{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFS120085 Published October 2024 replacing January 2018\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAdventurous activities are an integral part of the Scouting programme. There will be many times when parties of members will wish to take part in these activities whilst abroad. The chance to try activities in a new and exotic location should be attractive to the participant and carried out in as safe a manner as possible, remembering that The Association\u2019s rules are applicable everywhere in the world. Advice is available from your Visits Abroad Recommender.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EDoing it yourself\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThis is the easiest option with regard to The Scout Association Rules, the activity is run in the same way as it would be in the UK. All activities which are subject to the Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme continue to be so controlled when you go abroad. You should talk through your plans with the appropriate County/Area Activity Assessor and the Lead Volunteer / Permit Approver who has issued your current permit. If an assessor believes you have the skills to deliver the activity in the requested environment / setting they can make a recommendation to have your permit updated, this is done through reapplying for a permit, the assessor making a new recommendation and the Permit Approver / Lead Volunteer granting the permit once the remaining checks are undertaken. If no restriction is listed on a permit to limit you to the UK only then you can operate in similar environments abroad to those which you can in the UK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EFor instance, a person holding a permit for hillwalking in summer conditions in the United Kingdom should be capable of leading similar activities in other parts of the world. The difference will often be of scale and climate rather than the actual terrain. Equally, a person holding a water activity permit should be capable of carrying out activities to a similar level on foreign water (see POR Rule 9.13.3 for guidance on Classification of Water).\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWhere hillwalking uses terrain or techniques that are not covered in the assessment of a hillwalking permit (specialist terrain) then a County Lead Volunteer explicit approval is required for the activity based on advice from someone with experience of the terrain and skills being used.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EActivities at Kandersteg\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) is a popular destination for UK Scouts taking part in activities abroad. You can find full details of running activities at KISC, both by providing them yourself and also using KISC staff, in the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/international-scouts-and-events/scouts-around-the-world/kandersteg-international-scout-centre/\u0022 title=\u0022Kandersteg International Scout Centre\u0022\u003EKISC Information Sheet for UK Groups.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EBuying into a package holiday\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen professional instructors are used by Scouting in the United Kingdom they are required to hold an AALA licence or be qualified to the level recommended by the National Governing Body (Royal Yachting Association, British Canoe Union, Mountain Training, etc). Overseas AALA does not exist, so instructors will need to hold qualifications at an equivalent level to those required in the UK, as outlined in the externally led section of the A-Z directory for the specific activity being undertaken.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBefore the leader in charge commits to the activity, they should ask for and receive a statement from the company concerned that they use Activity Instructors who are competent to the standard recommended by the United Kingdom National Governing Bodies. This can be by holding a UK qualification, a local qualification or by in-house training by the package company to the required standard. Where an in-house qualification is used the leader concerned should seek assurances that the qualifications are checked on a regular basis by a highly qualified technical adviser. Your Programme Team should be able to advise as to what it is that you need to be asking for.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELeaders must remember that they cannot \u0022hand over\u0022 responsibility to such instructors. Leaders are advised that they must monitor the activity closely and be prepared to stop it if the instructors appear to be employing questionable methods. Leaders must be present during all such activities.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EUsing professional instructors directly\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EPotentially this is the most difficult option. The leader in charge needs to make the same checks that they would when buying into a package (see above), but will need to do this directly with the providers without the help they would have in a package holiday. In the majority of Western European countries mountain guides can prove their accreditation with documentary evidence. In France the \u2018Ecole de Voile\u2019 Centres operate to a similar standard to that of the Royal Yachting Association Training Establishments. Your Programme Team may be able to advise you of what is required in any particular situation. Leaders are advised that they must still monitor the activity closely and be prepared to stop if the instructors appear to employing questionable methods. Leaders must be present during all such activities.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen looking for a commercial provider it is important to think about how the activity will be delivered on the ground during your visit. You can get a feel for the ability of the instructors to relay information to your group from conversations had with the company in advance, has it been easy to communicate, have they understood your questions, have you understood how they run the activity?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELeaders must remember that they cannot \u0022hand over\u0022 responsibility to such instructors. Leaders are advised that they must monitor the activity closely and be prepared to stop it if the instructors appear to be employing questionable methods. Leaders must be present during all such activities.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EUsing instructors supplied by another Scout Association\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen overseas, members can take part in activities provided by the host Scout Association (e.g. exchange visit or a jamboree) using the host Scout Association\u2019s rules and guidance. However there needs to be a UK leader present who is able to stop the activity if they have safety concerns at any point.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"International Activities ","buttonLink":{"name":"International activities","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/international-activities/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"002f6c","label":"002f6c"},"alignment":"left"}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Adventurous activities are an integral part of the Scouting programme the association\u0027s rules are applicable everywhere in the world.","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"15 July 2023","reviewDate":"12/11/2020","redirectUrl":"","id":46813,"nodeName":"Adventurous activities abroad","title":"Adventurous activities abroad","type":"contentPage","image":{"url":"/media/19577/explorer-belt-expedition-4-jpg.jpg?rxy=0.5078534031413613,0.2901960784313726\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dae7e862934ae0","caption":"Explorers trekking up a mountain with backpacks","type":"jpg","size":14607288,"width":4800,"height":3204,"altText":"Young people wearing rucksacks climb up a steep grassy hill."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Adventurous activities abroad","headerSubTitle":"","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"Adventurous activities are an integral part of the Scouting programme the association\u0027s rules are applicable everywhere in the world.","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NjgxMyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/international-activities/adventurous-activities-abroad/"}