Rovers

Introduction

B-P’s DEFINITION OF ROVERING

In Rovering to Success B-P defines Rovering as follows: “Rover Scouting is a Brotherhood of the Open Air and Service”

He goes further on to say, remembering it was written before ladies were Rovers: “If a man has the sense to do two things in life he can enjoy it. The first is: not to take himself too seriously, but to make the best of what you have got, and to look on life as a game, and the world as a playground. The second is: to let your thoughts and actions be directed by love”.

POLICY ORGANISATION & RULES (PO&R)

Rover Scouting is a Brotherhood of the open air and of service, the purposes of which are: to provide encouragement for the self-training of Rovers in Citizenship and service; to encourage Rovers to pursue careers useful to themselves, and to render service to the Scout Movement and the Community.

Review of Rover Programme

For as long as most people can remember, the Rovers have been given autonomy on how they run their programme. In the past, that probably worked well, but in the current circumstances this is no longer working so successfully.

The entire Rover Programme is being reviewed. In doing so, it is intended that Crews will have better direction, including encouraging appointment of RSLs, the person who should guide the Crew, particularly with regards to focus, advancement and recruitment. While there is a perception that crews can run successfully without an RSL, this is seldom the case, and such crews fall down in areas such as Rovers earning the BP Award.

The process of devising a Rover programme began earlier this year (2009). We have reached the stage now where feedback will have to be received from the various RAC’s / Crews and other interested parties. Once consensus has been achieved there, it has to go through the ‘education committee’ and finally the NSC. It is predicted that this could be a two/ three year process.

Initial Ideas

In training material, the Purpose of Rovering comprises of six elements

To protect the Scout Troop (and Cub Pack)
To secure continuation of training of the young adult
Establishing Scouting Principles in Rovers
Preparing and Leading Rovers into the adult community
Training for Service
Involving Rovers temporarily away from their permanent homes

Generally speaking, there is no real reason to change the ‘elements’. Even in the modern age in which we are living, these ideals could be adapted to be relevant to young adults. As is known, Rovering is comprised of three components of SERVICE: Service to Self (or Personal), Service to Movement and Service to Community.