SOURCE: /mnt/d/GoogleDrive/Cercetasi/carti-camp-jocuri/Rover Program Ideas.pdf
CONVERTED: 2025-01-11
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700+ Program
Ideas for Rovers
Compiled by
Riss Kearney and Rod Abson
Murray Midlands Region Rovers

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700+ Program Ideas for Rovers is a tool to help you generate an interesting,
balanced and fun program for your Rover Crew. This has been developed primarily through
the Murray Midlands Region Rovers, as part of their ‘Renew Your Crew’ days, where they
brainstormed program ideas. Some of these suggestions are country oriented, due to the
group of people the suggestions came from, but there are many that are relevant to any
Crew in Australia.
The list has been continually added to as more opportunities came to light. We now
have the completed version with over 700 program ideas for Rovers – if you did one of these
suggestions per week, you could program for over 14 years before you would need to repeat
an activity! This is clearly not an exhaustive list, as the opportunities are really endless, but
it is a comprehensive list, often with additional information or an explanation of the activity.
These suggestions have been sorted into categories, and alphabetical order to make it a
bit more simplified for finding a type of activity. An activity could fit into several categories,
such as ‘building animal nest boxes’ could relate to service, environment, or fundraising, but
we have generally only placed it into one category. The sections are:
(cid:131) Adventurous/Outdoor Activities
(cid:131) Crafts
(cid:131) Construction & Maintenance
(cid:131) Environment
(cid:131) Food, Drinks & Parties
(cid:131) Fundraising
(cid:131) Games & Stuff
(cid:131) Health & Beauty
(cid:131) Marketing & Promotions
(cid:131) Media & Computers
(cid:131) Other
(cid:131) Scouting
(cid:131) Sports
(cid:131) Service & Spiritual
(cid:131) Tours, Visits & Guests
(cid:131) Training
It has been said that a good program is the key to a good Rover Crew. There are
several ways you could generate a program, which are covered at the start of this
document. Whichever method you use to generate your program, we hope that 700+
Program Ideas for Rovers helps you to get the most out of Rovers and the wonderful
experiences there are available to you.
Yours in Rovers,
Rod Abson Riss Kearney Craig Whan
Murray Midlands Region Murray Midlands Region A.R.C.
Chairman Chairman (R.M.T.V.) Murray Midlands
Victorian Branch Rover Council Victorian Branch Rover Council Region Rovers
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How to make a Crew Program
There are several ways you can come up with a program that will suit the interests of your
crew. Some methods suit crews better than others, so try them out and see which your
crew prefer. Remember two things in making your program:
1. Does this Program suit the interests of our current members?
2. Is this Program interesting to encourage new members into the Crew?
Does this Program suit the interests of our current members?
In answering the first question, you need to make sure that every member of the crew has a
chance to contribute to what they would like to do in the program, and also participate in the
organisation and running of activities. Don’t simply let the dominant people tell the other
Crew members what the crew will be doing for the next six months. It may take some
prompting to get input from all members, but it’s worth it.
Is this Program interesting to encourage new members into the Crew?
If you only do one type of activity, every week, every month, every year, then the chances
are you won’t attract as many new members to the crew as you may if there is variety in the
program. Rovers is largely about experiences and friendships. If the Program offers a
variety of experiences, and ways to enhance friendships, or make new ones then it’s likely to
be successful.
How long to Program for?
Some crews like to Program for a month or two, but many prefer a six-month Program. This
allows people to save up money for the bigger events, and ensures there is enough
opportunity to put dates in the calendar, or ask for time off work if necessary.
Balancing the Program
As well as balancing the interests of the crew, there are a few other things to try to include
in the Program. Ask these questions:
(cid:131) Do you have any activities with the Venturers?
(cid:131) Do you have any activities with the other sections?
(cid:131) Are there any activities out in the public?
(cid:131) Are there any outdoor activities?
(cid:131) Is there any fundraising?
(cid:131) Is it Fun!?!
(cid:131) Are all of the members involved in some way?
(cid:131) Does it include important Region Rover Council or Branch Rover Council dates?
(cid:131) Are there any service activities?
(cid:131) Do you have business meetings?
(cid:131) Is everybody in the crew happy with the program?
When the Program is finished
Once the Program is finished, type up a copy and give one to every member of the crew and
the Rover Advisors. Give a copy to the Region Rover Council chairman and Assistant Region
Commissioner for Rovers. Also, give a copy to your Group Leader if you’re a Group Crew, or
District Commissioner, and to each of the feeder Venturer Units. Put a copy up in the Crew
Den and Scout Hall, and keep spare copies for new members or those who show an interest,
and for the members who lose theirs!
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Ways to come up with Program ideas
Brainstorming
Have a big sheet of paper or a whiteboard, and spend five minutes where anyone can call
out an idea for an activity, and it is written up on the board. No one is allowed to pay out
any suggestions, and everything should be written down. Stop every couple of minutes to
see if there are any themes, or possible areas that aren’t being covered, such as weekend
activities or fundraising. Continue to Brainstorm until there is a decent sized list. Pick out
the activities that people would most like to do and fit them into the Program calendar.
Development approach
Scouting is about developing the individual, which is why the Aim of Rovering is for all
Rovers to get PISSED:
Physical
Intellectual
Spiritual
Social
Emotional
Development
The Rover Section also has the motto of ‘Service’.
On five sheets of paper write the headings of each of these areas above. Have another
sheet of paper with the heading ‘Something I want to do’. Everyone has a texta or a pen,
and writes three suggestions under each of the headings. When everyone has finished, each
person has three stars they can ‘spend’ on activities under each heading they would most
like to do. Once everyone has finished, pick out the activities that scored the highest, and fit
these into the Program calendar.
Say & Do
If someone would like to do an activity, they say what it is and it’s put into the Program
calendar as an activity they organise.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Each person provides five Program ideas. This can be done with members who may not be
able to attend the programming night. All the ideas are written onto small individual pieces
of paper, and drawn from a hat. These activities are then fitted into the Program calendar.
