For future Encompass Articles, I will only be submitting one if there is something that needs to be discussed or clarified. I understand that your time is valuable and recognise that if there isn’t anything to discuss or clarify then I am only wasting your time. In this month’s issue, I will be discussing Queensland Venture 2016, Venturer Scout Training for 2016, Youth Helper Course 2015 and A Venturer Scout Survey on Retention.
Queensland Venture 2016
The 6th Queensland Venture is confirmed with dates, 2 July 2016 – 9 July 2016 and a location for the base camp as Seeonee Park, Rockhampton.
Queensland Venture is a branch run event that runs in the June/July school holidays every 3 years. The camp consists of an expedition phase and a venture phase and the options that are available for the 6th Queensland Venture will accommodate the interests of all Venturer Scouts and Leaders in Queensland. The Expeditions Director is currently planning a variety of expeditions in the Capricorn Coast area.
The committee is currently working on budgets, so prices, expeditions and applications will be released once the budget has been approved. Please make sure that you flag these dates in your calendar and start to consider any fundraising opportunities to help your Venturer Scouts be able to attend this amazing event.
Venturer Scout Training 2016
Venturer Scout Training in 2016 will be configured a little differently from what has been seen over the past number of years. Unit Management and Leadership Courses will still be run throughout the state in line with the Award Scheme however the will be run by leaders within the Regions.
Over the past couple of weeks I have undertaken training with approximately 20 leaders from all over the state in running Unit Management Courses and the same will be done for Leadership Courses over the next couple of months. What does this mean for you?
All Venturer Scout Leader region representatives have been asked to provide me with dates for any proposed courses for 2016 by the end of September. When these have been provided I will then collate and schedule the dates for the Branch Calendar. Please note that this does not mean that the courses are region specific. Venturer Scouts can attend any course that is run within Queensland at any time within their Venturing life.
The calendar of courses will be available in the near future.
Youth Helper Course 2015
Due to increased requests, a Youth Helper Course has been scheduled for early December 2015. Venturer Scouts will need to apply to participate in the course using the Leader Training Application Form available on the Branch Website. If sufficient numbers are not received by this course then it will be in jeopardy of being cancelled. Please make sure that all Venturer Scouts are aware of this course (complete details available on the Branch Training Calendar) and that they apply if they are interested in pursuing this opportunity to give back to the younger sections of the movement.
Retention Survey
As part of the ongoing Project that I commenced with Vicki Knopke last September. A survey has been compiled and available for completion via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K2G5M2Y. The purpose of this survey is to get a better understanding of how Venturer Scouts and Venturer Scout Leaders see our section. For this to happen I need to have as many people partake in the survey as possible.
The survey discusses topics such as:
- Change
- Aspects of Venturer Scouts
- The Scout Method
- Badges and badge work
- The Scout Brand (marketing Scouts)
- Leadership
Can I please encourage all members of the Venturer Scout section to complete this survey? It will be available until the end of October.
In closing, if there is anything that anyone would like me to discuss or clarify in these articles please feel free to contact me.
Chris Dunne
Branch Commissioner Venturer Scouts
bc.venturerscouts@qldhq.scouts.com.au