One Program. One Journey.
The Scout program isn't a curriculum — it's a journey. Every activity, camp, challenge and badge is part of a bigger picture: helping young people grow into confident, capable, caring people.
The program is built around the Scout Method — learning by doing, working in small teams, getting outdoors, and taking on increasing responsibility over time. Scouts don't just participate — they plan, lead and reflect.
How Every Activity Works
The Scout method in three steps
Plan
Scouts decide what to do, who leads, what's needed. Leaders support — Scouts drive.
Do
Everyone gets involved. Skills are tested. The plan adapts. It's fun.
Review
What worked? What didn't? What did you learn? Growth happens here.
▶ Then the cycle starts again — every activity builds on the last.
The Four Challenge Areas
Every activity at 1st Ranelagh fits into one or more of these four areas. Together they make a balanced, well-rounded program.
🌿
Outdoor
Getting outdoors and adventuring
✓Camping & overnight adventures
✓Hiking & navigation
✓Water activities
✓Bushcraft & survival skills
✓Nature & environment
💡
Creative
Expressing ourselves
✓Arts & making
✓Design & innovation
✓STEM projects
✓Performance & music
✓Investigating & experimenting
🤝
Community
Supporting & helping others
✓Volunteering & service
✓Environment projects
✓Local & national involvement
✓Active citizenship
✓Visits & partnerships
🌱
Personal Growth
Learning & progressing
✓Health & wellbeing
✓Resilience & mental health
✓New skills & interests
✓Beliefs & values
✓Leadership development
Scouts progress through each area by Participating → Assisting → Leading — taking on more responsibility as they grow.
Milestones & Peak Awards
Every section has its own milestone pathway and a peak award for those who go all in.
Peak award
Joey Scout Challenge Award
Discover · Explore · Create the Path
Peak award
Grey Wolf Award
Do Your Best · Be Your Best
Peak award
Australian Scout Award
Be Prepared · Look Wide · Explore the Unknown
🔥
Venturer Unit
Ages 15–17
Peak award
King's Scout Award
Look Wide · Beyond the Horizon
How milestones work
Each milestone takes roughly 6–12 months to complete and recognises active participation across the four Challenge Areas.
There are three milestones in each section — each one asks for more assisting and leading than the last. It's not about ticking boxes; it's about genuine growth.
To complete a milestone, Scouts also complete a personal reflection — looking back on what they've learned and how they've grown through the SPICES.
Leaders record activity participation in Terrain, Scouts Australia's official progress tracking system.
Outdoor Adventure Skills (OAS)
Progressive skill pathways that build real outdoor capability over time.
Core areas — required for peak awards
🌿
Bushcraft
Pioneering, knots, survival skills
🥾
Bushwalking
Navigation, trail skills, journeys
🏕️
Camping
Site setup, safety, campcraft
Specialist areas — choose your adventure
🧗
Vertical
Abseiling, climbing, canyoning
🚣
Paddling
Canoeing, kayaking, sea kayaking
⛵
Boating
Sailing, windsurfing
🚵
Cycling
Cycle touring, mountain biking
🏔️
Alpine
Snow camping, ski touring
🌊
Aquatics
Lifesaving, snorkelling, surfing
OAS stages are assessed by a qualified person. Once all requirements for a stage are met, Scouts are presented with the badge for that stage. Skills build progressively — there are up to 10 stages in core areas.
SPICES — What Scouting Develops
Everything in the Scout program contributes to growth across these six areas of a person's character.
Belonging to a group, building relationships, understanding diversity and inclusion in the community.
Understanding your body, caring for your health and wellbeing, pursuing physical skills and fitness.
Thinking, planning, innovating and being creative — applying knowledge and skills in new ways.
Pursuing your personal best. Positive attitude, responsibility, respect, and effort beyond self-interest.
Understanding your own emotions and others'. Expressing feelings positively and supporting others.
Developing a sense of purpose, connection to others and place in the world — while respecting others' choices.
Tracking Progress in Terrain
Scouts Australia uses Terrain — an online system where attendance, participation and progression are recorded. At 1st Ranelagh we use Terrain consistently so every Scout's journey is clearly tracked.
✓ Leaders record attendance and activity participation
✓ Scouts enter their own Special Interest projects
✓ Scouts reflect on learning at milestone completions
✓ Parents can support by encouraging Scouts to log in
Who does what in Terrain
Leaders
Create activities, record attendance, support Scouts
Scouts
Enter Special Interest projects, reflect on learning
Parents
Encourage logins, ask "have you uploaded that yet?"
Open Terrain →
See what's coming up this term
All upcoming activities, event reminders and weekly updates for 1st Ranelagh are in the Stack app. Search for "1stranelagh" after downloading.
Stack is used for weekly updates, event RSVPs, duty rosters and shared documents.