"Scouts to boycott Table Mountain" - Cape Times headline

Good Day All

We are all intelligent enough to look beyond the sensationalism created by Newspaper headlines. When we needed the headlines on 1 August, nobody was willing to give us space. Now we get used to make a political point - rather sad.

Now that the Cape Times have made their point, lets state what it is that we really need to focus on.

Firstly, we did NOT call for a BOYCOTT of the mountain - rather a suspension of hikes so that we could decide on what is best for the scouts.

Going forward:

Lets not forget that we are in the business of training leaders. Hiking is one of the tools that we use to achieve this goal. The concern therefore is the safety of our scouts on the mountain - like it always has been. We simply have an external element that we have to be more prepared for - the local muggers.

1. Troop hikes should minimally be impacted by the spate of muggings - lets increase the size of the groups and add a few more adults to these groups. This should make the local spineless muggers think twice before they approach the group. These hikes are not used to evaluate the leadership ability of the scouts, so go ahead with these.We are not and have not experienced ANY problems at the SCOUT HUT. Scout groups are encouraged to go ahead and book as usual - you will find that it is still difficult to get a booking at this very popular facility - Lets take care of it - we only have ONE!

2. Where advancement hikes are done by scouts - ie - [where we want the scout to plan -calculate distance, time and direction; arrange transport, work out menu and cost and finally lead the hike - making decisions wrt state of the group and switching to PLAN B, where necessary], we are going to have to take a different approach. We need to increase these group sizes to a minimum of 10 scouts for now ( The group should possibly be weighted with more older scouts than younger ones, and mixed gender rather than just girls or boys on their own. This will have a huge impact on the leader and the decisions made by the leader. A 1st Class scout will thus have the additional burden of having to cope with a larger group and the additional constraints that will come with it. Scouters are asked to evaluate the need for an Adult to shadow the party - these have to be trained adults, who will NOT interfere with decisions made by the Hike Leader, but will only intervene where the group is put at risk by muggers

3. We have to note that a few HOT SPOTS have been targeted by these muggers - Lions Head, Pipe Track, Kirstenbosch and Platteklip Gorge. There are many more routes along the mountain chain, and scouts and adult leaders are asked to look at these routes as possibilities. Silvermine is a well patrolled area and should be used. Further south down to Cape Point, you will also find pretty awesome hikes

4. Scouts are asked to be extra vigilant and not carry unnecessary cash or unnecessary valuable items with them. Leave the ipods at home - listening to the birds and the rustling of the leaves, will do you the world of good for 24 - 48 hours.

5. Cub Packs are encouraged to keep going on mountain walks - Simply take GREATER care when you are out there. Pack Scouters are urged to increase the adult to cub ratio - take as many parents as possible along

6. ALL HIKES - please obtain a permit from HQ, so that we are fully aware of who is out hiking, and when.

The above will relaxed at a later stage - when the situation eases up and returns to "normal".

Yis

Nimmy Abrahams

AAC Scout Programme