The adventure never ends

David Stokes discusses how Scout Fellowship can help Scout Groups maintain a sense of adventure

Time and time again we hear that it is the more adventurous activities that our young people enjoy the most. Over the last decade The Scout Association has balanced the need to make such activities accessible to more youth members with the need to assure safety. With better-trained Leaders, more comprehensive access to and support from a number of important national bodies we manage to maintain an all-important sense of adventure.

Providing support

Up and down the country there are a number of specialised Scout Fellowships which focus on adventurous activities. Their remit not only includes organising and leading such activities, but also the training and assessing of other Leaders, purchasing and maintenance of vital equipment, and the promotion of the vital role of adventurous activities within Scouting. Such Fellowships truly represent a renewed commitment to make more of these activities available to more of our young people. If your District or Area/County isn’t lucky enough to have such a Fellowship, it is still possible for them to provide important support to Leaders and supporters who continue to undertake some of the most responsible and valued roles within Scouting. When included in a suitable remit, a Scout Fellowship can provide some or all of the following support:
• Maintaining a list of authorised or qualified Leaders and supporters, along with renewal dates for training (possibly as part of a broader
skills database)
• Keeping logs of equipment purchase, use and renewal dates
• Helping with transport to and
from activities
• Acting as a ‘home contact’ when parties are away for the day or on
an expedition
• Managing funds for activities
and expeditions
• Buying food and other supplies
• General administration, including booking accommodation, making phone calls, writing letters and so on.

Continued involvement

Providing such support allows many of our Fellowship members to continue their involvement in the adventurous side of Scouting. While the resulting time made available to those who are still authorised to lead activities means that more of our Leaders and supporters are able to actively contribute. If this means more adventurous activities for our young people then it can only be a good thing.