"By
Rovering I don't mean aimless wandering, I mean finding
your way by pleasant
paths with a definite object in view." Baden-Powell
Rovers began when older Scouts wanted a section that
was more defined to their age and ability. They wanted to
continue getting the benefits of Scouts but at a more
advanced level. In 1916, experiments were held with older
Boy Scouts and, in 1917, pamphlets were distributed
explain what Rovers were. Rover Scouts became the third
official section of Boys Scouts that same year.
One of the goals in Rovers was to create happy,
healthy, useful citizens. Rovers is about developing
yourself as a person, through providing opportunities of
leadership and a wide range of experiences which you
probably would not be able to get otherwise. The main
focus of the second is service to Scouting and the
community in general. Rovers should be good examples for
younger members of the community and Scouting.
The Rover programme was based on a Knighthood theme.
The symbol of St. George, patron saint of Scouts, was
important. St. George is typical of what a Scout should
be. He epitomized the qualities of selflessness and both
moral and physical courage which Baden-Powell saw as
being among the aims of Scouting.
The Rover programme was basically an extension of the
Scout programme. Rovers, however, tend to work in small,
independent groups called Crews. Crews run themselves and
plan their own activities. Often, this is misunderstood
by members of the community and Scouting organisation.
With the introduction of Venturers in 1968, Rovers
lost it's direct tie with the Scout section and a lot of
the programme became outdated.
A National Rover Subcommittee was approved by the
National Council in 1968. They were charged with
reviewing and improving the Rover programme. Their first
recommendation declared that there was a place for Rovers
in Scouting. This recommendation, fortunately, was
approved. Several years later the subcommittee also
recommended co-ed Rovering. This took effect in 1973.
Important Dates
1916: Experiments were conducted for the development
of Senior Scouts, and pamphlets about the movement were
distributed.
1917: Rover Scouts became official, and then became
the third section of the Boy Scout movement.
1918: The name for the movement was changed to Rovers.
1931: The first World Moot was held.
1951: The first Canadian Moot was held.
1961: The first Nova Scotia Rover/Ranger Table was
held. The first Rover Moot was held.
1964: The first Woodbadge 2 was held in the Canadian
Maritimes.
1966: The first Nova Scotia Provincial Moot was held.
1967: The first Nova Scotia Rover/Ranger Moot (Gilbrator
Camp).
1968: The Canadian National Council approved the
formation of a National Rover Subcommittee, formed to
study the Rover section in Canada. Its terms of reference
was "The Rover Scout Subcommittee is charged with
the study and review of Rover Scouting and to make
recommendations."
1969: The first recommendations were submitted which
declared that there was a place for the Rover section in
Canadian Scouting
1970: They next presented two submissions which were:
co-ed membership (crew option), and one
that covered policy changes.
1971: The Canadian National Council accepted the
submissions and changes for a trial period of three
years, if it was approved by NAROCO '71 (National Rover
Conference). The Rovers accepted the paper known as
Rovers '71 and requested that a more permanent handbook
be published.
1973: There was a national survey of the Rover crews
and all personnel involved in Rovers. It showed that 87%
were in favour of co-ed Rovering. The co-ed Rovering was
accepted in November 1973.
1977: The name of the Nova Scotia roundtable changed
from the Provincial Rover/Ranger Table to the Nova Scotia
Rover Roundtable. There was one crew in Halifax (55th
Halifax), and Dartmouth (Tallahasse Spartans), plus one
in Acadia. These reformed the N.S.R.R.T.
1984: Crew make up changes were accepted.
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