Hello

Thank you offering to accompany a learner patrol as  Mentor Leader.  A Learner Patrol is generally a patrol of younger scouts with little or no hiking experience. They should however have been well prepared before they attend Scouthike.  Before attending Scouthike it is very important that they have had good training in hiking and camping.

• Registered on Operoo

• Clothing - footwear etc

• Hiking equipment- Backpacks, water bottles etc

• Food -  suitability

• camp cooking - light weight equipment etc

• basic first aid - managing minor ailments.

• hygiene

Other areas such as map reading ,compass use, erecting a tent etc are also skills required.

As a learner patrol "Mentor Leader"  you are there primarily for security and safety for the younger scouts. Often the simple knowledge that a supporting adult is nearby will give these scouts the confidence to proceed. You are not there to continually help them, but to offer assistance if required. You are not to lead them or direct them unless they are really lost.  Mentor Leaders are required to have the skills to mentor the Scouts and develop their OAS Bushwalking skills to Stage 3 and for the PL to Stage 4.  It is not sufficient to just be a watchful eye.  Learner Patrols should be ready to “Plan> Do> review>” a hike of their own at the conclusion of ScoutHike

ONLY ONE LEADER MAY ACCOMPANY A LEARNER PATROL (All Adults must have a current WWC card and be a registered leader, parent / adult helper or Rover)

• Please encourage your Patrol to walk as a complete team, going at the pace of the slowest member of the Patrol.

• You are there as safety net , NOT as a tour guide.

• Consequently it is important that if required all Mentor Leaders (you) understand the elements of hiking above and can read a map, use a compass, erect a tent, cook a meal on and open fire , understand about appropriate hike gear and see the indicators where first aid may be required.

• At the Sleep Point you are allocated for both Friday and Saturday nights you will be camping separately from your Patrol - setting up your tent in the Leader's campsite. if you arrange with the Sleep Point Coordinator beforehand you can, for a price, be included in their catering with the Sleep Point Team. 

• You may NOT  assist the leaner Patrol with setting up tents or cooking meals. All Scouts will cook on the provided fire drums / pits. 

• Every fully trained leader in your scout group, or your district scout leader can assist you with understanding these requirement.

• If you look and sound confident and knowledgeable your young scout will certainly enjoy their first hiking experience.

TRAVELING BY BUS

All Mentor Leaders travelling by bus need to share the role of "crowd control" - making sure the Scouts behave themselves while travelling. When the bus arrives at it's destination, both Friday and Sunday, assist the bus driver in getting the bus unloaded (usually by herding the Scouts out of their way) and checking that nothing - whether gear or rubbish, has been left on the bus. 

On Friday night one Leader will be handed the Booking Sheets for their bus - when you arrive in the Forest these Sheets are handed to the Sleep Point Coordinator when you arrive at the Sleep Point,