Category: HQ Circular

Kayaking Course by SCF 2023

Reuben Hendriks

The Sea Scout Round Table is organizing a series of kayaking courses this year.

The aim of the courses is to not only provide opportunities to introduce beginners to kayaking in a safe and enjoyable way, but also to provide participants with the basic skills and knowledge to confidently maneuver a single-seater kayak.

All courses are open to all Scouts and Venture Scouts. Please refer to Annex A and B for more details.

Registration is based on first-come-first-served basis. Please register via MSDS Registration portal http://intranet.scout.org.sg by the stipulated closing dates in Annex A. Kindly note that only accepted registrations will be notified. No withdrawal is allowed once the invoice is issued. However, replacing of participants prior to start of course is acceptable on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact Ms Emily Ho, Executive (Programme) at emily.ho@scout.org.sg should you required any assistance or call us at 62592858.

KAYAKING COURSES BY SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION (SCF)
Course Title : Personal Skill Kayaking 1 Star Award
Course Synopsis : https://scf.org.sg/disciplines/sub/personal-skills-star-award-course

INTAKE COURSE DATES CLOSING DATE LOCATION
1 6 May – 7 May 2023* 21 April 2023 (Fri) PAssion WaVe @ Sembawang
2 5 June – 6 June 2023* 19 May 2023 (Fri PAssion WaVe @ Marina Bay
3 10 June – 11 June 2023* 26 May 2023 (Fri) PAssion WaVe @ Pasir Ris

Eligibility : Scouts/Venture Scouts, Able to swim 50m with Personal Flotation Device
Course Fee : $70.20 inc GST ($65.00 before GST) per participant
Inclusive of a certificate and a Canoeist I proficiency badge (1pc)
Time : 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 pm daily (Muster at 8.50am for attendance taking) Attire : Long sleeves shirt and long bottoms with covered shoes
Maximum Intake : 40 registered Scouts/Venture Scouts
Registration Portal : Register via MSDS Youth Programme Registration Portal http://intranet.scout.org.sg

Course Title : Personal Skill Kayaking 2 Star Award
Course Synopsis : https://scf.org.sg/disciplines/sub/personal-skills-star-award-course

INTAKE COURSE DATES CLOSING DATE LOCATION
1 6 May, 7 May & 13 May 2023* 21 April 2023 (Fri) PAssion WaVe @ Sembawang
2 10 June, 11 June & 17 June 2023* 26 May 2023 (Fri PAssion WaVe @ Pasir Ris

Eligibility : Scouts/Venture Scouts, Attained SCF1 Star Award
Course Fee : $81.00 inc GST ($75.00 before GST) per participant
Inclusive of a certificate and a Canoeist II proficiency badge (1pc)
Time : 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 pm daily (Muster at 8.50am for attendance taking) Attire : Long sleeves shirt and long bottoms with covered shoes
Maximum Intake : 20 registered Scouts/Venture Scouts
Registration Portal : Register via MSDS Youth Programme Registration Portal http://intranet.scout.org.sg
*Dates stated can be subjected to change

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Upon notification of accepted registration,

  1. Each participant must complete a course-participation and medical declaration form that requires signature from parent or guardian
  2. All payment and duly completed forms are to be submitted two (2) weeks before the course.
  3. Please submit all forms to emily.ho@scout.org.sg.

For safety reasons, those with medical issues will not be allowed to participate if they are unable to produce certofication of fitness by a doctor. Do note that NO refund will be provided if a participant is refused participation on medical reasons.

Guidelines of Attire and Personal Items to Bring:

  • Long-sleeve shirt and long bottoms (highly recommended to reduce sunburn)
  • Cap or hat (Compulsory)
  • Spectacle retainer if wearing glasses (alternatively bring rubber band)
  • Water shoes or any covered shoes (no slippers allowed)(Compulsory)
  • Water bottle with water (Compulsory)
  • Sunblock
  • Change of clothes and toiletries
  • Ziplock bag for mask

Please do not bring expensive valuables. Phones and other digital devices are not allowed on the water.

