12th Garry Oak

	Contacts for Leaders
Assistant	Matt Thirkell	250-472-2493	e-mail
Assistant	Steve Wheeler	250-360-2015	e-mail
Skipper	Jonathan Reiter	250-413-7358	e-mail

Scouts: for young men and women, 11 to 14 years of age

A time to "Be Prepared"

The Scout program helps youth expand their leadership skills and gain self confidence. Scouting promotes activities that encourage youth to: seek self reliance; pursue personal interests; develop self discipline and the skills to achieve small group and personal goals; be of service to others; and to camp and develop good conservation practices.

The Scout program is designed around a lively variety of activities based on personal and group interests. Scouting emphasizes outdoor and environmental activities, citizenship and community service, leadership, and personal development. Individual interests and skills are recognized through an awards system.

As the outdoors is an essential part of the Scout program, weekend events, extended hikes, no- trace (LNT) camping and seasonal outdoor sports are all part of the Scout experience. Developing an active, healthy lifestyle is the prime goal.

The Scout program emphasizes having fun while encouraging youth to feel good about themselves, their friends and family, God, and the environment. The Scout program helps youth expand their leadership skills and gain self confidence.

Scouting promotes activities that encourage youth to:

• develop self reliance

• pursue hobbies and personal interests

• develop self discipline and the skills of working cooperatively with others

• cooperate in setting and achieving small group and personal goals

• practice leadership skills

• relate with adults

• be of service to others

• camp, explore the outdoors, and develop good conservation practices

• express and respond to their own spiritual values and beliefs while showing concern for others

Scout Promise:
On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and the Queen
To help other people at all times,
And to carry out the spirit of the Scout Law.

Scout Law:
A Scout is helpful and trustworthy,
kind and cheerful,
considerate and clean,
wise in the use of all resources.

Scout Motto:
Be Prepared

Meetings

Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9PM at the Gyro Park Scout Hall. At our meetings Scouts will plan and prepare for our outings and camps, learn new skills, play games and experience different activities.

Schedule

A large part of the years activities will be determined by the Scouts based on their interests. Our Groups goal is to have at least 1 outdoor activity per month such as a camp or day hike.

Uniforms

For formal occasions such as Remembrance Day ceremonies Scouts will wear the traditional tan shirt, necker (provided by the group) and sash, for our regular meetings and camps and outings a Sea Scouts or Scouts Canada t-shirt. Scout shirts sashes and Scout handbooks are available at the; Greater Victoria Scout Shop, 505 Marigold Rd. Victoria, BC V8Z 4R5 - between Burnside & Interurban Phone: 250-727-3329 Fax: 250-727-2922 Tuesday & Thursdays: 4 - 8pm and Saturdays 10 - 1pm.

Volunteering

All positions in our group are filled by parent volunteers and more are always welcome. Our expectation is that at all meetings and activities there will be at least two registered leaders in attendance, therefore parents participation is very necessary to make things happen. Please register as a Leader to help keep our activities going. If you have a hobby or special interest which may be appealing to the Scouts let us know and we can fit it in.

News

The primary means of keeping in touch with Scouts and parents regarding plans and activities will be email. We will endeavor to provide as much notice as possible for any changes to our schedule, short notice changes, less than 12 hrs, will be done by phone call. The Group web site will also have related links and additional information so please check it regularly.

Fund raising

Our Group has two principal fund raising activities every year, Scout Popcorn sales in October, and a spring bottle drive.

Scout Popcorn is a national fund raising program which sees 40% of the revenue generated through the sale of popcorn remaining with our Scout group to pay for activities. We will be starting the program in September. http://www.scouts.ca/popcorn/english/leaders/

Peppers Cards – Peppers Foods in Cadboro Bay offers a 5% rebate to our Scouting Group on the value of Peppers Cards purchased. When buying or loading your card please tell the cashier that the card is for the 12^th Garry Oak Scout Group. The rebate goes to support our programs.

Sailing

Our group is one of the few remaining Sea Scout groups in the Greater Victoria area and we take great pride in our sailing program. We have 6 Flying Junior sail boats, 2 zodiac tenders and a 24 foot sloop at the Oak Bay Marina. Sailing occurs primarily in fall and spring; we are planning on at least two Sailing Saturday’s and a White Sail 1 course before Remembrance Day. Beginning in April we will plan on sailing Thursday evenings at least twice per month and have as many Sailing Saturday’s as possible. We will also run a White Sail 2 & 3 course and possibly a Bronze 4 course depending on numbers.