Way back when?
Have a look at some old Programs from several years ago that the crew has kept. Go
through some of these activities and pick out the ones that sound good. Fit these into the
Program calendar.
Random choice
Have 700+ Program Ideas for Rovers in front of you. Close your eyes, open a page, and
point your finger. Whatever you land on is the activity you do! Pass the book on to the next
person and continue until you have filled all of the dates in the Program.
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ADVENTUROUS/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A Abseiling Acrobatics
Bush Rally Bungee jumping Bonnet skiing
B
Bonfire
Camel rides Caving Camping
C
Canoeing Crew camp Car Rally
D Dart Camp For more information, see
E Elephant Rides Expeditions
F Flying Four wheel driving
G Go Karts
Hiking Hang gliding Horse riding
H
Hot Air Ballooning
J Jelly Wrestling Jumping Castle
K Kite Surfing
M Map/Compass Mountain Bike Riding
Night Hike Nude Lake Run Night Bike Riding
N NAVTRAC - Manibobar 4WD
Navigation Event
O Orienteering Orienteering Competition
Parasailing Paint Balling Pistol Shooting
P
Parascending
Raft Race Rally driving Rafting
R Rail trails (bush walking Rock Climbing
along railway lines) Indoor/Outdoor
Scuba Diving Shooting Snow Skiing
S
Snorkelling Sky Diving Sumo Wrestling
T Tree Climbing Tobogganing
W Wind Surfing Water Slide
Y Yachting
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CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE
Building a bar Building a deck Buggy
B
Beer Can Sculpting
Carpentry Construction Constitution Night
Car fix it night Can Sculpting Concreting
C
Community asset
Cardboard buildings
maintenance
D Do It Yourself night
Energy saving ideas around
E
the home
G Gadget building
H Hall Clean Up
I Ice cream sculpting
L Lego Night
M Mechanics
Ropes Course – built and
R Renovate Cabin Repair playground
complete
W Wood work Welding
CRAFTS
Adventure book of your
A
crew
Badge Making Balloon Animals Banner Making
B
Body Painting Bonsai
Candle making Ceramics Craft Night
C
Cent Night Clay
D Design and make crew flag Drawing Design Crew Logo
G Graffiti Garden ornaments
H Hobby Night
J Jewellery
K Kite making Knitting
L Life Drawing Lead Lighting
Mask Making Make a costume for MARB Make a teddy bear
M Mosaics Model trains Miniature gardens
Macaroni Night
O Origami
Photography Paint a mural Plaster Fun House
Painting Photo board night Pottery
P
Paper Plane making Photography of the stars Paper Mache
Pipe cleaner people
Q Quilting
S Screen Printing Sewing Straw Towers
T T shirt printing Tie Dying Theatre
W Watercolour drawing
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ENVIRONMENT
B Build animal nesting boxes
C Conservation
D DNRE - visit
E Environmental Studies Environmental Games ENVIROVER
G Gardening
M Minimum Impact Camping
P Pioneering Parks Victoria - visit
Research Environmental
R Repair a walking track
issues
Start up a 'Friends of…"
S Seed collecting
group
T Tree Planting
V Visit a Landcare group
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FOOD, DRINKS & PARTIES
Alcohol hunt (as opposed to
A an Easter egg hunt) with Astronomy Alphabet Soup
tiny alcohol bottles.
Bring your pet night BBQ B & S Ball
Bush Tucker day/weekend Bad Taste Night Breakfast
B Brunch, the meal between
Big Breakfast Boat Cruise
breakfast and lunch.
Bogong Winter Party Banquet
Chocolate drive Cooking Damper Night Culture Night
Chocolate Making Cross Dressing Cray Fishing
Café night Cooking Casino night
Coloured Food night Cocktail Party Christmas party
C
Christmas in July Chocolate body painting Can Cooking
Packets of paper money that you buy at the start of the
night. You use the paper money to play various casino
Casino night
games; at the end of the night whoever has the most
money wins a prize.
Disco Dress up party Drinking games
D
Dinner
E Easter Egg Hunt Entertainers Night
Formal dinner Friendship party Fondue night
Formal dinner at fast food
Fashion Parade Formal dinner on street
F restaurants
Formal dinner in the
Fish and Chips
graveyard.
G Gourmet Tour
History theme night (eg.
Roman, Greek, Medieval, Home Brewery Halloween
Caveman, Dinosaur, etc)
Highland games, testing
H
your strength in true
Healthy Cooking Classes Health Food
Scottish form. Run a series
of Scottish games.
Hobos and Hookers
International Night. Bring
International Moot food from different countries Ice Sculpting
I
or dress up.
Ice Cream Sculpting
J Jungle night/theme party
K Kids party Kris Kringle Karaoke
L Letter theme night Lingerie Party (to sell)
Medieval Night Margarine/Butter sculpting Mystery night
M
Movie theme night Music Night Make a Pizza
Nude night Night Beat Newspaper fashion parade
N
Night Drop
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O Opposite party Op shop party
Pancakes on jam tins Pancake night Pool party
Pyjama Party Pizza night PJ progressive dinner
P
Pub Crawl Prostitution Night Port Bottling
Progressive Dinner Pie eating comp Pub Golf
Rumba Role Playing Road trip
R
Restaurant Regressive Dinner
Snow trip 60’s, 70’s, 80’s theme night Show and Tell
S Sausage Sizzle Super hero night Slumber party
Sex trivia night
Take away competition
Tin foil cooking Tupperware Party
T (McDonalds crawl)
Tinnie Trip Tickle Your Fancy Party Tea party
U Ute muster Underwear Party
Wine shows Water fight Wine bottling
W
Woodstock theme Watermelon Rugby Winery Crawl/Visit
Y Yabbying
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FUNDRAISING
B Build animal nesting boxes Sell them to local land care groups
Car Rally Organise a car rally for your District/Community
Organise a weekend car wash and charge people to have
Car Wash their cars washed by Rovers. Give them a ‘helped by a
Rover’ sticker.
