Category: Updated Resources

Details of recent updates to Scouts Australia new program resources.

Special Interest Areas Project Resource Updates

Two key resources for Special Interest Area projects have been updated.

The flowchart that helps Scouts Plan> their pathway to a great Special Interest Area project has been updated with new graphics and updated language of the program.

This resource provides a framework for Scouts to brainstorm possible project ideas. It starts with thinking about interests and strengths, and then to consider what could challenge that individual to know or do more with that interest. Finally, it gets the Scout to think about how they will go about it, and who they might need to support their project.

The ideas generated in this flowchart can then be used to complete the Special Interest Area planning sheet or the equivalent on Scouts | Terrain.

In addition, some clarifications and other updates to the overall guide to Special Interest Area projects has been updated. Updates include information about patrols working on a Special Interest Area project together.

The Special Interest Area Flowchart and the Guide to Special Interest Areas can be found on the Achievement Pathways page, under the Special Interest Area tab.

SIA Flowchart

New Peak Award Mountain Diagrams

Now available on the Scouts Australia Program Resources website (pr.scouts.com.au) is updated versions of the Peak Award Mountain Diagrams for each section.

These diagrams are updated to match the style of the Program Handbook, to include the new peak award badge designs, to add colour, and to provide additional summary information about the requirements of each part of the Achievement Pathways needed to complete the peak award for the section.

You could print these as large format posters and place them around your Scout hall.

The new mountain diagrams can be found on the Achievement Pathways page, under the Peak Award Resources tab.

Challenge Areas Fact Sheet updated to v3

Version 3 of the Challenge Areas Fact Sheet has just been released on to the Scouts Australia Program Resources site (pr.scouts.com.au).

This edition tidies up some of the consistency of language in the program, and importantly, clarifies the intent of Challenge Areas and how to use them in your Unit and Patrol’s program cycles.

You can find this fact sheet on the Weekly Program page, under the Challenge Areas tab.

The First 4 Steps to Scouts | Terrain SUCCESS!

Use this resource to assist in getting started in Scouts | Terrain. Before you and your Unit can really get started in Scouts | Terrain, there are a few simple steps that you may need to complete first.

The instructions here relate to the functions for adults operating in a Scout Group.

How To Get Started in Scouts | Terrain is available in the Scouts | Terrain page, under the User Guides tab.

Have you seen our Educational Proposal?

The Purpose of Scouting reminds us that at its core, the Scout Movement is a non-formal educational movement of young people, supported by adults. Have you read our Educational Proposal lately?

The Educational Proposal describes how our youth program, a non-formal program of personal development for children, adolescence, and young adults, is complementary to formal education. It sets the scene for the context in which we operate, including describing the needs, desires, opportunities, and challenges facing 21st Century young Australians, and Scouting’s role in preparing young people to be active citizens.

Note that the Educational Proposal is not the same as the Program Handbook for the new youth program. It describes many of the concepts that for the program is based on, which can also be found in the Program Handbook.

The Educational Proposal latest update can be found under the Educational Purpose tab on the Other Resources page. Or you can download it directly from here.

Special Interest Areas – Why?

The Special Interest Areas encourage Scouts from all sections to try new  challenges plus pursue existing interests to greater depths. Scouts set their own goals, enabling them to design a project that interests and challenges them personally.

This document sets out the thinking and educational concepts that underpin the Special Interest Areas aspect of the Achievement Pathways.

You can download this document from the Special Interest Areas project resources tab on the Achievement Pathways page. Or, directly from here.

“When Old Meets New” the poster

Our youth program is re-imagining Scouting for the 21st century. But what’s changing, and what should we expect when the old meets new?

This new program is being progressively implemented across Australia. As we see, hear and discuss the changes, there’s some important differences to be aware of.

When Old Meets New compares our old ways of doing things with the approach of the new youth program.

This poster has previously been viewed at major events and on the Scouts Australia website. Now you can download it here and put it up in your hall or meeting space!

The poster is available in the Scout Group Support tab, on the Other Resources page.

It would complement nicely the Elements of the Program Poster, also found under the Scout Group Support tab.

More Scouts | Terrain Guides

Resources on pr.scouts.com.au/terrain/ are being updated as we start to bring on more users, and new features begin to appear.

You can find them in the User Guides tab of the Scouts | Terrain page.

Newly added resources include:

  • How to install Scouts | Terrain to your device
  • How to propose an idea in Scouts | Terrain
  • How to plan an activity in Scouts | Terrain
  • How to navigate the Outdoor Adventure Skills
  • How to enter a Special Interest Area project for Scouts, Venturer Scouts and Rover Scouts
  • And in the Videos Guides tab, the Guide to the Outdoor Adventure Skills in Scouts | Terrain

Uniform and Badge Layout Diagram

Finally released is the new uniform diagram showing the layout of badges on youth members’ uniforms. This replaces all other versions, although there is plenty of time to transition. You can find the new diagram under the Group Support tab on the Other Resources page.

Direct download from this link.

In order to better organise badges in a logical way, to enhance the visual appeal of the uniform celebrating the individual achievements of each Scout, and to better align space on the uniform shirt for youth members of all ages, we undertook a review of the entire uniform layout and badge designs, based on the program’s symbolic framework of one program, one journey.

There was also a very strong desire from the Scouting community to enable all peak awards a Scout has achieved, to be worn on the uniform at once. This also created a need for a redesign of the overall badge design and uniform layout.

This new layout can be implemented over the following three years or so. It would make sense to allow Scouts to start using it once they have progressed to the next section, or earlier if they prefer. New members should go straight to this layout. In other words, there is no need for Scouts to change the layout that they currently have on their uniform until they move to the next section.

Along with the new layout are redesigns of the Additional Award badges, the Unit Leader badge, the Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader scarf slides (patrol member role identifiers), and the patrol identity scarf slider. New designs are now becoming available for purchase from the national Scout Shop, or from your Branch’s supplier.

You will notice that the uniform layout is organised into three themed panels:

  • Right Sleeve – My Identity – recognises where you do most of your Scouting, and the additional awards you have achieved.
  • Left Sleeve – My Journey – celebrates and recognises your growth across the Achievement Pathways, mainly Outdoor Adventure Skills, Special Interest Areas, and your peak awards.
  • Front Panels and Scarf – My Involvement – recognises your active involvement in the program, including the Program Essentials Milestones, major events, patrol identification, and your formal leadership roles.

The National Operations Committee approved the new layout and badge designs earlier this year.