What's it all about...

Can you paddle your own canoe?

Scouting at Chigwell is all about learning things you wouldn't learn in the classroom, mostly about outdoor survival - how to live / survive / have fun away from the comforts we are all used to - walls, roofs, warmth, dryness. Thus we focus on fire-lighting and cooking, first aid, navigation, camping, making things with natural materials. One of the DEEPER purposes of all this is to try and help you develop less concrete skills, like the ability to work well in, or even lead, a group under sometimes considerable pressure. You might be lost in the countryside at 1am in October, with a few friends on the District Night Hike, or you might be leading a Patrol on Summer Camp, living in a little clearing in a wood with five or six other Scouts, one of whom might be making life very difficult for someone else (and one of these two people might be YOU...). By placing you in such situations, within a structure organised and monitored by adults, we hope to help you develop resilience, independence and the inner strength which you will need more of as you get older. The Scout Leaders are committed to doing their best to provide this for you.

A team, under pressure

Or mend the bike?

So, that's what it's all about... Now, what do we expect from you?

Firstly, we expect that other Scouts and Leaders will be able to enjoy your company
Second, we expect commitment - that you attend all meetings, expeditions and camps, unless you are unable to do so, in which circumstances you would notify a Leader in advance
Third, we expect punctuality - that you turn up on time, and don't keep others waiting
Fourthly, we expect you to Be Prepared, in particular by reading the notice or Diary for each meeting in advance, and then wearing the appropriate clothes for whatever it is
Lastly, we expect you to make reasonable efforts to make progress towards the Awards (Scouts / ESU)

And another team, in control

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Last updated: December 16, 2007