Information sessions are being held in the Sydney region for the World Scout Jamboree being held in Sweden in 2011. WSJ2011 is open to Venturers & older Scouts born between 25th July 1993 and 27th July 1997.

Rovers can apply to the Australian Contingent for the Jamboree as members of the International Service Team and Leaders can apply to be selected to serve on the Australian Contingent or on the International Service Team.

1st Helensburgh Scout Group is starting a Venturer unit. To help the new unit purchase expensive equiment such as abseiling ropes they have organised a fundraising night called An evening with Tim Macartney Snape: Gaints of the Himalaya and Everest.

The event will be held on the 25th September 2010 at Helensburgh Workers Club, 24 Boomerang Street, Helensburgh NSW 2508. Tim will do an audio visual presentation and will be signing a Everest: Sea to Summit book that will a door prize.

Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased from www.helensburghscouts.org.au or by e-mail to easytickets@hotmail.com.

The GET OUT in NSW scheme is a set of six awards for Scouts in NSW that show we all Get Out in Scouting.

There is a series if 6 graded awards to recognise and reward Scouts of all ages for taking part in Outdoor Scouting activities. These awards are for participation, rather than for showing a level of skill or competence.

All awards are small cloth badges whcih can be worn above the flap of the left pocket on the uniform.

The Radio-Active Amateur Radio Award will operate for the entire month of July 2010 and is open to Australian Scouts (youth members) and Leaders who hold an Amateur Radio license.

This award provides an opportunity for Scouts with an amateur Radio License to practice and develop their on-air skills, and to get to know other Radio Scouts.

The award will be presented to Scouts who can demonstrate, by providing logs, that they have contacted a good number of Scouts in several Australian callsign areas (States/Territories).

Scouts Australia International is proud to announce the Blankets for Mongolia project! This project will assist MongoliAid, a Queensland-registered charity, to collect and deliver 10,000 blankets and other medical equipment to Mongolia within the next 18 months. The blankets are earmarked for school dormitories and hospitals within six provinces in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.

Mongolia is high, cold, and windy, with short summers and long, cold winters. Temperatures drop as low as −30°C in January, and the country's capital city Ulan Bator has the lowest average temperature of any national capital in the world.

Mongolia has also experienced - and is indeed still experiencing - the natural disaster of "Zud", a particularly cold winter with heavy snow which has killed millions of animals, following a dry summer with little or no summer rain for grasses.

The A1 (Activity Notification) form has undergone a number of changes recently. These are in reaction to recent decisions and recommendations from the Coroner and the courts. The aim of these changes is to minimise the legal risk for leaders. In order to achieve minimisation or mitigate the legal risk the A1 form must be used correctly. The attached guide and presentation will help leaders to understand the use of the A1 form. They can also be used to educate leaders, Scouts and parents as to the correct procedures for activities.

To ensure that you have the latest version of the A1 form you should always download the latest version rather than reuse an existing one.

A number of the Scouts who attended the ASLC (Advanced Scout Leadership Course) have sent us their thoughts on the event. These are very positive which is a good sign for the future of the advanced course.

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, today welcomed the new partnership arrangement between Defence Families of Australia and Scouts Australia that will help support Australian Defence Force (ADF) families.

“Scouts Australia is generously offering ADF families easier access to the range of scouting activities and programs, fee waivers on transfer, and comfort in the continuity of a leading and supportive youth development program that is available in almost all communities in Australia,” Mr Snowdon said.

“In exchange, Defence Families of Australia will encourage ADF families to take part in the scouting movement, recognising that Defence children can bring diversity to local scout groups and that their ADF parents may contribute a range of skills and experience to support youth development activities.”

Minutes and photographs from the 2007 State Patrol Leader's Conference are available from the State Patrol Leader's site.