Get Scout Leaders. Get Double Vision's accessory. Get a salamander. Make some b'goldang graphics.
THE SWAMP SCOUTS
The Swamp Scouts are sort of like a combination of Scouts organizations, an orphanage, and the YMCA. We find, or are entrusted with children to raise, which we do with as much warmth and support as we can give. Scouts of all ages are taught vital skills that run the gamut from hunting and identifying edible plants, to getting along with others and making art.
Our goal is to find, recover, and nurture abandoned young. Several of our founders had nobody but themselves to rely on from birth, and all of us wish to prevent others from facing the same challenges if we can at all help it. We believe that a loving family and a practical, well-rounded education are extremely important things for everyone to have. We intend to become a part of everyone's family, if you'll let us!
DIRECTORY
1. Introduction and Directory 2. History, Duties, Rules and Definitions 3. Chapters, Membership, and Children 4. Applications & Member List 5. Classes 6. Functions (read: events) 7. Affiliates 8. Temp storage 9-14. reserved posts 15. whispers in ur ear
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:59 am
FORMATION
This needs to be rewritten!
DUTIES
All adult scouts have the same duties, though they can fulfill them in any proportion suited to their skills (as long as that everything that needs doing gets done!). These duties include hunting and gathering food; helping with any construction or landscaping projects that need doing; and caring for, supervising, and protecting young scouts.
The most trustworthy individuals will also be asked to travel the swamp looking for abandoned young. Before you can do this on your own, you'll need to shadow one of the Scout Leaders and learn the conditions that need to be met before we'll remove a clutch. Generally, we watch suspect clutches for several days, and, if possible, inquire locally about the parents. The only time we will take immediate action is if the clutch is endangered by their position - for example, laid distressingly close to a crocodile's nest, or a flooding river, that sort of thing - and even then we will only move them out of harm's way until we are absolutely certain that their parents have no interest in returning. We may also step in if we witness any form of deliberate abuse or neglect. We take this all very seriously. We do not want to separate families by accident.
UNFORGIVABLES
We are a very open and tolerant group, but there are some things that we simply will not permit, ever. You are not allowed to harass or abuse anyone in any way, Scout or otherwise, and especially not the children. You are not allowed to encourage violent or abusive behavior in the children in any way. You are not allowed to collect abandoned clutches without the express permission of the Scout Leaders.
Any violation of these rules will result in expulsion from the Scouts. You will not be allowed to attend our functions, live in our places, take our classes, or purchase our delicious baked goods.
GLOSSARY
An obligatory list of vocabulary specific to the tribe, for things that other tribes have special words for as well.
scout or scouts, all lowercase, refers specifically to the children in our care; Scout or Scouts, capitalized, refers to any member of the Scouts, or the group in total; Scout Leader or Scout Leaders, capitalized, refers to one or more of the leader/teachers of a chapter of Scouts. A chapter is a group of Scouts. The word is only capitalized when referring to a specific chapter, such as Beetle Chapter or Feather Chapter. Functions, capitalization unimportant, are meetings of several chapters. May also be referred to as Scouts functions. We may also refer to other tribes' gatherings and events as functions out of force of habit.
Our expansion will be handled a little differently than that of other tribes. Instead of a large number of kin taking up residence in the same place, adults who can teach the basic skills of the underlined Scout Leaders may be encouraged to take a tithe of our Scouts to a new location and found a new chapter. They may have more Scout Leaders that offer their own classes, but the underlined skills are the absolute minimum for founding a new group.
Presently, there is only one group, since we are still a young tribe. We're located somewhat northeast of Matope's center, relatively handy to both Ghost-Thistle's mound and the flats to the north (though closer to the mound). Our chosen plot is a little marshy in places, but relatively flat, and full of just the loveliest flowers in the spring and summer.
MEMBERSHIP
Joining the Scouts is a fairly simple and painless process! Any interested parties must simply conduct an interview or series of interviews with a majority of the scout leaders of the chapter they wish to join (minimum three out of five in the main chapter, etc. can be handwaved, would otherwise be simple meet & greet roleplays). If the Scout Leaders approve, you're in! Congratulations! You'll be expected to perform your duties with everyone else, but you also get delicious baked goods on the regular, so we figure it comes out pretty even.
We are not interested in recruiting uncaring, or threatening, or otherwise unwholesome characters into our organization. If you are a threat in some way to the children in our care, or our other members, you will not be accepted as a member of our organization. Please do not apply with these kinds of characters! The Scouts are meant to be sweet, light and fluffy, like nougat.
