Projects and Activities
As we’ve already suggested, the possibilities are endless in terms of the activities you can do. You should take some time to try out different things, maybe trying activities that are suggested by all of the ASSES. After a while you might want to challenge yourself a bit more, so we suggest that you consider taking on a project.
Projects take a little more effort, but you get a lot more out of them. It’ll involve combining a number of related activities to work towards a goal over a period of time. Again, there are no limits on what your projects will be, but every project should involve the following:
- All members of the Crew or a number of teams within the Crew
- A clearly defined goal ... why are we doing the project? What is the end result?
- The Scout Method ... we mentioned this earlier
- A variety of learning opportunities. there will be something for everyone to gain by taking part in the project.
Projects by their nature require a slightly more organised approach than activities. Have a search for the project method, to learn about how projects succeed or fall.
Basic Car MaintenanceNone of us ever what to be stranded on the side of a deserted road, in the middle of a stormy night, with a broken down car – it’s a low budget horror movie waiting to happen. That’s a pretty good reason to give this a go. To start, an evening class in your local area might be an idea, or some great step-by-step guides on the internet. Better still, maybe you have an experienced member of your group who can help out? A quick checklist of stuff you might need or look at: A car jack, oil, extra light bulbs, break fluid, water, battery charger, dipstick, spare tyres, windshield cleaner, torch, first aid kit, empty fuel container… and a car would also help. Get good enough at it, and you might save yourself a fortune on repairs and services, just remember that you can do as much damage as you can good if you’re not paying attention. |
Refurbish your Hall or RoomThere’s always something to fix up in the room that we use for meetings. Maybe we should clean it more often, maybe that mural of our mates head doesn’t really look as good as we thought it did, maybe that game of ultimate fireball was a little more damaging than we thought it was. Luckily, this activity makes amends for whatever we might have done. A bit of paint will cover up the nice messages that were left by the previous crew, maybe throwing up a notice board would make us look more organised. Better still, this is a really cheap thing to do, asking around will usually yield tins of paint, old brushes and rollers, carpets, rugs, even furniture. In fact, without even really trying, we’ve managed to try our hand at freecycling as well, reducing our environmental impact by reusing old furniture and materials, and recycling the paint that might have otherwise been sent to landfill or just poured down somebody’s drain. Not bad for a day’s work. |
The Explorer BeltAs the most demanding national event run for Rovers, the Explorer Belt presents an opportunity to experience a physical, mental and personal challenge, as well as experiencing and getting to know different cultures. Here are a few details of the report from the 2009 expedition to Sweden and Denmark…
|
Flotilla SailingAnother option in Rover scouts is the nautical programme, which caters for a more water-based approach to your activities. Below is an account of an expedition undertaken by a group in Dublin.
|