Scout Network

Infobox WorldScouting
name =Scout Network

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owner =The Scout Association
age =18–25
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country =United Kingdom
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f-date =2001
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prev =Explorer Scouts

The Scout Network, is a section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 18 to 25 year olds, introduced in 2001, following the review of UK Scouting. It, along with the Explorer Scout section, replaced the Venture Scouts (which was for 15.5 to 20 year olds). Network is the responsibility of Counties/Areas.

History and organisation

There are a number of significant differences between the organisation of the Venture Scouts and the Scout Network.

Firstly, the age range was altered to cater for those young people aged 18 to 25 years. The Explorer Scout section was introduced to fit between Scouts and Scout Network. The administration of the Scout Network was to be the responsibility of the Scout Counties or Areas, whereas the Venture Scout Units were attached to local Scout Groups. Finally, the section was to be led from within, where the membership would provide the leadership necessary, under the guidance of an appointed County Scout Network Commissioner.

There would, essentially, be a single Scout Network for the entire County - which was perhaps one of the contributing factors in the lack of initial success suffered by the new section. To begin with, almost all Counties had little or no membership in the section. Many of the old Venture Scout units converted to Explorer Scout units - leaving perhaps just one or two older people without a Network. However, some Counties took the lead and introduced a unit-based system (mostly based around old Venture Scout Units) coordinated by County.

The slow start was eventually recognised by the Scout Association and the Network review was launched in 2006. This concluded that a more structured leadership needed to be in place within the Counties. The County Scout Network Commissioner is now supported by a number of Scout Network Leaders. These can either be attached to units or may have specific roles at a County Network level. Each County, therefore, can now officially have multiple Local Networks which are independent but also participate in County-wide activities. Local Networks are placed where needed and may either be District based or locally based but with responsibility for the Network being retained by the County.

As mentioned above, the 2006 review introduced the option for a District to hold responsibility for a Scout Network, though this change must be agreed by the District Commissioner, County/Area Commissioner and County Scout Network Commissioner (CSNC).

All Networks should have a Network leader, who is essentially an advisor or mentor to the members.

So the review marked a return to the unit-based system that seemed to work well in the various Counties that had already "unofficially" introduced the system. Following the review, the section has improved enormously and in many areas is growing quickly.

The County Network is run by a committee made up of Network members representing their individual Networks. A Chairman and other officers are nominated. The CSNC and Network leaders provide support as necessary to this committee.

A member of a Network can - and usually does - have a role as an Adult Leader in the Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, or assist their District, or Area/County at support Level, help as an activity instructor or perhaps as a member of a campsite service team. Or they can just go to Network meetings - another role is not compulsory.

They also have the possibilities of working on their Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Association's progressive award scheme, culminating in the Queen's Scout Award.

Awards

There are several awards available in the Network Scout Section, and these badges are almost the same as the ones that are available in the Explorer Scout Section.

*The Scout Network Moving On Award
*The Scout Network Membership Award
*The Chief Scout's Diamond Award
*The Queen's Scout Award
*The Explorer Belt

In addition, many members working towards their Chief Scout's and Queen's Scout Awards also work towards the Duke of Edinburgh scheme of awards in parallel, as there are many similarities.

There are at present no awards unique to the Scout Network section. Therefore, in 2008 the Scout Association is beginning a trial of the Scouts of the World Award, which will be specifically for the Network section. The Scouts of the World Award consists of three elements:

*Discovery - a residential experience focussing on the environment, development or peace. The trial first Scouts of the World Discovery is to be held in July 2008.

*Voluntary service - following the discovery, all participants must complete a period of voluntary service in order to contribute towards solving a problem related to the Millennium Development Goals.

*Reflection - once the above have been completed, participants must complete a period of reflection in which they will have to feedback what they have completed to their local community.

Events and activities

Networks are, for the most part, run by their members. This means that they are very flexible and able to do most activities - as long as they stay within the rules of the Scout Association (Policy, Organisation and Rules). Individual Network programmes vary enormously, but a typical one might include weekly, bi-weekly or monthly evening events, along with several camps or other weekends away throughout the year.

The Scout Network programme is based around three self-development areas:

*International
*Skills & development
*Community

There are many camps that Network members are able to attend, and each Network member is not restricted to their own Area or County. As a general rule if there is an event you want to take part in you are more than welcome to notify the responsible Area/County and go along. These can range from Monopoly Run in London, [http://scoutnetderbys.ljhwebs.co.uk/atc/ Alton Towers Camp in Derbyshire] , [http://www.pubscoutfestival.co.uk/ Pubscout Festival in Coventry] [http://www.avonscouts.org.uk/intense/ Intense in Avon] to Evo in Hampshire. The biggest of these events is the National Gathering, held around Easter of each year at [http://www.greattower.org.uk/ Great Tower Scout Campsite] . These types of events tend to include evening discos and parties, live music, and many different activities. Expeditions also figure as part of the residential programme. Some events are designed for people who only come from that area/county and it is normally advertised as such.

The UK Three Nations Scout Network

The "UK Three Nations Scout Network" is a forum where members of The Scout Association who are interested in promoting international Scouting, and in particular with a specific interest in building friendships with the people of Russia, Mongolia, and the People's Republic of China. Its aim is to bring together like-minded members of the Scout Association who have an interest in Eurasia, particularly Russia, Mongolia, and the People's Republic of China, who wish to gain knowledge, exchange ideas and share experiences with each other.

The UK Three Nations Scout Network provides an opportunity to expand international Scouting by raising awareness and promoting activities to support ideas and projects in the United Kingdom for members of the Scout Associations of Russia, Mongolia, and the People's Republic of China, and their communities, culminating in a three week expedition to take place in 2009. The Scout Network will tour Moscow, the Kremlin, Red Square, Saint Basil's Cathedral and the Bolshoi Theatre; then will spend seven days at a Moot outside Ulaanbaatar, taking part in activities, service projects and learning to live like a nomad; finally touring Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall of China. [http://www.threenations.org.uk/for_12345/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57] [http://www.threenations.org.uk/]

References

* [http://www.scouts.org.uk/network/index.html Official Scout Network Page]

ee also

*Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding
*The Bridges Network

External links

* [http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/badges/explorer-index.htm Details of awards]
* [http://www.network-events.org.uk/ Network Events Website]
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Scouting Sections
organization=The Scout Association
sectionA=Beaver Scouts
sectionB=Cub Scouts
sectionC=Scouts
sectionD=Explorer Scouts
sectionE=Scout Network