Scouting for life
Welcome to the Scout Network area of our District website.
The Scout Network is for 18 to 25 year olds
For further information contact: Rob Craig | network@barking-dagenham-scouts.org.uk
Further Information
How old are the Scout Network?
Scout Network members are aged between 18 - 25 years.
What do they do?
As a member of the Scout Network you could be:
- a member of a local Network
- a Leader with another Section
- a Helper of Skills Instructor
- a member of the Scout Fellowship
- a member in another capacity
Local Networks, can be based at County, District or Group; some may be focused around a specific activity or location, e.g. Gang Show, Activity Centre, climbing or canoeing.
Scout Network programmes reflect the huge variation in Members' interests. Some local Networks have activities that concentrate on one area of the programme, whilst others will have a wider range. One of the key elements is the opportunity to get away, either under canvas or in other accomodation.
Scout Promise
I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to my God and to The Queen
to help other people and to keep the Scout Law
Scout Law
A Scout is to be trusted
A Scout is loyal
A Scout is friendly and considerate
A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts
A Scout has courage in all difficulties
A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property
A Scout has self-respect and respect for others
Scout Motto
Be Prepared
What badges do they earn?
The Chief Scout's Platinum and Diamond Award, along with the Queens Scout Award, provide the highest challenge to young people and are counted among the highest awards a young person can earn, both within and outside of Scouting.
What do they wear?
Scouts wear a full uniform. Scouting is a uniformed organisation.
- Long sleeved beige shirt or Group T-shirt
- Group Scarf
How do I join?
You can complete a join form or contact the DC (District Commissioner) who will give you any details you may wish to know.
Network News
Barking and Dagenham Network is new to the District and currently has one invested GLNE Networker and 5 Networkers awaiting investiture. Our brand new Network neckers have just been placed on order so watch this space.
We would like to give a big welcome to Helen, who has recently transferred Districts. It has been a bit of a result for us being a newly formed unit that Helen has experience and ideas from her previous Unit that I'm sure we shall use to our advantage. Helen is also a very experienced member of the Scout family as she has nearly completed her Queen's Scout Award.
Marc Tindall and Tracey Martin have decided to take on the challenge with Helen. They are currently planning their expedition which will complete Helen's Queen's Scout Award and help Marc and Tracey with their own challenge. Wheels are also in motion to get the Network Unit doing the Explorer Belt in the near future, with a few selected members of the BADX Explorer Unit.
The Network Unit are currently looking to plan a weekend away to Download Festival 2009 which many of the District Networkers have an interest in. They are also looking to attend the annual Alton Towers Camp in October 2008.
Nicola Goodman recently attended the Gilwell 24 event with some Explorers and Marc Tindall. The Friday night was a complete washout. However, it did not dampen the atmosphere, many friends were made and not much sleep was taken for the long, tough, exciting 24 hours for our brave Explorers/Networkers. The weekend went very well and was enjoyed by all! But yet still Nicola manages to keep up with her tradition that any International/District event she attends manages to injure herself! Well Done Nicola for gritting your teeth, bearing the pain and seeing the weekend out
Nicola is off to visit our Danish friends on the exchange programme the District has running with them. As a leader, she will have to be a 'responsible adult'. Good Luck with that Nicola! Tracey and Marc will be attending the Essex International Jamboree 2008 as crew members. They are doing this for part of their Queen's Scout Award. Lets just hope the weather is ok for them.
Here is a little information about each of our Networkers.
Marc Tindall
I have been in Scouting for 14 years now and have loved every minute of it! I have made so many strong friendships over years that will stay strong for many years to come. I have experienced many things whilst being in the Scout Movement, many good memories. My funniest memory must be when I took my scout group to the Annual District Camping Competition where I was watching over them for the weekend. They had a very simple dish Saturday Dinner which was Spaghetti Bolognaise, I asked them if they knew how to make it and they said yes and to leave them to it. I was horrified that when I came back that they were complaining there were crunchy bits in the bolognaise. When I asked them where the spaghetti was they replied 'In the bolognaise'.
Nicola Goodman
I Joined Scouting 9 years ago to make new friends, I actually enjoyed Scouting more. It was a lot of hard work and boring map reading night but I did have fun all the same. There have been some ups and downs and I am the District accident pro but we all need our part in Scouting. I've attended Danish Camp four times now and have loved every minute of it, as well as performing at the County Girl Guide and Scouts Showstoppers Gangshow which is good fun and a lot of hard work. As well as doing all this, I have my warrant to say I can be the 1st Barking and Dagenham Beaver leader, which I was a young leader for but had to close down for a number of years and I'm glad to say finally reopened again. My fondest memory was my very first Danish camp.... I had cut my knee open from falling on the wood pile in Bellchamps and that same day one of the Danish Scouts fell out of a tree, and we were both sitting there in the leaders tent laughing and someone wearing luminous yellow shorts.
Tracey Martin
Well where should I begin. I have been in Scouting since I was 4, my brother was a Cub back then, I had originally been a Beaver at the 6th Barking and Dagenham, then transferred to the 9th (which I should add are THE BEST!). I then went through Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and I am currently a Networker. In total I have been in Scouting nearly 14 years. I have learnt many different skills since joining, for instance a wider knowledge of first aid, knots, map and compass, but the main thing is Back to Basics Survival Camp. I have attended many activities ranging from the Gang Show, Showstoppers, to the Essex International Jamboree 2008. I will hopefully be attending North Yorkshire Jamboree 2009 next summer. During the Jamboree I met people from around the world, I met people from Egypt, India, and Sweden and then I met people from Newcastle and Cambridge. I think my fondest memory of when I was a Scout was when we went to Mile End climbing wall and the climbing instructor tied me off and left me half way abseiling down the wall, he left me there for about 10 minutes! I attended Camp BADX '08 this year and woke the Scouts and Explorers up with pots and pans at 7 a.m.