General Terms and Conditions for joining the Course/Activity

  1. Participants must be able to swim with flotation aid for at least 50 metres.
  2. Participants must complete the application form and the medical declaration form before the start of course.
  3. Participants must achieve 100% attendance and pass the test components to qualify for the course certification
  4. Participants are to follow water safety guidelines, follow instructor’s/coach’s instructions and conduct themselves appropriately during the course.
  5. Participants are to wash, maintain and return all loaned equipment in good order to SCF after each training session.
  6. Participants must make good any loss of equipment or breakage resulting from equipment mishandling.

Terms and Conditions

  1. Upon confirmation of registration, no refund will be allowed once invoice has been generated unless the organiser cancels the event.
  2. The Singapore Scout Association reserves the right to cancel/postpone the event and reject applicants when necessary.
  3. Sea-based activities, by their nature, pose some element of risk due to certain uncontrollable factors, which may include, weather, perils of the sea and encounters with sea vessels. These factors are not within the control of the Singapore Scout Association.
  4. Participants must be able to swim safely before attempting this activity
  5. Although Personal Flotation Devices are provided, participants are expected to look after their own safety by ensuring that these are kept securely fastened and worn at all times when in the water.
  6. The Singapore Scout Association, its volunteers, staff, agents, vendors and employees shall not be held responsible for any losses, damages, injuries (fatal or otherwise) during the participation of the expedition or as a consequence from such participation.

INVITATION TO VOLUNTEER AS “GUEST AMBASSADORS” DURING ISTANA OPEN HOUSE ON,1 MAY 2023, LABOUR DAY-HARI RAYA (COMBINED)

Reuben Hendriks

Since 2015, The Singapore Scout Association has been supporting requests by the President’s Office to invite volunteers to serve as Guest Ambassadors for Istana Open Houses. The next Istana Open House will be on Monday. 1 May 2023, Labour Day-Hari Raya (combined).

Schedule of duty:
Morning shift: 7:30am to 1.00pm (report at 7.15am for uniform inspection)
Afternoon shift: 12.30pm to 6.00pm (report at 12.15pm for uniform inspection)

Members who are selected are to report in front of Plaza Singapura (nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut) in full Scout uniform and headgear. Uniform check will be conducted before the commencement of duty. Those who are deem inappropriately attired will be requested to stand down from their duty.

Due to limited slots available, the first 20 members who registered will be allocated their preferred shift. Those who are not part of the first 20 will be placed on a waiting list. An online briefing will be conducted on Thursday, 27 April 2023 at 7.00pm via Zoom. Attendance is compulsory as duty allocation and details will be shared during the briefing.

You are encouraged to register your Scouts and Adults via the MSDS Adult Training portal: https://intranet8.scout.org.sg by Friday 14 April 2023.

THANK YOU BADGE FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS

Reuben Hendriks

Parents and guardians are one of the strong supporters of Singapore Scouting, without whom Scouting would not be possible for our youth members. To celebrate and express appreciation for all that parents and guardians do, we will be introducing the Thank You Souvenir Badge for Parents & Guardians. The aim of the badges is to help Scouts express their appreciation for their parents or guardians.

Scouts are to fill up the attached appreciation card (Annex A) and have them verified by their Unit Leader, before they are given the required number of thank you badges for either their parent or guardian. They will then present the appreciation card and the badge to their parents/guardians during Mother’s Day (14 May) or Father’s Day (18 June). In return, unit Leaders are encouraged to have their Scouts’ parents/guardians present them with their proficiency badges, which would help the parents understand more about what their child/ward does during Scout meetings.

In line with SSA’s sustainability policy, an editable digital card (Annex A) has been provided. Units who wish to physically write their cards may print them out for use. Please refer to the printing instructions in Annex B.

Unit Leaders are to inform their respective Area Admins their required number of badges (Annex C) by 15 April 2023 (Sat) via https://forms.gle/NpFGE4sVtVKYzJ3cA. If you would like to share with SSA your Scout’s completed cards, kindly send us a scanned copy of the cards together with Annex C via the Google link. SSA may use the submissions for publicity and marketing purposes, such as publishing on the Association’s official publications, websites, social media platforms and merchandise. Your consent is sought for the use of any personal data included in the cards eg. Full Name, in accordance with the Association’s personal data protection policies.

