Overland Training 2007, Ashdown Scout District, East Sussex, Leaders Guide

Although the Overland training within Ashdown District is organised and co-ordinated by Alan, Martyn, Chris and others, all Troop leaders need to play their part (either directly, or by delegating to other warranted leaders within their Troop).

Each Troop leader therefore needs to ensure that, for each week's training, each pair of Scouts from the troop is provided with:

the relevant 1:25,000 scale Ordnance Survey maps in waterproof map cases, with the maps folded into the map cases such that the relevant area of each map is visible. Information regarding the required map(s) and the relevant area(s) each week will be sent to you by email each Sunday night (i.e. a week in advance) by either Alan or Martyn. Please ensure that you check your emails regularly each week so that you can make sure that your maps are sorted out in good time. At the risk of teaching grandmas to suck eggs, please also note that, if the folding results in the Eastings or Northings not being visible in the map case window, you may need to pencil these on to the visible area of the map before it goes into the map case!
Paper (or card) and a pencil, on which to write grid references or other notes;
at least one 'Silva' or similar good quality compass;
at least two whistles (i.e. one per Scout);
at least two fluorescent vests (i.e. one per Scout), which need to be worn all the time when hiking;
at least one first aid kit, in a waterproof container. This should comply with the requirements set out in the Overland 2007 Rules (copies of which are being issued to all Troop Leaders in the District);
at least one orange plastic survival bag or storm shelter;
a pack of emergency food (e.g. chocolate, Kendal Mint Cake, Lucozade tablets etc) in a sealed container for emergency use only.

[Later in the training programme we will also be expecting teams to carry with them Trangia stoves, fuel, food and water for cooking, as they will have to do during the event. Further details of this will be given nearer the time but if you don't already have them you may wish to purchase these stoves etc sooner rather than later].

TROOP LEADERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE EQUIPMENT IS CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE NAME OF THEIR TROOP, SO THAT IT CAN BE REUNITED WITH THE RIGHT TROOP THE FOLLOWING WEEK, AFTER THE SCOUTS HAVE ABANDONED IT OR LEFT IT IN THE WRONG CAR ON THE WAY HOME!

In addition, Troop Leaders also need to ensure that they provide sufficient leaders or CRB-cleared adults each week to stay out in the field and either walk with the Scouts or help with checkpoints, or at the very least be on hand at short notice to recover lost or injured teams when required. "Sufficient" means at least one adult per 'car-full' of Scouts (i.e. a ratio of between 1:4 and 1:7 depending on size of car, for each troop taking part).

Troop Leaders also need to make sure each week that ALL of their Scouts taking part bring with them ALL of the essential items of personal kit that are listed on page 6 of the Overland Training Booklet (copies of which can be downloaded from the Scout Section of the District Website). The only exception to this being the sleeping bags, which will not be needed until the mini expedition on 10/11 March.

Finally, please remember that, although the District is providing co-ordination and guidance, individual Troop Leaders are responsible for their members. In the interests of safety, however, the organisers reserve the right to send home any scouts who are inadequately equipped (e.g. wearing jeans or not having full waterproofs, hat, gloves or hiking boots), or who are behaving irresponsibly.

If you have any concerns or queries about any of the above, please contact:

Alan Thompson (ADC Scouts, Ashdown District): alant334@aol.com

(01825 764989; mobile: 07952 170 180))