Parents Info - Bald_Hills_Scout

Welcome to Bald Hills Scout Group. When you join our Group, there is a lot of information to take in. So to make it a bit easier for new families, we have put together some information to get you started on your child's Scouting journey.

You can also read or save our '2020 Group Information' document from the link below. This book has lots of useful information, and we strongly recommend that you take the time to go through all of the information. If you have any questions, you can ask one of our Leaders - some who are parents just like you. Or you can email the Group Leader.

Download 2022
Group Information

Firstly, ALL members of All families at Bald Hills Scout Group are part of the Group.

When your child joins Bald Hills Scout Group, so do you!

It is an expectation of the Bald Hills Scout Group that if your child joins our Group that you will be called upon to provide support for them by getting involved in some way or another. Please note that this is NOT negotiable at our Group.

Parent support maintains the success of any Scout Group. Without such support, a Scout Group will struggle for help and assistance.

There are no paid employees at our Group and so it is critical that you get involved and ask yourself, "what is stopping me from helping out?"

By help we mean taking on one of the may roles within the Group such as:

Taking on one of the roles as a member of the Group Support Committee. Please remember that by joining your child at Scouts at Bald Hills you automatically become a member of this committee. So the hard part is done. We will allocate a role for you within the committee.

Putting on the Scout Uniform and becoming one of the Leaders in the Group. All we ask is that you commit to attend one night per week during term time for one year, and the Group will:

Provide all your training
Provide a Working with Children Blue Card
Provide support/mentoring during your training

Becoming an 'Adult Helper':

Allows you to attend more than once a month to help with running Joeys, Cubs or Scouts
Provides you with a Working with Children Blue Card
Provides access to basic e-learning training

Becoming a 'Youth Program Supporter':

Allows you to support the Group, assist at Unit meetings and assist with fundraising on a non-regular basis
Provides you with a Working with Children Blue Card
Provides access to basic e-Learning training

Please note that being rostered on as a helper from time to time, helping with transport to and/or from a camp or activity and assisting with fundraising is support all parents are expected to assist with. To discuss this further please contact the Group Leader.

Like any other organisation, there needs to be a support system in place. In Scouting, support for the delivery of the Scout Program by the Unit Leaders is provided by the parents of the youth members.

Each Scout Group has a ‘Group Support Committee’. This Committee is made up of parents and supporters of the Group.

All adult family members are members of the Group Support Committee and as such are expected to attend monthly meetings of the Committee and the Annual General Meeting.

The Group Committee generally consists of a Chairperson who works closely with the Group Leader to ensure the effective management of the whole Group. There is also a Secretary and Treasurer who are responsible for minutes, correspondence and the finances of the Group respectively.

There are other ‘supporter’ roles on the Group Support Committee and these may consist of Assistant Group Leader, Group Fundraiser, Membership Co-ordinator etc. Roles can be tailored to suit an individual's circumstances.

Overall the responsibilities of the Group Support Committee are:

Manage the Scout Group
Maintain the resources of the Group (human, physical and financial)
Raise funds and administer the Group finances
Public relations (Group Newsletter, Website, Media, etc.)
Assist in the recruitment of Leaders and other adult support

The Group Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer all become registered members of Scouts Queensland and are issued with a ‘Working with Children Blue Card’. Any parent or member of the public can become involved with the Group as either a Uniformed Volunteer (Unit Leader) or a Non-Uniformed Volunteer (committee, supporter, sponsor or helper).

ALL ADULT LEADERS, GROUP SUPPORT COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ARE VOLUNTEERS.

To become a Leader a person must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Be of excellent character
Attend an Introduction to Scouting and Sign Up Meeting
Attend training courses

- Basic Training. Complete basic and sectional e-learning and attend a basic practical

weekend course.

- Advanced Training. Complete advanced e-learning and attend an advanced practical

weekend course

Enquiries for leadership at Bald Hills Scout Group can be made to the Group Leader or Group Chairperson. All enquiries will be treated in confidence and without obligation.

As a last note, it should be said that leadership in Scouting develops your own personal skills, abilities and confidence far above your current level. So why not give it a go on a temporary basis and see if it suits you. Again, there is no obligation to put on a uniform straight away.

The Scouts uniform consists of a shirt, scarf and woggle. Below the waist is the wearer’s choice. Fully enclosed footwear must be worn. At Bald Hills we ask that consideration be given to wearing the following:

Navy or black shorts for Joeys and Cubs
Stone coloured shorts for Scouts
Appropriate closed in shoes
Jeans are acceptable in winter (no rips or tears please)

No board shorts, camouflage shorts or tracksuit pants. No thongs for footwear please.

