There are some new rules for Rock Activities that people may not be familiar with:
The qualifications that you can get for abseiling now include the following:
Note: Scout Abseil Proficiency Badges and Scout Top-Rope Climbing Proficiency Badges can be awarded by Abseil Instructors at Regional courses or on special courses organised by individual Scout Troops. If you want to organise a course, contact an Abseil Instructor by looking at the "Rock Contacts" section of this web-site. A Scout Abseil Badge course nomally takes one night in the scout-hall on theory plus one day practical at a place such as West Pennant Hills, Bowen Mountain, Blaxland or Springwood. A Scout Top-Rope Climbing Course normally takes one night in the scout hall on theory plus one day practical either at Wahroonga Rocks or Lindfield Rocks.
Scout proficiency badge courses are normally limited to about 20 participants.
There are three levels for these qualifications: Basic, Leader and Guide. These qualifications are awarded at Regional courses. But in order to go on a Basic-level course for these activities, you need to have the Abseiler qualification.
Venturer Units and Rover Crews can also organise their own courses by contacting a Guide or Leader or else the Region Rock Activities co-ordinator, Stuart Cohen.
Scouts (as distinct from Venturers) are advised to get their Scout Abseil Proficiency Badge as the first step.
Otherwise they could do a Top-Rope Climbing Proficiency Badge.
Otherwise they could attend a Canyon Trip day which does not involve abseiling. The region normally runs a number of these trips each year to canyons suchs as River Caves canyon, Deep Pass canyon or others.
Inexperienced Scouts may also take part in a "familiarisation" caving activity that does not involve abseiling. Such an activity would need to have one or more Caving Instructors present.
The NSW Rock Related Activities Policy can be found on the internet. Go to www.nsw.scouts.com.au and then at the bottom right-hand corner click on "Resources and Policies". Then go to "Organisation and Information Handbook" and then to "Rock Activities".
Prices vary according to the nature of the trip and equipment required. Prices are detailed on each A1 Notification or negotiated directly with the Guide or Leader.
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