Scouts and Cubs are now encoraged to do Rock Activities.
So there are some new rules that people may not be familiar with:
The qualifications that you can get for abseiling now include the following:
1. Scout Abseil Badge. This qualification is just for Scouts (not Cubs or Venturers). The requirements for this qualification include 5 abseils entailing 50 m of abseiling. If you qualify you get a great badge, but you aren't allowed to train anybody in abseiling.
2. Basic Rockcraft (or "Abseiler") qualification. There are two different names for this qualification, just to make things more confusing. The requirements for this qualification include 20 abseils entailing 400 m of abseiling. This qualification allows you to:
- Abseil under the guidance of an Abseil Leader on single-pitch descents
- Attend Regional courses such as Canyoning, Caving or Rockclimbing courses.
3. Abseil Leader. This qualification is normally awarded to Venturers, Rovers or Leaders who have been abseiling for quite a while and who have shown they are capable to teach beginners. The requirements for this qualification include satisfactory attendance at a Rescue Day (also known as a "Recovery" Day), plus a Senior First Aid qualification. An Abseil Leader is allowed to instruct people who have the Abseiloer (or "Basic Rockcraft" qualification) on single-pitch descents.
4. Abseil Instructor. This qualification is normally awarded to Rovers or Leaders who have a lot of
experience in abseiling. It allows them to instuct beginners in abseiling - for example if they want to get the Scout
Abseil Badge or the Abseiler ("Basic Rockcraft") qualification, or if they just want to go abseiling.
Note: Scout Abseil Badges can be awarded by Abseil Instructors at Regional Abseil courses or on special courses
organised by individual Scout Troops. If you want to organise a course, contact an Abseil Instructor by looking at
the "Rock Contacts" section of this web-site. A Scout Abseil Badge course nomally takes one night in the
scout-hall on theory plus one day practical at a place such as West Pennant Hills, Bowen Mountain or Springwood.
Caving, Canyoning and Rockclimbing qualifications:
There are three levels for these qualifications: Basic, Leader and Instructor. These qualifications are awarded at Regional courses. But in order to go on a Basic-level course for these activities, you need to have the Abseiler (or "Basic Rockcraft") qualification.
Venturer Units and Rover Crews can also organise their own courses by contacting an Instructor or else
the Regional Rock Activities co-ordinator, Rick Jamieson.
Prices:
Charges are $20 for 2 or 3-day courses, $10 for one-day courses and trips, but only $5 for Scout Abseil
Badge courses.
To Apply:
Each person needs to fill out a "Rock Activity Application Form" (available on this web-site) and send it to the Regional
Office at Bundilla 2 weeks before the course starts. This also applies to Scout Troops or other groups who are
organising their own courses.
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