Module of the Month Nights Away
Not strictly required for a wood badge, (although module 16 covers the introduction) a Nights Away permit is the
moist useful tool in a leaders training toolkit. This is straightforward and past experience counts and lots of support
is available too, so not as hard as you might think.
Step 1 – contact Ian Kernohan, Nights Away Adviser at
[email protected] and set a date for a chat. Send him a
Nights Away Application (download from scouts.org)
Step 2 – plug any gaps in your knowledge using the factsheets and info on
scouts.org.uk on Nights Away (also on SoQS) or go on a module (16 and 38
are the numbers to look for) or use your Training Adviser !.
Step 3 - collect evidence of past camps, programmes, menus, risk assessments etc for use during your chat with Ian
K, the Nights Away Adviser.
Step 4 – with your permit approved and in the post look forward to planning your next camp!
Chat – to validate your knowledge – set a date as far in advance as you like then work towards it. There are no trick
questions and Ian K is there to advise and help. There is a checklist and application form to tell you what is required.
Knowledge – The modules run by Region are a fantastic resource – they are not on very often (check the latest
calendar on the South East Region Scouts website) for frequency and involve a
weekend
residential at Bonaly – well worth doing as you meet like minded Scouters from
across the
Region sharing knowledge and expertise. Using past experience is great – armed
with the
basics all you need is the checklist which the NA Advisor uses to assess your
knowledge – if you can cover the points, you are home and dry. (See the Leaders
Board on our website for all the downloads you need) There is a great wealth of
knowledge in our group too – yours for the asking.
Evidence - perhaps you don’t have all the docs to hand – no problem – you don’t have to prove every last detail your TA can close any gaps with docs used for the most recent camp you were at – its all common sense, logical
stuff.
Finally, the Permit you receive covers you for what you need – Explorers might want a Greenfield permit which you
won’t require to take Cubs and Beavers away for example. You don’t need a Wood Badge to do a permit but
Module 16 is ticked once you have one. The associated modules are 17 Running Activities Safely and 18 Practical
Skills, handy to do them altogther but not strictly required for the NA Permit.
Ideally each section should have a leader with an NA Permit to give our young people the best chance of
experiencing Nights Away –a highlight of the Scouting calendar!
PS Brown bears are a hazard unlikely to encounter at camp – but at Bonaly in 2014 it was a family of bin raking
badgers – they appeared late on Saturday night while the leaders sat around the fire just a few feet away –
remarkable to get so close to wildlife!