Scouting and Hills
Many years ago, my first real experience of being out on the hills was an ascent of Ben Lomond one sunny day in 1993 (I remember this because I remember going to see The Fugitive at the cinema the night before). I was quite excited about the prospect before, but as we all got back to the car park and I cooled off my feet in the glittering waters of Loch Lomond, I knew I was onto something that really enthralled and captivated me.
I've been a Scout Leader since I was in my late teens, and through those years, I've always wanted to offer that experience to the young people in my group, and for the most part, I've been able to do little hikes and walks at camp.
Around 2001, I spent a weekend at Lochgoilhead getting a permit to take kids out hillwalking. It turned out to be quite restrictive - I could only take groups out on marked paths below 600m in the Arrochar alps/Lochgoilhead areas. I ended up not taking advantage of this, and a year or so later UK Scouting brought in the formal terrain definitions, which were intended to make sure that groups were safe in remote areas. For reference, the terrain definitions are here:
I was a little annoyed about this, I thought I knew what I was doing when it came to the hills, I'd been out hillwalking and bagging Munros for years with only a few minor navigational incidents, so why shouldn't I be allowed to take my scouts out?
Eventually in May 2007 an opportunity came up to attend a training weekend, based at Crianlarich, with a focus on nav training.
I enjoyed the weekend, and I learned a lot about navigation, as well as some good tricks and tips. However, after the weekend, there was no follow up - I got the impression that you pretty much had to have a Summer ML to take the kids out on the hill (at least that might have been how I interpreted it). I came away from that weekend with lots of knowledge, but nothing to push me towards getting a permit.
Now, perhaps this was my fault for not reading up on the required Policy Organisation and Rules, but it felt like too much effort, considering the time I was putting into Scouting already.
Fast forward a few years, and I was starting to get a little tired of my role as Scout Leader at the 30th Glasgow. I needed to get something to kick start me and I figured it was time to see what was out there for hillwalking with Scouting.
In September 2015, I noticed that Clyde Region were running an NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) course, with the possibility of achieving the Silver Award, on a course that was based two train stops from my house. This seemed like a great idea, not only to brush up on my skills, but to meet the people that run these things and see what was required to progress.
The weekend was a great success, with several attendees, including myself gaining their Silver awards. There wasn't a great deal of new material for me, but it was interesting to see the mix of leaders, and how they all felt about hillwalking in Scouting, as well as brushing up on my nav skills (and challenging a few bad habits that I'd developed over the years). I also learned that there are some really great hill experiences that can be had even in T0, and you shouldn't be afraid to start undertaking these kind of experiences to hone your skills.
I managed to get a hold of the contact details of the Regional Assessor at the time, and had a good phone chat about what would be involved in going for T1. He pointed me in the direction of the Hill and Moorland Leader Award, and suggested that we go out for an assessment day once I was sure I had everything covered. This all seemed like a lot to take on again, but around the middle of 2016, I spotted another course for T1 and T2 Training, which fitted everything into a weekend in October at Auchengillan.
This was the weekend that really got me keen on going for a permit - I realised that my nav was quite good, but there was still new techniques to learn, as well as formalising all the stuff that I didn't realise about Group Management, Emergency Procedures and Risk Assessments. I asked as many questions as I could, and realised that although I thought I was decent at hillwalking, when it came to leading a group, I was a novice at best.
I ended the weekend newly energised for going for my T1 and T2 permits - the post-course chat with the instructors John and Sarah was encouraging, and though I knew I still had a lot to learn, I'd started to develop some good relationships with people who really knew their craft and were willing to share.
Late in 2016 and into 2017, Auchengillan ran some walks, which I managed to get my Scouts on to, which allowed me to get out with Sarah again, and learn even more from her as well as giving the kids experiences that they wouldn't be able to have if it were just me leading the party.
In April 2017, I did another single day at Auchengillan, this time the security on steep ground training with John. This was completely new to me, and I expect would be to most hillwalkers, but it's essential for T2 and so I learned all I could, bought myself a rope and practiced quite a bit, even incorporating it (safely) into the Scout program so they could all tie the knots required.
When Summer 2017 came along, I was feeling ready for assessment, and I was asked by Auchengillan to help out with the hill team at AJ17. I took a day off work and was given the privilege of leading a party of Explorers up Buachaille Etive Mor. This still fits into the Scouting permit scheme, because even though I didn't have a T2 permit, there was someone with a supervisory permit, which allowed them to manage up to three remote teams providing each team has someone in charge.
That was a great learning experience, and my first on proper T2 terrain.
After this Summer, I took on Explorers at the 30th, which has really helped me start to enjoy Scouting again. I wanted to offer them more adventurous experiences, so I spoke to John about getting my assessment, which was set for November 2017.
The assessment weekend was hard work, mentally and physically, but I suppose it should have to be, the hills can be dangerous places, and when you throw in the wellbeing of young people, you have to make it safe.
