Swindon North District Explorer Scouts

The Explorer Belt is the challenge of a lifetime that is available to Explorer Scouts aged over 16 and members of the Scout Network. It is a chance to undertake an international expedition over ten days that brings a real understanding of a different country, its people and way of life. The Explorer Belt is often described as 'the antidote to the package holiday'. It is designed to help young people develop a real understanding of another country by travelling through that country, working as a small team to complete surprise projects, and meeting local people. What is the Explorer Belt?

plan and train for an international expedition as part of a small team. This should ideally be three or four people. travel to another country of your choice and travel through that country over ten days complete a major project of your own choice complete around ten smaller projects keep a notebook or diary during the expedition take part in a debriefing after the expedition make a final presentation about the expedition to be assessed and gain your Explorer Belt The Explorer Belt

Where are we going?

When are we going? 4 th August 2013 – 17 th August 2013 Fly out from a UK airport on or about Sunday August 4 th 2013 Spend 1 day + 1 night together as a group Explorer Belt starts – 10 days – Monday 5 th August 2013 Return to Budapest on August 15 th 2013 Debriefing day on the 16 th August Group meal, chance to relax Fly back to the UK on Saturday August 17 th 2013.

Costings Total Amount = £600  Monthly training  Support from the date you register to the post expedition presentation from an experienced team  Regular pre-expedition communication  A training weekend (2013)  A T-shirt and UK neckerchief  Transport to and from Hungary  Insurance  Pre and post expedition food and accommodation  Budget for the expedition.  24 hour support team while on the expedition  Post expedition assessment  Up to 2 weeks abroad What’s not included:  Personal kit and equipment  Passport costs  Explorer Belt (paid by District)

Costings MonthAmount November 2012£50 NON REFUNDABLE December 2012£50 NON REFUNDABLE January 2013£100 February 2013£100 March 2013£100 April 2013£100 May 2013£50 June 2013£50 Total Amount = £600

Training Dates Friday 30 th November – Sign up Wednesday 5 th December – Start TBC Wednesday 19 th December: 7:30 – 9:30pm Scout House Wednesday 16 th January : 7:30 – 9:30pm Scout House Wednesday 30 th January : 7:30 – 9:30pm Scout House After Jan once monthly meeting Training weekend

The Explorer Belt is assessed by a team who will base their decision on: how much the team have developed their knowledge of the country, people and way of life how much the team members have developed personally and as a team from the experience the quality of the expedition Assessment

Explorer Belt expeditions may count towards the 'Other Adventurous Projects' requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Gold Expedition, provided that a notification form is sent to the appropriate National Headquarters at least four months before the expedition. The Explorer Belt can also be used to fulfil the requirements of the Queens Scout Award expedition or parts of the other awards, but it may not be used more than once.