Explorers

WOSESU - West Oxfordshire Sea Explorer Scout Unit

(14 - 18yrs)

Day: Thursday

Summer (1st week of May until beginning of Sept)

  • Time : 7pm-9pm (dusk)

  • Location: West Oxfordshire Sailing Club (WOSC)

Winter (Sept - April)

  • Time : 7:30pm-9:30pm

  • Location: Cokethorpe School Shed


For some its the natural progression after Scouts or Guides, for others its

a first taste of Scouting. Either way you can expect a mix of activity, both mental and physical and designed to challenge. Each group of Explorers, known as a Unit, will have its' own programme of activity and culture. At the heart of Explorers is the opportunity to meet people and socialise with other young people of a similar age.

Explorers differs from Scouts in that Units are normally run by the District rather than by individual Scout Groups, although each District will have its own way of doing things and Units are often sponsored by Groups.

Although each Unit and District will have its own programme, activities are also put on at a County and National level allowing Explorers to mix with others their age from a wider area.

One of the highlights of the National calendar is Gilwell 24, 24 hours of solid activity.

As well as all this, Explorers have the opportunity to complete awards including Activity badges, The Chief Scout's Award, The Queen's Scout Award, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and The Explorer Belt Award many of which are externally recognised (by potential employers, etc).

After Explorers?

It's not over once you get to 18! You can continue your Scouting by joining Oxon Network, a section for 18 - 25 year olds. Network has its own range of camps, events and activities. Click here for more information

Events

Activities

Duke of Edinburgh

First Aid

Evening Activities

SPRING Term

Buzzcock's Night

Ready Steady Cook - Outside

Eating Challenge

Judo Night

Go carts

Chinese New Year

Innuendo Bingo

KIDNAP EVENT...


SUMMER Term

Ultimate Frisbee

Eynsham Park Wide Game

Raft Race

Wild BBQ night

Top Gear Challenge


AUTUMN Term

Fright Night

Maise Maze

Knots - Making things with cord

Witney Treasure Hunt

Ice Skating

Christmas Bowling


Camps/Over Night Activities/Other Activities

Canoe Camp

Wychwood Festival

Winter Challenge

Scout Summer Camp

Explorer Winter Camp

Explorer Summer Camp

HMS Bristol

CESAW

Young Leaders

If you're 14-18 you can become a young leader, assisting with Scouting in a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or Scout Troop sharing some of the skills you've learnt.

If you are already a young leader - THANK-YOU for the contribution to Scouting you make in your local area!

As a young leader you can also go to Explorers, but even if you don't, you can still take part and get involved in Explorer Activities, including all the activities on the event pages of this website.

Training is provided for young leaders, normally within District. Factsheets and information about the various Young Leader training modules can be found here:

http://www2.scouts.org.uk/explorers/resources/YoungLeaders.htm

The young leaders have 12 modules to complete and 4 missions and once they have completed the scheme they can be awarded a special Young Leaders Belt.

The Modules are as follows :

Module A - "Prepare for Take Off"

Module B - "Taking The Lead"

Module C - "That's The Way to Do It!"

Module D - "Kids Behaving Badly!"

Module E - "Game On"

Module F - "Special People"

Module G - "Programme Plans"

Module H - "Programme Plans Plus"

Module I - "What Did They Say?"

Module J - "Awards and Badges"

Module K - “First Aid Masterclass”

Young leader Missions

Child protection


Monthly Subscriptions

Subscriptions are £15 per Month ideally paid direct to bank by standing order. Please contact the Treasurer for details of the Group bank account.

Uniform

The girls uniform tends to be a bit more fitted but the explorers may wear either style. I leave it to their own personal preference.

In addition to this you must wear smart black trousers, dark socks and dark shoes.

Girls Uniform

Boys Uniform

The Sea Explorer Shirt can be purchased from https://shop.scouts.org.uk for around £24. You will be given a necker when you are invested however a replacement will cost £10.

Awards

Platinum Award

Platinum Award Requirements

To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:

  • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least six months.

  • Complete six nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network of which four must be camping.

  • Complete two activities from the International, Environment and Values list. The two activities should come from different areas.