I can tell you that I passed, and I now have a Permit for T2.
What I've learned from these experiences are:
The hill team were available for my questions and prepared to spend time with my Scouts and I on walks, and that really spurred me on to going for my T2.
My learning is not finished of course - as I take my Explorers out on adventurous hillwalking activities, there will be more challenges ahead - and I'm looking forward to taking those on. Hopefully they'll feel the same way about the hills as I did, back in 1993.
I've been a Scout Leader since I was in my late teens, and through those years, I've always wanted to offer that experience to the young people in my group, and for the most part, I've been able to do little hikes and walks at camp.
Around 2001, I spent a weekend at Lochgoilhead getting a permit to take kids out hillwalking. It turned out to be quite restrictive - I could only take groups out on marked paths below 600m in the Arrochar alps/Lochgoilhead areas. I ended up not taking advantage of this, and a year or so later UK Scouting brought in the formal terrain definitions, which were intended to make sure that groups were safe in remote areas. For reference, the terrain definitions are here:
I was a little annoyed about this, I thought I knew what I was doing when it came to the hills, I'd been out hillwalking and bagging Munros for years with only a few minor navigational incidents, so why shouldn't I be allowed to take my scouts out?
Eventually in May 2007 an opportunity came up to attend a training weekend, based at Crianlarich, with a focus on nav training.
 |
| Hillwalking Course - 2007 |
Now, perhaps this was my fault for not reading up on the required Policy Organisation and Rules, but it felt like too much effort, considering the time I was putting into Scouting already.
 |
| Luss Hills |
In September 2015, I noticed that Clyde Region were running an NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme) course, with the possibility of achieving the Silver Award, on a course that was based two train stops from my house. This seemed like a great idea, not only to brush up on my skills, but to meet the people that run these things and see what was required to progress.
The weekend was a great success, with several attendees, including myself gaining their Silver awards. There wasn't a great deal of new material for me, but it was interesting to see the mix of leaders, and how they all felt about hillwalking in Scouting, as well as brushing up on my nav skills (and challenging a few bad habits that I'd developed over the years). I also learned that there are some really great hill experiences that can be had even in T0, and you shouldn't be afraid to start undertaking these kind of experiences to hone your skills.
I managed to get a hold of the contact details of the Regional Assessor at the time, and had a good phone chat about what would be involved in going for T1. He pointed me in the direction of the Hill and Moorland Leader Award, and suggested that we go out for an assessment day once I was sure I had everything covered. This all seemed like a lot to take on again, but around the middle of 2016, I spotted another course for T1 and T2 Training, which fitted everything into a weekend in October at Auchengillan.
 |
| Campsies - Training Weekend |
I ended the weekend newly energised for going for my T1 and T2 permits - the post-course chat with the instructors John and Sarah was encouraging, and though I knew I still had a lot to learn, I'd started to develop some good relationships with people who really knew their craft and were willing to share.
Late in 2016 and into 2017, Auchengillan ran some walks, which I managed to get my Scouts on to, which allowed me to get out with Sarah again, and learn even more from her as well as giving the kids experiences that they wouldn't be able to have if it were just me leading the party.
In April 2017, I did another single day at Auchengillan, this time the security on steep ground training with John. This was completely new to me, and I expect would be to most hillwalkers, but it's essential for T2 and so I learned all I could, bought myself a rope and practiced quite a bit, even incorporating it (safely) into the Scout program so they could all tie the knots required.
When Summer 2017 came along, I was feeling ready for assessment, and I was asked by Auchengillan to help out with the hill team at AJ17. I took a day off work and was given the privilege of leading a party of Explorers up Buachaille Etive Mor. This still fits into the Scouting permit scheme, because even though I didn't have a T2 permit, there was someone with a supervisory permit, which allowed them to manage up to three remote teams providing each team has someone in charge.
 |
| On The Buachaille, Summer 2017 |
That was a great learning experience, and my first on proper T2 terrain.
After this Summer, I took on Explorers at the 30th, which has really helped me start to enjoy Scouting again. I wanted to offer them more adventurous experiences, so I spoke to John about getting my assessment, which was set for November 2017.
 |
| First night of Explorers - making the promise on The Dumpling (T0) |
I can tell you that I passed, and I now have a Permit for T2.
What I've learned from these experiences are:
- You don't know as much as you think you do, no matter how many Munros you've climbed.
- Learning from other people is so much more valuable than learning from books or YouTube
- Practical is so much better than classroom, especially with hillwalking
- Building up relationships with people who know more than you is key.
The hill team were available for my questions and prepared to spend time with my Scouts and I on walks, and that really spurred me on to going for my T2.
My learning is not finished of course - as I take my Explorers out on adventurous hillwalking activities, there will be more challenges ahead - and I'm looking forward to taking those on. Hopefully they'll feel the same way about the hills as I did, back in 1993.
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