PM D4 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 1 OF 7 INITIATIVE COURSE

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1 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 1 OF 7 INITIATIVE COURSE 1. INTRODUCTION This paper provides a further interpretation of the Initiative Activity guidelines in The Venturer Scout Award Scheme booklet of the Venturer Scout Resource Series. 2. AWARD SCHEME REQUIREMENT The Initiative Activity is a compulsory segment of the VenturerAward, Participate in an overnight Initiative Activity (which is set according to the Branch/Area Guidelines) which must include a journey on foot, over country in which the Venturer Scout is not familiar. The team should consist of five members, six members would be the maximum number (five members are considered to be a safe party). The journey must include at least five incidents, such as rescues from heights, compass work, night work, decoding and water incidents. The journey should be eight to ten kilometres in length and the incidents so placed that a knowledge of map and compass work is necessary to enable the Venturer Scout to complete the journey successfully. Each Venturer Scout is required to participate fully in the planning and execution of each incident to qualify for completion of this activity. Initiative in a Venturer Scout is a self starting power, an ability to get up and go, without being told what to do. It's resourcefulness, working out what the problem is, figuring out the best way to tackle it, then going ahead on your own. An Initiative Activity is designed to enable Venturer Scouts to develop how to use initiative; practise using initiative; test their ability to use initiative; and must be such as will constitute a definite test of determination, initiative and self reliance. The objective of the activity should be to confront Venturer Scouts with a situation which requires them to think about, conceive and implement a decision. The emphasis should be on the approach to problem solving, not on the simple application of technical skills previously learned. The course should be a learning experience designed to develop initiative, not technical skill. 3. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS An interpretation is provided of the preceding guidelines: overnight - it should be noted that there is no requirement for a 2 night or full weekend (Friday evening - Sunday afternoon) activity, as it need only be an overnight activity; journey on foot - this requirement precludes the provision of urban or semi-urban Initiative Activities that utilise public transport as a major part of the journey; not familiar country - participants must be presented with a navigation challenge; 5 members - a team of 5 or 6 members is considered to be acceptable.;

2 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 2 OF 7 five incidents - each Venturer to participate in a minimum of 5 incidents, but there may be additional incidents to assist with rotation and to increase enjoyment; 8 to 10 kilometres - there is no need for a journey of greater than 10 kilometres, as it is an initiative activity rather than an assessment of hiking ability; map & compass - navigation ability is required; and participate fully in the planning and execution - the degree of active participation is to be considered in the assessment process. 4. PARTICIPANT PREPARATION The activity is designed to provide a real challenge to Venturer Scouts, testing their character and providing an opportunity to apply initiative and Scoutcraft knowledge & skills to react to real life emergencies. It is essential that some practical training be provided within the normal Unit program prior to the activity, including the following techniques: leading a small group; team co-operation & co-ordination; reacting to new situations/emergencies; using problem solving techniques; applying knowledge and prior training; initiating action; and self reliance, without adult direction. Participants should be aware that they will be confronted with situations requiring them to: collect information; consider options available; select an option; implement the preferred option; and review success of the implementation. 5. ORGANISATION & STANDARDS Organisers To maintain adequate standards, it is preferred that activities are organised at a District or Region level. This meets the requirement that Venturer Leaders are not permitted to examine Venturers from their own Units for the Initiative Activity, but may assist in the planning and running of such on a multi-unit, District or Region basis. Duty of Care and Adventurous Activities Course organisers are reminded of the Duty of Care requirements and the Activities policy, as noted in the Victorian Branch INFO booklet each year. Leaders from the Venturer Scout section are responsible for the organisation and conduct of the course, and the co-ordination of other Leaders and Rovers assisting with the individual stunts. Participant eligibility Participants should have achieved the requirements as specified for the Venturing Skills award. This should be adequate, given that the activity is over a route of only 8 to 10 kilometres and that support crews are at hand. Pre Activity preparation

3 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 3 OF 7 It is the responsibility of the activity organisers and Leaders to ensure that participants are provided with clear and concise instructions to ensure they are aware and prepared for: what an Initiative Activity comprises; that active participation is required; personal/team equipment requirements; to enter into the spirit of the activity; the method of assessment; familiar with problem solving techniques; of the value of teamwork; and are adequately trained in the technical skills of the Venturing Skills badge, additional skills of decoding and any other skills required for the specific activity. Team members Whilst it is recognised that teams comprising members of the same Unit facilitates the planning of food, tentage and other equipment, it is preferable to do this in Unit pairs, enabling the combination of pairs from different Units to form a team. This reduces the likelihood of established leaders in a Unit dominating a 'one Unit team'. Resources There should be adequate resources for each activity: ie. the number of Leaders organising the activity, Leaders and Rovers assisting at incidents, time allowance at each incident, materials provided at incidents and materials required of the participants. Responsibility It is the responsibility of the organisers to ensure that local residents and land owners are aware of the activity, to avoid embarrassing reactions to incidents. It is also their responsibility to ensure that the standard is acceptable, and that only those worthy are passed. Location The selection of the location should take in to account the needs for transport, safety, and local residents, yet provide a sufficiently challenging activity for the participants. Activity themes It is preferred but not mandatory that the activity has an ongoing theme to relate it to real life situations. This may be selected from historical occurrences, films, books or current events. Scheduling of incidents Incidents should be designed and located to avoid (or reduce) any potential delays at the start or during the activity. Travelling times should be estimated (and checked beforehand) with consideration to terrain, weather and distances, and the time for each incident should be controlled. Some common methods of controlling time requirements are: Spare Time Activities; Parallel routes; Circle Rotation; Double start points; start at Opposite ends; Alternate Incidents; and Branching routes. Selection of incidents Ideal incidents are to be fun, and are/have: clearly defined objectives; permit individual & team assessment;