Do note that only Cub Scouts and Scouts will be given these badges.

Please feel free to reach out to Area Admin Support Staff at 62592858 if you need further information.

CHIEF COMMISSIONER’S WELL-DONE BADGE FOR YOUTH MEMBERS

Reuben Hendriks

The Well-Done Badge is presented to youth members who have exemplified the Scout Promise and Law and contributed to the well-being of their unit, school, or community.

Unit Leaders are invited to nominate deserving youth members for the Well-Done Badge for Q1, 2023.

Nomination for the Well-Done Badge is restricted to one nomination per unit. Nomination must be made on the prescribed form (Annex A) and to be submitted at this link: https://forms.gle/tQSkSDu18VVG24Ty9

The Area Commissioner will then endorse and support deserving nominees for the Well-Done Badge. Example of actions that would be suitable for nomination are provided in Annex B for your perusal.

The badge and congratulation letter can be presented by the School Principal during the school’s assembly (for school units) or by the Area Commissioner during an area event (for open units). The badge can be worn on the uniform by the youth member on the left chest above the Bumble Bee/ Squirrel Badge.

We hope that through this recognition, we can inspire our youth members to fulfil the purpose of Scouting – as active citizens, and responsible members of their communities.

Please submit the nomination form (Annex A) no later than 15 April 2023.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your respective Area Commissioner or Area Admin if you need further information.

ROVER DIALOGUE 2023

Reuben Hendriks

The National Rover Council (NRC) is pleased to announce Rover Dialogue 2023. The purpose of the Dialogue is to gain insights of current sentiments of Rovering in Singapore, as well as to gather views for the direction to adopt moving forward.

As part of the #YourVoice surveys, Rover Dialogue 2023 will delve deeper into the viewpoints expressed in the surveys and build upon the responses to foster productive conversations and generate actionable strategies that can bring about positive changes for Rovering in Singapore.

We cordially invite all Rover Scout Leaders, Rover Scouts, Venture Scout Leaders, and Venture Scouts to register for Rover Dialogue 2023 to share their experiences as well as their views. To register, please sign up via this link, https://forms.gle/c7LZgrEW8iT3H3J56.

The Rover Dialogue will be conducted physically on Saturday, 15 April 2023 from 0900hrs to 1300hrs, further details can be found in Annex A.

Please feel free to contact Mr Andrew Toh, Chairperson of the National Rover Council at nrc.chair@scout.sg for clarification.

Date : Saturday 15th April 2023
0900hrs to 1300hrs
Venue : SSA HQ Training and Programme Room (Level 2)
Attire : Full Scout Uniform
Registration Link :https://forms.gle/c7LZgrEW8iT3H3J56
Registration deadline : Saturday, 8 April 2023

Programme Flow:

  1. General Introduction to Rover Dialogue
    1. Themes
    2. Objectives
    3. Ground Rules
  2. Mass Icebreaker
  3. Presentation of #YourVoice survey responses
  4. Area Breakout
  5. Break
  6. Combined Sharing & Discussion
  7. Closing

Topics

  1. Finding Common Ground: The Role of Rovers
  2. Relevance of Scouting in our daily lives
  3. How do we promote retention of Ventures into Rovering
  4. Rover Journey: Participation and Implementation
  5. Empowerment of Rovers: Involvement
  6. Open Forum

NATIONAL CUB SCOUT GANG SHOW 2023

Reuben Hendriks

We are pleased to inform that the National Programme Team (Cub Section) will be organizing the 2023 National Cub Scout Gang Show Competition. This competition provides a healthy avenue for Cub Scouts across Singapore to develop and showcase their talents and creativity through group performances. Generally, these performances vary from skits, dances, songs, to band or musical instrument performances.

Units will also be awarded Frank Cooper Sands Award points for participating in National/Area events.

You may refer to Annex A and Annex B for more details.

Unit Leaders are required to register every Cub Scout who is keen to be part of the group performance as all participants will be receiving an event badge and a certificate of participation.

