MANUAL

CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 16
• Where do I see myself headed in the next year? Next five years? Next decade?
How can I get there from here?
• What will my next role be in the community? Will I continue in Scouting? If so,
how can I get involved?
A Time of Reflection
To mirror the way in which the member was greeted into Scouting, an aspect of quiet
personal reflection is recommended, in which the Rover Scout should contemplate
how he or she has paddled his or her own canoe over the last number of years, the
significance of the PDP’s completed and the role that Scouting has had in his or her
life. This might take the form of a hike, a paddle under the stars or some other way of
making this a significant time of personal reflection.
The Departure Ceremony
Naturally, each Crew should develop this ceremony in a manner that is meaningful for
those undertaking it.
To symbolize the end of the journey within Rover Scouts, the ceremony should include:
• An acknowledgement that this Rover Scout is leaving Rover Scouts as a participant
• The celebration of the experience that the Rover Scout has gained through
participation in Rover Scouts
• The presentation of a symbolic gift to mark the departure
What Does a Rover Scout Meeting Look Like?
Rover Scout meetings take a variety of forms. Some may take place around a campfire
at a camp, on a hike through the woods or in a regular meeting location. The structure
of the meeting is determined by the adventure, and there is generally less routine in
Rover Scout meetings than can be found in younger Sections.
A Rover Crew should aim to meet at the same time every week, and it should
take advantage of these scheduled meetings to conduct Crew business. This is an
opportunity for the Crew Leadership Team to ensure that the planning of projects and
adventures is proceeding smoothly. The Crew Leader should chair the business part of
the meeting, but this does not mean that the entire meeting should be spent seated
around a table. To make things as efficient as possible, an agenda should be shared
a day or two in advance of the meeting so that everyone is prepared. If the Crew is
having an outdoor meeting and going for an evening paddle, it can take some time at
the beginning of the meeting to sit on shore and briefly conduct Crew business before
heading out on the water. (Remember, a quality program should include at least one
outdoor meeting per month.) Regular meetings also represent a good opportunity
for mentors and mentees to touch base and review the progress of Personal
Development Plans.
At the beginning of each program cycle (season), the Crew should review the past
cycle and set both individual and Crew goals for the cycle ahead. The meetings at
the beginning of a program cycle are especially busy, and the Crew Leadership Team
should set out a meeting agenda and format that can facilitate all of the meeting’s
items of business.
Vocational Rover Crews should dedicate one meeting per month to their vocational
interests, but should bear in mind that a balanced program should explore all six
Program Areas. The vocational dimension of a Crew’s program should not come at the
expense of other exciting possibilities.
Rover Crews are encouraged to link with Venturer Companies, but should refrain from
linking more than once or twice per program cycle. Linking too often can undermine
both Sections’ autonomy and get in the way of age-appropriate adventures.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Scouters and mentors should be aware that there are challenges associated with a
Rover Scout becoming a Scouter in the same Crew in which he or she was a youth
member. Rover Scouts may have difficulty switching from one role to another,
as may the Crew in recognizing the newly graduated Rover Scout as a Scouter.
Departing Rover Scouts should be encouraged to get involved as Scouters in
younger Sections, if that interests them. However, departing Rovers who do have
the attitude and qualifications to be successful Crew Scouters, and are appointed
as Crew Scouters by their Crews, must be mentored by a more senior Scouter
to ensure that they will transition effectively into the new responsibilities and
expectations. It may be best if they become Scouters in new Crews. Special care
must be taken to ensure that Rover Scouts becoming Crew Scouters do not take
away from the independence and leadership opportunities of the Rover Scouts in
the program, but move into the role of advising and supporting.
246 SCOUTER MANUAL—A SCOUTER’S GUIDE TO THE CANADIAN PATH SCOUTER MANUAL—A SCOUTER’S GUIDE TO THE CANADIAN PATH 247