Discovery Scouts

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Handbook - under construction Adventure Skills section Comments to [email protected] 2006/2007
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Welcome to Discovery Scouts

In Discovery Scouts you are first and foremost a member of a Patrol where
most of your Scouting will take place.

Your Patrol will conceive, organise and carry out its own activities and
expedtions. You should be aiming to travel to many different parts of the
country with your Patrol. You will also do joint activities with the other Patrols
in your Troop. Each year you might arrange to travel to another country on a
camp or expedition.

To participate in more adventurous activities, you will require a high level of

skills proficiency in the various Adventure Skills areas.

The Adventure Skills requirements in this book will enable

you to achieve this. A lot of commitment is required and for
this reason it may only be possible to achieve two or three
of these badges.
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Adventure Skills
If you find that you are particularly good at a skill, or really
enjoy an activity, or need to achieve a certain skill level in
order to fully participate in an adventure then you should
consider earning one or more of the nine Adventure Skill
Awards in this handbook!

When you are a Rover Scout you will be able to get to the
next level in the skill as well if you like.

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There are nine different Adventure Skills areas.

Being proficient in the Adventure Skills will enable you to –

Organise expeditions & camps

Take charge of a boat
Run backwoods activities
Organise hikes in remote areas
Build pioneering projects
Manoeuvre aircraft

And much more…

Even if you don’t think you’ll get to achieve all of the requirements to get the
award you should still refer to this handbook and learn the things that you will
need to take part in your different activities. You never know – maybe you’ll build
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up all of the requirements over time and achieve the badge before you realise it!

Remember, the main reason we learn these skills is to take part safely in
adventurous activities, so organise them, prepare with your Patrol and get out
there and have fun.
 

Camping
Sailing
Pioneering
Emergencies
Paddling
Hillwalking
Rowing
Backwoods

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Air
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Camping
Knowledge
I know what personal equipment to bring on various types of camps

I know how to care for and maintain my personal equipment

I know what Patrol equipment to bring on various types of camps

I know how to care for, store and maintain all our patrol equipment

I know what group emergency equipment we should bring on camp and why.

I know the importance of bringing the right types of foods on various camps,

and what these are

I know how to plan, and budget for our group on camp.

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I know suitable cooking methods for various types of camps

I know how to organise transport required for our camp

I know how to source local knowledge of a campsite and surrounding area

 

I know how to source amenities and local places of interest Skills

I can judge the qualities of different tent designs and what is
I know how to plan activities for various types of camps appropriate for our camping requirements
I know where to get weather forecasts and understand the effect
I can use various types of raw material to build shelters or bivvys
the weather can have on our expedition.
I can identify what nature has to offer, that is safe for us to eat.
I know the affects of weather on the local area and the amenities.

I know the importance of contingency plans. I can use a number of cooking stoves effectively and know when
each type would be most effective.
I hold a valid REC 2 cert or equivalent

I know how to ensure that safety precautions are put in place, Well Done !!
without curtailing the fun of our camp.
Display your
I know how to live in the country without leaving a trace behind. Camping
Badge
I know how to be active in the out of doors, without disturbing the on your
balance of nature uniform

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Responsibility
Badge Awarded
I can be take responsible for myself,my Patrol or my Group
while on camp Date
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Sailing
I know how to plan our activities and training to
Knowledge take account of everyone’s level of knowledge and
I know how to maintain and care for my personal sailing
requirements
equipment
I know how to access weather forecasts and be able to
I know the safe use, care and storage for drills, chisels,
translate that information to your sailing location,
saws and knives.
I hold a REC 2 cert or equivalent
I know the safe use and storage of paints, especially
I know how to find and discuss the necessary
antifoul and solvents
information about your sailing location
I know and can demonstrate sailing theory.
I know the emergency equipment that must be aboard
I have a detailed knowledge of local boating conditions
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a boat.
I know how to organise transport for our boats and
I know what to do in a capsize situation and how to
equipment
keep our crew together until help arrives

I know the Scout boating guidelines

 

I know what to do in case of a broken mast or other I can use the emergency equipment that must be

emergency situation. aboard.

I know how to use and check buoyancy aids of our crew I can use ropes on board and I can demonstrate how to

I know the different types of anchorage and how to set an make fast the craft on shore.

anchor.