Packets of paper money that you buy at the start of the
night. You use the paper money to play various casino
Casino night
games; at the end of the night whoever has the most
money wins a prize.
Charity ball
Buy Christmas trees at wholesale price and sell them to
C
your group/district or the general public. For more
Christmas Trees
information check out:
www.daylesfordchristmastreefarm.com.au
Chocolate drive
Chook Raffle
After your area has a local show, clean up the
Clean up the show grounds
showgrounds.
Concert
Run a stall at the local craft market, or even run a craft
Craft market
market
Face Painting Do face painting at on open day or a children’s festival
F
Fox drive
Run a garage sale at your hall, get all the rovers in your
G Garage Sale crew to bring along stuff that’s no use to them anymore
and sell it.
Run a highland games festival with traditional
H Highland games Scottish/Irish games with an Aussie twist to them, instead
of the hammer toss, the gumboot toss etc.
Run a night beat tour for the venturers in your area, the
N Night Beat
crews in your areas, or all the district leaders.
Get all the members of your crew or group to collect
Paul’s Collect a Cap
Paul’s milk bottle caps and cash them in for money.
P Deliver the Yellow/White pages phone books to people in
Phonebook Drop your area, it’s time consuming but can provide good
money
O Orienteering Competition
Run a raffle, have a selection of prizes on offer and the
Raffle winner can choose the best one for them. Eg. $100
petrol voucher, $100 alcohol voucher etc.
R
Collect recyclable bottles and can at major Rover events
Recycling Centre and cash them in for money. Offer to collect bottles and
cans at other major events.
Run a sausage sizzle outside local supermarket/car
S Sausage Sizzle dealership/hardware store when they are having a big
sale or during a busy time of year.
Auction off your crewmembers, group leaders, district
Slave for a Day
leaders to be slaves for a day.
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Snow trip Organise a snow trip for your crew and friends.
Sponsorship Drive
Swap meet Run a stand at the local swap meet
Run a stall at trash and treasure. Offer to clean up after
Trash & treasure
trash and treasure.
T
Run a trivia or quiz night for your group/district plus
Trivia/Quiz Night
family and friends.
- $100 Raffle
GAMES & STUFF
Find some apples that are too old to be sold but still solid
Apple Cricket
enough to be used as a cricket ball.
An ongoing game where you have to try and “kill” (not
A
literally) the other players in the game without being
Assassins
caught by the judge. Look it up on the internet
www.google.com
Bobs and Statues Bingo Ball games
B
Board Games Bigger & Better Night Beer in a haystack
Card chase - find one card
Chubby Bunnies and it has directions/clues to CB Chase
the next card on it
C
Cardboard Classic Card games Celebrity Head
Capture the Flag Chess Chalk Chase
Carpet Bowls Counting game
D Dark zone
E Eye Spy
H Horizontal bungee How to host a murder Have You Ever
Someone is having a party and each player has to bring a
certain item to be allowed to come to the party. Eg. My
‘I’m having a party…’ word
I name is Robert and I’m having a party, I’m going to bring
game
a rabbit. R for Robert = R for rabbit. Etc. There are
many variations.
J Jumping castle
K King Frog
L Laser Force
M Musical Chairs Monopoly
Play night Photo scavenger hunt Pictionary Night
Pitch a tent competition –
P literally pitch a tent in as
Pool/snooker night Penny Hike
many different places as
possible
R Remote Control Car Rubbish Bin Rowing Red Faces
Sand castle building
Sticker chase Slot cars
S competition
Scavenger Hunt Sumo wrestling Twilight Games
T Trivial Pursuit Toilet paper mummies
W Watermelon Rugby Wide Games Wheelie Bin Racing
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
A Aerobics
Body Balance Body Painting Beauty Salon
B Body Art, Tattoos and
Piercing
C Callisthenics Chocolate Body Paint Candle making
F Facial night Face Painting Fashion Parade
G Gym
H Hairdressers Health Food
M Make up night Mud and Scrub Massage
P Pamper night
Rest and relaxation camp,
R Relax classes Running
Hepburn Springs
S Swimming Soap Making Stress relief
T Taibo Tae kwon do Ti Chi
Y Yoga
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS
Bbq and games night with
B Bring a friend night
University students
C Community promotions
H Hoadley Hide
I Interchange Magazine
L Local newspaper
M Mudbash MARB
O O Week activities
Put flyers and posters in Present at high school
P Photo board night
shops around your area career sessions
Radio – put adds on radio or
Run a session for a holiday
R host a top 20 count down
program
for a night
S Schoolies Week Surfmoot Sandown
Scout Magazine
TELL PEOPLE ABOUT
T
ROVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
V Visit high school Vic Gathering
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MEDIA & COMPUTERS
A Amateur Video Night
C Computers
D Documentary night Drive in Movies
G Gun simulator
I Internet night Internet games
Monty Python Night/Movie
Movies Movie marathon
Marathon
M
Multi Player computer
games
N Nintendo/play station night
O Olympic Dream Night
P Photo board night Photography Photo Scavenger Hunt
S Simpsons Marathon
U Underground film festival
V Video/DVD Night Video games Video Scavenger Hunt
W Website development
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OTHER
Exercise for coming up with ideas and suggestions, where
you devote 5 minutes to a topic and write down on a big
B Brainstorming
sheet of paper anything people say. Good for
Programming.
Split the Crew into two teams and give them a topic to
debate. A couple of examples are: “Women are superior
to men (and get opposite sex to argue point)” “Squire
D Debate
Training is outdated”.
Challenge another Crew or Venturer Unit to a political
debate night.
