Calling All Scouters!

Hi Scouters,

Well it is finally time to begin filling up our team of Scouters for the youths’ incredible European Adventure next summer!  Scouters on this trip will be mentoring our Scouts and Venturers in a trip of a lifetime – this will be an amazing trip, and an amazing experience.  If you are selected to help support this trip, the majority of your costs will be covered.  You will be responsible for your own spending money, and depending on the pre-trip, could be responsible for some food or admission costs.  For the most part though, the kids are covering your bill.  Given that the kids are paying for us to go, the onus is really on us to ensure we are spending their hard earned money wisely by using every moment we have on this trip to make it the best possible trip for all the youth attending.

Before you put your name forward for consideration, please make sure you understand the selection process, the trip requirements, the commitment, and your role.  Also, for our youth Scouters, in order to apply as an Expedition Scouter for this trip you will need to be 18 years or older by July 20, 2019.

Selection Process: First step is that we put forward an open invitation for Scouters to apply (this is it, lol!).  At the same time youth attending the trip are voting on the ranking that they would like Scouters to attend.  If a Scouter ranks really high by the youth, but does not put their name forward, we will ask them to apply.  Any Scouter who is eligible for ratio in Scouts AND Venturer Scouts can apply to be an Expedition Scouter for Europe.  That means you must have your Woodbadge I done for both Scouts & Venturer Scouts OR Woodbadge I for the Canadian Path completed BEFORE the interview.  Once we have our candidates we will schedule interviews.  You will be interviewed by the Expedition Leadership Team (7 youth + 2 Scouters) to determine your suitability for the trip.  This process makes selection a LOT more fair as it allows Scouters to really demonstrate everything they can offer to the trip – for our newer Scouters, who may not be well known (and therefore not well ranked), the interview gives them an opportunity to shine.  Candidates will be chosen based on their interview, their ranking in the youth vote, and by peer evaluation.  Keep in mind that it is our youth leaders who are interviewing our adults volunteers – even just being part of this meeting will be awesome as a Scouter – talk about youth leadership at its best 😊 We are probably looking for a total of nine Scouters to attend the trip, but the final number will be determined by the Expedition Leadership Team, and may be adjusted down the road based on registration numbers and pre-trip plans.  Best guess at this point is three for Ireland, four for Switzerland, two for Backpacking – please keep in mind that Scouters will be assigned to a pre-trip based on what will be best for the participants as determined by the Expedition Leadership Team – Scouters will not be choosing their own pre-trips, and might NOT end up on the same pre-trip as their own youth.

Trip Requirements:  Expedition Scouters will be required to meet ALL of the youth trip requirements detailed here => http://gfwscouting.ca/adventure/?p=89  Please keep in mind that all means all, so review the requirements carefully.  The final requirements for Scouters will be set at the first meeting of the Expedition Leadership Team, but I would expect those requirements to includes:

  • Attending a mandatory Scouter Development Camp – six months notice to be provided
  • Being an EXPERT on the trip itinerary for your assigned pre-trip as well as for the Haarlem Jamborette
  • Have a current CPR-C First Aid Certificate (valid at the time of the trip)
  • Must have demonstrated their commitment to participate in everything the youth will be expected to participate in
  • Must have experience in Troop or Company and have a sincere understanding of the “Scout Method”
  • Must be fully screened and registered for ratio in both Scouts and Venturer Scouts at the time of the trip
  • Must have completed, or be mostly completed, their Woodbadge II (this is a requirement I will be recommending to the ELT because of the new structure of the WBII program.  It allows Scouters to work away at it on their own pace, and the end result is a fully rounded training experience that will really benefit the trip.)

Please note that the Expedition Leaders may add a few expedition-specific requirements if needed for safety or overall trip experience.

The Commitment: This cannot be understated, this is a HUGE commitment!  At a minimum, you will be looking at taking two and a half weeks off work and away from your family in the best part of the summer of 2019.  Additionally a minimum of three full weekends, two for the youth expeditions and one for the Scouter weekend.  There is also an expectation to be actively involved in the program, which means you will be expected to attend a minimum of 75% of regular meetings, events, and camps in your primary section.  You will be expected to attend as many of the Europe specific meetings as possible, with a personal goal of 100% (not required to attend them all, just a goal).  Most importantly, please keep in mind that if you are selected for the trip, that means that the youth REALLY want you specifically to attend their trip.  They are counting on you to stick with this, and building a trust relationship with you leading up to the trip.  While I understand that a change in life could happen that forces you to resign from the trip –  before you commit, please make sure you cannot foresee any reason that would force you to resign or prevent you from meeting all the trip requirements.  It really puts the trip in jeopardy when we lose a Scouter late in the game.  If you accept, please commit.

Your Role: Your role in Europe, and leading up to Europe, is be there as a Scouter to support the Scout Method.  You will be a mentor and a guide and the youth will lead.  Please note that you will NOT be attending as a parent, you will be attending as a Scouter.  Any slips by you or your youth in this regard can literally ruin the trip for another youth member.  A youth that is feeling homesick might be pushed over the edge if they see you treat your youth like your child, or see your child treat you like a parent.  You must treat every single youth on the trip equally, including your own child.  If you wouldn’t hug another Scout or Venturer Scout, please do not hug your child (in view of other youth or Scouters).  No matter how homesick your youth is, they may NOT sleep in your tent – if they need to sleep with Scouters for the night, they will sleep with other Scouters like any other youth.  If your youth is feeling ill or needs non-emergency help, they are to ALWAYS go to a Scouter other than you.  Obviously in an emergency our “momma-bear” instincts will take precedence and that is understandable, but otherwise, make sure your youth understands they MUST go to another Scouter.   You will not be permitted to be in your youths’ Patrol for camp.  You may end up on your youths’ pre-trip, or you may end up on a different pre-trip – this decision will be based on your personal strengths and experience and will be determined by the Expedition Leadership Team.  This is not a family trip, this is a Scouting expedition and we are lucky enough to be invited along on the kids’ trip on the kids’ dime – please make sure you and your youth completely understand this before you volunteer.

So, if you have read all that, and are still interested in volunteering, please let me know.  We are hoping to complete interviews the first two weeks in April after Easter Break so that all of us have a good long time to convince our employers (and our spouse) for the time off 😉

It’s my job to make sure you understand the role, and the down side of the role, but please also keep in mind that this trip will change you forever.  Being with the youth through their incredible adventure will give you satisfaction like you could never imagine.  While you won’t be there as a parent, you will get to see your youth experience all this first hand, and will have stories to share with each other for the rest of your lives.  I cannot stress enough how much you will appreciate attending.  There is a very, very big up-side to this as well 😊

Yours in Scouting,

Scouter Jason
Expedition Lead Scouter


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