1St Port of Dublin Sea Scouts (Ringsend) Member Pack 2017

1st Port of Dublin Sea Scouts (Ringsend) Member pack 2017

About us We are open to girls and boys from age 6 upwards. At the moment we have 3 sections:

Beaver Scouts This is where we start the adventure and the emphasis is maximum fun. While having fun Beavers get to play so they learn how to get along with other people.

Beavers is a fun-filled programme of exploring and has a big emphasis on the outdoors and the environment as an integral part of their programme. Beavers do have overnight adventures, both camping and staying over in dens in what is known as a slumber night.

Beaver Scouts are organised in small groups called Lodges. There are approximately 6 beavers in each Lodge. Each member takes on tasks to find out about responsibility. Their learning is by taking part in lots of new skills and the most important thing is that they do it with other people, especially new friends.

Cub Scouts In Cubs they build on what they have already learned in Beavers and the activities become a little more adventurous. They also involve themselves in more challenging scouting activities like hiking, canoeing and pioneering. The Cub Scout adventure is full of fun and exploration. They will learn to become more responsible and will attend longer camps and hikes and be given the opportunity to lead activities.

Cub Scouts are organised into small groups called Sixes and guess what, there are 6 Cub Scouts in each Six. The Six has a Cub Scout as their leader known as the Sixer. The Six also has a Seconder to help the Sixer. The Sixers meet and talk about things that the Cub Scouts would like to do and this meeting is called a Sixers Council.

Cub Scouts are given more responsibility and say in the running of the programme and as a result can do more. Responsibility is the key to helping the Cub Scout grow as it teaches them to look after themselves and to look out for others.

Sea Scouts The Sea Scout troop is the bread and butter of the group. This age section camps, hikes, rows and much more. The younger sections all build to the adventures of the Sce Scout Troop. It is referred to as Fortune Troop and is named after Captain Richard Fortune, who founded 1st Port around 1909. The troop competes in local and national competitions with other Sea Scout groups.

It is arranged into watches, each of which has a Watch Leader and Assistant Watch Leader. The WL and AWL are part of the Watch Leaders’ Council, which essentially runs the section, while supported by adults.

Contacts [email protected] Group Leader: Ciarán Bradshaw Group Secretary/Treasurer: Steven Cull 087-9319815

Traditions 1st Port of Dublin Sea Scouts has a long history which traces back to the first Scout meeting in Ireland in 1908. You can read more on our website 1stportseascouts.ie

The group was re-opened in 2016, having been in development since 2014.

Like a ship, our Hall is the ‘Main Deck’, the toilets is called the ‘Heads’, the kitchen is the ‘Galley’, and the ‘Boat Deck’ is the room to the right of the front door. Adults in Scouting are referred to as Scouters rather than Leaders. This is because our whole programme is about encouraging young people to take on leadership roles.

Pick ups and Drop offs For the first weeks please make contact with an adult leader when you come to pick up your child. This is so we can get to know you, and ensure that we know who has permission to pick up your child.

Fees Our fee structure is as follows:  €50 annual membership for 2017 due by end May 2017 for the first child in the family. Families with two children in the group is €80, and three or more is €100. This is to cover insurance and membership of Scouting Ireland. This can be paid in instalments if that suits you better.  If your child joins after 1 July 2017, the fee is the same. We ask that this is paid with 8 weeks of joining.  €5 per evening meeting. This is to cover cost of equipment used in meetings as well as items like the electricity bill. We present accounts annually to our AGM and to Scouting Ireland. Let us know if you’d like to see these.

Our renovation project Unfortunately some parts of our facilities need improvement. We are actively fundraising for to make the den the best it can be. We hope not to have to involve members and their families in fundraising too much but if you have any skills that you think may be useful please let me know!

Parental involvement Leaders appreciate the trust which parents place in them. 1st Port encourages open communication with Parents/Guardians.

Parents/ Guardians are encouraged to keep in regular contact with the Leaders of the section their child is in and to be familiar with the friends they keep. Any Parent/ Guardian who has a concern about your child’s involvement in the Group should raise the matter with one of the Leaders in the relevant section.

 Scouts are expected to participate in activities to the best of their ability in a spirit of camaraderie and fun.  Scouts are expected to be respectful of other members and leaders.  Bullying of any description will not be tolerated.  Scouts are expected to carry out small duties and tasks relevant to the workings of their section and the Group  We encourage parents to monitor and support youth members travelling to and from section meetings, especially in dark nights.

