Octavi 8th Norwich Sea Scouts

8th Norwich Sea Scout Troop    
RN Recognised Sea Scout Group No 26

Troop Meetings – Structure and meeting times

The Troop is split into two watches.  Port Watch meets on Tuesday evenings during term time and Starboard Watch on Thursday evenings.  Boys and girls are expected to arrive at our Headquarters in uniform between 6.30 and 6.50 p.m., and the meetings finish at about 9.00 p.m. (8.45 p.m. November to March).

Car Parking – Park Responsibly

The area down our driveway, immediately outside the headquarters building, is usually very congested, and it is not therefore practicable for parents to bring vehicles there on Troop nights or for other Troop activities.  The local residents have become increasingly concerned at the traffic congestion while Scouts are collected after Troop meetings. Apart from inconvenience for them, there is a serious worry that a fire engine would not be able to get through. The congestion is also inconvenient for other parents, so please be as co-operative as you can.

Participation in the Broader Programme

The weekly meeting is the central activity of the Troop, but all Scouts are expected to support some of the major and minor activities we run throughout the year.  Details are published in our termly magazine Octavi and on the internet.  Water activities play a prominent role in our programme, both in the weekly troop meetings, and in the weekend and holiday activities.  Confidence in the water is therefore essential for our members. 

Attendance

We do expect members to maintain good attendance at our meetings.  If Scouts are unable to attend a meeting we ask you to let us know by email as soon as possible; only this way can we be efficient in producing constructive and enjoyable programmes for the large numbers involved.  [Absences notified to the schools are not passed on to us].  Use the Headquarters phone (answerphone) 01603 283 758 for last minute cancellations etc.

Do please record your bookings in a diary and watch ahead for clashes.

Uniform and Clothing

All new members need to start the term with a Sea Scout jersey and official dark blue Scout activity trousers.  In the unlikely event that an individual decides not to remain a member after all, we will buy back the jersey provided it is still in pristine condition.

The uniform also includes a neckerchief, woggle and Sea Scout hat.  However, until ready for formal investiture none should wear the neckerchief, except those moving up from Cubs who will already have a neckerchief, which they should wear from the start.

Uniform is most easily bought from Norfolk Scouts Trading Post.  Situated at the Alec Bussey Scout Centre, Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR, it sells Scout uniform, scarves, badges and books. (They also stock ex-M.o.D. hats at much reduced cost).   See page 9 for opening times.

All items may also be available from the Norwich School Second-hand Clothes Store.  (Opening times are in the School Calendar).  Further information on Sea Scout uniform is available on our web pages.

We issue all members with a Troop polo shirt (the first one is free of charge) to use for activity dress and to wear under the uniform jersey.

For all meetings boys and girls also need suitable clothes for activities, and during the boating season a spare set of clothes, towel and waterproofs may be necessary.  There is a great deal of boating during the summer term, and usually there is some activity on the water in March, September and October, and possibly even into December.

Distributing Information

Almost all information – and there’s an overwhelming amount of it – is distributed by email only and normally repeated on the website.

You also need access to our secure website for which you are given a username and password.  You need to use the website for:

• Booking places on events
• A massive source of relevant information about our activities
• A photo gallery of our activities.

The Group magazine Octavi contains a wealth of information and news, and is published termly.  It also provides a permanent record which you could well enjoy in years to come.

When you need information, the answer will nearly always be on the website and very likely in emails and Octavi too.

Looking After Property

Many youngsters are appalling at looking after their own property and respecting that of others.  Please be sure that they bring a named bag which can (and must) be securely closed to contain spare clothing and other items.  Scouts do not normally need mobile phones at Troop meetings and we would rather they did not bring them; in emergencies we have a land line.

Whilst we do all we can to look after your property, we cannot take responsibility for it.  Its insurance is your responsibility.

OUTLINE PROGRAMME

We publish future dates in good time, with more details in Octavi at the beginning of each term, and updated information on the website.  The programme is always being developed, but typically it includes the following: 

Major Events

• A hill-walking expedition during the autumn half term, usually in a mountainous area.  
• Walking during the February term half term.  
• A week’s training cruise on the Broads during the Easter holidays 
• A two-week summer camp 
• A shorter alternative camp in the first half of August.
• A sailing course during the May half term
  (Indoor accommodation, Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre this time round).
• Short local camps on occasions, and occasional jamborees.
• A weekend Broads cruise for those in Years 8 and 9 in late September or early October.

