OAS3 Core Skills Day

Meals: We will be cooking all meals for the day (including breakfast). A core OAS skill is cooking; therefore, please do not bring any food and don't eat breakfast before arriving. Cooking activities will include a BBQ, Gas camping stove, open fire, and Trangias. 

Supervision: Tony Mobbs may be the only leader attending for the whole day. To maintain our Two Present requirement, one or more parents must be present at all times during the day. All parents are welcome and encouraged to stay for the whole day. A roster system will be circulated closer to the date. Parents are expected to assist with Two Present supervision for two to three hours during the day as per the agreed roster. All adults attending must be registered with Scouts NSW as Adult Helpers. If you are not yet an adult helper, please apply for a Working With Children Check (WWCC) immediately and then register with Scouts NSW.

What to wear: The cubs should wear their uniform, including a scarf and hat. Good quality outdoor footwear is essential as there will be activities in Sawmillers Reserve (tent set up, knots and construction). All cubs should also bring a water bottle.

Extras: Depending on the time, mood and interest, we may undertake some STEM activities (which may include using a soldering iron and hot glue gun), or leadership skills (team dynamics, deportment, flag etiquette, and public speaking).

Pre-practice: Being able to tie five knots is an essential requirement for OAS3. Please develop proficiency in tying 1) clove hitch, 2) bowline, 3) figure 8, 4) figure 8 on the bite, 5) taut-line hitch, 6) reef knot, and 7) sheet bend. https://www.youtube.com/@AnimatedKnotsbyGrog/videos

Notes:

1. Please ensure your cub has a good sleep the night before. This will be a long day, and the cubs will be working hard throughout.
2. For skills not evaluated on the day, a separate evaluation-only day will be held on Sunday 20th July.
3. If you are unable to attend on this occasion, a replica event will be held during the September holidays and possibly the Christmas holidays. Cubs who have completed the course and achieved their OAS3 badges will be invited to return and take leadership roles in future courses.
4. This event may be postponed due to inclement weather.

Draft Program

1. Cooking: Breakfast: Gas burner: fried eggs, pancakes.
2. Fire: Make an open fire: Collect materials from Sawmillers Park. Keep the fire burning all day.
3. First Aid: DRSABCD, using a bandage, treating burns, treating cuts, and making a first aid kit/survival kit.
4. Cooking: Morning tea: Open fire: Damper with honey and jam.
5. Tent: Cubs work in pairs to set up a tent and then pack it away.
6. Knots: Cubs demonstrate the knot skills they are proficient at. Example knots may include the alpine butterfly, bowline, clover, figure eight, reef, and stopper knots. Videos are available at https://www.youtube.com/@AnimatedKnotsbyGrog/videos
7. Cooking: Lunch: Connecting gas to a BBQ, cooking sausages, and preparing a salad with bread rolls.
8. Constellations: Identify constellations, find south, using planets to find East and West.
9. Compass reading: Identify directions on a map, identify bearings in Sawmillers, and follow a short trail.
10. Cooking: Afternoon tea: Caramelised apple.
11. Hootchie: Each cub makes a hootchie.
12. Extra 1: Leadership skills: parade and flag etiquette, leading and following, deportment, speaking with confidence.
13. Extra 2: Use a soldering iron to make a radio.
14. Cooking: Dinner: gas camp stove, Spaghetti Bolognese.

The exact ordering of events may change depending on energy levels, interest, and progress.