Scut Essentials Scut Essentials 1 st West Vancuver Cntact Infrmatin page 2 Scut Unifrms, Camping Equipment page 3 Websites page 5 e-mail page 5 Things Yur Scut Will Need page 6 Persnal Equipment List page 7 Meetings page 8 Hw Yu Can Help page 9 Yur Scut Leaders are cmmitted t making the Scuts Prgram better than ever this year. In return, a cmmitment is needed n the part f Cubs and parents. That cmmitment starts with being prepared, and that starts with reading this handbk. Chris Nemeth, Grup Cmmissiner 604-926-0942 cpnemeth@shaw.ca 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 1
Scut Essentials Cntact Infrmatin: Yur Scut Leaders are happy t speak with yu after meetings t answer any questins r cncerns yu may have regarding ur prgram. Time is smewhat limited after meetings, and things can smetimes be a little hectic, s please feel free t cntact the leaders listed belw at any time: Sctt Lennx, Trp Scuter; 604-922-6879 Chris Nemeth, Grup Cmmissiner; 604-926-0942 Irene Nemeth, Grup Registrar, 604-926-0942 Dawn Martin-Smith, Nrth Shre Area Cmmissiner; 604-250-1756 Jennifer Kel, Scuts Canada Nrth Shre Area Manager; 604-230-8619 Scut Huse (Pacific Cast Regin Office); 604-879-5721 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 2
Scut Essentials Scut Unifrms, Camping Equipment: Scut Shp (the place t buy unifrms, als sme camping gear): 664 West Bradway, Vancuver tel. 604-879-5724 Muntain Equipment C-p (huge selectin, especially backpacks & clthing) 130 West Bradway, Vancuver tel. 604-872-7858 212 Brksbank Ave., Nrth Vancuver tel. 604-990-4417 Taiga Wrks (very gd fr raingear) 390 West 8 th Ave., Vancuver tel. 604-875-6644 3 Vets (variable selectin; best if yu already knw what yu want; 10% discunt fr Scuts) 220 Yukn St., Vancuver tel. 604-872-5475 Mark s Wrk Warehuse (gd fr basics, such as wl scks, bts, raingear) Varius lcatins Canadian Tire (keep an eye n the sales; sme gd values fr raingear, bts, flashlights & general camping gear) Varius lcatins 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 3
Scut Essentials 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 4
Scut Essentials Websites: 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup www.westvanscuts.ca Our wn website; yu ll find schedules, ntices, phts, equipment and unifrms fr sale, and anything else we can think f. We ve als added camping recipes this year. Check it ut regularly, as this is ur prime methd f making schedules and ntices available t Scuts and parents. Make sure yu can dwnlad pdf dcuments, as we use this frmat. Pacific Cast Regin www.pacificcast.scuts.ca Website fr ur Reginal Office; infrmatin abut reginal activities. Scuts Canada www.scuts.ca Lts f infrmatin abut all aspects f Scuts; links t ther sites with infrmatin n everything frm camp cking t knts and pineering. e-mail: We use e-mail t infrm Scuts f upcming events, and t advise them f new pstings n ur website. It is each Scut s respnsibility t have an perating e-mail accunt, and t check it regularly. Htmail r Yah accunts have prved trublesme in the past; accunts prvided by yur ISP (Shaw, Telus, etc.) are preferable. I ll need an e-mail address fr each Scut, and the simplest way is fr yu t send me an e-mail at: s_aj_lennx@shaw.ca If parents wuld like t be cpied n e-mail cmmunicatins, please send me yur e-mail address as well. 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 5
Scut Essentials Things Yur Scut Will Need: Unifrm: We wear ur unifrm at all indr meetings. The frmal Scut unifrm is shwn in the belw, and is cmprised f the Frest Green Scut shirt, Tan pants r shrts, and navy web belt. We will prvide the scarf, wggle and badges as they are earned. Camping Gear: See the Persnal Equipment List n the fllwing page. The mst imprtant items n this list are raingear, bts, and a sleeping bag. Fllwing are sme brief cmments abut camping equipment and yu can always ask yur Scut Leader. Raingear: Includes jacket (hded) and pants, must be waterprf, nt water repellant! Cated nyln mst ecnmical and mst waterprf, Gre-Tex nt necessary fr Scutaged bys. Ftwear: High-tp sturdy bts with cleated sles. Leather is best, as it can be waterprfed, but the mst imprtant thing is that they give prper supprt and gd tractin n slippery surfaces. Athletic shes r lw-cut apprach shes are nt acceptable. Sleeping Bag: Synthetic fill (nt dwn), rated t at least -10 0 C. If yur bag is nt warm enugh, yu can use 2 bags, ne inside the ther. Plyester fleece liners als add a lt f warmth and cmfrt. Clthing: The mst imprtant thing t remember is n cttn! Cttn is great in the summer, but fr the rest f the year it s just nt acceptable; if it gets wet, and it will, it desn t dry easily, and prvides almst n insulatin. Plar fleece is the best fr warmth, as it prvides maximum insulatin and dries quickly if it gets wet. Wl and acrylic are als very gd; they dn t dry as easily, but still prvide insulatin when wet. Wl pants are great (army surplus), plyester blends such as Scut unifrm pants als perfrm very well, but cttn pants such as jeans are nt acceptable. Please be sure pants have pckets s yur sn can carry pcketknife & flashlight. Pcket Knife: A pcket knife is very useful at camp, and Scuts are shwn hw t use a knife safely. Please buy