Personal Equipment The Group provides all the main equipment for Scouting activities such as camping equipment, boating and safety equipment etc. to enable Scouts to participate in our programme and activities

As a Scout progresses through the various sections from Beavers to Rovers s/he will be required to build up own personal equipment relevant to the activities in which they are interested. This may include wetsuits, buoyancy aids, sleeping bags etc.

Parents are asked to be careful when buying equipment, particularly if they are not familiar with the items, their quality and purpose.

Always seek advice when buying outdoor equipment either from the shop assistants or the Group’s Scouters who will be able to give you an idea on what a Scout actually needs and how much you should expect to spend.

At this age group, Scouts will need hiking boots with ankle support. As time goes on they will need a sleeping bag for camping trips. Given the age group, they may also wish to get their own wetsuit or buoyancy aid eventually. We will always supply these, but if a Scout wants their own, we are happy to advise.

Leadership All Scouters are volunteers and do not receive any payment for their time. So if, from time to time, things happen a little more slowly than you’d expect, this may be the reason.

All Scouters undertake formal leadership training relevant to their role and section, as laid down by Scouting Ireland. This includes Child Protection Training. Many hold external training qualifications, such as hillwalking, sailing, power-boating, rowing and expedition leadership also. Over the coming months, as we renovate, the qualifications of Scouters will be put on display in the Scout Den.

All Adults in the Group complete an Adult Application process which includes Garda Vetting. We’re always looking for more help so let us know if you’d like to join in!

Safety is paramount in all of the activities that the Group undertakes and is the foremost consideration in all the sections. All members are required to wear the relevant safety equipment for each and every adventurous activity, particularly water activities. Notices for events are given & we ask that these are read by all.

Uniform Sea Scouting is a uniformed organisation and all sections wear the uniform at weekly meetings. Items are available from the Scout Shop in Liffey Street in Bray or online. We hope all new members will have uniform by the end of May 2017. If this is not possible, feel free to discuss with the leadership team. The uniform provides an identity for the scouts and gives them a real sense of belonging to the group. We sometimes have second-hand uniforms in our uniform pool so please ask us about this. We also encourage you to donate your jumpers once they no longer fit.

Young people will be awarded badges as they make progress through the programme. They are usually very proud of their achievements so we appreciate your help in putting them on their uniform! A separate section on uniform can be found at the back.

Communication Scouts will receive notes with details of upcoming activities.

Our website is at https://1stportseascouts.ie and we are also on Facebook and Twitter where you can see photos of previous events.

We also try to send a regular email newsletter.

About Scouting Ireland

Scouting Ireland has 50,000 members in over 500 groups around Ireland Aim of Scouting Is to encourage the physical, intellectual, character, emotional, social and spiritual development of young people so that they may achieve their full potential and as responsible citizens, to improve society

These elements are called SPICES and are deeply integrated into the programme experience via the Scout Method, Personal Progress Awards and programmes designed by the youth members.

About ONE programme

Scouting is an adventure for young people. It provides fun, friendship and challenge, helping them to develop their skills and talents. The official aim of Scouting Ireland is to encourage the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual development of young people so that they may achieve their full potential and as responsible citizens, improve society.

In order to achieve the aim, the programme is based on a set of learning objectives which are organised in six areas of personal growth, which we call the SPICES (Social, Physical Intellectual, Character, Emotional and Spiritual).

Each of the areas contributes to the development of the person as a whole and all are equally important.

Special Interest Badges

In order to reflect the diverse range of abilities and interests of young people, Special Interest Badges recognise personal progression in different areas even those one would not necessarily associated with scouting. Special Interest Badges are based on individual youth members hobbies and interests. They can be used to acquire a new interest/ hobby/ skill or develop ones they already have.

Adventure Skills

Scouting is traditionally associated with specific outdoor skills, such as camping and backwoods survival. The Adventure Skills are the means by which the ONE Programme outlines the primary hard skills involved in scouting and provides a comprehensive competency- based framework for the young person to complete these skills. • Camping. • Air Activities. • Paddling. • Backwoods. • Emergencies. • Rowing. • Pioneering. • Hillwalking. • Sailing.

The Chief Scouts Award

The Chief Scout Award is about personal development. It, like all other challenges in scouting, is centred on assisting the self-development of the young person. While the award has specific criteria and has a more formal nature than other elements of the scouting programme, it is still a personally based challenge. The ethos of the Award is paramount. A Scouter, who is familiar with both the young person and the requirements of the Award, can ensure that the scout is sufficiently challenged and the high standards of the Award are maintained.

