Monday 31 July 2023

SAFETY IN SCOUT PIONEERING CAMP.

 SAFETY IN SCOUT PIONEERING CAMP.

Any Scout pioneering camp puts safety first. Here are some precautions to take in a pioneer camp to maintain safety:

1. Qualified and trained adult supervision: Ensure that all leaders and volunteers are qualified to run a pioneering camp by checking their backgrounds. They must to be familiar with safety procedures and emergency procedures.

2. Risk assessments: Carefully evaluate the activities and campsite's level of risk. To reduce risks, recognize potential hazards and implement the appropriate safety measures.

3. Campsite setup: Verify that the campsite is appropriate for pioneering activities by inspecting it. Get rid of any clutter or dangers, such sharp objects or uneven terrain. Make sure you organize and promote safety at the campsite.

4. The right tools and equipment: Ensure that all pioneering gear, including ropes, poles, and other items, is in good shape and is frequently maintained. Use the right tools for the job at hand, and make sure everyone knows how to use them safely.

5. Adequate training: Educate participants on safety protocols, emergency readiness, and pioneering practices. Show them safe and responsible ways to use equipment and tools.

6. Activities under adult supervision: Have qualified adult leaders oversee all pioneering activities. They should keep a careful eye on the participants and step in if they have any safety concerns.

8. First aid provided: Make sure the campsite has a first aid kit that is well filled. Make sure that someone with advanced first aid training is present and instruct adult leaders and participants in basic first aid techniques.

9. Communication and emergency plans: Create a communication plan and make sure that everyone who will be involved in it, including leaders and emergency services, is aware of it. Include meeting places, evacuation routes, and emergency contact information. Hold drills to put emergency protocols into practice.

10. Weather awareness: Keep an eye on the weather and frequently check the forecasts. Make sure participants are aware of the protocols and have a strategy in place for cases of extreme weather.

11. Hygiene and sanitation: Encourage good hygiene habits including washing your hands and maintaining cleanliness. Ensure participants have access to clean drinking water and maintain hygienic facilities.

12. Medical and permission forms: Obtain permission forms from each participant's parents or legal guardians. Additionally, to be aware of any particular health issues, acquire medical information and any relevant prescription facts.

Keeping everyone safe is everyone's duty. Encourage campers and leaders to take an active role in providing a secure and ethical camping experiences.

Sunday 30 July 2023

HAZARDS/RISK & RISK MITIGATION IN SCOUTING.

Scouting is not so easy and secure activity. Our scouts are drawn to this absence of a sense of safety. They are taking chances, which makes the journey fun for them.

Making scouting "safe" would take away from its purpose and be the movement's death knell. This is not to argue that dangers are not considered at all. Indeed, a lot of effort is invested towards lowering hazards. However, a balance must be maintained between risks that are fair and those that are not. By enrolling your child in scouts, you willingly consent to accept the dangers that scouts are subject to on your child's behalf.

According to my observations, parents have a very limited grasp of the potential risks associated with scouting. For parents to make an informed choice about whether to allow their child to participate in an activity, they must be aware of the hazards associated. While it is hard to cover every risk associated with every action, this section does so in a concise manner.

#Hiking:

Risk is a part of hiking by nature. Scouts run the risk of suffering personal injuries from slips and falls. When trekking in hot weather or in cold or rainy weather, they run the danger of developing hyperthermia (heat stroke) or hypothermia, respectively. More if senior scouts hike into isolated areas where they are hours away from assistance and cell phone communication, greatly extending the time it takes to respond in the event of a danger occurrence.

We mitigate these risks through:

Training – First Aid, Emergency procedures and good hiking practices;

Equipment – Discussions on suitable equipment;

Emergency response procedure – How to respond to an emergency;

Matching the scout to the hike – Scouts are evaluated for hiking ability, stamina and fitness.

#Camping:

Camping is considerably less risky than hiking. Nonetheless, accidents happen on camps. 

To mitigate these risks we teach our scouts safe axemanship, handling of equipments and the correct handling of fires. Responsibility while swimming and ensuring that our scouts are well trained in scouting skills are essential parts or the reduction of risk on camps.

Pioneering

Heavy pioneering uses poles up to 6 meters long and weighing several hundred kg each. As one might expect, there is always the possibility of calamity in the event that a pole breaks, a rope snaps, or a lashing is simply not tight enough. We reduce the dangers by doing the following:

-Changing and inspecting ropes on a regular basis;

-Making sure lashings are properly and tightly knotted;

-Carefully controlling and supervising the construction and dismantling of larger structures.

#General_Activities;

Even during Troop/ Crew meetings, accidents can occur. Accidents can happen during an activity or occasionally they happen as a result of the games played. 

Through instruction, adult supervision, and activity selection, we reduce the hazards.

So, it is very essential of each Unit Leader to Analysis the Hazards associated with the scout activities and risk mitigation.