Registration is based on a first-come first-served basis. Kindly register via MSDS’s Youth Programme Registration portal: http://intranet.scout.org.sg by Friday, 21 April 2023. Only accepted registrations will be duly notified.

For any clarification, please email to national.gangshow@scout.sg or call us at 62592858.

(A) Terms and Conditions
Eligibility: Cub Scout
Event Fee: $7.56 inc GST ($7.00 before GST) per participant

  1. Cub Scout Leaders to register their participating Cub Scouts via MSDS’s Youth Programme Registration portal: http://intranet.scout.org.sg
  2. Accepted registrations will be duly notified. Upon acceptance, full payment is to be made by Friday, 13 May 2023.
  3. Every participating cub will be given an event badge and a certificate of participation.
  4. Upon confirmation of registration, no refund will be allowed once invoice has been issued unless the organiser cancels the event.
  5. The Singapore Scout Association reserves the right to cancel/postpone the event and reject applicants, if necessary.

(B) Timeline

MSDS Registration Period 8 March 2023 – 21 April 2023
Payment for registration 13 May 2023
Online Entry Submission closing date: 27 May 2023, 6pm
Grading by Respective Area Team 28 May – 15 July 2023
Release of Semi-finalist result 22 July 2023
Grand Finale: Gangshow & Award Ceremony 19 August 2023 (TBC)

(C) Format of Submission

  1. ONE submission from each Cub Scout Unit. Each grou performance should be at least 3 to 5 minutes long and with a minimum of 6 and maximum of 25 Cubs per Group.
  2. Individual Performance will not be considered as an entry and will not be evaluated.
  3. The performance video must be submitted by Saturday 27 May 2023 6pm through the link below
    1. East Area Submission via this link: https://bit.ly/EastAreaGangShowSubmission2023
    2. North Area Submission via this link: https://bit.ly/NorthAreaGangShowSubmission2023
    3. South Area Submission via this link: https://bit.ly/SouthAreaGangShowSubmission2023
    4. West Area Submission via this link: https://bit.ly/WestAreaGangShowSubmission2023
  4. Each video recording must comply with the following title format: < Area_Name of Cub Scout Group # > (Example:Central_Polar Cub Scout Group # 1)
  5. Each video entry must not exceed 1GB or 1024 MB.
  6. All video recordings will be judged by the respective Area Team and semi-finalists will be notified by SSA HQ.
  7. The Grand Finale will be judged by a national panel and their decision is final.
  8. Please note-that photographs, videos and any other forms of audio-visual submission may be used for publicity by SSA official circulation. Such as during pre- judging and posting on corporate social media platforms.

Format for National Cub Scout Gangshow 2023

  1. Grading Format – each submission will be graded based on the following rubric:
    Creativity (10 points) Teamwork (10 points) Entertainment (10 points) Total (30 points
  2. Each area will have a total of 3 teams of semi-finalists representing the respective area during the Grand Finale
  3. There will be a total of 12 awards to be awarded during the Grand Finale
    1. Gold – 3 awards
    2. Silver – 3 awards
    3. Bronze – 6 awards
  4. All video recordings will be judged by the respective Area Team and semi-finalists will be notified by SSA HQ.
  5. The Grand Finale will be judged by a national panel and their decision is final.
  6. Please note-that photographs, videos, and any other forms of audio-visual submission may be used for publicity by SSA official circulation. Such as during pre- judging and posting on corporate social media platforms.

NOMINATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR YEAR 2022

Reuben Hendriks

We are pleased to announce that nominations for the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) for the year 2022 is now open. Please refer details below for more information on the Awards and nomination process.
In line with the Association’s Award Recognitions Framework set in the POR, there are two categories of Awards.

Distinguished Service Awards are conferred on registered Adult Leaders who have rendered significant contributions to the Scout Movement in Singapore. The Awards are as follows (in order of merit):

  • Distinguished Service Gold Award
  • Star to Distinguished Service Silver
  • Distinguished Service Silver Award
  • Star to Distinguished Service Bronze Award
  • Distinguished Service Bronze Award
  • Chief Scout’s Commendation.

