Hill Walking, Climbing, Abseiling

Activities in the hills, including walking, climbing, abseiling and mountain biking, present excellent opportunities to enjoy the outdoors at minimal cost. As with all activities, due care is required appropriate to the circumstances and the rules for scouts have been strengthened recently to recognise those circumstances. Note especially the requirements on party management and terrain types. These and other requirements are modified when all members of the party are adult, ie over 18 years - see Factsheet FS120087. All fact sheets available on the www.scoutbase.org.uk web site or via your District Adviser.

County Advisers

Hill walking: Martin David - Tel: 07968 907368
Climbing & Abseiling: Roger Harris - Tel: 01293 774900 Mob:07850 426880

Changes to Scout Authorisation Schemes

A number of changes were implemented during 2001 to the procedures for mountain walking and biking, including new definitions of Terrains 0, 1 and 2 and requirements for leading, supervising and managing parties. Full details are available from Martin David or in POR (Feb. 2002), rules 9.26. - 9.32 on the website www.scoutbase.org.uk.

Key changes apply for form M authorisation.
From 31st December 2003 (extended from 2002) - All existing Authorisations granted before March 2001 will need to be renewed. This will either by a formal appraisal of your Form M or a reassessment on the hills, depending on circumstances. Any Form M's not renewed will automatically expire.

By 31st December 2005 - All applicants for new form M's will have had to completed a formal training requirement to ML Standard

Form 'M'Authorisation
Registrar: Doug Clements - Tel: 020 83939 5070

Applications for Form 'M' authorisation to lead Scout parties in the hills or to climb/abseil are attached to Fact sheet FS120416 (available from Doug Clements, the web site www.scoutbase.org.uk or Gilwell). These should be sent via the GSL and DC, to the County Form 'M' Registrar, Doug Clements who will also try to answer any queries. Unless you hold a National Governing Body Qualification you will require a formal assessment in the appropriate environment. Doug will help to arrange these whilst training and guidance is available from Martin David . Authorisation can be obtained by Explorer and Network scouts, Leaders and Helpers.

Mountaineering Courses 2008 - Surrey/GLSW Scouts

Local Pre-meet 3rd Feb – Mountain Weekend 8-10th Feb
Local Pre-meet 4th May – Mountain Weekend 9-11th May

Remote Mountain Camping Course 2008

Local Pre-meet 28^th September  – Mountain Weekend  3-5 Oct

For more information on any of these events, contact: Martin David Tel: 07968 907368 or Martin Beach Tel: 07824 631155

These courses can be tailored to meet the needs of most people and previous experience is not necessarily required, however, participants must be physically fit. The courses are ideal for Explorer or Network scouts or Leaders seeking Form 'M' authorisation and will act as training and preparation for formal assessment. Assessment may be possible on these courses but must be previously arranged through the Form M registrar.

Some other opportunities are listed in Appendix 2 for mountaineering training with organisations offering courses that are suitable for Scouts and/or Leaders.

Check with ACC(Activities) for possibilities of grant aid for all Leader Training Courses. 

Mountaineering Club:

Surrey Scout & Guide Mountaineering Club
Chairman: Simon Ricketts - Tel: 01483 810078
Secretary: Doug Clements - Tel: 020 83939 5070

The Club is a joint organisation of the Scout and Guide Counties of Surrey and Greater London South West. It organises 'Away Meets' in the Mountains and evening 'Home Meets', usually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the HQ of the 7th Epsom, in the winter. Climbing practice is held at various locations in the summer and there is a 'Freshers' away meet each autumn suitable for members of the Scout Network and Leaders without much mountaineering experience. All Members of the Movement are welcome to come to any of the winter indoor meetings and any away meets although it is necessary to contact the secretary before attending away meets as some only have restricted accommodation.

For dates, contact the club secretary as above or see the online diary.

Navigation

A course on navigation for adults aged 18 years and over is presented at Bentley Copse training centre. It is designed to gain proficiency in all aspects of navigation including estimation, mapmaking and elementary orienteering. Course date October 2004 (TBC)..

The course is run by David Monk - Tel 01276 856997