Sunday 7 May 2023

 1. “Wood Craft is the knowledge of animals and nature” 

a) When and where it was told by B.P.? In Scouting for Boys –page No.14,15 Campfire Yarn No.2 

What Scouts do? “WOODCRAFT” – Woodcraft is the knowledge of animals and nature. 

We learn about different kinds of animals by following their tracks and creeping up to them so that we can watch them in their natural state and study their habits. The whole sport of hunting animals lies in the wood-craft of stalking them, not in killing them. 

No Scout willfully kills an animal for the mere sake of killing but only when in want of food –unless it is harmful. 

It teaches him which are the best wild fruits and roots for this own food, or which are favourite food for animals, and, therefore, likely to attract them. You learn to notice, by small signs, such as birds suddenly starting up, that someone is moving near, though you cannot see him. By noticing the behavior or dress of people, and putting this and that together, you can sometimes see that they are up to no good. Or you can tell when they are in distress and that chief duties of a Scout, namely, help those in distress in any possible way you can. Remember that it is a disgrace to a Scout, when he is with other people, if they see anything big or little, near or far, high or low, that he has not already seen for himself.

1.       b) What opportunity do you provide for, to have the knowledge of saving the animals and nature?

Ample of opportunities are provided to the Scouts by getting qualified for the Badges from Pravesh to Rashtrapati Award to have the knowledge of saving the animals and nature in the topics as given below:

PRAVESH :

(i) Have brief information of the Origin of Scouting… -Scouts are learning how BP lived and enjoyed in woods saving animals and nature, in his young age.

2. Scout Law… - As in 5th point of Scout Law: “A Scout is a friend to animals and loves nature”, most of the Scouts are growing Pet Animals and fresh house gardens with vegetables and flowers.

9. Undertake a 4 hour purposeful Outing with his Patrol…. - Scouts are aware of not to pluck flowers, which are on the sides of their Outing pathway, as it would harm the Nature.

 

PRATHAM SOPAN:

a. Learn about your Patrol, its Flag, Yell, Song, Cry, Patrol Corner, Patrol Call and participate in Patrol in Council –

Scout Patrols are named out of 62 Animals and Birds as given in page No.40-46 of Scouting for Boys. BP has given all the 62 Animals and Birds Cry which induced the Scouts to refer the sounds whenever they are taken to Zoo.

4. a. Undertake a Troop Service Project in your School or Scout Headquarters under the guidance of your SM. -Scouts are expertise in Tree Plantation and maintenance at their School Ground. e. i. Discuss with your S.M. and render some service involving any one of the points of Scout Law and submit a report to your S.M.

Scouts are practically doing and reports shows their dedicated service on the 5th point of Scout Law- A Scout is a friend to animals and loves nature.

 

ii. Undertake a Nature Study Project in consultation with your Patrol Leader and submit the report within 10 days.

As Patrol Leaders had experienced “Learning by doing” –the PM Shield Competitions: Nature Study Projects are allotted to the Scouts on any one as under:

(i)                 Organise a Tree Planting Campaign- select a suitable spot eg. A Camp site, a Village, a Road Side, a Stream, School or a Picnic Spot approved by the District Commissioner and plant four trees there and maintain these so that they grow.

(ii)               Maintain at least twelve pot plants with variety of plants or vegetables.

(iii)             Grow and maintain flower bed or Terrace Garden.

(iv)              Grow and maintain a vegetable bed or kitchen garden and obtain produce from it.

(v)                Select a place of eroded ground and work on it to prevent soil erosion and maintain it as such.

(vi)              Make a composite pit of a reasonable size and prepare manure of dry leaves.

(vii)            Set up a grass lawn and maintain properly.

6. a. Know the simple Wood Craft Signs & follow a trail with his patrol of not less than ½ Km. - Scouts have enjoyed tracing the Wood Craft Signs on Trees by smelling the Nature.

c. Participate in a Nature Study Trail: - Scouts have climbed a hill and collected varieties of flowers and leaves and returned in an hour and assembled on the table with their names exhibited in the Patrol competition.

DWITIYA SOPAN:

Know different types of Fire used in Camping/ Outing: - Scouts have arranged the Fire types of 4 for Cook and 4 for Heat.

Lay and light a wood Fire in the open with not more than two match sticks: - Scouts have done the above Fire lighting at the boundary of the Headquarters before Cooking.

Follow a Trail laid out using Compass bearing & distances: - Scouts are sent for a Trail by Patrols with a Map directing them to follow the Compass bearing using Compass and distances marked.

Undertake a Development Project in your School in consultation with the head of the Institution: - Scouts have successfully undertook the School Development Project and served for a Month and submitted the Reports –Patrol wise.

Participate in an Anti-Litter Campaign with your Patrol and help to clean up an area around your School or Headquarters. - Scouts are doing the Anti-Litter Campaign regularly and helping to clean up around their Schools.