yur sn a lcking blade knife; a single blade 3 inches lng is perfect Swiss Army knives with multiple attachments are needlessly expensive, and nt as safe. Lee Valley Tls carry an excellent French Knife, Opinal, fr under $20. Flashlight: Small, weather resistant (2 AA size is best). Wristwatch: Essential t camping & hiking safety. Yu must wear a watch t camp. Labeling: Please put yur name n everything yur sn takes t camp; we have a sizeable cllectin f twels, mitts and scks at the end f each year that n ne can identify. Backpacks: Yu dn t need ne until after Christmas; duffle bags r sprt bags will be fine fr the first few camps. Be sure t talk t yur Scuter and then get expert advice frm the retail stre befre purchasing a backpack. Packing: Everything in the bag must be waterprf; Zip-lck bags are the best fr clthing, and a garbage bag fr the sleeping bag. Make sure yur sn packs his wn bag (with parent s help if necessary), as he needs t knw what s in it. 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 6
Scut Essentials 1 st West Vancuver Scut Trp Persnal Equipment List Day Hikes: day pack rain pants, rain jacket with hd waterprf hiking bts hat (wide brim preferred) sweater r fleece shirt extra pair f scks tque water bttle wristwatch cmpass small flashlight carry in pcket pcket knife (flding lck blade nly) carry in pcket matches in zip-lck bag carry in pcket sun screen insect repellent persnal first aid kit tilet paper Overnight Camps: all the abve items plus back pack sleeping bag grund sheet fam mattress 1 extra warm shirt r sweater 1 extra pair pants (with pckets!) 1 extra pair underwear 2 pairs warm scks 2 pr. Lng underwear sweat tp & pants fr sleeping running shes mitts r glves tthbrush & tthpaste sap (bidegradable) face clth & hand twel brush r cmb large zip-lck bag fr strage plate, bwl, mug, knife, frk & spn in mesh bag. Remember: n cttn clthing (nt even scks) fr winter camps that means frm Octber until May!! 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 7
Scut Essentials Meetings: Being a member f a Scut Trp is a privilege and a cmmitment! The expectatin is that all Scuts attend every meeting, camp, hike r ther activity. Yur child, the leaders, the ther Scuts, Trp mrale and the prgram itself all benefit frm full attendance by everyne. Therefre, attendance is expected. Please cntact me ahead f time if yur child cannt attend a meeting r event due t sickness. Full unifrms are mandatry fr all indr meetings unless therwise nted. Dress fr utdr meetings accrding t the weather. Meeting dates are shwn n the schedule; please check ur website fr any changes. We ll alternate between indr and utdr meetings as shwn n the schedule. Indr Meetings: Thursday evenings, 7:30pm t 9:00pm, Pauline Jhnsn Schl. Yu must wear yur full unifrm at all indr meetings. Outdr Meetings: In the past we ve had ccasinal meetings at Ambleside Park Picnic area, near the baseball diamnd n the suth side f the tracks. Please be n time fr all meetings; it s nt fair t make the rest f the Trp wait fr yu. We find that the bys wh are n time are the nes wh get the mst ut f Scuts. Be prepared t be utdrs at every meeting (warm sweater, raingear, flashlight). Safety cncerns cmpel us t insist that a parent r guardian accmpany each Scut int the meeting place at the beginning f the meeting, and cme int the meeting place t pick him up after the meeting. 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 8
Scut Essentials Hw Yu Can Help: Scut Leaders are vlunteers wh are trained and prepared t spend the time required t deliver the best Scut prgram pssible. Parent participatin is required t make the Scut prgram wrk. Sme ways yu can help are: Driving t Camp: Parents are respnsible fr transprting Scuts t and frm camp and ther activities. Grup Cmmittee Member: Administratin fr ur Beavers, Cubs, Scuts and Venturers is handled by the Grup Cmmittee, cmprised f parents and ther interested adults, as well as a representative frm each Sectin (Cubs, Scuts,..). The Grup Cmmittee s respnsibilities include registratin, finance, vlunteer screening, and liaising with the Nrth Shre Area Scut Cuncil. Meetings are n average nce every tw mnths; Please tell yur Scut Leader if yu d like t help. Christmas Tree Sale: Our big fund-raiser is ur Christmas Tree Lt. The prceeds fund all ur activities and equipment purchases fr the year. Parents must accmpany their children fr a 2 hur shift at the lt and can help with scheduling, lt set-up and a variety f ther tasks. Unifrm and Equipment Exchange Crdinatr Be a Leader! Mre wrk than the ther psitins, but then we get t have all the fun! Great training available, and then yu get t spend weekends at camp with a bunch f kids having gd ld-fashined whlesme fun, sleeping in the great utdrs, seeing sme f ur wnderful scenery, and listening t yur sn and his friends as they sit arund the campfire each night. N experience necessary; we ll help yu learn all yu need. Trp Equipment: Scuts will take turns bringing hme tents, tarps, and ther Trp equipment after each camp. The equipment must be cleaned, dried and returned t the next first Scut Meeting after a camp. 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 9
Scut Essentials 1 st West Vancuver Scut Grup 10