If your child has just joined (or is about to move up to) one of our Troops - we hope the information here will make the transition to being a Scout Parent easier for you!  The Scout Troops do quite a number of things differently to Cubs and Beavers.  The Troop Leaders encourage Scouts to be responsible and independent - which is great if your child remembers to give you the necessary information! If a Leader or other Parent uses terms you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask.  You will be given a welcome letter when your child joins the Scouts, but below are a few important things to remember, and some additional explanations/tips.

Meetings are held:

Walpole Scouts Meetings are Wednesday Evenings - 7.00pm to 8.30pm

Pitshanger Scouts Meetings are Friday Evenings – 7.30pm to 9.30pm

The Troops meets throughout the year during term time.

The Troops are split into Patrols.  

Scouts should

• • arrive 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting to help set up

  • attend every meeting - if your child is not unable to attend a meeting, please let the leaders know as it may affect the activities they have planned.  Our WhatsApp groups are great for sharing this kind of information. (If a Scout misses 3 consecutive meetings without us being informed, they are assumed to have left the Troop)

  • attend the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Ealing Broadway

  • attend the District St George's Day Parade in April to renew their Scout Promise

  • attend the Group Annual General Meeting and take part in the Scout Display

Communications

The Scout Leaders use a combination of OSM, email and WhatsApp to update parents about activities.

If you have any concerns or queries regarding the Scout Troop, you should contact a Scout Leader by phone, email or speak with them in person at the end of a meeting.

Uniform

• • Invested scouts must arrive at meetings in full correct, smart uniform, including shirt, trouser and belt

  • A pair of trainers are the best footwear for regular meetings but smart black shoes should be worn for parades

  • Cub uniform, including the Group Scarf, can be worn until investiture

  • New Group members are not expected to buy the uniform for the first few weeks (just in case the children decide scouting not for them)

  • Uniform can be purchased online from the Scout Shop and we also have a limited stock of used uniform items to purchase for a suggested donation of £5

• Uninvested members wear the Scout Shirt, Trousers, Belt (and buckle) but not the Group Scarf

Investitures & Badges

• • Parents are informed when a child is to be invested, and you are invited to attend.  The Scout is presented with the Group Scarf, Leather Woggle, and Group Badges.  See the link below for a diagram of how the badges should be positioned on the shirt. (They can't be invested unless they have the uniform)

  • Staged Activity Badges earned as a Cub, should be transferred to the Scout shirt (eg: Nights Away, Hikes, Swimming, Music etc).  These badges are replaced, as higher levels are earnt, so that there is only one badge per activity.

Use of Penknives on Camp

Scouts can only take penknives to Camp, once they have been given permission to do so by the leaders.  They have to have taken part in the "Knife & Axe" training session during a Camp or meeting first.  Penknives should have a lanyard on them.  This is partly so that they can be more easily identified (most penknives look the same), but also so that they can be secured to waistbands and don't fall out of pockets.  A strong piece of string or similar is ok as a start.  The scouts often make lanyards during camp by plaiting pieces of string. 

Camping Equipment

Many items of equipment can actually be bought in the various £1 shops and budget stores.  There is no point in buying expensive items (at least for the first few camps).  Scouts we notice, have a great capacity for losing things without realising it, or not recognising their own belongings.  The following items are widely available at non specialist camping shops.  (Tip: Don't send anything to camp that you really want or need to be brought back!!!)

Groundsheets - each Scout must have one to put beneath their sleeping bag/mat as Scout Tents do not have material floors (as the cub tents do).  These only need to be as big as the sleeping mat.  Also, you may need to wipe these down or hang them out to dry after a particularly muddy camp.  The bigger they are, the harder that is.

Metal/Enamel Cups & Plates - If possible mark them so that they are identifiable as belonging to your scout.

Cutlery - Again, not really necessary to get a set of camping cutlery, they all look the same and are frequently lost.  Send some old cutlery you have, or buy something cheap and identifiable.

Tea Towels - Definitely only send one that you are happy to bin afterwards. 

Metal Water Bottles - Bottles do need to be metal, and it is also useful to be able to attach these to the outside backpacks so they don't get lost, but are easily accessible.

Click here to see information about Scout Troop Camps & Activities