CHILDREN
We love children! Children are wonderful - literally full of wonder, everything is amazing to them, and it kind of rubs off. All the time and dedication it takes to feed, shelter, and teach them is rewarded with that joy, and pride in seeing them grow up strong and smart and good.
But it's not for everyone, certainly. Raising children is hard work, and not everyone's cut out for it - we understand! Really, we do. If you don't think you'll be able to do right by your children, you can bring them to us - or show us where your eggs or sacs are, and we'll do the lifting, whatever you need. This is a hard enough decision, we don't want to make this any more difficult than it already is. You can stay with us while they grow, or come visit as much as you like*, or never come back again. Whatever works for you.
* Assuming you aren't a danger to our Scouts, in any case.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 12:02 pm
JOINING
Here's a form to post in the thread if you'd like to join!
[size=18][b][color=red]SCOUT'S HONOR![/color][/b][/size] [b]Kin name:[/b] [url=certlink]kinname[/url] [b]Journal Link:[/b] optional! [b]Personality summary:[/b] One short sentence for the front page. [b]Additional Info:[/b] any valuable skills or other additional info?
MEMBERS
Our wonderful family members! Whether you live nearby or far away, you'll always be welcome at our events and in our places*.
*until you're not - see "unforgivables" section of second post.
MAIN CHAPTER
DOUBLE VISION, Scout Leader Sort of an 'absent professor' type, but just because he's blind doesn't mean he doesn't have eyes in the back of his head!
UNAFRAID, Scout Leader Unafraid, defensive teacher, believes that everyone needs to know how to survive, no matter what, in any situation, and he will shout about it if he must.
GOOD COMPANY, Scout Leader a brief character blurb will go here yadda yadda
KIMETIBUCK, Scout Leader a brief character blurb will go here yadda yadda
FORETHOUGHT, Scout Leader a brief character blurb will go here yadda yadda
CHAFER, Scout A fun-loving doe who's hard to pin down, but does her duties. Mostly.
The Scout Leaders teach all the children in their care valuable basic skills. We offer offer optional advanced classes, too! Adults are also allowed to attend classes, as well as non-members of all ages. Non-members can be forbidden from participating in classes if they show disruptive or dangerous behavior. Any scout who completes a class gets a shiny new badge to add to their sash!
... Oh, did we not mention the badges and sashes yet? Our bad! Scouts get leather sashes to display the badges they earn for completing our classes. The basic classes will earn you a beetle-shell badge, and advanced classes will earn you a coveted open-wing badge!
MAIN CHAPTER
Double Vision
basic level: Identification and preparation of edible plants advanced level: Identification and use of medicinal plants
Unafraid
basic level: Hunting and tracking of prey animals advanced level: Advanced tracking and counter-tracking techniques
Good Company
basic level: General etiquette and good manners advanced level: Professional vocal training
When one or more chapters of the Scouts get together in one place, to play games, socialize, conduct business, or a mix of all three, these gatherings are called functions!
Since there's only one chapter so far, we don't have too many. Basically, we find someplace where people are already gathering and have a little to-do for the four major holidays, with more snacks and games than usual, and very little in the way of classes.
When there are more chapters, the games at functions will eventually take on a competitive edge, and the Scout Leaders will gently encourage a playful rivalry between chapters. But only a playful one! If anyone takes it too far out of scope, they will be appropriately reprimanded.
EVENTS
I'm thinking character concept for the adults, with a free raffle and game or two for the babs. With beetley consolation prizes. I think I'll have to wait until after BotT for this, though! Sorry, folks.
We consider ourselves a part of everyone's family, and strive to make our organization as friendly and open as possible! However, it is inevitable that some groups will have closer ties to us than others.
Tribe affiliation is more organic than official. If your group gets on exceptionally well (or exceptionally unwell) with ours, we'll talk about adding a blurb about you to our affiliates section! You'll be especially un/welcome to our functions, and we may even have our scouts apprentice with you if you're teaching a trade!
The Mothers Club is one of our closest affiliates. (Except I forgot what we were talking about RUH ROH)
Rise & Shine is a close affiliate. Many of our scouts are apprenticed or intern there, learning about the newest culinary sciences and the ins and outs of running a modern business. In exchange, we keep a stock of delicious and energizing (and exclusive!) fruit, nut, grain and honey bars at our headquarters and on our traveling members to trade with others (and to spread Rise & Shine's reputation).
The Friends are opposed to Rise & Shine, for whatever reasons they may have, but we have no personal quarrel with them. In fact, many of their beliefs align with ours very nicely! Scouts are advised to be cautious around their interactions with Rise & Shine, and we ask that you do not play on their barricades - or if you really must, do be careful.
DOUBLE VISION, Scout Leader