4 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 4 OF 7 provide variety; achievable in available time/resources; require all team members to participate; require a team leader; provide scope for the use of initiative; provide a challenge; suited to age & ability of participants; provide a degree of risk, within adequate safeguards; and provide constructive feedback. Potential incidents Ideas for initiative incidents can be obtained from a variety of sources. Refer to the acknowledgment list at the end of this paper, and some further ideas: Suspend a flagpole First Aid No talk during incident Kim's Game Ropeless bridge Block & Tackle Boil 2 metres Tent pitch, blindfolded Rescue stretcher Natural shelter Search and rescue Stalking De-fuse bomb Chariot race 3 poles & 2 trees Light a fire across a river Atomic waste removal Use of live animals In the interest of humane treatment of animals, and the participants of the Course, the use of live animals on such Courses is considered to be not relevant. Survival Courses are different, and in such cases the kill is to be humane without the element of chase. The killing of live animals is to be advertised prior to the event. 6. ASSESSMENT Course organisers and assistants are to be aware that: the assessment process is to be objective, simple, fair and constructive; assessment is to be made of the individual and the team; assessment criteria should be known by participants & assessors prior to the event; initiative activities are not set up to pass or fail the participants; and if the activity is well designed and the participants are given adequate training prior to the activity, the need to fail anyone should not arise.

5 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 5 OF 7 Recommended assessment criteria and the rankings: Leadership Planning Attitude Accomplishment 5 points 3 points 1 points Leader allocated and directed most important tasks and left remainder to be taken up by team members Team leader clearly allocates all tasks. members of the team look to the leader for guidance and direction All action was planned before effort was expended All team members displayed good spirit and co-operated at all times task was fully completed and functional Activity commenced with a broad plan but work had to be redone Some team members lacked spirit of cooperation Task was completed sufficiently to see principle or techniques The team frequently looked to other members for guidance instead of the team leader Activity commenced without any plan of action Little or no team spirit or co-operation Technique and principle lacking or little accomplished Recording Each incident organiser/assessor should have a master sheet to record the assessment for each participant and the team. Each participant may be issued a scorecard, or the team may be provided with a team card, to record their progress. Debriefing At the conclusion of each incident a short debriefing should be provided, addressing each participant with an overview of their progress against the criteria and the problem solving process. Counselling and encouragement should be provided to any participant who is not performing to the required level. This counselling should be provided during the activity, to permit the participant to lift their participation and performance level, thereby reducing the possibility of having to fail a participant. At the end of the activity, a review should be made of the relative success of the different solutions used for each incident. Assessment of the actual Activity Assessment should include an assessment of the success of the total Initiative Activity, to assist with planning for the next activity. 7. ACKNOWLEDGMENT and RESOURCES USE YOUR INITIATIVE IDEAS FOR INITIATIVE COURSES - Gauntlet, 1984; VENTURER SCOUT HANDBOOK,. 2008; Guidelines for Initiative Courses - Scout Association, 1st edition, March 1992; SCOUT articles; INTERCHANGE articles; and Hoadley Hide incidents.

6 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 6 OF 7 1. Sample PROMOTIONAL FORM Initiative Course Course Organiser: Dates: Duration: Location: Transport: Cost: Deposit: (Region or District) Commencing at (time) and concluding at (time) (include Melways or other Map reference) (It is recommended that Venturer Scouts request assistance from the Unit Council or Group Council) (required with application, by the closing date) Course conditions: The course is outdoors, activity based, and will provide opportunities for you to use your initiative. To qualify, your attendance and participation is required for the whole of the Course. Please bring your Record Book. Participants are to be registered Venturer Scouts. Casual clothing is to be used for most of the Course. The Course is limited to... participants. List of Equipment required List of food requirements Sleeping arrangements etc Further details will be provided on receipt of your application form & deposit. Closing date: Course Co-ordinator: (and Enquiries c/o.....) 2. Sample Application Form (to be sent to the Course Co-ordinator by the closing date, with deposit) OR use the TRV1 application form from the website Surname: Given names: Preferred name: Registration no.: Address : Suburb: Post Code: Phone: Age: Date of Birth: Male/Female: Religion: Special health or dietary needs: Unit District U/Council VSL endorsement approval

7 ISSUED: APRIL 1995 AMENDED: JAN 2011 ENDORSED: DEC2011 PAGE 7 OF 7 Please submit a completed Health Form with your Application Form and deposit END OF DOCUMENT