Hire out the Movie and recreate your own Ground Hog
G Ground hog day
Day
H House Sitting Look after someone’s house whilst they’re on holiday.
Get some big chunks of ice and a grassy hill and slide
I Ice Blocking
down it!
L Loch Ness Monster Find the Loch Ness Monster.
O Ouija Board Are there any ghosts in your hall?
Using this list of program ideas, if you do one of these
P Programming activities each week, you could program for over 14 years
without repeating anything!
Plot some local landmarks using Rural street addressing
R Rural street addressing
techniques.
Star gazing Ponder the night sky.
Have a health worker talk to the crew about Sexually
STD night
S Transmitted Diseases.
Develop Stickers for your crew or swap your stickers
Stickers night
collection.
Get Romantic and have a crew candlelight dinner and
V Valentines Day
write each other warm fuzzies.
W Watch sunrise Get up early, climb a mountain and be inspired.
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SCOUTING
Venturer hiking competition held in Yarra Valley Region,
A Armstrong 500
similar to Hoadley Hide held start of September.
Presentation at Government House. First Saturday in
BP Award presentations
October
Teach your crew about the BP Award, what it is, the
BP Night different badges you can get, how to do it, examples of
B
what other people have done.
See Branch Fixture Card
Branch activities
http://www.vicscouts.asn.au/Rovers/
Business Meeting Coordinating meeting for the crew
Constitutional amendments Make and review crew constitution
Crew Break Up End of year party/get together
C
Crew Challenge Activity challenge with another crew(s)
Rover Crew participate in local Cub Pack activities as a
Cub for a night
cub for the night
D District activities Participate or run activities within the district
E Ethical Training Discussions on Rover and Scouting ethics
Annual bike marathon event held at Sandown Race
F Formula bike
Course during start of May
Annual Scout Theatre Activity, during June.
G Gang Show
http://www.gangshow.org/
Hoadley Hide planning Plan a stunt for Hoadley Hide
Annual Venturer hiking competition with stunts
H predominantly run by Rovers. Held over the Easter Long
Hoadley Hide
Weekend.
www.hoadleyhide.com/
Venturer Activity run by Rovers, requirement of the
Initiative Course
Queen’s Scout Award
International gathering of Rovers.
I
International Moot E.g. World Moot to be held in Taiwan 2004, Tassie Moot
to be held in Tasmania 2004-5.
Inter Crew activities Combined night with another crew.
Jamborees Major International Scout Event, held every 3 years.
Jamboree Of The Air/Jamboree Of The Internet.
J
JOTA/JOTI Opportunity for communication between Scouts around
the World.
Metropolitan Area Rover Ball
MARB Annual Fancy Dress Ball held in Melbourne in July with
varying themes
A large gathering of Rovers usually over several days
M Moots
E.g. Surfmoot, New Zealand Moot, Tassie Moot
Annual Rover Event held over the Queens Birthday
Mudbash Weekend at Mafeking Rover Park
http://www.rovers.scouts.com.au/vic/mudbash/
Presentation at Government House. First Saturday in
Q Queen’s Scout presentation
October
Weekend/Weeknight meeting to coordinate the running
R Region Meetings
of the region, sometimes associated with an activity
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Region activities Activities run by the region
Activity held by Murray Midlands Region Rovers to
Renew your crew days identify issues and formulate plans for individual crews
within the region
Run by Hoadley Region to promote interaction between
Hoadley Roventure
the Rovers and the Venturers in the Region.
Rovers vs. Leaders,
Venturers, Scouts, Cubs, Challenge between Rovers and other sections
Joeys
RYVER Moot Annual Event run by RYVER Region with varying themes
Time of Spiritual Reflection by Rovers or Scouting
Scouts Own
members in general
Squire Training The training and development of Squires within the crew
Annual Rover Event held by the beach at Eumeralla Scout
S
Surfmoot Camp (Anglesea) on Australia Day Weekend.
http://www.rovers.scouts.com.au/vic/surfmoot
A Church ceremony dedicated to St George, held in
St George’s Day Service
Melbourne, includes guest speakers. May 9th
Formal training qualifications for Rovers, especially useful
Training courses e.g. Basic
for people holding positions within committees or
T training, advanced training,
councils.
wood badges, TASC etc.
http://www.vicscouts.asn.au/Rovers/LeaderStuff/
Major National Venturer Event, held every 3 years.
Venture See the Victorian Branch Venturer Web page for more
V information
Annual Venturer social and activities weekend in Victoria
Vic Gathering
staffed largely by Rovers
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SERVICE & SPIRITUAL
Help out with some disabled people. There are
information sessions to help integrate disabled members
Activity with disabled
into your crew. Contact Branch Rover Council for more
information
Tractors, Trees and woollen garments. Heaps more to
A Agricultural shows
see at these shows. Contact country shire councils
26th April is ANZAC day, and a great time to get your
uniform on and participate in the parade carrying banners
ANZAC day
for the diggers. Participate locally or in the Melbourne
march.
Annual week long festival held in the start of March in
Ballarat Begonia Festival Ballarat. Always looking for volunteers to do various
tasks.
1 donation can help 3 lives. Make it a crew donation and
Blood donation let them know you’re Rovers to help us win the annual
summer blood challenge
Read a book as a Crew and analyse it. Explore the
different effects that it had on different people, and the
Books
different ways that each person viewed events and
characters.
B
Each year BRC have an annual service activity. 2003 &
2004 have been devoted to Oxfam Trailwalker, a
Branch Rover Council
Community Aid Abroad 100km walk in 48 hours to raise
Service Activities
money for disadvantaged communities overseas and in
indigenous Australia. April.
Help out the little creatures that depend on hollows, and
put them up at your local Scout camp, or patch of bush.
Build animal nesting boxes There are books in the library which can help with
dimensions or contact Department of Sustainability and
Environment on http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/
Car Wash Offer to wash people’s cars for free
Either for Venturers or for a local high school. Utilise the
Careers Night different vocations of your Rovers and Leaders, eg.
