Welcome from the Group Leader    

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Hello Parents,

 

Let me take a moment to welcome you on what will no doubt be a life changing journey for your child.

 

Scouts is a not for profit organisation founded by Lord Robert Baden-Powell over 100 years ago with a focus on the development of character in children. Today, Scouting is the world’s leading youth development and education movement.

 

Scouting provides young people with opportunities to participate in programmes, events, activities and projects that contribute to their growth as active citizens. Through these initiatives, young people become agents of positive change who inspire others to take action.

 

Whilst all Scout Groups follow the same core programs for development, every scout group is in some ways unique, due to the location and background of our voluntary leaders, focusing on specific activities used to bring out the best in our children, the activities can vary but are always focused on the way to have fun while learning new skills, developing leadership skills, creating lasting memories and life changing experiences.

 

We hope that you find a place here with us and will partner with us in the development of character in the youth of the Central Coast.

 

The scout method is that children learn by doing, in a youth led – adult supported environment, and the award scheme is a way to give incentive and recognition to those who put effort into the development of their skills and character.

 

Each section’s award scheme is different reflecting a child’s differing needs throughout their development and is deliberately designed to be open and flexible to let each child find themselves through an exploration of new and exciting challenges and activities. For more details see our website www.avocabeachscouts.com.au or talk to your leader.

 

Peter Oliver

Leader in Charge

1st Avoca Beach Scout Group

 

Ethos

 

At 1st Avoca Beach Scouts as well as traditional land-based activities, we are moving towards open water activities such as but not limited to surfing, kayaking, canoeing, snorkelling and sailing. Before undertaking these activities, we train members in safety and preparedness, and leaders must be trained and certified for the each particular activity. We use these activities to develop a deep love and understanding of the ocean, due to our proximity to the ocean and inland waterways. It is through these activities that children will learn lifelong lessons of personal and collective responsibility, care for the ocean and our friends and family.

 

Parent Commitment

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Scouting is a community based and supported organisation, all the leaders and parent committee members are volunteers and give up their time to develop young people into better leaders and citizens. Many of our leaders and supporters come from the parents of children in the Scout Group, and they get a great deal of personal satisfaction from their work developing young people.

 

Without our dedicated and caring group of volunteer leaders and supporters, the local scout group just would not exist, in the same way as other activities for our children in this community would not be there if the parents and local citizens did not volunteer to assist.

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For those who are interested in partnering with us in our mission to bring out the very best in our children, we have a range of opportunities that can cater to even the busiest of people. How involved you get will depend on your life, work and general enjoyment of activities we undertake. We have opportunities to become a parent helper which only requires to you be involved with the running of at least one session per term, if you do more all the better!

 

Upon enrolling your children in scouts we’d welcome you to join our parent committee. Our committee is made up of parents and people from the community that wish to make a difference in our children's lives. Whether you would just like to know about what’s going on or you would like to help the group keep things moving, the monthly meeting is well worth attending. For those who love organising things there are a variety of roles with in the committee such as chairman, treasurer and secretary. For those who are interested, you can take part in or head our fundraising teams helping our children get to Jamborees, Cuborees and other major events, to assist families with the cost of their children attending these life changing events. Monthly meetings are informal and friendly. This is a great place to meet with other parents and make new friends.

 

Many parents (some whom were Scouts or Guides in their youth) decide to join as leaders, which can be a fantastically rewarding experience. Leaders also receive a discount on Term Fees for their children. When in uniform all leader training expenses are paid for by Scouts and we can even offer you a range of non-scouting education credentials including a Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation and Certificate IV in Frontline Management.

 

Special Needs

 

Scouts is an all-inclusive organisation and 1st Avoca Beach Scouts is no exception, if your child has special needs please come and speak to us and we will partner with you under the guidance of industry professionals in the nurture and support of your child.

 

 

 

 

Meeting Nights

 

Scouts separates children into age groups, with programs aimed at capabilities of each age group. These groups (we call them “sections”) are Joeys, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers. The meeting times and ages are:

 

• Joey Scouts age 5-8; Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:30pm

• Cub Scouts aged 8-11; Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:00pm

• Scouts aged 11-14; Thursdays 7:00 - 9:00pm

• Venturer Scouts aged 14-18; Mondays 7:00 - 9:00pm

 

Often the sections may wish to meet on weekends or other nights to accomplish specific goals such as overnight camps, bush walks, away trips. There are normally no meetings in school holidays.

