Scout Talk

d7

By Paul Murray

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

A good volunteer is always seeking ways to improve themselves through courses, lectures or practice. Scouts Canada has a laid out training program for their adult volunteers and it consists of the three methods I mentioned.

All new leaders should have an introduction to Scouting course under their belts by Christmas of their first year. This four-hour course introduces volunteers to the traditions, structure and some policies of Scouts Canada. The next step is a Wood Badge 1 course. This is a 12-hour course, which is divided between lecture and hands on activities. Risk management is discussed more in depth than the introduction course, how to create a good section program, and how to utilize the outdoors are all part of the Wood Badge 1. Upon completion, the course participation is presented with the Gilwell Woggle.

The next step in the training program for a Scouts Canada volunteer, is a Wood Badge 2 course, which is 48 hours. The participants learn communication, leadership, and motivational skills, as well as being introduced to pioneering, orienteering, canoeing and outdoor cooking. The successful course graduates are presented with the Gilwell necker and beads, and with their Gilwell Woggle from their Wood Badge 1, are now recognized as full Gilwellians.

A Wood Badge 2 was just completed a week ago at the Yoho Scout Reserve near Fredericton. Twenty-five adults participants and 14 course trainers from all over New Brunswick landed on Wednesday afternoon and left on Sunday afternoon. These are very dedicated volunteers and deserve a big pat on the back for sacrificing their time to learn skills that will make them the very best leaders possible. The real beneficiaries of these courses, are your children, who are members of a Scouts Canada group.

In the Kings County Record insert of Sept. 16, I read an article on the 1963 page that is still very relevant today, 45 years later. At a Scouts Canada meeting, held at the Trinity Church in Sussex, the cry went out for more adult volunteers. It seems they had a lot of youth, but were lacking volunteers in many groups. We tend to think such problems are unique to our own group, but recruiting volunteers has been an issue for many years.

Many of the Sussex area groups have started their 2008-2009 season, and are reporting good registration numbers. As in 1963, there never seems to be enough volunteers. If you think you might have something to offer to a scouting group, contact Lloyd Keirstead at 433-5326.

Everybody has some knowledge, skills or abilities that should be passed on to our youth. At a recent registration fair in Quispamsis, five new leaders were registered with one group in one night!

It is not too late to register a youth in a Scouts Canada group in Millstream, Sussex Corner or Sussex. If you are interested, contact Lloyd for registration details. Join the world's largest youth organization and become one of the more than 28 million scouting members worldwide!