and Guide Associations as well as any other relevant circulating information. This is via e-mail as it's the easiest way to communicate with everyone around the country at the same time.

As a registered member you will receive a plaque every year for you to display. This demonstrates to potential hirers that you are a member and therefore they can be assured that your facility meets the basic standards of competence.

You will be listed on the website www.asgc.org.uk and will also have access to the member's area of the site where you will be able to obtain sample health & safety documents, advice and the latest information.

You will also be invited to the annual conference. This year it is being held at Hesley Wood in Sheffield. At the conference there are presentations on numerous topics from activities to health & safety. A large part of the conference is based upon networking and meeting people in similar situations. There is also a trade fair that brings together many companies that supply campsites with various supplies from badges to lawn mowers.

To join or find out further information visit our web site http://www.asgc.org.uk/ and download the application forms or write to us at ASGC, Blackwell Court, Agmore Road, Blackwell, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. B60 1PX

Some notes for the guidance of Scouts and other Youth Organisations.

The Antisocial Behaviour Act comes into force on 20th January 2004 and has important effects upon the carrying and use of air guns by people aged between 14 and 17 years. Briefly, the law has been changed to eliminate the previous different requirements for carriage and use of air rifles and air pistols, and altered the age requirements for their ownership. It is now as follows.

General Requirements, Applicable To All

It is Illegal to:

• carry an air weapon (rifle or pistol), whether loaded or not, in a public place, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
• possess or use an air weapon if you have been sentenced to any form of custody for a term of 3 months or more. The prohibition is for 5 years (from the date of release) if the sentence was between 3 months and 3 years, but if the sentence was for more than 3 years the ban is for life.
• use an air weapon on private land without the owner's permission.
• shoot any bird or animal unless you are an authorised person as defined by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
• discharge an air weapon in the street or within 50 feet of the centre of a highway if in consequence it should injure, interrupt or endanger any user of the highway.

Youngsters under 17:

• may not buy, hire or otherwise be given an air gun (but if you owned one on January 20th 2004 when the age limit was raised from 14 to 17 you may keep it).
• may not have an air gun in a public place unless under the supervision of a person of or over the age of 21 years, but -
• may have an air gun with him whilst being a member of a Home Office Approved club in connection with target practice; or may use one at a shooting club or gallery at which only air guns are used.
• but of or over the age of 14 years, may use an air gun unsupervised in a private place with the permission of the occupier (however if under 14 years of age must be supervised by a person of or over the age of 21) but must not shoot any pellet beyond the boundary of the premises on which it is being used.

Please note that the above is a distillation of those parts of the law that apply to air guns for guidance only, and is not to be regarded as a complete statement of firearms law.

These notes have been prepared and issued by the National Small-bore Rifle Association.