Students, apprentices, managers, etc.
Contact the cemetery grounds keeper and weed out
Cemetery face-lift
some of the graves that aren’t maintained
Clean up the rubbish dumped across Australia.
C Cleanup Australia Day
www.cleanup.com.au/
Join a scout committee, band or outdoors Scout team
Committees
such as abseiling or rock climbing.
Community asset Contact the local council to see what projects you can
maintenance help with, such as a local park or landmark
Come up with a service project which is meaningful to
Crew Service Activity
your crew
Help out on community food drives/hand outs or clothes
Food Drives/Clothes Pick
F pick up runs for groups such as the Salvation Army and
Ups
Red Cross.
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Get in touch with the super natural world for a night,
Ghosts and Fortune Telling
G either do some research into it yourself or invite an
Night
expert along.
Maintain the hall and surrounds. Do the gardening or
Hall Clean Up
give it a coat of paint. Always things to do
Wear orange or wrap a major landmark in Orange Plastic
to help promote harmony between different cultures in
Harmony Day
Australia. It is run on March 21st annually. See
H http://www.immi.gov.au/multicultural/harmonyday/
Annual fundraising event for Mafeking Rover Park as part
Hawker’s Market of the food and wine festival. Cleaning up of dishes and
tables.
Keep a record of all service activities and other activities
History Book of your crew
the crew does.
Offer to help out at your local library, Information Centre
L Local Library
or another community facility.
See fixture card for dates to help maintain and develop
Mafeking Working Bee
Mafeking Rover Park – your asset.
Split up into groups and create a new god and a religion
Make your own religion
to go with them.
Help out with raising money through McHappy Day on
McHappy Day the 18th of May. $1 from every Big Mac sold at McDonalds
goes towards the Ronald McDonald House of Charities.
Meals on Wheels Help out in the kitchen or help deliver food to the needy.
M A very private and personal exploration of who
you are - good points and bad points, where you are
Mind Map
now, what you have achieved, what you would like to
achieve and what you can achieve soon.
Mosque Visit a Mosque and learn about another religion
Scouts Australia service project to plant native trees in
the most salinity affected areas of the Murray River and
Murray Darling Rescue
Darling River catchments. See
www.murrayriverrescue.com
100km in 48-hour activity that raises money for
Oxfam Trailwalker (VIC BRC
O disadvantaged communities overseas and in indigenous
Major Service Activity)
Australia. April.
Hire the movie ‘Pay it forward’ from the video shop and
try putting the concept into action with your crew
P Pay it forward members. Pick a month to ‘pay it forward’. Help three
people in a way they couldn’t help themselves, and then
they help three other people etc.
Help raise money for the salvation army during end of
R Red shield appeal May till the start of June. Also see the website at:
www.salvationarmy.org.au/RedShieldAppeal/
Murray Midlands Region Service Activity is to help out a
different Scout Camp each year. Other Regions have
Region Service Activities
their own activity such as South Metro’s Toy Drive at
Christmas.
11th of November marked the end of World War 2.
Remembrance Day
Participate in the services on this day.
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Rotary & T.A.C. ‘Tea/Coffee Assist in the running of the Rotary and T.A.C ‘Tea/Coffee
Break’ Scheme Break’ stops on major highways around Victoria.
Contact the local Landcare group and collect some native
Seed collecting
seeds for future plantings. Often best in summer.
Make people think about what it would be like to live
without different senses and aspects of themselves. Take
Sensory Awareness Night a sense away from them, sight, speech, hearing,
movement (paraplegic, quadriplegic) and then experience
how their other senses are heightened.
S
Have a combined activity with another service club such
Service clubs
as Freemasons, Rotary or Lions etc.
Collect silver spoons for Africa to assist with hygienic
Silver Spoons
distribution of medicine. Combined activity with Rotary.
Squire Training – Ethical Can be developed into a very spiritual activity.
Service held in Melbourne to celebrate the patron saint of
St Georges Day
Scouting. May.
Weeding in a local park, Scout camp, or the garden of an
Weed removal
elderly person who is unable to do it themselves.
Pitch in and help out in the physical maintenance of
Working Bees (hall/ group/ community assets.
community/ Scout parks/ Rover Den, Venturer Den, Scout Hall, Group, Community
W disaster areas) Groups, Scout Parks, Disaster Areas, Local Primary or
Secondary Schools.
World masters games Various games which anyone is able to compete in
Shave or Colour your hair and raise money for research
World’s Greatest Shave for a
into Leukaemia and Cancer. March. See
Cure
www.worldsgreatestshave.com/
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SPORTS
A Aerobics Archery
Bike Hike BMX Day Badminton
Billy cart derby Body Balance Boche
B
Bunny bashing Ballroom Dancing Blindfold Cricket
Beach volley ball Bowling Boxing
Callisthenics Cross Country Skiing Crew Football comp
C Croquet Cricket Crazy Golf
Community sports
D Drag racing Darts Downhill Skiing
F Fishing Figure Skating
G Golf Gym
Hockey Highland games Hackie Sack
H
Harness racing
I Ice Hockey Ice Skating
K Kite flying Kayaking Kick Boxing
L Lawn bowls Line Dancing Lawn Mower racing
Midnight Bowling – midnight
Martial Arts Mini Golf till 6am at the bowling alley
M
with an ice-cold esky.
Marathon running Mud Wrestling Mini Olympics
P Physical Challenges Polo
R River Water sports Roller Blading Roller Skating
Surfing Swimming Spotlighting
Small Bore Pistol Sports Round Robin Sailing
S
Skiing Snow ball fight Skateboarding
Squash
Tubing Ten pin bowling Tennis
T Taebo Table Tennis Tae kwon do
Triathlon
U Under Water Hockey
V Volleyball
Winter Games Water aerobics Water Polo
W Wake Boarding Watermelon Rugby Wood Chopping
Water Skiing Wrestling
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TOURS, VISITS & GUESTS
Aboriginal sites Contact Parks Victoria to locate sites and information
Invite someone from a local indigenous co-operative to
Aboriginal visitor the crew for a night to talk about their history and
culture.