 

What to Expect

 

As your child progresses through the different sections they will become increasingly self-reliant, having learnt the skills required to organise, plan and accomplish tasks such as running meeting nights or overnight hikes. It is also expected that they will be gaining formal training in outdoor activities. Each section is designed to build upon the knowledge gained in previous sections.

 

The meeting times are the regular times to meet however certain activities will be placed in the program that require weekends or a day to complete, away trips may be planned that could take days to complete. Parental involvement may be required for away trips or general meetings nights and will be planned out ahead of time to give your time to make plans if needed.

 

Normal meeting nights may involve age-appropriate activities such as orienteering around Avoca, canoeing on the lagoon, beach visits, ocean swims and activities in Hunter Park and Heazlet Park.

 

Finances

 

Upon joining you will be asked to pay a joining fee, the term fee, and purchase a uniform shirt for your child.

 

The Initial fee is as follows:

 

• Once only joining fee of $36 (to join the scout association)

• Investiture fee of $30 (covers scarf, initial badges, and record book)

• Term Fee of $104 (a flat-rate fee for the current school term)

• Total $170.00

 

Thereafter, you will pay a per-term fee of:

• $hills 104 (a flat-rate fee for each school term)

 

Uniform (to be purchased prior to investiture)

 

The proper uniform comprises of the following

• Scout Shirt (available from the Scout Shop)

• Navy blue shorts or pants

• Navy blue socks

• Black shoes

 

To begin with, just the shirt will be enough to get started. We typically wear the full uniform only on formal occasions or important outings.

 

The shirt changes colour for each section (joeys, cubs, etc). Every time your child moves up to a new section, you will need to buy a new shirt to suit.

 

Here is where you can purchase an official shirt for your child:

 

The Scout Shop (Port Kembla)

Ph: (02) 4274 1193

www.sctscouts.org.au/shop/

 

The Scout Shop (Victoria)

www.scoutshop.com.au

 

Youth Sections

 

Joey Scouts

 

Joey’s meet on a Wednesday Night from  5.30pm-6.30pm, we are small mob with a huge amount of energy. We work towards the four badges, Care and Share, Buddy Mob, Environment and Adventure. We also have a very special Challenge Badge know as the Promise Challenge badge that is only available to Joey’s aged 7 ½, it’s the highest badge a Joey can receive. We always have a full program which the Joey help to put together, we enjoy Craft, Games, Singing, Cooking and meeting up with other Mobs, which we generally do once or twice a term. We have a District Camp once a year, where parents and Joeys come together and have fun. We like parents to volunteer at least once a term with the nightly sessions, all parents are required to have the Working With Children’s Check (Free for Volunteers)

 

Come and see how fabulous we are…..

 

 

 

 

Cub Scouts

 

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, visit factories, go to the zoo, the museum, or the fire department headquarters. We learn bushcraft, and we learn how to fly model aeroplanes.  There's a lot more Cub Scouts do too. Why not come along and find out?

 

Cub Scouts can earn achievement badges by doing things that interest them and by learning new skills like cycling, electronics, sports, cookery, boating, writing and more.

There are also special Boomerang Badges earned by doing things like tying knots, first aid, hiking in the bush and building models. There are three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold Boomerang Badges.

 

Scouts

 

Your confidence will build and you’ll learn how to make decisions and work as part of a team. In a small group called a Patrol, an older, more experienced Scout will be your Patrol Leader and help develop your skills. Weekly meetings are held to build up skill levels, play games and have fun and plan for weekend adventures. You’ll quickly become familiar with equipment and the right way to use it. As a scout you’ll receive expert instruction in a wide variety of outdoor skills, together with the all-important basic theory to make sure you don’t get lost and can deal with life’s emergencies.

Venturers

 

It’s a do-it-yourself mix of fun, adventure and personal challenge that will bring you together with other young people who feel the same way. You may find yourself exploring wilderness Australia, camping above the snowline or diving on coral reefs. You could be abseiling into a limestone cave or climbing a sheer rock face. Perhaps you’ll learn white water kayaking or ride your mountain bike on an expedition across real mountains.

 

Whatever your challenge, there will be trained and highly experienced adults to guide you through the experience, to teach you the necessary skills and safety techniques. Venturers get the opportunity to travel overseas and to organised activities, to live with a different community to provide service to others.