Friends of Scouting Awards are presented to supportive donors or Organisations who have contributed significantly towards the success of the Scout Movement in Singapore. The Awards are as follows (in order of merit):

  • Gold Vanda Award
  • Silver Vanda Award
  • Bronze Vanda Award

AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY

The Awards Presentation Ceremony has been scheduled on Thursday, 20 July 2023.

NOMINATIONS
Distinguished Service Awards

The nominating parties are listed as follows:

Nominations For Nomination by
1 Scout Council Members SSA President
2 Deputy Chief Commissioners
Area Commissioners
National Commissioners		 Chief Commissioner
3 Assistant Area Commissioners & Adult Leaders under their Area Area Commissioners
4 Assistant National Commissioners & Adult Leaders under their portfolio

  1. Human Capital Team
  2. Educational Methods Team
  3. Emergency Preparedness Team
  4. Events Team
  5. Membership Team
  6. Unit Performance Team
  7. Communications Team
  8. Information Technology Team
  9. Community Programme Team
  10. Administration Team
  11. Projects Team
 National Commissioners
5 Programme Commissioners & Round Tables (National Programme Team) National Programme Commissioner
6 Assistant Training Commissioners & Trainers (National Training Team) National Training Commissioner
7 Assistant International Commissioners & Adult Leaders (International Team) International Commissioner
8 Professional Staff Executive Director

Please use the online Nomination Form https://scout.sg/DSA2022/Nominations to submit a maximum of five (5) nominations per National or Department, and seven (7) for Areas.

Friends of Scouting Awards

The nomination parties are listed as follows

Nomination By
SSA President
Chief Commissioner
Area Commissioners
National Commissioners
National Programme Commissioner
National Training Commissioner
International Commissioner
Executive Director

There is no limit to the number of nominations for Friends of Scouting Awards.

SUBMISSION

In line with SSA efforts to move into Digital Transformations, all nominations forms are to be submitted online via https://scout.sg/DSA2022/Nominations. Only valid scout.sg email address will be accepted. The deadline for submissions is by 5pm on Friday, 7 April 2023.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Nominations are CONFIDENTIAL.
To prevent any potential embarrassment to either party, nominating and supporting parties are advised not to share their nomination with the nominee in the event that the Awards Committee does not approve the nomination.

GUIDELINES

Please refer to the guidelines for further information.

For any clarifications, please contact Ms Evan Ong at evan.ong@scout.org.sg

WOOD BADGE COURSE (BASIC) – INTAKE 1

Reuben Hendriks

The National Training Team (NTT) invites all interested leaders to register for the abovementioned course on 21 and 22 March 2023

The Wood Badge Course (Basic) is the first of two Unit Leader Training Courses provided for new teachers and scouters who wish to embark on their Wood Badge journey. Leaders will learn Scouting Fundamentals, be exposed to some scouting activities, and learn how to plan for Scout unit meetings

The above course registration deadline is 7 March 2023 (Tuesday). Please refer to Annex A for more details. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis for all interested leaders, and registration is to be done on MSDS at http://intranet.scout.org.sg. No withdrawal/refund is allowed once registration is confirmed.

For more course dates and courses available, kindly see NTT circular:NTT-001_2023-ALTC.

For clarifications, please contact Ms Evan Ong, Executive (HR and Training) at evan.ong@scout.org.sg or call 6911 5798 for assistance.

WOOD BADGE COURSE (BASIC) – INTAKE 1

Course Date : 21 to 22 March 2023 (Tuesday to Wednesday)
Venue : Sarimbun Scout Camp
Reporting Venue : SSA HQ Level 1 (outside Scout Shop)
Eligibility : All registered adult leaders and Rover Scouts
Course Fee : $350 (subject to prevailing GST charges)
Course Subsidy :100% subsidy for MOE Teachers and MOE Volunteer Adult Leaders (VALs)

90% subsidy for adult leaders and Rover Scouts
  1. Upon confirmation of registration, no withdrawal will be allowed once invoice is generated unless the organiser cancels the event.
  2. A no-show fee will be imposed on absentees without valid reasons or medical certificates.
  3. Prevailing GST charges applies.

