Wakefield District Explorers

Explorer Belt Expedition 2009

Communication

The Explorers will be carrying a Belgium Simcarded mobile phone for communication with the Leadership team.

This will be supplied to them when we arrive in Belgium.

All the Explorers will be supplied with all the phone numbers for the Leadership Team (both Local & UK phones), the campsites and the UK home contact.

While we are in Belgium in case of an emergency at home please use the home contact who will contact the Leaders. Please don't contact the Explorers direct.

During the Expedition three methods of communication with the Explorers will be used. Visits by the Leaders, Phonecalls and text messaging.

The proposed communication schedule is below - this will however change as and when required.

• Day 1 (Tue) - Text Message


• Day 2 (Wed) - Phone call


• Day 3 (Thu) - Visit by the Leaders


• Day 4 (Fri) - Phone call


• Day 5 (Sat) - Visit by the Leaders


• Day 6 (Sun) - Text Message


• Day 7 (Mon) - Phone call


• Day 8 (Tue) - Visit by the Leaders


• Day 9 (Wed) - Text Message


• Day 10 (Thu) - Return to site

Commuicaton with parents when the Explorers are in Belgium will be via this Blog, which will be updated whenever possible.

Rules

Before the Expedition

• All teams must complete 2 practice journeys in similar terrain.
  These must be notified to the Core Team prior to being carried out.
  
  
• All Team members must have a valid passport before the 31st March 2009
  
  
• All Teams must be represented at ALL of the Explorer Belt Team Meetings
  


• All Teams must be able to provide their own Equipment
  
  
• Any teams not carrying out a walking Expedition must discuss this with the core team
  
  
• All Participants must have full uniform with correct badges
  
  
• All teams must prepare a training plan and a preparation plan with the core team.
  This will include dates of meetings and deadlines for various aspects of the planning.
  Teams must stick to this plan.
  This must include allowances for any exams and revision time
  

On the Expedition

• Teams must stay together.
  
  
• Teams must spend at least one night 25m North of Brussels, and one 25m South of Brussels.
  
  
• The distance travelled on foot must be around 100 miles
  
  
• There is no minimum or maximum distance that can be travelled via public transport.
  
  
• Visits may be made to all the surrounding countries but you must return to Belgium each evening to camp.
  


• Any team Accepting HO/HO must text leaders with Name and Address of the host.
  
  
• Teams must return to Leuven Train Station between 12.00 and 14.00 on the Final Day of the Expedition.
  

After the Expedition

• Presentations must be completed and shown by the 31st December
  All the participants must be involved in this
  
  
• Logs and Projects must be types up after the Expedition and submitted electronically to the Assessing Panel at least 2 weeks before the presentation date.
  

Base Camps

Two Base Camps will be used.

Both are Scout campsite owned by the Scout & Guide Assosiation of Flanders

The initial site - Moerkensheide at De Pinte - is in North East Belgium - about 6 Miles east from Ghent.

The Leadership Team will be on-site from the 2nd August until the 9th August. The Explorer Belt teams will be on-site from the 2nd August until they start their Expeditions on the 4th.
http://hopper.be/domeinen/Moerkensheide/Frame_Moerkensheide_Welkom.htm

The second site - De Kluis at Sint-Joris-Weert - is more central Belgium, slightly west of Brussels - 5 miles south of Leuven.

The Leaders will be moving here on the 9th August with the Explorers joining them when they complete their Expedition on the 13th.

http://hopper.be/domeinen/DeKluis/Frame_DeKluis_Welkom.htm

What is the Explorer Belt?

• It is for Explorer Scouts (14 to 18 Year old Young People) working together in teams of 3 or 4
  
• They will be Exploring a Foreign Country for 10 days
  
• They must complete one Major Project and also ten Minor Projects as part of the Expidition

• The Aims
  The Expedition is designed to help young people develop a real understanding of another country by travelling through that country, working as a small team to complete a series of projects, and, most importantly, by meeting local people.

• The Requirements
  They must plan & train for an international expedition as part of a small team.
  Travel to another country and travel through that country for ten days.
  Complete a major project of their choice as well as complete around 10 smaller projects
  Keep a notebook or diary during the expedition
  and finally make a presentation about the expedition.
  

Soon be August

The Wakefield Explorer Scouts

Explorer Belt Expedition to Belgium 2009



Starting in Ghent - August 2nd

Finishing in Leuvan - August 16th