THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK 1 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK Downloaded from: “The Dump” at Scoutscan.com http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com Editor’s Note: The reader is reminded that these texts have been written a long time ago. Consequently, they may use some terms or express sentiments which were current at the time, regardless of what we may think of them at the beginning of the 21st century. For reasons of historical accuracy they have been preserved in their original form. If you find them offensive, we ask you to please delete this file from your system. This and other traditional Scouting texts may be downloaded from The Dump. 2 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK SECOND EDITION 1963 Originally Published by THE BOY SCOUTS OF CANADA, OTTAWA, ONT. 3 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK AKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Canadian General Council of the Boy Scouts Association extends grateful thanks to the following persons and organizations who have assisted in the preparation of this handbook by giving permission, expressed or implied, to reproduce and adapt material prepared or published by them; or who have given advice or constructive criticism of the material: — Ernest F. Mills, former Executive Commissioner (Training) of Canadian Headquarters. The late G. Gerald Purkis, former member of the Executive Staff at Canadian Headquarters and the Greater Toronto Regional Headquarters. Professor Harold Breen, Ph.D., while at Carlton University, Ottawa, Ontario. Harold Taylor, former Assistant Provincial Commissioner (Rovers) for Ontario, Delhi, Ontario. Members of the Ontario Rover Round Table. Members of the Quebec Rover Round Table. The Boy Scouts of America, New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A. Imperial Headquarters of The Boy Scouts Association, London, England. Robert R. Robinson, formerly Director of Education of the Alcoholism Research Foundation, Toronto, Ontario. M.N. Balsillie and J.A. Westwood, Hertfordshire Scout Council, England. The late W.L. Currie, former Deputy Chief Executive Commissioner, Ottawa, Ontario. The Royal Bank of Canada, Montreal, Quebec — Monthly Letter. To the many Rover Scouts and Scouters who have prepared papers for Council magazines and bulletins, and for Rover Moots. The written material they provided has proved to be of real value for research in the writing of this book. The Canadian General Council of The Boy Scouts Association Ottawa, Ontario. 1961. 4 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK FOREWORD Once upon a time I was a Rover Scout. I will always remember the helpful guidance I received from my Skipper, and the fine comradeship I enjoyed with my fellow Rovers. I don’t believe I ever thanked Skipper for all he did for me during the six years I was a member of the Crew. They were very happy days, full of activity with good companions helping each other out when the going got rough. In retrospect, it seems strange that we got on so well. On the surface Skipper and I appeared to have so little in common. Without being disagreeable, we disagreed about many things. Our religious beliefs were different. Our political inclinations were not the same. Our attitudes towards smoking, drinking, leisure and nearly every aspect of everyday living were often in conflict. My companions in the Crew were a strange mixture. Amongst ourselves our ideals seemed as far apart as the poles, and our ideas of what the world had in store for us never agreed. Somehow, this diversified group accomplished much in terms of Good Turns and brotherhood and open air life. I remember the men who were once young men in that Crew, and the success they have now attained in their lives. What a marvellous influence our Skipper exerted upon us! Never once did he tell us we were on the wrong trail, but by his quiet example and sincere personal beliefs he encouraged us to solve our own problems and ‘paddle our own canoes’. On Good Turns and on rambles his philosophy of living was gradually imparted to each one of us, and our youthful radicalism was tempered and altered without attempting to destroy our individuality. I think it is fair to state that from our Crew emerged a group of happy, healthy, useful citizens. To such men as Skipper, we owe a dept of gratitude for the production of this handbook. Former Rover Scouts and Rover Scout Leaders, as well as men and young men presently engaged in Rover Scouting have contributed to its production. I sincerely hope that Rover Scouts yet to come will benefit from what this book has to offer, and the Rover Scout Leaders will find it helpful in the leadership of their Rover Crews. G.G. PURKIS 5 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK CONTENTS Foreword 5 Chapter 1 What is Rovering? 