Scout Talk

Scout talk

Scouting has its own language! Here are some terms you may hear:

Joey Scouts

Our youngest Scouts are boys and girls aged 5-8. They meet each week as a Joey Scout Mob. Every two years they have a Statewide weekend camp called a Kangaree. Joeys can earn a major award called the Promise Challenge.

Cub Scouts

Cubs are boys and girls aged 8-11. They meet as a Cub Scout Pack, where they operate in small teams called Sixes. Each Six is led by an older Cub called a Sixer. Sixers and their Leaders meet to plan their program. This group is called the Pack Council. Every three years more than 3600 Victorian Cubs enjoy a huge week-long camp called a Cuboree. Cubs can earn a major award called the Grey Wolf.

Scouts

Scouts, aged 11-14, are the original Section of Scouting and have been co-ed since 1988. Scouts began at a trial camp in England in August 1907. Scouts meet as a Scout Troop, which is comprised of small teams called Patrols, led by an elected Patrol Leader. PLs meet with their Leaders as the Troop Council, to plan their program and other aspects of the Troop. By now, youth members are increasingly taking over the running of their Section - planning their program, managing finance, and even dealing with any behaviour problems. Every three years Scouts from around Australia and beyond gather for a two-week camp called a Jamboree. Scouts can earn the award called the Australian Scout Medallion.

Venturer Scouts

Venturers, aged 14-18, are also co-ed, and have a much larger say in their own activities. Venturers meet as a Venturer Unit. Members of the Unit elect the Unit Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and other office bearers, who meet as the Unit Council, to plan their program and other aspects of the Unit. Scouts have Jamborees; Venturers have a national event called a Venture every three years. Many also go to the New Zealand Venture. Venturers and older Scouts also attend World Jamborees where tens of thousands of Scouts from around the world gather. Venturers can earn a major award called the Queen’s Scout award.

Rover Scouts

Rovers are young men and women, aged 18-26, who run their own program, finances, property, major events and much more. They have a strong annual program including motor sport and social events. Their major events are called Moots. The peak award in this Section is the Baden-Powell Rover Scout award.

Leaders

Leaders are the adult volunteers who put many hours into Scouting each week - and in return get great satisfaction, friendships, skills, and experiences. Most Leaders are parents. All Leaders go through several stages of screening (which are renewed regularly), and do training programs, which must also be kept up to date. Leaders of Youth work directly with Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers, while Leaders of Adults provide support at the Group, District, Region and State levels.

Adult Helper

An Adult Helper, usually a parent, helps out from time to time, at occasional meetings, weekends away or major Scouting events. Adult Helpers are screened before being allowed to work with young people and do basic online training. Adult Helpers don’t wear Scout uniform.

Scout Group

The Scout Group is made up of all the Sections in the local Group. A Group may have all five Sections (Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers) or just a Cub Scout Pack and a Scout Troop, or some other combination. Some Groups have multiple Joey Mobs or Cub Packs.

Group Leader

This is the volunteer manager of the Scout Group.

Group Support Committee

The Committee is generally comprised of parents who might meet monthly, while their children are at Cubs or Scouts. They support the Group and the Leaders by taking care of the hall, the Q-store and all the camping gear it stores, the finances, and many other important jobs to keep the Group running smoothly. These meetings can be quite social.

District

A Scout District is a set of Scout Groups, usually as prescribed by the local council boundaries, or Local Government Area. Each District is managed by a volunteer District Commissioner.

Region

A Scout Region is a group of Scout Districts. In Victoria there are five metro Regions (Bays, Lerderderg, Melbourne, Mount Dandenong and Plenty Valley) and six rural Regions (Geelong, Gippsland, Loddon Mallee, Northern, West Coast and Western). Each Region is managed by a volunteer Region Commissioner.

State team

Scouts Victoria is led by the Chief Commissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner, and the rest of the State Leadership Team (the seven Assistant Chief Commissioners). There are also many senior volunteers with expertise in Adventurous Activities, Major Events, Risk and Safety, and many other aspects of Scouting.

Victorian Scout Centre

The Victorian Scout Centre at Mount Waverley is home to the professional staff and State Leadership Team of Scouts Victoria. Our support staff assist with key functions including membership management, information technology, marketing, communications, child safety management, community development, training and facilities management. For more about our State organisation, see the back cover.

Gilwell Park, Clifford Park, Treetops, Eumeralla, Mafeking Park

Gilwell Park near Gembrook, Clifford Park near Wonga Park, Treetops near Macedon, Eumeralla near Anglesea, and Mafeking Park near Yea are just five of more than 80 Scout-owned campsites across Victoria. Your child may visit many of them for weekend adventure.

Operoo

Operoo is the electronic system used by Scouts Victoria for parents/carers/individuals to share member health records, permission forms and contact details. Your child’s school may also use this system. It is increasingly being used by Groups for internal communication with members, particularly for events and activities.