Victorian Rovers

Rover, n. a male or female Homo sapien aged between 17 and 26 years old, dedicated to fun and adventure, whilst serving the community in the Scouting way.

Rovers - an exciting and rewarding section of the Scouting Movement, open for those aged between 17 & 26 years. While many members have come through scouting or guides it definitely is not essential and you’ll be welcomed immediately!

Being a Rover will open up opportunities that will provide challenge physically, mentally and socially. You can achieve and participate in an extensive range of activities; both within the movement and within the wider community, every Rover Crew is different. Rovers are open-minded people and should always be willing to try new activities, hence allowing you your personal input into tailoring the program to suite your needs!

Bushwalking, camping, caving, canoeing, survival weekends, ski-touring, rock climbing and scuba-diving are just some of the more adventurous things open to you when you join Rovers. Other activities such as mini-golfing, swimming, sailing, movies and the list could just go on are on many crews weekly programs. The thing is that if you take the step and join, Rovers will develop your ability to lead and show you the value of helping other people.

Service is an important part of any Rover Crew, and during your course as a Rover you will have the ability to give back something to younger youth within the movement or other sections or organizations within the wider community.

Take the challenge, Rovers offers you the opportunity to develop as a person. Gain the confidence and willingness to be all you can. Get committed today!

Joining a Rover Crew

There are 3 stages to becoming a Rover, it is not difficult but requires a commitment by the individual.

Stage 1.

Attend 4-6 activities the crew is running, so that you see how and what the crew does.

(This process is called linking; if you are already an invested member of the scouting movement, and on completion you are eligible to obtain the Venturer / Rover link badge)

Stage 2.

The Crew will invest you as a Rover Squire, this is a training period which you learn what is expected of a Rover; this will vary between crews. Generally a Rover Crew will assign a sponsor to you, this person will help you with your training.

Basic Outline for Squire Training:

• Discuss the meaning of the Scout Law and Promise
• Run an activity for the crew
• Camp on at least 1 occasion with your crew
• Complete 10 hours of service either within the movement or in the wider community
• If required; complete a project given to you by your Rover Crew

Stage 3.

Once the Rover Squire training period is over the crew will invest the Rover Squire into the crew as a fully invested Rover. It is then up to the Rover to show his or her continued commitment to the Rover Crew; and to support activities and events.

The initial introduction stages take place to allow individuals time to see how a Rover Crew functions and wether that crew will for fill the needs of you the individual. It also allows the “new linking member” or “new off the street member” to understand the running of the crew and what is expected of an active fully invested Rover.

Service

The Rover motto is “To Serve” and each Rover Crew serves the movement and wider community in different ways. There are many Region and Branch initiatives that require the help of Rovers so we can for fill our duties and lead by “Doing”. Some of the service activities available for your Rover Crew to participate in are:

• St Georges Day Service
• National Tree Day
• Anzac Day
• Summer Blood Challenge
• Red Cross Calling
• Good Friday Appeal
• Star Light Foundation

There are many more areas that crews may serve as apart of their crew active monthly or yearly program, this will depend on the crew and the local community.

Service within the movement is also fully supported by any Rover Crew. By becoming a leader or helper within a younger youth section, you will enhance your communication, leadership and social skills. Many Rovers who have come up through the movement see it as a way of giving something back to the younger members of the Scout Movement.