The Uniform is very distinctive and each Unit within Scouting has its own version. Each Unit is identified by the colour of the ‘yoke’ or shoulder of the shirt - tan for Joey Scouts, yellow for Cub Scouts, green for Scouts, maroon for Venturer Scouts and Leaders uniforms are navy blue.

Once you have decided that your son or daughter wants to become a ‘fully invested’ Scout (Joey, Cub or Scout) then you will need to purchase a uniform. Please make sure that you discuss this first with the Group Leader who will advise on the most appropriate sectional colour for your son or daughter.

Uniforms are purchased online from The Scout Shop.

When purchasing a uniform for your child please purchase the following items:

‘Uniforms’

Shirt (each section of Scouting has a different shirt. Our Leaders will let you know which one to get)

‘Other Items’

Queensland 'YOUTH' Scarf with Badge
Queensland Woggle

Do not purchase a uniform until you have submitted the necessary paperwork to register your child. Ask our Leaders when it is time to purchase a uniform.

Upon investiture, a set of badges will be given to a new member to go on their uniform (the Group pays for these).

Every Unit works on a progressive Award Scheme comprising Outdoor Adventure Skill badges, Special Interest Area badges and a Unit specific Peak Award badge. The Award Scheme is designed to be flexible allowing each youth member to tailor their goals. This is intended to encourage young people to strive for a higher level of understanding or expertise over a number of activities.

Some badges are earned by participating in the regular program. This includes camps and various outings that your son or daughter's Unit goes on. Some Units also have some work they can do at home and/or outside of Scouting activities that they may participate in.

Throughout the Scouting journey of a youth member, they will continually earn badges. So ask your son/ daughter where they are worn – better still get them to sew them on!

As each Scouting Unit has its own uniform, you may want to keep the old uniform as a memento of their journey through that Unit. If you need an additional set of Group Badges you can obtain these through the Unit leaders. There will be a charge for these additional badges.

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Fees & Subs

At Bald Hills Scout Group, we try to communicate with you as much as we can.

We do this in a number of ways:

Email

This is our most common form of communication so please check your emails regularly.

Personal Contact

Our Leaders and committee are available to talk to you anytime. Please be aware that on Unit nights this may be difficult as our Leaders are getting ready to run the program for the night.

Facebook

Bald Hills has two Facebook pages. One is Public, which anyone can view and the other is a Closed Parents and Leaders page. Once your child signs up you will be invited to join this page. It is a great place to keep up to date with what is happening in the Group, as well as sharing stories and photos.

Apart from the Term Subscriptions, the other cost of Scouting is camps and outings. At Bald Hills, camps and activities will generally cost around $10 to $40 depending on the type of camp/outing and what the catering arrangements are. At times, the cost of camps and outings may be reimbursed by using Unit accounts.

All Units run a number of camps/sleepovers and activities, so it is important to keep an eye out for notices about these events. Usually, we attempt to hold two camps or outings per term. There may also be times when normal meeting nights may not be held at the den, in order to align with the 'out' in Scouting.

When a youth member is ready to move from one Unit to the next, the youth member goes through the ‘linking process’ and gets to be part of a ‘going up ceremony’.

When a youth member is approaching the upper age limit (Joeys – 8 years, Cubs- 11 years, Scouts – 15 years) the youth member starts what is called the ‘Link Badge’. This usually commences three months before they are due to 'go up'.

The Link Badge involves the youth member attending the next Unit for at least four weeks. During this time they learn all about the next Unit of Scouting that they are moving to as part of their Scouting journey. Along the way there will be a number of tasks that the youth member needs to complete so that they earn their Link Badge. The youth members and Leaders of the new Unit will help your child achieve this.

The main element is balancing the family schedule to accommodate the possibility of attending Scouts two nights a week for at least four weeks, usually during a school term.

Once all the requirements for the Link Badge have been met and your son or daughter is ready to move to the next Unit, a special ceremony is held.

At Bald Hills these can be held once a term at a location away from the hall or on a Unit night or in camp. Before the Going Up Ceremony, you will need to arrange to purchase the uniform appropriate for the next Unit . Your son/daughter can wear this on their last night of the Unit they are leaving.

The Going Up Ceremony is a special event for all, and we try and make it a memorable one for the family who can attend this event. So do not forget to bring your camera and relatives along.

The number one priority for Scouts Australia is Child Safe Scouting.

All Leaders are thoroughly screened, undergo the relevant Queensland State Blue Card Services checks, and must hold a valid, verified Working with Children check (Blue Card).
Adult Leaders receive comprehensive, ongoing training across a range of subjects including leadership, WHS, and child protection.
At least one person trained in first aid attends all major events.
At least two adults are present at all meetings and events.
We will liaise with you to ensure we have the information necessary to cater for your child's individual medical, physical, and dietary requirements.
The Scouts Queensland Branch has a team of people responsible for child safety who action any concerns that parents or children may have regarding safety.

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