Mondays 5:45 – 6:45pm
Joey Scouts commence at 5 years of age and transition to the Cub Scout Section after turning 8 and before turning 9 years of age.
Joey Scouts are: –
- Discovering the world around them
- Developing friendships
- Experiencing greater interactive experiences
- Physically active
- Using broad imagination and play
This is the first Section of the Scouting journey.
Joey Scouts meet each week as a Joey Scout Unit, and wear their Section’s uniform shirt, the scarf of their Scout Group, and a woggle to hold their scarf together.
For our youngest members, the Joey Scout program nurtures a deeper understanding of the world around them, with a growing awareness of their surroundings and nature, by getting out and about in the community.
Like all Scouts, Joey Scouts participate in the Achievement Pathway award scheme and are presented with badges to recognise their achievement.
A Joey Scout can even decide if they would like to achieve their Sections peak award, the Joey Scout Challenge Award, the highest achievement in the Joey Scout Section.
Every three years, Joey Scouts have the opportunity to attend a Kangaree, a massive overnight sleepover with activities and entertainment with hundreds of Joey Scouts from all over the State.
Joey Leaders have either an Australian animal or aboriginal word for an alias name.
We ask each family to assist the running of our program with an Adult Helper roster for each term.
Parent information
Starting and Finishing Times
Monday nights 5:45pm-6:45pm
Joeys meet in the 1st Glen Iris Scout Hall, Ferndale Park, Glen Iris Road, Glen Iris. All Joeys are expected to be on time to meetings and other activities, as a late start can mess up the timing of a night’s program.
If your Joey is unable to attend on any Joey night, please contact your leader by email (joeys@1stgleniris.org.au) or phone.
Dropping Off and Picking Up Your Joey
All parents/carers are expected to bring their Joey into the Scout Hall at the start of the night and sign the register. Collect your Joey from inside the Scout Hall at the end of the night and sign them out. Please do not expect to pick up your Joey from the car park; no Joey will be allowed to leave without their parent/carer present. Arriving at the Scout Hall five minutes early at the end of the night, in time for the final parade, is also beneficial, as parents/carers can be there for badge presentations and can hear any announcements.
Activities
Joeys is not confined to the Scout Hall. Each year, your Joey will have the opportunity to attend fun and adventurous activities outside the hall. These activities may include visits to places of interest (eg police station), swimming nights, community activities (eg Clean Up Australia Day), Boroondara District activities, bike hikes, and Kangaree (a 3 day camp held every 2 years).
What to Wear on Joey Nights
When your Joey first joins, we recommend that he/she wears comfortable clothes such as shorts/pants, t-shirts and boots/runners. He/she will be doing lots of running around, so dresses, skirts, thongs, sandals, or Crocs are not suitable.
Once your child is invested into the Unit, they must wear a Joey uniform, which consists of a Joey shirt (with tan sleeves) and the 1st Glen Iris scarf (for details, see Uniform).
Also, it is 1st Glen Iris policy that your Joey has a full, named water bottle with them. Joeys is thirsty work.
Investiture
After your child has been coming to Joeys for about 6 weeks and he/she decides that Joeys is for them, they are invested. This means they become a full member of 1st Glen Iris. They receive a 1st Glen Iris scarf, and proudly wear their Joey shirt for the first time. Your Joey will be required to make the Joey Scout Promise and know the Joey Scout Law at their investiture (they can repeat after leader).
Parade
At the beginning and the end of every meeting, we hold what is called a Joey HOP. These are the official parts of the night and it is very important that Joeys respect this time. During the opening HOP, The Australian flag is broken and saluted. The closing HOP consists of the presentation of badges earned, announcements and reminders, and the lowering and saluting of the Australian flag.
Badges
When your Joey is invested, they will be presented with a number of badges that need to be sewn on to their shirt (see Badge layout).
Joeys can also earn badges through the Joey Scout program.
Patrols
The Unit is divided into smaller groups or Patrols. Patrols provide a way to develop interpersonal and leadership skills in young people, through teamwork, responsibility and belonging.
Unit Council
A Unit Council is an informal meeting of all members of the unit, it should only last 10 minutes or so.
It is a discussion on what they have done at Joey Scouts the past term (REVIEW).
It is about what they want to do at Joey Scouts (PLAN).
It is about empowering Joey Scouts by enabling them to have a say and take charge of a game or activity that they want to do (DO).
