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Outings and visits are an important part of the Beaver Scout Programme. The Colony Leadership team is encouraged to offer at least one day or evening visit in each three to four month planning cycle and a variety of types of visit during the two year life cycle of a Beaver scout.

Your Assistant District Commissioner (Beaver Scouts) will be able to advise you about local possibilities and the possibility of joining in with other Colonies. There are many places to visit:

• Leisure centre
• Camp Site
• Country Walk
• Theme Park
• Museum
• Farm
• Wildlife Park
• Stately Home
• Lifeboat station
• Countryside Park
• Nature Trail
• Town Trail
• Castle
• Science Park
• Zoo
• Fire/Police/Ambulance Stations
• Coastguard
• Model Village
• Craft Workshop

A Pre-visit is essential to access any potential dangers and familiarise yourself with the layout. Check the toilet facilities, boundaries and out of bounds, refreshment/picnic areas, souvenir shops, opening and closing times, play spaces and playgrounds, programme possibilities, length of time needed for visit, first aid provision and wet weather options.

You will need to decide if it is most appropriate to walk or use cars, public transport, train, tube, coach or minibus. A number of factors will help you decide - the distances of travel, the times of travel, the cost of travel and the relative safety of travel.

It is essential to satisfy yourselves that the arrangements made are safe and sensible and that parents know exactly how their child is to be transported. As Leaders, you can only do your best to provide the safest method of transport available. It is for parents to decide if they are satisfied with the arrangements. Parents offering transport should be asked to confirm that insurance can cover other people's children travelling with them. It is advisable not to put Beaver Scouts in the front seats of cars if at all possible.

Beaver Scout outings are strongly recommended to have one adult to every four Beaver Scouts and for each Beaver Scout to know which is their particular adult for the day. It is recommended that the confidential enquiry process is initiated in respect of additional parents or friends who volunteer to help out.

A personal accident and medical expenses insurance policy exists to cover the total Membership of The Scout Association. Non-members such as parents, supporters and other children are not provided with the same automatic basic cover although this can be arranged. It is wise to consult with your Group Scout Leader to consider expanding the cover by supplementary insurance. Details are available form:

Scout Insurance Services

The Scout Association

Churchill Industrial Estate

Lancing

West Sussex

BN15 8UG

Tel: (01903) 768524

In addition The Scout Association's legal liability insurance policy provides cover for Commissioners, Scouters and other persons authorised to be in charge of, assist with, Scout activities. This is for claims made by Members under their control, or their parents/guardians, or by third parties alleging legal liability arising out of accidents or incidents, occurring during any authorised Scout activity. The policy does not automatically cover legal liability arising out of the ownership or operation of motor vehicles.

Your Group Scout Leader should be fully informed about the plans for any outing. In addition, it is necessary to establish a Home Contact for the visit. This should be someone who is not related to anyone on the outing.

Usually Colony outings will be self-financing so it is important to calculate the likely costs accurately. Costs will include transport, entrance fees, refreshments and any equipment required. A policy will need to be agreed, with the Group Executive Committee, on how much Leaders will be expected to pay, if anything. Leader costs may be subsidised by the Group Executive or be spread among the Beaver Scouts taking part.

Parents should be left in no doubt as to what activities are planned and what arrangements have been made.

Information to parents should include.

• Date of proposed outing
• Venue
• Planned activities
• Cost
• Payment method; cheques, stage payments, deposit required etc
• Departure time and place
• Return time and place
• Pocket money required or allowed
• Food and drink required
• Clothing required, uniform, waterproofs, footwear etc.
• The name and phone number of the Home Contact.

Information from parents should include.

• Permission for their child to take part.
• Any medical treatment being received currently
• Any disability or medical treatment which may affect their child's involvement.
• Parents whereabouts during the outing

Information for Home Contact should include:

• Name, address, telephone number of next of kin of everyone taking part.
• Name, telephone number of District Commissioner or nominated reserve for the period of activity.
• An outline of your schedule and itinerary.

Make sure you have with you

• First aid kit
• Sick bags for the journey
• Money, tickets and details of the venue
• The Home Contact phone number
• A list of all Beaver Scouts and helpers attending.

The Leader of the outing should ensure

• Thank you letters are sent or that the Beaver Scouts make thank you cards
• Outstanding bills are paid
• A visit account is prepared for the Group Treasurer
• Notes are kept of the arrangements made for future reference.

After the outing the Assistant District commissioner (Beaver Scouts) will be interested to know how it went and other Colony Leaders may be interested, particularly if it is a new venue.