Tag: Special Interest Areas

Achievement Pathways Factsheets Updated

The downloadable factsheets supporting the four main elements of the Achievement Pathways have been updated. You can now find updated factsheets for the Program Essentials, Outdoor Adventure Skills, Special Interest Areas, as well as the factsheet outlining the five peak awards.

Updates are minor. They include:

  • branding update
  • inclusion of Scouts | Terrain
  • some tidy up of text for improved clarity
  • language update, mainly around adventurous activities guidelines
  • update to unit management course or personal development course (rather than generic leadership course) for peak award requirements

The refreshed factsheets can be found on the Achievement Pathways page, under the relevant tab.

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

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.

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.

Special Interest Areas Planning Tools Updated

The Special Interest Area Planning Tools have been updated to correct a number of minor problems with the fillable PDF fields. These tools can be used by Scouts to support their Plan>Do>Review> of their Special Interest Area projects, and you can use these tools to electronically complete the planning and send to your Unit Council.

There are two version of the tool. One is for Joey Scouts and Cub Scouts, and the other is for Scouts, Venturer Scouts, and Rover Scouts.

You can find the tools on the Achievement Pathways page, under the Special Interest Areas tab.

These corrections were made thanks to a member using the feedback form to alert us to the problem! You can send your feedback too!

Some Achievement Pathways Resource Updates

Three of our Achievement Pathways resources have had a makeover and have been updated. Changes include:

  • Scouts Australia branding update
  • Removal of the “Pioneers” and “draft” labeling
  • Terminology updates
  • Minor changes based on program tweaks and icon updates
  • Strengthening of Sustainable Development Goals in the program and Achievement Pathways

The resources updated are:

Head over to the Achievement Pathways page to find these resources.

S2P Converter Updated v3.5

The Scheme-To-Pathways Converter has been updated to version 3.5.

Changes are:

  • Clarified in the output that a Cub Scout can earn a Special Interest Area badge for both green and red Achievement badges of the same topic.
  • Added the new Scouts Australia SES badge for all sections.
  • Added the Walkabout and Campout badges for all sections.
  • Fixed a few typos.

The Converter can be accessed from the program resources website, or by going directly to s2p.scouts.com.au

While you’re there, check out the new S2P Stats page!