Victorian Rover Scouts - What's Rovers About?

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Thursday, 23 May, 2013 10:47 AM

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What's Rovers About?

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Autumn at the Bogong Rover Chalet

What's a Rover?

Rover, n. a male or female Homo sapien aged between 18 and 25 years old, dedicated to fun and adventure, whilst serving the community in the Scouting way.

Who joins Rovers?

People join Rovers because they are between 18 and 26 years old and are looking to enjoy friends for life, the outdoors, helping others and challenge.

Rovers is the oldest section in Scouts.

Some people join Rovers because they have been in Scouting before. Many others join because they know someone who is a Rover. Others see an ad, a website, or see Rovers active in their community, and decide to give it a try!

What's Rovers about?

Rovers is about friends for life

A Rover Crew is a growing group of friends. Crews generally meet weekly; sometimes at their own den, other times away. They also have weekend camps and activities, as well as parties and events with other Rovers. Crew have diverse programs that cater to all their members.

Every Crew is different. Each has its own traditions, special interests and personalities. A Rover Crew runs itself, with an elected Crew Leader and executive. The Rover Advisor and region Rover Community are there to support and guide.

Rovers is about the outdoors

Rover Crews love to camp. Camping can be a base for hiking, canoeing, motorsport or other activities, or it can simply be a chance to wind down, enjoy some gourmet camp cooking and have a chat.

Rovers have access to a vast range of adventurous activities. Through the Scouting Movement there is a huge network of expertise to help you build your skills or try something new. This also means that activities like snow sports and water sports are cheaper than anywhere else.

Taking some time to let it sink in, on an interstate expedition in the Budawangs

Caving
Caving at Mt Eccles with the Victorian Branch Caving Team

Rovers is about helping others

Rovers give back. We help out with Scouting activities and community causes. Our motto is ‘Service’, and each Crew lives up to it in different ways.

Rovers and others assisting with bushfire relief in Kinglake

Rovers cleaning up the waterfront at Geelong

Rovers is about challenge

Your personal goals are important. The Baden Powell Scout Award challenges you to develop existing skills or learn new ones. Also, there are plenty of opportunities to develop leadership and management skills within your Crew or while assisting with a major activity. If you prefer to roll your sleeves up, helping out at Mafeking Rover Park or one of the Rover ski chalets can give practical skills for your career and life. All this is possible because there are experienced Rovers and Rover Advisors to assist along the way.

Challenge

What else can I do in Rovers?

	Surfmoot Summer camp at Anglesea over the Australia Day weekend. The ultimate social experience.
	Hoadley Hide The Easter weekend hiking challenge for Venturers, where Rover Crews run their own challenging ’stunt’ for the hikers during the day, and kick back with other Rovers at the ROC at night.
	Mudbash Motorsport camp at Victorian Rovers’ very own Mafeking Rover Park over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. Compete with your Crew’s buggy, or just sit back and watch the mud fly.
	MARB (Melbourne Area Rover Ball) Costumed chaos reigns. Dinner, band, dancing, friends. And costumes. Lots of costumes.
	Rover Dinner In October, Rovers put on their serious face (kind of) for Victorian Rover’s awards night. A chance to celebrate and thank some of the people that make the fun possible.
	National Moots Every three years, a ten-day extravaganza of adventurous and non-adventurous activities is held for Rovers coming from all over the country and internationally. Ozmoot is being held in South Australia in January 2011.
	Motorsport Rovers’ very own motorsport club, Rover Scout Motorsport, is running more and more events for Rovers to try motorsport
	Mafeking Rover Park The spiritual home of Victorian Rovering and the envy of all other states. Mafeking hosts much of the motorsport program, but with a vast wilderness reserve it is also a fantastic place for a Crew camp. Ever climbed Mt Quafftumbler at dawn?
	Bogong Rover Chalet Ski Chalet in pristine national park near Falls Creek, owned and operated by Victorian Rovers. Winter Weeks are a must. Why not use it as a base for hiking or cycling during the warmer months?
	W.F. Waters Ski Lodge, Mt Baw Baw The W.F. Ski Lodget in the resort area of Mt Baw Baw, owned and operated by Victorian Rovers. Use it as a base during the ski season, or for hiking or cycling during the warmer months.
	Rover Community Gatherings Once a month (usually except January), all the Rover Crews in your area meet to share news and to participate in a development activity. Elected Rovers form the executive who run activities and support Crews
	Training All Rovers should complete formal training. Trained Rovers make Crews run better, and offer better programs. It’s fun, challenging, and nationally recognized. Finish with Certificates 3 or 4, or go on to complete the Diploma.
	And the rest... Region camps, Scout theatre productions, parascending, rafting, radio activities, four wheel driving etc. Your Rover Crew is there to tell you the rest.

How do I join Rovers?

Find a Crew that you would like to join

For Venturers, your first option might be to ask your Venturer Leader or District Venturer Leader to introduce you to Crews in your area.

Also, have a look at the Crew finder. Simply contact Crews using the details provided (they will love to hear from you). Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for any assistance, or if you would like Crews to contact you.

The Crew contact will invite you to try out a night at their Rover Crew. Rover Crews are very good at offering transport, or addressing any other concerns, particularly if it means they find a new member. If you enjoy your visit, they should offer you a copy of their program so you can keep visiting.

Remember that all Crews are different, so don’t be afraid to try a few.

After four to six visits, you’ll be asked whether you would like to join. The Crew Leader will help you through some paperwork and you will be invested into the Crew as a Rover Squire or Trainee at a ceremony. You’re now a member of Rover Crew!

In the following months, you will learn more about Rovers, contribute to some activities and do some simple skills training so that you can become a fully-invested Rover at a significant ceremony—a transition that Rovers take seriously and often remember for decades to come.

Best of luck!