Volunteers...

Our Core.

We would not exist without them.
They are not paid, they work very hard, and they hold a belief that their community and world can be a better place, through our youth.

Is it hard?
Sometimes.

Can anyone do it?
No.

Does everyone have something to offer?
ABSOLUTELY.

Will we help you, to help us?
You bet.

Being a volunteer with us, doesn't have to mean putting on a uniform and crawling around on the floor with the Beavers, or going on a week long canoe trip with the Venturers.
(it can, if you like that sort of thing though!)

Helping, can be as simple as offering to coordinate a daytime trip, a fundraiser, offer your skills to share with the youth, take us somewhere we haven't been before, seek out a corporate sponsorship or partnership, or just come and tell them your story. Help us plan, through our Group Committee, how to keep our group a strong and stable piece of the community.

Is it rewarding?
Absolutely.

For Group Committee and Leaders, here is the 2011-2012 Adult Registration Form. (fill-able and printable PDF, there is no cost to register)

Safety First

For the safety of our youth, and the protection of adults, we do operate under a code of practice and standards. This includes things like police record checks before working with youth, two-deep leadership at all times, and other such practices. These may at times sound onerous, but really are more common sense in reality than they sound.

If you're interested in working with the youth, a PRC (police records check) is a good place to start.

Here is the information you need to request one:

• A Letter of Introduction - Type your name into the space provided, and hit print. This letter will explain to the police that you are a volunteer with us, and give them a contact number to validate you. (this ensures that any fees for doing the check, if applicable, are at the volunteer rate, and not the commercial workplace rate)
• PRC Request - Hamilton - This form, you can completely fill in, and take with you, if you're going to visit the Hamilton Police Services to make your request.
  (155 King William Street, Hamilton, open M-F 8:30am-6:00pm)

Outside of Hamilton, you may visit your local OPP or other regional police station, and fill out their form when you get there.
If you contact us (ask a leader) we can give you the paper OPP form ahead of time, with our necessary information filled in already. (it will save one trip back to them)
(Cayuga's OPP station telephone number is (905) 772-3322, and they're open M-F 8:15am-4:30pm)

Bring DL, Birth Cert, or Passport. (you need two out of those three)
You can ask them to mail you the results, as long as you ask when applying.

Get us the certified copy when it comes back.
If there are any fees (Hamilton charges $15), bring us the receipt, and we'll happily pay it out at the end of the year.

What's Next?

Well, let's get your feet wet!

There are many things we can do to help orient you to the programs we run, even if it's just participating at meetings.
But there are a couple of extra things you can do outside of that, just by using your mouse:

1. Have a look through our New Scouter Welcome Kit. (http://www.scouts.ca/nswk - we have these in paper too, but if you're ok with a PDF plus a nice little video slide show, follow that link!)
2. Take our Online Orientation Training Course, that we call Woodbadge 1.
   This course is offered as a weekend away, or you can do it online through a series of interactive presentations and questions.
   The technology is pretty slick, but if you get stuck, let us know and we can help. (people sometimes aren't sure what step to take next)
   But, there is a tutorial, and once you get used to it, it's easy.
   Go to: elearning.scouts.ca to try it out. Register for a login, and it will email you a password.
   (when it asks... we are "1st Binbrook Group" and located in "Battlefields" Council)

Thank You!