Earthquake Badge For Canterbury Scouts – Ownership and Focus for Kids

“Be Prepared” has taken on a whole new meaning for Scouts in Canterbury.
 

Following the earthquakes in the region, a unique badge has been developed for local Scouts, which include Keas, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers.
 

Scouts NZ Regional Development Manager for the Upper South Island, Mike Blackburn, says the Scouts are excited about working towards something that is just for them.
 

“So many of the skills our children learn at Scouts have been called upon over the last few months,” he says, “and we wanted to acknowledge that.”
 

Blackburn adds that Scout Groups all over the city were out and about helping in communities after the quakes, assisting with supplying water, cleaning up and using the knowledge they have gained as Scouts.
Christchurch mother of two scouts, Jo Downey, agrees saying that routine and getting back to some semblance of normality has also been where Scouts has been a huge help with her children.
 

“With school disrupted for both Kate (13 years) and Tom (10 years), continuing with Scouts each week, seeing their friends, learning new things and having some fun made a huge difference; to us all actually,” she says.
 

Mike Blackburn says with some families moving out of Christchurch and a number of halls damaged in the quakes, he is keen to let people know Scouts is still operating and can offer young people so much.
 

“We had experienced very healthy growth in membership, of around 21% over the last 4 years and that has slowed considerably since September,” he says. “The feedback I am getting from parents is that Scouts has made, and continues to make, such a positive difference to family routine and provides a positive focus for kids and I want to get that message out there.”
 

Blackburn has been liaising closely with Civil Defence, who he says have been fantastic with their support of the ‘Be Prepared’ badge and supporting programme.
 

On his recruitment drive, he has visited smaller towns like Cheviot, on several occasions recently and Mike says the response has been fantastic.
 

“The first time we went to Cheviot a few weeks ago, we had eighteen children turn up with their mums and dads. By the time the word got around we were coming back the following week, the numbers swelled to 30. It was great,” he says.
 

The “Be Prepared” badge is top of Kate and Tom Enright’s “to do list” right now, and their mum Jo Downey says her children are loving the opportunity to gain this unique badge.
 

“They think the Cathedral and the two quake measurements on the badge look very cool,” she says. “It helps them own what has happened and turn it into a positive.”

ENDS
www.scouts.org.nz
 

Additional Information:

• Scouts are girls and boys, and belong to one of our five sections:
Keas school years 1-3 [ages 6-8]
Cubs school years 3-6 [ages 8-10]
Scouts school years 6-10 [ages 10-14]
Venturers school years 10-13 [ages 14-18]
Rovers [ages 18-26]
 

• There are more than 3100 scouts in Canterbury and 15,000 nationwide.
• There are approximately 600 scout leaders in Canterbury and 3,000 nationwide.
• All of our leaders are trained volunteers aged 18+.
 

The “Be Prepared” Badge – what do scouts have to do to earn the new badge?

Each section, and all current and new members, will be able to earn a badge by completing the following:
Keas: Household Emergency Plan
Cubs: Household Emergency Plan
Household Emergency Kit
Scouts: Household Emergency Plan
Household Emergency Kit
Personal First Aid Kit
Venturers: Household Emergency Plan
Household Emergency Kit
Personal First Aid Kit
Rovers & Group: To have an emergency evacuation plan for the hall and leaders to have contact details for all members.

Civil Defence is supplying printed material and we have also received other money and goods in kind. We are also running a series of People Savers First Aid Courses in conjunction with the Red Cross, for the Scout section.