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The Victorian Scout Caving Team is an activity team in the
Victorian Branch
of Scouts Australia.
Its sole purpose is to introduce the challenges and adventures of caving to
Scouts, Venturers, Rovers and their Leaders.
Generally during the second or third weekend of each month. Trips may be run at other times by special
arrangement. Check the 2008 Caving Team Calendar for details.
After your Unit / Crew has booked a trip, we will arrange a couple of team members to
come to your Scout Hall on a
suitable meeting night and give an orientation talk on Caving and Caves.
They will also demonstrate caving equipment and answer questions.
These talks can also be arranged for Units / Crews who have not yet decided to
actually go caving, and they may be attended by parents, a neighbouring Unit, Group,
District Leaders or friends. Allow about 2 hours for an interesting evening in your programme.
Two nights of camping (Friday and Saturday) are involved on a weekend trip (or three for long
weekends) to Buchan or Mount Eccles.
A Scout Hall is used for accommodation in Portland.
You need to bring your own camping gear and all food.
Some personal gear is also a mandatory requirement for a caving trip.
Caving is a very controlled and safe activity with the caving team.
The Leaders in the team are trained and have a complete knowledge of
the caves we use. The caves are selected to suit your own level of experience
and ability and all special safety equipment and skills are provided by the team.
The team operates by widely recognised codes of ethics and behaviour,
including the ASF
Code of Ethics and Conservation,
Minimal Impact Caving Code, and the
Cave Safety Guidelines
Worrying about possible claustrophobia is a common pre-caving concern of many people.
Some of the caves are bigger than your Scout Hall, so they shouldn't be a problem.
Very few people in fact are claustrophobic (do you worry about getting into a car
or phone box?). You are never alone and there are so many interesting things to see and do in
caves that no one thinks about being confined.
Caving is a suitable activity for incorporating into the various Scout, Venturer
and Rover award schemes, such as Queens Scout. Discuss this with us during the pre-trip talks.
Underground investitures are an unforgettable experience and we can help you with
a suitable cave if your Troop / Unit / Crew wishes to do this - usually on the Saturday night.
Membership of the team is open to all members of the Scout Association. We have also obtained
members from the Guide movement, who are then required to also be members of the Scout Association.
Cave Party Leaders must be over 18, and have appropriate Scout leadership qualifications.
Training in caving techniques and assessment of Caving Qualifications is given by Caving Team Instructors.
We have quite a few youth members who give valuable assistance to the team and
gain caving experience towards eventually becoming leaders.
The current Booking Officer is listed under
Caving in the Scouts Info Book.
The Booking Officer for 2008 is Erica Baddeley and she can be
phoned during the day and after-hours on (03) 9808 7248. Please leave a message on the
answering machine if there is no answer. Erica can also be contacted via email at
The bookings for 2008 opened in October 2007. Quite often all the trips
for a year have all been booked out by March, so plan next years caving activity well
in advance and book before Christmas. Occasionally we have cancellations, so you
could put yourself on the team's "stand-by list".
LDCT changed its name to VSCT (Victorian Scout Caving Team) in early 2002.
The leaders and team members are the mostly same friendly and eager caving people
who you have known in LDCT!
The Branch Activities Council provides caving as an adventurous activity for Venturer Scouts, Rovers and
Leaders, in accordance with the Association's general objective of providing members with challenging
activities. Caving is not recommended as a programmed activity of the Joey Scout or Cub Scout Sections.
For them, access to commercially operated tourist caves is recommended.
For Scout Troops, a special program of caving weekends is conducted two or three times per year, to provide an
opportunity for Scouts to qualify for their "Caving" activity badge.
Caving guidelines have been developed by the Branch Activity Council in recognition of the potential
dangers involved in this activity. These are designed to include all statutory requirements and to minimise
risks, both to the persons undertaking the activity and also to the delicate cave environment.
All caving activities are required to be supervised by a Caving Guide or Caving Instructor accredited
by the Branch Activity Leader (Caving).
Training in caving activity leadership and technical skills is provided by the Caving Team. Inquiries
are welcomed from Section Leaders, Rovers and Venturers.
For details of training days or general Caving inquiries, The VSCT was formed in 2002 as the official caving activity team of Victorian Branch. It grew out of the
Lillydale District Caving Team, which had been running caving activities for Association members since
1982.