I know how to maintain the local vegetation and marine

life we are in regular contact with

Skills Well Done !!

I can teach others knots and rope work skills for boating Display your
I can direct and manage a crew and handle a boat safety Sailing Badge
on your
I am a strong swimmer uniform
I can sail a large dinghy, BP18’s etc.

I can sail the boat efficiently around a set course.

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Responsibility Badge Awarded
I can be responsibility and take charge of crew and boat in restricted Date
waters
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Pioneering
Knowledge
I know how to check, care for, and maintain ropes and pioneering equipment.

I know and have practiced all required knots and lashings.

I know the best types of anchorage to use for a project and be able to make

them
I know the correct lifting techniques for raising a tower or an A frame.

I know how to plan and execute the build of a project.

I know how to build pioneering projects, with the help of my group, capable of

supporting the weight of our patrol

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I hold a REC 2 cert of equivalent

I know how to build a project safely

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I know how to reeve up a pulley and secure it safely

I know what pulley combination is required to do a job safely.

I know how to be active in the out of doors, without disturbing the balance of

nature

Skills
I can check the safety of all knots and lashings used in a pioneering project.

I can ensure that all members of my patrol are familiar with safety procedures Well Done !!
and best practice.
Display your
I can design, plan and build a large pioneering project. Pioneering
Badge
on your
uniform

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Responsibility
I can be responsible for the members of my Group/Crew Badge Awarded
while building pioneering projects
Date
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Emergencies
Knowledge
I know what goes in to our first aid kit, taking account of the different

activities we are taking part in.

I understand vital signs.

I know how to treat major bleeding

I know how to treat fractures, sprains and strains

I know how to deal with head, spine, chest, stomach, and pelvic injuries

I know how to move an injured person safely to shelter

I know how to treat burns

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I know how to deal with eye injuries

I know how to deal with poisoning

I know how to deal with angina and heart attacks.

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I know how to take care of and reassure a victim.

I know what to do and what not to do in the case of emergencies.

I know when to use flares

Skills
I can use the knowledge I have to treat people appropriately

I can take, record and analyse vital signs

Well Done !!
I can risk assess an activity and steer clear of dangers

I can use various means to show the location of an accident to Display your
Emergencies
rescue services Badge
on your
I can use flares correctly uniform

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Responsibility Badge Awarded
I am competent in basic first aid, able to deal with emergencies,
and know when further expert help is required. Date
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Paddling
Knowledge
I know and understand the Basic Safety Rules of Canoeing.

I understand the Scout Canoeing Guidelines and ICU

Safety Guidelines.

I know what personal equipment I need for kayaking and

how to care for it.

I know what general maintenance is needed on a kayak and how

these tasks are completed.

I know how to get the weather forecast and understand what weather
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is suitable for kayaking.

I understand the use of defensive swimming.

I have a good understanding of Eddies, Standing Waves, V Waves, Stoppers, and Easy River

Routes i.e. the main flow down a Grade 2 rapid.

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I have an understanding of good group control when Techniques

Entry and Exit, Edging, Forward Ferry Gliding
kayaking (i.e. responding to various signals and
Reverse Ferry Gliding, Breaking In, Breaking Out,
commands). Capsize Drill, Rescues, Assisted X Rescue and an X
Rescue, Eskimo Rescue
I know how to organise transport for our kayaks and

other equipment.
Responsibility
I can kayak safely and competently on rivers up to
I hold a First Aid Certificate.
and including Grade 2 rivers as a member of a group.
I know how to maintain the local vegetation and aquatic life
I can assist in rescues.
we are in regular contact with
Well Done !!

Skills Display your

Paddling
I can swim 50 meters with my clothes on. Badge
on your
I can explain and demonstrate the following to the standard
uniform
required by the Scout Canoe Badge / ICU Level 3 Kayaking

Skills Award:
Strokes,

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Forward Paddle, Reverse Paddle, Emergency Stop.
Forward Sweep, Reverse Sweep and a combination of
Forward and Reverse Sweep. Draw Stroke, Sculling Draw Badge Awarded
Sculling for Support, Low Brace, High Brace, Low Brace Date
Turn, Stern Rudder, Bow Rudder
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Hillwalking
Knowledge
I know how to pack a rucksack for a hillwalking expedition.

I know how to care for and maintain my equipment.