Major events
District Events – a couple of times each year all of the Joey Units in Boroondara District get together for an outing – which might involve a ramble, a camp, a sausage sizzle, a visit to Camberwell Showtime or some games.
Joey Hop – this is a day event for all Joeys within Victoria, held every third year, at locations such as the Melbourne Zoo.
Kangaree – is a gathering-together of hundreds of Joey Scouts for a weekend of travel, fun activities, good food and entertainment.
Operoo Profile
Operoo is an automation platform for online forms, medical records and out of hall trip management.
All of our Joey Scouts and Leaders have Operoo profiles that are only shared with appropriate people such as leaders and first aiders.
You will be sent a link to fill out a Operoo profile for your Joey Scout. Please complete it as soon as possible.
Bullying Policy
Just as in school, bullying will not be tolerated on any level. We encourage the Joeys to speak to a Leader if they witness or experience bullying. Joeys that engage in bullying practices will be spoken to by Leaders and may be placed in time out. In the unlikely event that this behaviour continues, avenues such as a break from Joeys may be exercised. Joeys is a safe environment for everyone.
Parent Roster
The Joey Unit operate a Parent Roster, where a family is rostered for every Joey night in the Scout Hall. The rostered family is asked to have one parent come to Joeys that night to provide assistance. The Parent Roster is set out in the term program. If your family cannot make it on your rostered night, please arrange a swap with another family on the roster.
Leaders and Committee
Your Leaders are all volunteers. They willingly make time on a weekly basis, and often on weekends, to plan and execute a fun and adventurous program for your Joey. To become a Leader, they have participated in a number of training courses, all in their own time. Scouting Australia is an accredited training provider. Leader Training is recognized as a Certificate 4 accreditation. Being a Leader is very rewarding and loads of fun. We are always looking for new Leaders, so please consider volunteering to join the team.
Likewise, the 1st Glen Iris Committee is made up of volunteers. The strength of our Group stems from the Leaders and the Committee. The Committee is another great way for parents to become involved in their Scout Group, ensuring that our kids have a strong and active Scout Group.
If you are interested in becoming a Leader, a regular Parent Helper or a member of the Committee, please talk to our Group Leader or one of your Joey Leaders. If you have any particular skills or hobbies, we are always keen for parents to demonstrate or assist in the running of a night to highlight new skills/hobbies to our Joeys (and leaders) – please let us know.
Fundraising
The 1st Glen Iris Committee is able to keep the registration fees affordable by holding fundraising events throughout the year. All Scouting families are expected to participate in these, so that the whole Group benefits. These funds are used to replace equipment, to maintain the Scout Hall, to provide badges and scarves for our members, as well as keeping the registration fees down.
PROMISE & LAW
Joey Scout Motto
Discover Adventure
Joey Scout Promise
On my honour,
I promise to do my best,
To be true to my spiritual beliefs,
To contribute to my community and our world,
To help other people,
And to live by the Scout Law.
Joey Scout Law
Be respectful
Be friendly and considerate
Care for others and the environment
Do what is right
Be trustworthy, honest and fair
Use resources wisely
Believe in myself
Learn from my experiences
Face challenges with courage
BADGES & AWARDS
- Caring and Sharing Badge
- Buddy Scheme Badge
- Environment Challenge Badge
- Adventure Challenge Badge
- The Promise Challenge
There are also Special Interest Badges and the Cub Scout Link Badge which prepares the Joey Scout for advancement to the Cub Scout Pack.
Uniform
Joey Scouts are expected to wear their Joey uniform to all meetings unless advised otherwise.
The standard Joey Scout uniform consists of a blue shirt (Scouts Australia logo embroidered on pocket) with tan shoulders and collar, a scarf and a woggle. The 1st Glen Iris scarf and all badges are provided by the Group and you need to provide the rest. This includes pants or shorts in a neutral colour (eg beige or khaki), and runners or closed shoes (no thongs or sandals).
Joeys are “Sun Smart” and need to wear a broad brimmed hat or something similar when participating in any outdoor activities.
Joey shirts can be purchased in person from the Snowgum Factory Outlet (1702 Dandenong Rd, Oakleigh East), or online via The Scout Shop website. Occasionally, the Group has 2nd hand shirts for sale. Please check with a leader if this interests you.
Joey Badge Placement
All badges need to be sewn onto the Joey shirt in specific locations. The diagram below* shows the correct placement.
