Bentleigh East Scout Group (Formally 5th/6th Central Moorabbin) was the first Scout Group in Australia to start using Scouts Australia’s new program.

THE PROGRAM The program is quite simply the ‘Why, What, and How’ of Scouting.

WHY – THE PURPOSE The program exists to help develop young people in the areas of personal growth, to develop them as active citizens involved in their local, national and global communities. You can read more about the purpose elsewhere in this handbook.
WHAT – THE ACTIVITIES We achieve this through a diverse program of activities that are adventurous, fun, challenging, and inclusive. Further details about the activities and program structure will feature later in this handbook.
HOW – THE SCOUT METHOD The learning process is achieved through a unique method of delivery. Scouting in Australia provides one developmental program, inclusive of ages 5 to 25. To make sure this program is suited to each developmental stage of the child, adolescent, and young adult, it is structured into one continuous journey over five sections.

As seen in our purpose, Scouting is about fostering personal growth in the following areas:

The areas of social, physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual make up the basis of a person’s character, 6 areas all up! This concept is called SPICES for short. It’s a journey built on an engaging youth program that is tailored to each individual – the program has young people at the centre. Each step in the journey has new adventures and challenges that are built on the skills, knowledge and experiences from the previous section – though young people can join at any point in the journey! This program provides opportunities that are…

And an experience that is all about:

• Connecting with the outdoors o Learning new skills
• Building new and existing friendships o Helping create a better world

We follow a process called Plan>Do>Review> to make sure the program stays up to date and that individuals learn and develop.

It’s all in the name…

PLAN>DO>REVIEW>

• Happens in many different ways and at different times, depending on the needs of the group and what is being done!
• Used for everything from an individual game, to the whole program of a Unit.
• Especially helpful for running big projects and adventures.
• For the individual, Plan>Do>Review> is used to aid each Scout’s personal progression – it helps Scouts to set goals, enjoy Scouting experiences, and reflect on their progress.

ONE PROGRAM | ONE JOURNEY

Scouting is one consistent journey. This journey is represented through the symbolic framework of our age sections. Each stage of the journey, represented by an age section, presents new challenges, experiences and perspectives of the world around us.

The Scouting journey should be a continuous flow, focusing on an individual’s personal progression throughout the movement. We use the symbolic framework of the sections to emphasise and encourage Scouts to pursue new challenges and experiences by progressing to the next section. While new experiences are a focus, the one program model makes sure it’s all familiar – each section uses the Patrol system, the language is the same, the Achievement Pathways have common features, and the Scouting community is always welcoming!