Friend to Animals -Scouts have knowledge & care of such birds, insects and reptiles as are generally kept either as pet or for domestic purposes and have kept a pet in good condition of comfort and health for at least 12 months.

Gardener -Scouts knows names of 12 plants pointed out in an ordinary garden and understood the meaning of Pruning, Budding, Grafting and Manuring and demonstrates any one of : Pruning, Budding, Grafting.

TRITIYA SOPAN:

Camel man -Scouts knows the tradition attached to journeys on Camel back in night or during the day.

Hiker - Scouts are trained to make an article of hiking kit such as a tent, a sleeping bag, campfire blanket, rucksack or a bag or other container in which to pack daily food or toilet necessaries etc.

Undertake a Day Hike of 10Kms on Foot with Patrol / Troop members. Prepare Meals & Tea. Make a report & submit it within a week after the hike is over. The hike route is to be given by the Examiner. - After getting DC’s permission, Hike route from the Examiner, Scouts have undertook a Day Hike of 10 Kms on Foot with Patrol and prepared Meals & Tea and submitted the report with Route Map excellently prepared.

Cook food for your Patrol by using Backwoodsman Method: - Scouts by Patrol, have prepared food using Silver Foil by scrapping the Potatoes cutting into pieces, tomatoes cutting into pieces, a green chilly to longside cut, onion into pieces, making the Silver Foil like a Cup, putting every chopped vegetables into it, pouring a little water, putting a spint of chilly powder, salt to the required, a tea spoon full of oil, and tied the Silver Foil cup on top tightly, and kept hanging on the Fire prepared with dry sticks with two Match sticks lighting, kept for 20 mts for boiling and got it nicely cooked with a very good taste.

Ecologist - Scouts are propagating against cutting Trees, Organising Van Mahotsav in Monsoons, Educating people about pollution problems in the area, regularly.

World Conservation - Scouts have made a list of “What to do” and “What not to do”- in order not to damage but improve nature when Hiking and Camping.

Naturalist - Scouts have made 10 sketches of animals or birds from life and gave the history of 5 of them.

Demonstrate Bucket Chain Method of Putting off Fire: - Scouts demonstrated the Bucket Chain Method of putting off Fire by standing in two Rows.

How to tackle Dry Grass Fire: - Scouts are experienced in tackling the Dry Grass Fire, as happens every often in the Villages.

RAJYA PURASKAR:

Undertake Overnight Hike for 10 Kms, along with group of Scouts of his own Troop and submit report to the S.M. within 10 days (OR) Cycle Hike for 30 Kms. - After completion of Tritiya Sopan tests, Scouts who are preparing for Rajya Puraskar Award, undertakes Overnight Hike for 10 Kms on Foot.

Work on one of the following for 6 Months and submit a report –

Nature Collection: - Scouts have collected thirty different species of Flowers, Ferns and Grasses dried and mounted, giving names, places and dates and recognize them, giving a short description of the Ten Specimen. Soil Conservator: - Scouts have submitted a report for having given service in any of the following projects at least for 40 hours:- Methods used for Soil Conservation such as Mer Bandi, (Tree Plantation) or Afforestation filling up the Gully (Khai Patan) etc. Literacy Scouts taught three R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) to 10 illiterate people / helped 10 children in their studies. Community Worker Scouts had worked as liaison between Community and other resources of development ie. Banks, Hospitals, Specialists etc.

Rural Worker - Scouts have helped 20 Children got immunized.

Starman - Scouts have Pointed out in the sky –

Constellations visible all the year round;

Constellations not visible all the year round;

First magnitude Stars, knowing to which constellations they belong and what time of the year they are visible.

Forester Scouts have knowledge of growth and development of 12 different species of Trees in the locality and are abled to recognize them at a distance, at any season of year, as well as by the bark, leaf, flower and fruit and knows their chief respective uses in fuel, fodder, fruit, medicine, timber and other uses.

Naturalist Scouts have made 10 sketches of animals or birds from life and gave history of 5 of them. Farmer Scouts are able to weed, water the plants and does after culture, as mostly they are from the family of Farmer.

Dairyman Scouts have produced Certificate from their parents (as home), having worked for at least 3 months, having gained knowledge by practice of the management of at least one animal (Cow / Buffalo or Goat). Sea Fisherman Scouts had a practical knowledge of the various methods of catching sea fish for market by means of trawls, nets and lines and catching shell-fish, have practical experience of at least 2 of these methods, as their families are from Coastal Area.


2. Camping is the great point in Scouting which appears to the boy and the opportunity for teaching himself reliance and reposefulness besides giving him health. 

a) In which camp fire yarn B.P. told like this?

B.P told the above statement in the "Campfire Yarn No. 09" in the 'Note to Parent' Section.

b) Plan and conduct atleast two week end camps and report?

The Plan shall be prepared at your own and a report of the same shall be prepared.