ADI visit Defence, engineering and systems contractor in Benalla
Agricultural shows See local paper/local council for information
Youth movement similar to Scouting based on Air force
Air cadets training. See local phone book for more
information/details
Airport tour/customs Melbourne Airport or local airport
Alternative farming expo See local paper/local council for information
Ambulance Tour Contact local Ambulance Offices/Hospital
A
Aquarium Melbourne Aquarium, South Bank
Youth movement similar to Scouting based on Army
Army cadets training. See local phone book for more
information/details
Art gallery See Melbourne/Local phone book or Council
Art shows Check local newspapers, universities, art galleries
Hire a book from local library and take the crew out a
night of stargazing somewhere away from the city, or
Astronomy
learn more at the Melbourne Planetarium. Visit
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/planetarium/links1.html
Major Tennis Event held in Melbourne
Australian Open
http://www.ausopen.com.au/
Major weeklong Festival held in Ballarat in March to
Ballarat Begonia Festival
celebrate the begonias.
Ballet Check local/Melbourne theatres for details
Visit local/live band. Invite band to perform/teach crew
Band
about performing and music
Arrange a tour of a local bank. Invite a bank
Bank visit
manager/worker to the crew for a night
Beach trip Go to the beach
B Beauty Salon Pamper yourselves for a night
Beechworth Visit Beechworth (excellent Bakery, great apple juice)
Blind Home visit Check local phone book for more information and details
Blood on the Southern Cross Sound and Light show held at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat
at Sovereign Hill that reproduces the Eureka Rebellion
Brewery Experience the brewing process of beer
Brucks Woollen Mills in Wangaratta
Hire a bus and go on a tour of attractions in
Bus Tour
Victoria/other states
Hire a caravan and take a trip around your region,
C Caravanning
Victoria, Australia
Casino night Visit Crown Casino in Melbourne or your local casino.
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Take a walk around the cemetery in the dark. Have a
Cemetery quiz to complete while you’re there.
Formal dinner in the cemetery (check with manager first)
CFA tour Look in White Pages for contact details
China town Have a meal in Melbourne’s China town
Circus Visit the Circus if it tours town, or find one in Melbourne
Coast Guard visit/tour Look in White Pages for contact details
Annual Comedy Event held in Melbourne. See
Comedy Festival
www.comedyfestival.com.au/
Concert Local or Big Name Concert visit
Cricket Visit Local or MCG game
CUB (Carlton united
Brewery in Melbourne See http://www.cub.com.au/
breweries) tour
Dairy Farm Find out how Milk is made
Visit Hepburn Springs in Daylesford or check your local
Day Spa
phone book
Check local phone book for more information and details
Deaf Home visit
Learn sign language the week before you go
D
Department of Sustainability and Environment (formerly
DSE
Department of Natural Resources and Environment)
Get local Health Care Worker to discuss with the Crew
Drug Night
issues associated with various drugs
Drug Squad Visit the Drug Squad through Police Department
Explore Echuca including Dharnya Centre at Barmah
Echuca visit
Forest, Paddle Steamers, Murray River etc.
Eildon Weir Explore Eildon Weir
E Contact local employment agencies and find out how to
Employment agencies
get a job, handle an interview and write resumes etc.
Ettamogah Pub Visit Ettamogah Pub in Albury
Exotic Destination Visit a cultural centre different to your own
Factory Visits (eg. SPC,
Look in local phone book and contact to see if they do
Cheese, Mustard, MARS,
tours
Haku Baku, etc.)
Farm visit Find out how a farm works
Visit fauna parks, e.g. Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee
Fauna park
Zoo
F Heaps of stuff to do here, e.g. restaurants, theatres,
Festival Square (Melbourne)
festivals, Victorian art gallery, pub etc.
Flower shows Contact local Council
Football Visit local match or Melbourne AFL game
Funeral Parlour Take a tour and see how it operates
Visit Flemington Racecourse first thing in the morning
Flemington Racecourse
when all the trainers are out. Go and see an actual race.
G Glenrowan visit Contact Visitor Centre in Glenrowan
God Squad - Visitor Christian Motor bike group
Gold Mine Tour Central Deborah Mine in Bendigo
Get tickets, or apply to be a part of the half time
Grand Final AFL/VFL
performance
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Formula 1 event in Melbourne in October. See
Grand Prix http://www.grandprix.com.au/ or Motor bike event in
Philip Island in October http://www.grandprix.com/
Computer equipment swap meet in Ballarat. There’s also
Great Southern Swap Meet
regular swap meets held in Melbourne
Invite a Guest Speaker which your crew has shown
Guest speaker
interest in
Visit a hairdresser and see how they operate. Get
Hairdressers everybody in the crew to have a haircut or colour his or
her hair while you’re there.
Find out what businesses are running half price Tuesday
Half price Tuesday deals and plan a night around that. Go out for a cheap
meal, then a cheap movie or cheap game a bowling
HAM radio CB Radio, talk to other people. Build your own radio.
Plan a day/weekend trip in Healesville. Visit Healesville
Healesville Sanctuary, Eastern Victoria. See the
http://www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=2
Cleanse the mind and body at a health centre for the
Health Centre night/day/weekend. Health Centre is a gym but with
H
more facilities and features. Daylesford.
Find out what health services are available in your area.
Health Services night
Invite them to talk to the crew or plan a visit to see them.
Small town 5 minutes out of Daylesford. It has lots of
Hepburn Springs health resorts and massage centres. Also visit Hepburn
Springs and taste pure natural spring water.
Horse races Plan a night for the crew at the horse races.