Shorter Events

• Hikes
• Swimming and lifesaving. 
• Canoeing and kayaking skills training (in swimming pools and rivers of different grades).
• Cycling – off road for the most part.
• Gig/Sailing/Canoe/Kayak expeditions at various levels, some overnight.
• Regular sailing and windsurfing days.
• We also compete in various events at national and local levels, as circumstances allow.

Troop Meeting Programmes

We run a full programme of games and activities on Troop nights, with training towards various awards and badges.  This includes training for the main Scout Challenges and the Seamanship Badges.

We are a Royal Yachting Association Training Centre, and as such include much training for the sailing, powerboating and windsurfing awards of the RYA.  We also issue the star awards of the British Canoe Union.  Additionally, we sometimes lay on training for the awards of the British Red Cross and the Royal Lifesaving Society.
Going afloat in dinghies, the gig, kayaks and open canoes is a regular part of our weekly meetings.  If you do not like going afloat then it may be that the 8th Norwich is not for you!

Involvement

We expect all to maintain an appropriate level of involvement and progress and membership of the Troop may be cut short where we feel members are not participating as they should. 

The Troop programme is occasionally enhanced by optional opportunities to participate in activities less central to our regular training, using local facilities, for which we have to pass on any charges.  

Subscriptions and Fund-Raising

An annual subscription is charged each September for the year, pro rata for those who join later in the year, which covers most activities except overnight ones.

We ask you to pay by Gift Aid, which earns us a substantial sum each year (up to £14,000 in recent years). 

Many parents help with fund-raising events, in particular by producing and selling lunches and refreshments on sports days and other occasions. 

The Group Executive Committee includes a number of parents, and we are always looking for parents to help  in  this way.

The Group receives good support from Norwich School, including a very including some professional expenses, the rental and rates on the headquarters, electricity used in the headquarters, printing and other administrative support.

Scouting Bills

INTERNET PAYMENT

Please let us have any payments promptly, either by cheque payable to 8th Norwich Sea Scouts, or better still by direct payment if you use internet banking as below.

• Sort Code:       40-35-09
• Account Number:  51817213
• Account name:   
      8th Norwich Sea Scout Group (Troop A/C)

You will not be able to fit all the name in – don’t worry!

Please email the treasurer to confirm what payment has been made if you pay by internet banking and make sure that there is a reference which identifies you. 
Please feel free to use single internet transfers for multiple payments, but give us the breakdown in your advisory email.

PAYMENT BY CHEQUE

Please be sure always to write on the back of the cheque who and what it is for, giving a breakdown if the cheque is for different people and/or different things.

The Leaders

The overwhelming majority of the work in running the programme and maintaining our facilities is based on voluntary effort.

Participation and Training

Targets for Members

We are introducing some progress targets for members.  There is some flexibility in these, especially for those who join above Year 6.  Active members can easily achieve these goals, and much more, by participating in our  weekly meetings and a number of the other events we run.

• By the end of your first month you should have passed our basic swimming test and achieved the Scout Membership badge.
• By the end of your first term you should have attended at least one of our short events and have signed up for at least one of our residential events.
• By the end of year 6 you should have achieved at least two challenge awards, one nautical skills award, one other activity badge and at least 5 nights away.
• By the end of year 7 you should have achieved at least four challenge awards, two nautical skills awards, and at least 12 nights away and two other activity badges.
• By the end of year 8 you should have achieved at least six challenge awards, three nautical skills awards, three other activity badges and at least 20 nights away.
• By the end of year 9 you should have achieved the Chief Scout’s Gold Award, at least one overnight backpacking or boatpacking expedition, and lots more.

Communication

We do like to get to know parents, so do please introduce yourselves when you have a chance.  If you have any questions or points of concern, now or at any time in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.

But please try not to ask for our attention at the panic moment just before and as meetings start; we are a little busy then!