Discoverer Advancement Level

The Discoverer Advancement Level is where Scouts start to learn leadership through being an Assistant Patrol Leader. Scouts learn more advanced skills compared to Traveller.

Membership

Traveller

Discoverer

First Class

Springbok

“I have just joined the Troop”
Learn about the Scout Promise and Law, and Scouting background.

“I am Learning to be a Scout”
Learn what it means to be a Scout, and learn new skills.

“I am Learning to be an APL”
Be involved with your Patrol and Troop, sharpen your Scouting Skills.

“I am Learning to be a PL”
Become a well-rounded Scout and citizen.

“I am a Leader of Scouts!”
Lead your Patrol and Troop on a number of projects that challenge you.

Adventure

Expedition

Plan and run a day expedition of at least 10km for your Patrol which fulfils at least one of the following criteria:
1. Use a recognised hiking trail;
2. Hike to another Scout hall;
3. Hike to an unusual or interesting locality.
4. Hike a planned route on a dam or waterway.
THEN
Write at least a five page log (that includes a strip map of a certain section of the hike) and submit it to your Scouter for approval. The log must be submitted within two weeks of the expedition.

As part of your preparation for this expedition you must have achieved the First Aid Scoutcraft badge.

Navigation skills

Complete one of the following Scoutcraft badges:
1. Air Planner Scoutcraft Badge
2. Charts Scoutcraft Badge
3. Hiking Scoutcraft Badge
4. Map Reading Scoutcraft Badge

Safety Awareness

At Home

Devise a safety checklist for your house or other building.
After the approval of your Scouter, use that checklist to make an inspection of the building. Hazards that could be checked include: oil lamps; pressure stoves; synthetic material, Christmas decorations; plastics; inflammable liquids; electrical outlets and appliances; Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), etc.
Explain the hazards found, why they are hazardous and how they can be corrected. Within the constraints of your ability and finances correct these hazards you have identified.

Outdoors

While on a camp, assess the potential hazards in and around your campsite. Compile a list and discuss these hazards with your PL or Scouter. Assist in rectifying these hazards.
Give an accurate account to your PL or Scouter or designated person, of an incident, either natural or staged, lasting at least one minute and involving at least three persons.

At the scene of an accident

At an accident scene staged by your PL or Scouter, demonstrate an ability to take charge of the scene of an accident. As part of the incident you should ensure that the scene is made safe, that other first aiders are conscious of their own and the patient's safety and that the incident is properly reported to the proper authorities. Use your first aid skills to provide basic first aid to the patient.

Living outdoors

Camping

Produce a proportional drawing or a model of a standing Patrol campsite, making use of the equipment available in your Troop, and explain reasons for the layout.
Demonstrate your ability to assist your PL or Scouter in planning one part of the logistics e.g. first aid equipment, or meals and food shopping, or sourcing of equipment, for a Patrol or Troop camp, as well as assisting in the training of younger Scouts on the camp. Be responsible for one specific aspect of the camp.

Cooking

Cook a balanced dinner in a backwoods-style (without the use of pots or standard kitchen utensils).
Bake a loaf of bread over a fire.

Survival

Earn the Survival Scoutcraft badge.
OR
Demonstrate how to meet the following needs in a survival situation in the outdoors:

Food
Shelter
Warmth
Water (Clean & drinkable)

Stalking & tracking

Demonstrate ways to stalk and track animals including the use of camouflage. This exercise should include the solving of a tracking story set by the examiner or tracking an animal for 500m in the bush.
Undertake one activity involving nature observation. Examples of this are:
1. How to identify animal spoors at a waterhole, beach or place where spoors or footprints are evident.
2. Making negative or positive castings or sketches of a variety of impressions and identify the animals involved.
3. Developing a bird or animal list from the spoor prints or observing the changes in bird and animal life at three different times in one day.
4. Any similar activity approved by your Scouter.

Service

Movement service

Complete one of the following or a similar event approved by your Scouter:
1. Write an article or report on a Scout event that you have attended or a component of your Troop history for a paper or Troop blog or website.
2. Organise a wide game or similar activity in a public area in uniform.

Environmental service

Earn the Environmental Awareness Interest Badge
OR
Identify an outdoor environmental service project to improve the quality of the environment in your community. The total project should take a minimum of six hours. Complete this service by yourself or lead your Patrol in meeting this need.

Scout skills

First Aid

Complete the First Aid Scoutcraft Badge

Skills set

Complete an Interest badge from the Skills set (Scoutcraft badge) obtained in the Traveller advancement level:

Personal development

Leadership

Attend three Patrol in Council meetings and explain the functions of both the Patrol in Council and Court of Honour (COH) to your Troop Scouter.
Attend a course or fulfil the criteria for LDC2 (Leadership Development Course 2).
OR
Demonstrate your ability to instruct Scout(s) in a Scouting skill.
Assist in planning a Scout's Own and help run it on a camp.
Lead a song or other activity at a Scout campfire.
Hold a discussion with your Scouter about the prevention of HIV & AIDS and other viruses contained in blood and the importance of abstinence. Show general knowledge of the prevention, symptoms, treatment and care. Then lead a discussion with your Patrol on this topic. (Once you have completed this activity, you may wear the HIV/AIDS awareness badge on your uniform.)

Discoverer Advancement Level

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