VSCT caving trips are generally run on the second weekend of each month from February to October. The
location will be Buchan, Mount Eccles or Portland. These caving areas are all about 4 or 5 hours
drive from Melbourne. Trips may also be run at other times by special arrangement, such as additional
weekend trips for Rovers, or day trips to caves close to Melbourne.
The weekend activity is for both novice and experienced cavers and the Trip Leader will select suitable
caves based on the capabilities of those involved. Caving activities at Buchan and Mount Eccles involve
camping on the Friday and Saturday nights. Those attending must provide their own transport, tents, food
and cooking gear. Caving activities at Portland make use of a Scout hall in the centre of town for
accommodation.
About one month in advance of the caving trip, caving team members will come to your Scout hall and
give an orientation talk on various aspects of the trip, including what to bring and what to expect.
Cost: The cost for a normal weekend (or the long weekend in March and June) includes camping fees and
the use of caving equipment including helmets. For details of cost, contact our bookings officer.
Requirements:
Contact for inquiries, trip arrangements and bookings: Bookings VSCT Home Page: For more information including a full calendar of events, visit Information about Caving can also be accessed via the Scouts Victoria web site
http://www.vicscouts.asn.au/.
Select "Adventures" and then click on "Activity". Click on "Caving", which is fifth on the list of Activity Service Units.
QUALIFICATIONS: Caving Leaders must first be accredited by the BAL (Caving). RATIOS: Minimum of 1 experienced Cave Leader per 5 Participants.
LIMITATIONS: Caving is not recommended for Joey Scout or Cub Scout
sections (commercial tourist caves excepted). To the extent to which members of the Scout section
may engage in caving must not exceed the specific requirements for achievement of
the Scout Caving proficiency badge requirements. VSCT is always looking for new and enthusiastic caving leaders to join the team. If you are a Rover or a Leader
who is looking to move on to activity leadership in the Scouting movement, VSCT would like to hear from you.
If you are a Venturer you can also join the team and gain skills to become an experienced caver,
and the opportunity to move on to caving party leadership roles when you turn 18.
Even if you are not a Scouter,
you can join the team, become a members of Scouts Australia, and experience the reward of
introducing the fascinating activity of caving to Venturer youth aged 14 to 17 and to adult
Scouting Leaders and Rovers aged 18 upwards.
When are trips run?
Where can we go?
Trips are available to several caving areas in Victoria. We are lucky because
there is a great variety of caving environments in our state. You can go to:
The caving team has already planned where it is going each month, so if you want to go
to a particular area then your choice will be limited to certain months.
How do we prepare for a trip?
Is caving dangerous?
What about claustrophobia? (Fear of confined spaces)
Can we take photographs?
Most definitely! Bring your camera with you, anything from a disposable camera to an
expensive SLR unit. Bring a case or bag to protect the camera from dust or bumping on
rocks and take home some great caving photos.
Can the trips be used for awards and investitures?
Can I join the caving team?
How do we book a caving trip?
or postal address PO BOX 2277, Mount Waverley VIC 3149.
How early do we need to book?
What happened to LDCT (Lillydale Disctrict Caving Team)?
Leaders:
Consider a caving trip in
your next Troop / Unit / Crew
programme
Scouts Info Book 2008 Victoria entry for Caving
Caving
Contact: Tony Watson, BAL - Caving, on 9704 7750 (AH)
VICTORIAN SCOUT CAVING TEAM
Erica Baddeley, PO Box 2277, Mount Waverley, 3149.
(H) 9808 7248 (H). email:
Bookings for 2008 opened on 1st October 2007 and the venu for each month's activity has already been programmed.
Early bookings are recommended.
http://home.pacific.net.au/~gnb/ldct/
CHECK LIST FOR GROUP LEADERS AUTHORISING A CAVING ACTIVITY:
The Leader should also be either-
a Member of the Australian Speleological Federation.
VSCT Membership
Designed by Glenn Baddeley, Erica Baddeley and Brett Wakeman.
http://home.pacific.net.au/~gnb/ldct/faq.html was last updated 8th March 2008.
Report problems and send comments to Glenn Baddeley.
Copyright © Victorian Scout Caving Team 2008.