The Singapore Scout Association reserves the right to cancel/postpone the event and reject applicants where necessary.

NOMINATION FOR BADEN POWELL AWARD 2023

Reuben Hendriks

The Baden Powell Award (BPA) is the highest award that is much coveted by the Young Adults (Rover Section 17-26 years of age) in the Scout Movement. The award is held in high esteem as it epitomises the Scouting values of service to others, and the spirit of fellowship and adventure in Rovering.

The nomination for BPA 2023 is now open to all eligible Rover Scouts. To be nominated, a Rover Scout must have completed all areas of the Rover Journey

Additionally, nominees must be registered members of SSA, and be nominated by their respective Group Scout Leader or Rover Scout Leader, and endorsed by their respective Area Commissioner. The nominees are reminded to seek the required approval as early as possible. Please refer to Annex A for more details.

Successful candidates will be notified via email of the BPA interaction session that is scheduled for 2 September 2023, and are required to attend the interview with their Rover Scout Leader or Group Scout Leader, should the unit not have a RSL.

Please feel free to contact Mr Andrew Toh, Chairperson of the National Rover Council at nrc.chair@scout.sg for clarification.

BPA NOMINATION, TIMELINE AND SUBMISSION PROCESS

  1. Nomination Criteria
    1. The nominee must be a registered member of The Singapore Scout Association
    2. Each nominee must be nominated by their respective Rover Scout Leader or Group Scout Leader should the unit not have a dedicated RSL. Their nomination must also be endorsed by their respective Area Commissioner.
  2. Nomination Timeline
    01 March 2023 (Wednesday) : Start of BPA Nomination
    01 July 2023 (Saturday) : BPA Nomination Deadline
    02 September 2023 (Saturday) : BPA Interaction Session
    25 November 2023 (Saturday) : BPA Ceremony
  3. Submission Process
    1. Nominees are to submit the following items to the SSA HQ Executive (Youth Programme), cc NRC, by Saturday, 1 July 2023, 5.00pm. The submisison shall all be done via email to reduce the usage of paper.
      1. Duly completed nomination form
      2. Attached photograph in Scout Uniform
      3. At least three (3) character references
        • One (1) from your Group Scout Leader or Rover Scout Leader, and
        • Two (2) from your peers or other people who have known you for a significant period of time
      4. Copy of your BPA Report and RSL Tier Review
    2. All submissions shall be emailed to the following email addresses,
      1. npc@scout.sg
      2. rovers@scout.sg
    3. Nominees are to register their BPA nomination via MSDS
    4. All late and/or incomplete submissions will be deemed invalid

REVISED YOUNG AVIATOR BADGE AND AIR PROFICIENCY BADGE SCHEME 2023

Reuben Hendriks

We are pleased to inform that leaders may now register eligible Cub Scouts and Scouts for the Revised Young Aviator Badge and Air Proficiency Badge schemes via the MSDS Youth Programme Registration Portal.

Kindly note the following and that registration for these programmes will remain open till Saturday, 30 September 2023, 1700 hrs.

  • Upon registration, leaders will obtain relevant information, teaching materials and results form from HQ via email.
  • Leaders are to submit supporting documents and ensure the Cub Scouts/Scouts complete the survey forms electronically by Tuesday, 31 October 2023, 1700hrs (link found in Information Sheet provided in Annex A)

Please refer to the Information Sheet for details regarding the registration and submission process. Additionally, please note that:

  • Additional supporting documents (e.g., reflection journals, photos, videos etc.) may be required for audit purposes. Such audits are jointly conducted by the Air Scout Round Table and the National Programme Team.
  • Photos, videos and other forms of visual submissions may also be used for official reporting purposes (e.g., report submissions to agency and/or annual report publication).

Do contact Ms Emily Ho, Executive (Programme) at emily.ho@scout.org.sg or 65292858 for assistance or clarification.
https://intranet.scout.org.sg
https://bit.ly/InfoSheets_RevisedAirProgramme2023