Organise to do a tour of local hospital, see all the wards
Hospital and different sections and find out how they operate.
Invite some hospital staff to talk to the crew for a night.
Explore Hughes Creek region, around the Mafeking area,
Hughes Creek
near Seymour.
Visit an IMAX theatre and be amazed! IMAX theatres
boast massive screens, bigger than you average movie
IMAX Theatre screen, much bigger!!! They play a variety of films and
documentaries. Organise a backstage tour of the
cinemas.
Plan a trip to another state or several other states. Get in
I
contact with the Branch Rover Council of the state/s
Interstate trip
you’re visiting and organise to stay with other crews.
Could be used as a ramble badge towards your BP.
Get the District Commissioner to outline their role and
Invite the DC to a night their history in scouting, or just bring them along for a bit
of good old fashioned Rover fun.
Invite your local newspaper to the crew for the night, get
them to talk about what putting together a
J Journalist night newspaper/magazine involves. Possibly start your own
crew newspaper. Learn how to write up articles to go in
the local paper/Interchange/Scout Mag.
Take a visit/weekend camp to Lake Eppalock. Water
L Lake Eppalock
activities or bushwalking. ½ hour East of Bendigo, VIC
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Landcare Groups Invite them to talk to the group. Get involved in activities
(Conservation Volunteers that they are running. Run an environmental weekend
Australia, Friends of … for your crew with a range of different environmental
Groups) activities
Light horse park
Sit in on a session of your local council and learn about
Local council
issues in your areas.
Get your local Minister for Parliament to talk to the crew
Local MP
about youth issues in your electorate.
Take a tour of the local university. Visit their clubs and
Local university societies group. Plan a promotional event at the uni to
recruit new members.
Take a trip to wonderful world that is Mafeking Rover
Park. Explore the wonders that this park has outside of
Mafeking the main arena, including bushland, BMX track, and
firewood plantation. See
http://www.rovers.scouts.com.au/vic/mafeking
Major events (e.g. Big Day
Check out the Gig Guide in the Age or the Melbourne City
Out, St Kilda Festival,
Council http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/
Moomba)
Invite the Mayor of your town to come along to Rovers
Mayor for night and talk about the roles and responsibilities of
being Mayor.
M
Melbourne is full of things to do! The list would be
Melbourne endless! Contact the Melbourne Information Centre for
more info
1st Tuesday in November. Get dressed up for a day at
Melbourne Cup
the races!
Moomba Moomba festival is great fun in March.
Morgue Take a tour of the morgue.
Visit a mosque for a night and learn about another
Mosque
religion.
Fill your mind with the experience of museums, art,
Museums
natural history, military, local or national.
National Parks are perfect places for a Crew trip.
National Parks tour Everything from the Desert to the Alps and all in
N between. See www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
Take a tour of the production line for a newspaper from
Newspaper visit
the reporters to the printers and distributors
Ladies day at the races. Part of the Spring Racing
O Oakes day – Melbourne Cup
Carnival
Find some bargains at your op shop and then have an
Op shop tour
op-shop dinner afterwards
Opera Try some cultural awareness with a visit to the Opera
Orchestra Melbourne or local orchestra
The younger sections of the Scout movement are the
Other Section visits (Joeys,
next generations of Rovers. Have a combined activity
Cubs, Scouts, Venturers)
and have some fun with them.
Overnight stay at the zoo Melbourne Zoo sometimes offers overnight stays
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A crew activity, Moots and Jamborees are a perfect
opportunity to experience another country and get to
Overseas trip
know some overseas Scouts. Contact Branch Rover
Council for current opportunities
Parades Join your crew into a parade
Contact Parks Victoria for some information on natural
Parks Victoria
attractions of Victoria. www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
The planetarium in Melbourne can amaze you with a
Planetarium
spectacle of the stars
P
Play it Safe by the Water Group that teaches kids about water safety
Police Accident Squad Have a presentation from the Police Accident Squad
Police Station Tour Tour the inside of a Police Station – the right way!
Politician visit Ask your local politician to talk to the crew
Puckapunyal tour Army base near Seymour
Visit the RSPCA and see the animals which have been
RSPCA
injured, lost or abandoned
Visit your local or a major radio station for a behind the
Radio station tour scenes tour. Get them to do an interview of your crew to
play on air.
Find out how to maintain an old steam train. Belgrave in
Rail heritage workshop the East of Melbourne has Puffing Billy, an active historic
steam train
Rialto See Melbourne from the tallest building in the city
R Ride escalators at Myers Up and down, up and down
Baw Baw Chalet and Bogong Chalet are two amazing
assets owned and run by Victorian Rovers. Perfect for
Rover chalets exploring the alpine high country in summer or winter.
See http://www.rovers.scouts.com.au/vic/bogong
http://www.rovers.scouts.com.au/vic/bawbaw
Lots of fun things to do and see, including an annual
Scout Display in this show held in North Melbourne in
Royal Melbourne Show
September School Holidays. See:
http://www.royalshow.com.au/index_flash.htm
ScienceWorks Museum is a fun, interactive museum to
S ScienceWorks Museum learn about Science in Spotswood.
http://www.scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au/
Visit a Seniors Home and sing them some songs or
Seniors Home Visit entertain them, then have a chat with some of the
individuals
State Emergency Services deal with accidents and
SES tour disaster relief and have some pretty cool equipment and
stories
Many cities have underground sewers and drainage pipes
Sewer Tour that can be accessed and walked through. Be very
careful with this, and contact your local Council first
Seymour cup Horse Race in Seymour
What’s in your local shire? Make a checklist from the
Shire tour
information centre and explore your home town
Shire works unit Become a shire council worker for a day
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Save up some money and go splurge! A twist on this can
Shopping trip be to see who can come up with the greatest volume of
goods for $2.00
Participate in the services held at the shrine of
Shrine Of Remembrance remembrance, or get someone from the RSL to give you
a guided tour
Shrine of the Unknown This shrine is in Turkey, and is an exceptional experience
Solider on ANZAC Day
Have fun at the snow! Many good places within 2 hours
Snow trip
of Melbourne
This old gold mining town will take you back in time to
Sovereign Hill
the Gold Rush of the 1800’s
Sporting events Cheer on your local team
Spring racing carnival Annual racing events. Great to get dressed up for!
