A Guide for New Members and their Parents
1st Stotfold Scout Group are part of the Biggleswade and District. Our members are girls and boys aged between 14 and 18, and they take part in an active, exciting, fun, and adventurous programme of activities. We camp several times through the year.
Uniform
The Explorer Scout uniform consists of a shirt, neckerchief with woggle, trousers and belt.
• Beige long-sleeved shirt
• Navy Blue Activity Trousers
• Group neckerchief (yellow and green) and woggle
• Brown leather belt with buckle bearing the Scout Badge should be worn with trousers when the shirt is worn.
Most evenings however we do not wear a uniform.
Uniforms can be purchased from our local Scout Shop at Boyd Field in Henlow SG16 6AN on a Tuesday evening between 7:00 and 8:30pm.
They are also available on-line at www.scout-uniform.co.uk or from the Scout & Guide Shop in Icknield Way, Letchworth on Thursdays between 6:00 and 8:00pm.
Camping
Camping is an important part of Scouting but we encourage the Explorers to give us ideas for camps and they are involved in organising them. These are usually at weekends, or during the school holidays.
Money Matters
Explorer Scouts are charged subs of £30 per term which covers normal weekly meeting costs, insurance, upkeep of the Scout Hut and the troop administration costs. Camps are charged in addition to this, as are special meetings such as sumo suits, hiking, bowling, skiing, karting and most weekend activities.
We do not accept any cash payments and ask that subs are paid termly or half termly. Payment should be by cheque, made payable to 1st Stotfold Explorer Unit and placed in an envelope marked with the Explorers name or by BACS.
Leader Contacts
If you have any problems or queries, please don’t hesitate in contacting any of the leaders. You can find there details on the Contact Us page. We are there to help you and your child.
Health/Contact Information
We have personal information forms that we require to be filled in. These will give us all the information required should there be any need to contact parents or for medical purposes.
The forms list contact information and medical information. You will be given the relevant forms when your child starts at Explorers, although we also ask for an update every year.
Please return these forms to a Leader as soon as possible.
When attending a camp you will be asked to complete a permission to camp form. This asks for more detailed information required for a camp.
What is Scouting?
Scouts were started over 100 years ago, by Sir Robert Baden-Powell. He was a soldier, and got the idea while he was serving in the African town of Mafeking. He brought this idea home to England after the war, and tried it out with several groups of young boys from all over the country, and from different walks of life. This ended up with him organising a camp on the now famous Brownsea Island.
The old fashioned approach of ‘DYB DYB DYB’ and wide brimmed hats went out of the window at the review of Scouting in 1964, so we won’t make you wear silly hats unless you want to.
Scouting still remains one of the biggest movements in the world.
Explorers is the final step in the young persons journey in Scouting and follows on from Scouts, Explorers build on the skills achieved in Scouts whilst also encouraging the young person to take on responsibilities fro organising activities etc. The leaders aim to support this passage to adulthood and encourage the Explorer as much as possible, but in the end, it is down to them to show us what they can do.
“It is a movement, because it moves forward. As soon as it stops moving, it becomes as Organisation, and is no longer Scouting. — Sir Robert Baden-Powell.
What do we do?
Explore activities are suggested by the Explorers and are combination of learning and having fun.
The idea is through some activities that are linked to the Diamond & Platinum Awards the Explorer will develop themselves and stand on their own. By the end of the programme the Explorer should be on the way to achieving the highest award that a Scout under 25 can achieve the Queens Scout.
This programme is linked also to the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
“How do I find out about these activities and events?”
A programme and information pack is e-mailed out 3 times a year giving both parents and Explorers a detailed programme showing all the organised events for the next few months. These are also available online on the programme page.
If you are not sure about the arrangements for a Explorer activity, do have a chat with the Leaders after an Explorer evening or contact them at home.
The Scout Promise
On my honour,
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen
To help other people
And to keep the Scout Law
The Scout Law
A Scout is to be trusted
A Scout is loyal
A Scout is friendly and considerate
A Scout is a brother to all Scouts
A Scout has courage in all his difficulties
A Scout makes good use of his time and is careful of possessions and property
A Scout has respect for himself and for others