The Chief Scout Award is supplementary component of the personal journey of each Youth Member, like Adventure Skills or Special Interest Badges. The Award is to be achieved by youth members participating in normal youth programme. Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts would start and complete their Chief Scout Award in the last year in the Section. As the requirements for the two older Sections are more demanding, it is anticipated that they would start at a time which would realistically see them complete it in their final year in the Section. The Chief Scout Awards for the Scout, Venture and Rover Sections are linked to An Gaisce, Presidents Award.

Nautical Training Scheme

The Nautical training scheme is a maritime based scheme in keeping with the Sea Scouting tradition. There are a number of progressive badges in each section giving the scouts an opportunity to learn about and be comfortable with safety on the water, in an age appropriate way.

Charge Certificates From age 14 Scouts and adults can earn Charge Certificates. These are what allow people in Scouting to take charge of water activities.

Uniform at 1st Port Sea Scouts

All members of the Scout Group wear a uniform. Since the group’s foundation in 1909 it has proudly worn the navy woollen jumper synonymous with Sea Scouts worldwide.

However, from the beginning 1st Porters have been rebellious. They refused to wear Scout scarves (sometimes called “neckerchiefs”) or long trousers until 1920, at which point national headquarters made 1st Port’s participation in the 1st World Scout Jamboree (held and Olympia in London) contingent on them adopting the items. Under duress, they adopted the royal blue scarf, which they have worn ever since.

The group’s logo of a ring buoy and crossed oars also originates with that 1920 trip. Each Scout that travelled was issued with a swimming costume, upon which one Scout’s sister had hand-embroidered the words “1st Port” and a ring buoy with a pair of oars on the chest. The rest is history!

As each young person works their way through the programme they will earn badges. We ask that these be put on the uniform as quickly as possible as these aren’t easily earned! If you are in doubt as to where these go, please ask. Beaver and Cub Scouts

Sea Scout jumper

Badges

 Sea Scout flash (small) on the left sleeve [not shown in image]  World Scout badge (this comes with the jumper)  Sea Scouting membership badge (this comes with the jumper)  Dodder County badge  1st Port Group nametape (available from us)  1st Port Group badge (available from us) Scarf (sometimes called a neckerchief)

These are available from the Scout Shop for €4 – royal blue. We sometimes have a limited supply in the den to purchase. They are worn with a woggle, but most of the time they will just be tied in a knot.

Trousers

Any dark colour trousers are acceptable

Scouting Ireland uniform trousers are available from the Scout Shop should you wish to get these.

Shoes

Beaver and Cub Scouts can wear whatever shoes they are comfortable in for weekly meetings. This might be trainers or boots etc

Other badges in these images are earned by the young person over time.

Uniform at 1st Port Sea Scouts

All members of the Scout Group wear a uniform. Since the group’s foundation in 1909 it has proudly worn the navy woollen jumper synonymous with Sea Scouts worldwide.

Sea Scout jumper Badges  Sea Scout (or Gasóga Mara) flash across the chest  World Scout badge (this comes with the jumper)  Sea Scouting membership badge (this comes with the jumper)  Dodder County badge  1st Port Group nametape (available from us)  1st Port Group badge (available from us)

Scarf (sometimes called a neckerchief) These are available from the Scout Shop for €4 – royal blue. We sometimes have a limited supply in the den to purchase. They are worn with a woggle. Belt, lanyard and whistle Belt (with Sea Scout belt loops), whistle and lanyard (the longer version, specifically for Sea Scouts) are available from the Scout Shop. Lanyard is worn around the neck. A whistle attaches to the end. It is then clipped off to the belt on the left hand side. The belt is not worn on the trousers. Instead it is worn outside the jumper. It is worn in this way as when a Scout is rowing (which they would have done in uniform in years gone by) the belt ensures that the jumper does not roll up. This kept the rowing Scout warm. The tradition has remained. Trousers Scouting Ireland uniform trousers – available from the Scout Shop

Shoes For weekly meetings – Scouts can wear whatever shoes they are comfortable in for weekly meetings. This might be trainers or boots etc For formal events (investitures, awards, competitions) – Scouts should have black formal shoes or dark coloured hiking boots.

Other badges in these images are earned by the young person over time.