I know how to care for, store and maintain our patrol equipment

I know what Group emergency equipment we should carry, and

how to use it.

I know how to organise the transport required

I know how to budget for patrol hikes

I know what types of food to bring hillwalking and why

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I know where to get weather forecasts and I understand the

effect the weather might have on our expedition

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I hold a valid REC 2 cert, or equivalent

I know the limitations of our group

I know how to be in the mountains without leaving a trace

I know how to be active in the out of doors, without disturbing the balance

of nature

Skills
Well Done !!
I can use a route card

I can plan escape routes Display your

Hillwalking
I can navigate at night, in poor visibility, and do micro navigation Badge
on your
uniform
Responsibility
I can take responsibility for our Group on a hike

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Badge Awarded
Date
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Rowing
Knowledge
I know how to maintain and care for my personal rowing equipment

I know how to look after the maintenance and general upkeep, of a boat.

I know the safe use, care and storage of drills, chisels, saws and knives.

I know the safe use and storage of paints, especially antifoul and solvents.

I have a detailed knowledge of local boating conditions

I know how to source local knowledge

I know how to organise transport for our boats and equipment

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I know how to plan our activities and training to take account of everyone’s

level of knowledge and requirements

I know how to access weather forecasts and am able to translate that

information to our boating location,

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I hold a REC 2 certificate or equivalent

I know the Scout Boating guidelines

I know what to do in a capsize situation and how to keep our crew together until help arrives

I know how to use and check buoyancy aids of our crew

I know how we can maintain the local vegetation and marine life we come in to regular contact with

I know what to do in case of a broken oar or other emergency situation

I know the different types of anchorage and how to set an anchor

I know the emergency equipment that must be aboard a boat

Well Done !!
Skills
I am a strong swimmer Display your
Rowing
I can teach others knots and rope work skills for boating. Badge
on your
I can navigate a boat around your normal boating area. uniform
I can direct and mange a crew and handle a boat safely.

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I acn use the emergency equipment that must be aboard

I can use ropes on board and I can demonstrate how to make fast the craft on shore
Badge Awarded
Responsibility Date
I can take responsibility and take charge of crew and boat in restricted waters.
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Backwoods
Knowledge
I know what Patrol and personal equipment is necessary for a

successful backwoods activity.

I know how to use and care for tools of all kinds safely

I know how to make utensils by carving and other methods

I know a number of ways of constructing shelters capable of

being used for a number of nights.

I know how to prepare, cook and store food in backwoods conditions

I know how to cook a variety of meals using different backwoods methods

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I know the different edible foods that can be eaten safely in the wilds

I know where to get weather forecasts and understand the effect the

weather can have on a backwoods activity or expedition.

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I know the affects of weather on the local area and the amenities.

I know the importance of contingency plans for your activity.

I hold a REC 2 certificate or equivalent.

I know the likely hazards that may be present in woodland or open countryside

I know the safety procedures necessary when undertaking a backwoods activity

I know how to light and maintain a fire using fire by friction methods
I know how to live in the country without disturbing the balance of nature in any way.

Well Done !!
Skills Display your
I can construct various shelters both for backwoods and survival situations Backwoods
Badge
I can cook a meal without using common utensils on your
I can use common camping tools correctly with safety in mind uniform

I can store and take care of food stuffs in backwoods conditions

I can light a fire using friction methods

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Responsibility Badge Awarded
I can be responsible for myself and others at a Date
backwoods or survival activity.
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Air
Knowledge
I know the main types of checklist commonly found in a light

aircraft and the stages of flight for which they are used

I know how to respect and care for the equipment I see and use

I know how to identify specific aircraft.

I know where to find the main radio frequencies used for

communications at an Irish airport or airfield.

I know when to use each main radio frequency.

I know how wind speed and direction are measured and how
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I have a REC 2 cert or equivalent

weather can affect various air activities.

I know how to get a local forecast for an air activity. I know how to be in the outdoors
without leaving a trace
I know how to describe the sky in terms of cloud.
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Skills
I can carry out an external pre-flight inspection under supervision

I can manoeuvre an aircraft out of and into a parking space and tie it
down under supervision

Well Done !!

Display your
Air Badge
on your
uniform

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Responsibility Badge Awarded
I can be responsible for myself and my Group while on an activity Date
at an airfield, with particular regard to safety issues
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