St Georges Lake (Ballarat)
Great places for a crew camp. Contact Parks Victoria for
State Parks tour
more information: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
Ask Olympic Marathon runner Steve Moneghetti to talk to
Steve Moneghetti
the crew about his experiences (local to Ballarat)
Participate in the activities of a training session with the
Surf Life Saving
Surf Life Saving Club
Surgery Visit Take a tour of the inside of a surgery
TAB Each crew member gets $5 to bet on the TAB
Toast Masters Group that assist in public speaking
Tourist activities Be a tourist! Contact information centre
T
Take a night tour of all the lookout towers in your local
Tower Tour
area
Ride the V-line train to a distant destination. The journey
Train Trip
can be as much fun as the destination!
VicRoads Get an inside tour of Vic Roads
Visit an eco-lodge Spend a weekend in an eco-lodge
Visit other religion Participate in a service from another religion
V
Visit with Guides Have a joint night or camp with our ‘sister organisation’
Ask a Youth Worker to talk to the crew about their
Visitor - Youth Work
experiences and issues which are faced by local youth
Wool Mills Discover the operations of a Wool Mill
W Werribee Park This open plan Zoo has a variety of animals and birds
Win TV tour See the behind-the-scenes operations of Win TV
Z Zoo visit Explore Melbourne Zoo for the day
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TRAINING
Leader of adults course for Rovers. Wood Badge training,
Advanced Training Course must have completed Basic Sectional Techniques Course
prior.
Various outdoor adventurous activities including Water
Adventurous Activity -
Activities, Snow Activities, Rock Activities, bushwalking
Branch Activity Leaders
and 4WDing.
Check out the practise training that the AFL clubs do, and
AFL footy club training
try to copy them one night with the crew.
A Discover the many diverse creatures we share Australia
Australian Animals - with. Contact your local field naturalist club, Parks
research Victoria or library to see if they have any sessions coming
up.
Research the many stories of Australia’s past. Contact
Australian History – research
you local historical society to learn about local history.
Discover the many diverse plants we share Australia with.
Australian Plants – research Contact your local field naturalist club, Parks Victoria or
library to see if they have any sessions coming up.
Have a camp where you only have the bare minimum of
Back to Basics Camp gear and food. Test your Scouting skills to erect a shelter
and camp overnight.
B Ballroom Dancing Check your local phone book for clubs
Course directed at Crew Leaders or those wanting to take
Basic Training Course
on a role in Rovers.
Bronze Medallion Enhance your swimming and life saving capabilities
CFA training Learn how to protect property and lives from fire
Commando / assault course Tackle the commando course at many of the Scout camps
C
Murray Midlands package taking Rover Crews through
Complete Crew Package everything they need to know about running an effective
crew
Can you do an evening three step? Break dance? Latin?
Dance lessons
Tap? There are many classes that can teach these.
Learn to sign. This useful tool can be found in the Scout
Deaf alphabet
Handbook.
D
Think you’re a good driver? Look in your phone book and
Defensive Driving
enrol in a defensive driving course, and surprise yourself!
Award similar to the QS award. See
Duke of Edinburgh
http://www.dukeofed.org.au/
Course held at the end of November based on the World
E Envirover Conservation Badge for Rovers. Covers many
environmental topics and activities. See Fixture Card
Find out who your Great-great-Grandparents were and
Family tree - research
what they did. Present your stories and tree to the crew.
There are many Level 2 first aid courses run through
F First Aid Scout First Aid, or St. John’s. If you have this, take the
next step and try Remote Area or Wilderness First Aid.
Learn a Foreign Language then test it out at the next
Foreign language
Moot!
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History Night (group, crew,
H Research the history of Scouting in your Region.
town, region)
Initiative activities/ team Initiative course is held run each year for Venturers.
building Many Scout Camps have Initiative courses also.
Course held for Venturers each year as part of their QS
I Initiative Course
Award
Back to basics introduction for anyone wanting to be a
Intro to Scouting
leader.
How many knots can you tie? Bowline, Clove hitch, Reef,
K Knots Sheet bend, Sheepshank, Granny, Splice, Round-turn and
two-half-hitches?
Be able to do outdoor rock climbing and know how to
Lead Rock climbing
safely place protection and climb safely.
L
Contact a local music school for tips on learning an
Learn a musical instrument
instrument
Can you read a topographic map, walk a compass course
without a map, or orient yourself in a white out? There
Map/Compass
are many books around, or contact the Scout
M
Bushwalking Team.
Learn the tips of massage through short courses. See
Massage
your phone book.
Bush navigation racing. Contact your local council for
O Orienteering
information on clubs.
Take your Religious understanding to a great level, or
Religion
experience those of a different faith.
R
Course being developed by BRC to cover the spiritual and
Rover Mind warp
more challenging ideals questions of Rovers.
Contact a local martial arts instructor to explain how to
Self defence
protect yourself in a confrontation.
State Emergency Services deal with many accidents and
SES training natural disasters. See your phone book for contact
information.
Shearing Can you shear a sheep?
S
See Rover Record Book Method B – Spiritual Badge for
Spiritual
suggestions of Spiritual Development
Could you save a person in a rip? Give Surf Life Saving
Surf Life Saving
training a go.
Get someone from the Army to give tips on how to
Survival night
survive in extreme conditions.
The next page has been left blank for you to add any of your own suggestions.
If you have any further suggestions for program ideas or good Rover activities then please
send them to:
Rover Marketing Team of Victoria Chairman
brc.marketing@vicscouts.asn.au
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