For many activities a ‘Home Contact’ is required: this factsheet (FS 120078) has been updated recently (October 2006) and considerably improved.

The system for regulating adventurous activities for Scouts is changing from ‘Authorisations’ to ‘Permits’. There are a lot of extra factsheets available on Scoutbase at present, which now gives you all the relevant information in one place, but it is not terribly easy to follow so I will try to clarify the process for the more common activities.

Hillwalking

Hill walking is a popular activity for Leaders and Scouts: but there are rules which are explained in detail in various factsheets on Scoutbase: the principles haven’t changed but a lot of the detail and terminology has, so I will try to summarise

Scouts of all ages can climb hills in ‘Terrain Zero’ (up to 500m and within 30 minutes of a road) without any need for a special permit or assessment as long as there isn’t any scrambling involved. There are a number of hills in this category in NI which can give young people the real sense of achievement which comes from climbing a ‘mountain’. (I am happy to make suggestions or advise if you aren’t sure).

‘Terrain One’ is above 500m or more than 30 minutes from a road: this covers almost all the hilly areas in NI which are not Terrain Zero. To lead a Scout party in Terrain One you need specific permission from your DC, which he can only give if you have been assessed to be competent by a qualified expert. The appropriate level of training is to the standard of the WGL award, with appropriate personal experience. Assessors now have discretion to include all of NI in a Terrain One Authorization.

‘Terrain Two’ is above 800m or more than 3 hours from a road. To lead a Scout party in Terrain Two you need similar specific permission from your DC, after you have been assessed to be competent by a qualified expert. This will normally only be needed for the high or remote areas in GB or the Republic. The appropriate level of training is to the standard of the Mountain Leader award, with appropriate personal experience.

If you want to lead Scouts in Terrain One or Two, the process is as follows:

(a) Talk to your local activities adviser, or read the factsheets FS120454 and FS120101.

(b) If you don’t have a log of your recent hillwalking experience, write one!  There is a basic format on Scoutbase, but if you already have one in different format, that will do.

(c) Fill out an application for a Permit. It is a good idea to tell your DC you are applying.

(d) Pass the log and form to your local County Assessor. If you don’t know who that is, talk to your ACC Activities or me. The forms can now be filled in electronically and emailed.

(e) The assessor will normally want to see you in action, before making a recommendation to your DC,

(f) The DC will issue a permit if appropriate!

Note:

Both the log and permit form are only on the Activity Permit area of Scoutbase, not in the hillwalking area!

Formal WGL or ML training is no longer a requirement for assessment – the skills may have been acquired informally.

Old style authorisations remain valid until their expiry date. Both old authorisations and new permits expire after a maximum of 5 years.

If you need some training to prepare for assessment, members of the Activities team will offer informal training for Leaders if there is sufficient demand - subjects will include navigation, route planning, group control, equipment, emergency procedures, etc. Contact me by email (preferred) or phone if interested giving the dates you are available and what areas you think you need to develop. Alternatively- if you don’t have the skills to offer a hillwalking experience to your Scouts - why not ask and we will find someone who does!

Other Activities

The principles for obtaining a Permit for other activities (e.g. climbing, watersports) are similar. Look in the Activity Permit area of Scoutbase first, then at the details for the activity.

If you don’t have direct internet access, either find a friend who does, or prepare for a long conversation or phone call with me, your local adviser, or the information desk at Gilwell! I am happy to come and go through the detail at District meetings, or wherever a group of people are interested.

PLEASE DON’T LET THE PROCESS PUT YOU OFF OFFERING ACTIVITIES!!

Canoeing and Kayaking

We hope to run beginners courses in kayaking and Canadian canoeing on the Lagan at Shaws Bridge from late March onwards aimed at Explorer Scouts and others (all ages 14+), developing skills to basic (1-star) standard.

Initial courses will be 4 sessions at weekends, but weekday evenings will also be available as the lighter evenings come in. 

Fee will be £20 per person, non-refundable and payable in full with booking! Places will be limited to 8 per course. If you want a course elsewhere, we may be able to help. If interested Text or email me with approximate numbers for more details.

There are now groups of both Canadian and Kayak paddlers working on improving their techniques most weekends - anyone paddling at minimum 1-star standard is welcome to join.

I also have some people hoping to do DOE Silver/Gold Expedition in kayak/canoes in the Easter/summer holidays - any interest?

And Finally…

…Unfortunately work is still interfering with my Scouting, so if I have missed replying to any queries, please don’t be shy in reminding me!

In view of the bewildering amount of information and regulation now available, I recommend that every Leader should have a copy of two factsheets - ‘Scout Led Activities’ FS120084 and ‘Commercially Led Activities’ FS 120086, which can be found on Scoutbase (www.scoutbase.org.uk). The current edition is dated January 2006.