  • Hold the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the four Platinum Scout Challenges, which are:

  • take up a Skill for three months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new.

  • take up a Physical Activity for three months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement.

  • provide Service to an individual or the community for three months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This can include helping with another Section as a Young Leader.

  • complete a two day and one night expedition in rural country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review.

  • Members must undertake an extra three months in any of the Skills, Physical Recreation or Service Challenges.

Diamond Award

To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:

  • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least 12 months. This can include any time counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum Award.

  • Complete 12 nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network, of which eight must be camping. This may include the nights counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum Award.

  • Complete two activities from the list of International, Environment and Values activities. These should be different activities from the Chief Scout's Platinum Award and not from the same area.

  • Hold the Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the four Diamond Challenges, which are:

  • take up a Skill for three or six months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new.

  • take up a Physical Activity for three or six months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement.

  • provide Service to an individual or the community for six months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This many include helping with another Section as a Young Leader.

  • complete a three day and two night expedition in rural or open country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review.

  • All Members should complete six months in either the Physical Activity or the Skill.

  • Members who have not completed the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award or the Chief Scout's Platinum Award must undertake an extra six months in either the Service Challenge or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Challenge.

The Explorer Belt

The Explorer Belt is an international challenge for Explorers over 16 years old and members of the Scout Network.

The belt involves undertaking an international expedition of at least 10 days to find out about another county, its people and culture. Whilst there you complete a main project pre-agreed before leaving and a series of short mini projects which may be surprise projects set just before you leave.

Requirements

  • plan and train for an international expedition as part of a small team

  • travel to another country of their choice and travel through that country over ten days

  • complete a major project of their own choice

  • complete around ten smaller projects

  • keep a notebook or diary during the expedition

  • take part in a debriefing after the expedition

  • make a presentation about the expedition.

  • Explorer Belt Expeditions should be overseen by a local District sponsor and the County Awards Co-ordinator to help guide your preparations and validate the completion of the award.


More information about the Explorer Belt can be found at:

http://www2.scouts.org.uk/explorers/resources/ExplorerBelt.htm

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Like Scouting, but looking for a challenge and a chance to learn some new skills?

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award gives you a chance to do all this, achieving personal goals and working as a team.


The award has 3 levels, bronze, silver and gold. Each has similar requirements, but a progressive level of skill and dedication. The Chief Scout's Platinum Award, the Chief Scout's Diamond Award and the Queen's Scout Award have similar requirements and can be completed alongside The Duke of Edinburgh scheme. You can complete any of these awards until your 25th birthday.


As well as being a great adventure, many employers highly regard the award and can give you the edge when looking for work in the future - a very worthwhile attribute to have on your CV


The Duke of Edinburgh's Award website - www.dofe.org

Queen's Scout Award

The Queen's Scout Award is the top award in Scouting. The requirements are similar to that of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award and both can be completed together provided you have been registered and assessed in accordance with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award requirements.


Requirements

To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:


  • Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least 18 months. This can include any time counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum or Diamond Awards.

  • Complete 18 nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network, of which 12 must be camping. This may include any nights counted for the Chief Scout's Platinum or Diamond Awards.

  • Complete two activities from the list of International, Environment and Values activities. These should be different activities from the Chief Scout's Platinum and Diamond Awards and not from the same area.

  • Hold the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, or complete the five Queen's Scout Award Challenges, which are:

  • take up a Skill for 6 or 12 months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new

  • take up a Physical Activity for 6 or 12 months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement

  • provide Service to an individual or the community for 12 months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This many include helping with another Section as a Young Leader

  • complete a four day and three night expedition in open or adventurous country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review

  • complete a five day and four night residential project in an unfamiliar environment with people who are not known. This project should be environmental work, activity based, service to others or personal training

  • following completion of the first four elements of the Award make a presentation, to a suitable audience, of your achievements so far in working towards the Queen's Scout Award.

  • All Members should complete twelve months in either the Physical Activity or the Skill

  • Explorer Scouts and members of the Scout Network who are not holders of the Duke of Edinburgh's Silver Award or the Chief Scout's Diamond Award must complete an extra six months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Challenge.

Gallery

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