A Parent's Guide
Scouting Community
Please think about how you will help the scouting community, either by becoming a Scouter (leader) or helping in the backgound on our Parents and Friends Committee, with fundraising, organisation or maintenance, spring-cleaning etc…
We always need more Scouters and particurlarly in the younger sections, you don’t necessarily need scouting experience yourself. If you like the outdoors, have a good sense of humour and like working with kids you could be a perfect scouter!
All our Scouters are Garda Vetted and training costs are covered by the group. Speak to Bobby our Group Leader for more information. Many hands make light work!
We have ratios of Scouters: children which we must stick to. Weekly meetings and all activities run on the basis of Scouter availability – the more Scouters we have, the less likely we will have disappointed children!
We also welcome parents who can offer their skills to share with our sections as a guest at our meetings – perhaps related to your job – e.g. healthcare / garda / farmer / fisherman / horticulturist/ woodworking or other trades, or hobbies e.g. music / water sports – possibilities are endless, let us know!
Safety/Supervision - especially in the younger sections (Beavers/Cubs)
Drop-off: Parents must not drop their child until there are at least 2 Scouters present. Please do not drop your children off before the agreed start time.
Collection: Particularly at large events, please make sure you speak to a scouter before taking your child at collection time.
Attendance
Our weekly meetings are where scouting skills are learned, and our sections learn how to work together in small groups. Trips and camps are where we get to put those skills into practice. If your child is regularly missing the weekly meetings, they may not be able to attend trips and camps.
Behaviour
Each section creates and agrees to their own code of conduct / behaviour charter. Your support with this is essential.
Pass it on! Our Reuse Programme
We will happily accept outgrown uniforms to pass on to our younger youth members. Also, section badges, and lower-stage adventure skills badges which you have replaced will be reused.
If you have outgrown outdoor gear – e.g. raingear or hiking boots in good, clean condition, we will also happily pass these on.
Please give donated items to any scouter (leader) at any weekly meeting.
Consent Forms
A consent form is needed for your child EVERY YEAR.
Please use this form to let us know any relevant details about your child, including medical problems, medications and allergies, but also learning differences, any neurodivergence (ASD, ADHD etc, including suspected, formal diagnosis not needed), anxieties, bedwetting, sleepwalking etc.
This extra info is very useful to help us to settle your child in and to ensure we have enough scouters. Any changes mid-year should be alerted with a new form.
Subs/Fees (see also Subs Policy)
Our scout group has a lot of expenses, from registration with Scouting Ireland, insurance, rent, utilities and maintenance of scout hall and campsites, and equipment costs. Therefore, we would ask that subs(fees) are paid promptly.
Families experiencing financial difficulty should contact the group leader in confidence.
For insurance reasons, if no subs are paid by the date requested, and no contact has been made to make alternative arrangements, your child will not be able to continue in scouting.
Subs are non-refundable.
Other Costs
Other costs you will incur:
- Uniform (possibly second-hand)
- Necker (12 euro payable to group, once-off expense payable before investiture)
- Personal equipment (as needed, g. boots, raingear, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, rucksack)
- Camps, trips
Any monies given to section leader should be in an envelope with your child’s name and details of what the money is for clearly labelled.
We do our best to keep costs as low as possible for families and rely heavily on fundraising to do so.
All scouting families are expected to help with our fundraising activities each year.
- Christmas Raffle,
- Flag Day and
- Church gate collection
Trip/Camp Costs
Our trips and camps are very tightly budgeted to keep costs to a minimum for families. If you agree that your child is going (typically a WhatsApp poll), you are agreeing to paying the cost of the trip or camp.
If your plans change, for whatever reason, (including illness unfortunately), the cost is still the same. With the cost of bus hire and many camps needing to be paid in advance, there isn’t scope for giving refunds.
Camp fees must be paid promptly, BEFORE camp, (please discuss ASAP with section leader if there are problems). Even if it’s a local / “home” camp, the grocery bill for a gang of hungry kids can be significant, and this can’t be left for Scouters to pay personally.
Due to increasing costs of bus hire, we intend to rely on carpooling as much as possible.
Miscellaneous
- Scouting is a tech-free zone – no mobiles, gaming devices
- No knives in beavers’ No knives in cubs until they earn their “licence”.
- Youth members must be dressed appropriately –their necker is mandatory for all scouting meetings and activities.
- Full uniform for den activities and formal activities, g. parades, investitures etc.
- For outdoor adventures, full uniform is often not required, (necker always required) but youth members should be dressed appropriately for the weather
- No jeans, ever!
- Sturdy footwear, ideally hiking boots Always have spare socks.
- Please read the kit list provided by scouters for camps – it’s your responsibility to ensure your child has sufficient warm clothes
- All youth members’ belongings MUST be labelled with their name Especially neckers, woggles, water bottles, coats, jumpers and first aid kits. For camp, label everything!
- When your child earns badges, please follow the instructions for where on the uniform they should be sewn.
- Physical Ability Where there is a known disability, we can plan to ensure that your child is included. Sometimes injuries happen during an activity, and we can manage that. However, if you send your child on an activity already injured and unable to manage, you will be asked to collect your child. This is to ensure the safety and supervision for all of our youth members. Please discuss any concerns with the section leader in advance.
- We are very lucky to have the use of our campsite in Piperstown – please drive with extreme care through the equestrian centre, and ensure your child understands to be quiet and calm when horses are passing Do not sound your horn as it may startle the horses.
- The road down to our cabin in Piperstown is not in good condition We strongly recommend that you park at the arena car park and walk to the cabin. The group takes no responsibility for damages caused to you or your car if you choose to drive down to the cabin.
