Program Essentials
The Program Essentials – Introduction to Scouting, Introduction to Section and Milestones – lie at the foot of each mountain. The Milestones are base camps, which themselves involve active participation in a diverse program, with plenty of personal progression and leadership development along the way.
Introduction to Scouting
The Introduction to Scouting is the first element of the Achievement Pathways, and Scouts undertake it at the start of their journey in the movement, irrespective of which age section they join initially.
Broadly, new Scouts discuss with their peers, supported by adults:
- the World Organisation of the Scout Movement
- Scouting in Australia
- the Waylen Bay Sea Scout Group
- the Scout Method
- the SPICES
- the Australian Scout Promise and Law
- symbols, traditions and ceremonies
- Plan>Do>Review>
- personal progression
- Introduction to Section
- investiture
Introduction to Section
The Introduction to Section is the first component of the Achievement Pathways completed in each age section, with the content designed to educate Scouts with the basics regarding their new Unit.
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Milestones
The Program Essentials are divided into a series of Milestones, which are significant achievements within each age section. Each Milestone should take six to 12 months (except for those in the Rover Scouts age section) and recognises active participation in the program and personal progression during that time.
Milestone 1
Participate in six activities from each Challenge Area, assist in two activities across two Challenge Areas and lead one Challenge Area activity.
Milestone 2
Participate in five activities from each Challenge Area, assist in three activities across two Challenge Areas and lead two Challenge Area activities.
Milestone 3
Participate in four activities from each Challenge Area, assist in four activities across two Challenge Areas and lead four Challenge Area activities.
Dear Scouts,
If you have ever seen the play Peter Pan you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of goodbye.
Remember, it is the last you will ever hear from me, so think it over.
I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have as happy a life too.
I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn’t come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so can enjoy life when you are a man.
Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.
But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live happy and to die happy – stick to your Scout promise always – even after you have ceased to be a boy – and God help you to do it.
Your Friend,
Baden-Powell
Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Founder of Scouting