7 Quest No. 1 Purpose 7 Quest No. 2 Rovering 7 Chapter 2 The Young Man and You 8 Quest No. 3 Young Men 8 Quest No. 4 Their Leader 11 Chapter 3 The Rover Crew 13 Quest No. 5 Starting 13 Quest No. 6 The Rover Scout Leader 19 Quest No. 7 Teams and the Rover Scout Mate 22 Quest No. 8 The Crew Executive and the Crew-in-Council 23 Quest No. 9 The Rover Scout Den 25 Chapter 4 The Rover Programme 27 Quest No. 10 The Rover Scout Sponsor 27 Quest No. 11 The Rover Squire (The Probationary Stage) 30 Quest No. 12 The Rover Scout (The Training Stage) 36 Quest No. 13 The Service Rover (The Service Stage) 40 Chapter 5 Ceremonies 41 Quest No. 14 Progressive Rovering 41 Advancement (Troop to Crew) 42 Acceptance (Becoming a Squire) 43 Investiture (Becoming a Rover) 43 Leave-Taking (Becoming a Citizen) 46 Openings and Closings 46 Chapter 6 Crew Meetings 47 Quest No. 15 In the Den 47 Quest No. 16 Out-of-doors 51 Quest No. 17 Co-educational and Social Activities 53 Chapter 7 Rover Craft 56 Quest No. 18 Crew Quests 56 Quest No. 19 Individual Quests 59 Quest No. 20 Ramblings and Logs 61 Quest No. 21 Camping and Camp Gear 65 Quest No. 22 Fitness 90 Quest No. 23 Living with Others 96 Quest No. 24 The Use of Leisure 98 Chapter 8 Important Principles 101 Quest No. 25 Duty to God 101 Quest No. 26 Duty to Queen 102 Quest No. 27 Duty to Neighbour 105 Quest No. 28 The Scout Law and Promise 106 Chapter 9 Success 108 APPENDIX — HISTORY 110 6 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK CHAPTER ONE What is Rovering? Quest No. 1 — Purpose The Aim | Rover Scouting has as its aim good citizenship through the development of individual character. This is accomplished by: — 1. Training young men in habits of observation, obedience, and self- reliance in the school of woodcraft. 2. Impressing loyalty and thoughtfulness for others by instruction and by giving service to others. 3. Teaching young men services useful to the public and handicrafts useful to themselves. 4. Developing mental and physical powers of the individual through wholesome social contacts and activities. 5. Leading the individual to develop spiritual and social values by example and association. The aim is common to all three Sections of the Boy Scout Movement. While the aim may be the same it is important to keep in mind that the methods employed to attain this aim are progressive. The Wolf Cub Pack trains the child to become a boy with desirable character traits. The Boy Scout Troop develops these character traits in a boy as he advances to young manhood. The Rover Scout Crew has as its aim the further development of good character in the young man to enable him to become a mature adult, a good citizen; one whom we would be pleased to call a friend and neighbour. The home, the church, and the school are the three basic pillars of our society. What is done in Rover Scouting complements the influence of these agencies. Quest No. 2 — Rovering What is Rover Scouting? | In very clear terms, Baden-Powell has given an “Explanation of Scouting” in the first few pages of his book Scouting for Boys. This explanation should be read in conjunction with the following. Rover Scouting is a “continuation” of the training that is given to Wolf Cubs and Boy Scouts with good citizenship as the final goal. Rover Scouting covers the period during which a young man is “finding himself” — that is, he is developing his character by putting into practice in a wider world the principles of the Scout Law and Promise. It is of the utmost importance to remember that the main and immediate aim of Rover Scouting is to provide a further period of “Training” for young men. 7 THE CREW SCOUTER’S HANDBOOK If we are looking for a specific programme of badges, tests, and activities to tell us how to do Rovering we will seek in vain. Unlike Cubbing and Scouting, Rovering is not a programme. There is no programme for the Rover Crew, but there is a programme for each Rover Scout. Every member of the Crew may have different interests and Rover Scouting endeavours to develop these. It follows that each Rover will have to set his own programme to suit his own needs. However, we can help each to seek and aspire to make the best use of his talents. Thus, the individual embarks upon a series of Quests designed to help him “find himself”. Why, then, are there Rover Crews if the individuals in the Crew cannot follow a common programme? Rover Scouting was described by Baden-Powell as a “brotherhood of the open air and service”. Brotherhood, open air activity, and service are the common meeting grounds.