ST StaffBooklet

8/7/2019 ST StaffBooklet

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KANDERSTEGINTERNATIONAL SCOUT CENTRE

COME AND HELP MAKE THEMAGIC THAT IS KANDERSTEG

Kandersteg International Scout CentreCH-3718 Kandersteg, SwitzerlandTel: +41 33 675 82 82

Fax: +41 33 675 82 89email: [email protected]://www.kisc.ch



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SHORT TERM STAFF BOOKLETAll The Info You Were Looking For!

WELCOME!

Kandersteg International Scout Centre - the only World Centre of WOSM!

Perhaps you already know something about the Centre - may have been here as aguest and now want to return as a Staff member yourself. Maybe this is the first time you have ever heard about this crazy Scout Centre in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

Whatever you already know about the Centre, this booklet will hopefully tell you all you need to know about being part of the Staff team. If we don’t manage to answer all your questions then phone us or send us an email and we will try again!

If you come here to work as a Staff member, you will have one of the best times of your life, so keep on reading............

CONTENTS:

• Kandersteg International Scout Centre - The History

• Who Are The Staff - An Introduction

• The Seasons - One By One

• A Day In The Life Of ...... - A Member Of Staff

• What You Need To Know - To Apply For Staff • Apply For Staff - How?

• Long Term Staff - A Short Intro

• The End





Short Term Staff Booklet

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andersteg International Scout Centre - The World Centre of WOSM

THE CAMPSITE

A short walk separates the Chalet from the campsite areas, which provide toilet and

shower blocks, running water and recycling facilities for groups. The Tower is locatedat the opposite end of the campsite from the Chalet and has self-containedaccommodation for groups of up to 54 people. The Centre also rents a mountain hutin a nearby valley, which is where climbing workshops are run in the summer.

THE PERMANENT MINI JAMBOREE

Kandersteg International Scout Centre is world famous as a permanent "Mini Jamboree". Three World Rover Moots have been held in Kandersteg, the most recentin 1992, and in 1979, Kandersteg was the base for Camp Kristal '79, one of thereplacement camps for the cancelled World Jamboree. Apart from hosting majorevents, the Centre is visited every year by more than 10'000 young people from over35 different countries.

THE ACTIVITIES

The Centre offers it's guests a wide range of programme activities, based on thethemes of International Friendship, Environment and Alpine High Adventure.Groups can choose to take part in many different activities in the Alps and around theCentre. These activities are designed to encourage them to meet each other andexperience a spectacular new environment. In the summer, activities are basedaround Alpine hiking and climbing and a full evening programme, in the winteraround snow and skiing. Crafts, trails and other activities are available all year round

(some of them depending on the weather).

THE STAFF?

Kandersteg International Scout Centre is run by an international team of young volunteers, so, now that you know a little more about the Centre, it's time to find outmore about the Staff ...




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WHO ARE THE STAFF?An Introduction

GENERAL

There are several different types of Staff working at Kandersteg International ScoutCentre, but all have been in the same position as you are now, thinking "What would itbe like to work there for 3 months?" In the summer, there may be 45 Staff fromabout 18 countries, in other seasons about 16 Staff. The Staff are from all over the world, from different cultures and lifestyles, but they have two things in common -they are all Scouts or Guides and they are all volunteers (!). The Staff team isresponsible for running the whole Centre and all are expected to help with everythingthat needs doing ...

SO, WHAT TYPES OF STAFF ARE THERE?First, we have the Short Term staff , Scouts and Guides who come to work inKandersteg for 3 months. A new team of Short Term staff arrives every December,March, June and September, does lots of different work and has a lot of fun. In thesummer, there are about 27 Short Term staff, in the other seasons, about 6. Eventually though, they have to leave and a new group of Short Term staff arrives. However, youcan apply to come back and work again, either as a Short Term staff or as ...

.....a member of the Long Term staff . These people all started by working here asShort Term staff and chose to return to work at the Centre for a longer time. They are very important as they provide the link between the Short Term staff teams. Some

work here for 4 months in the summer, some for 9 months and some for several years, all doing specific jobs at the Centre. In the summer , there are about 17 LongTerm staff, in the other seasons, about 10, perhaps you too might end up wanting toreturn after your 3 months have finished!

Of course, there has to be somebody in charge of the Centre. This is the Director andfor half of his time he is a member of the European Scout Region staff.

There are also some people coming back to work at the Centre for just 2 or 3 weeks.They have also been Short or Long Term staff and may come back in the winter to work as a ski guide, or in the summer to help run activities during the busiest weeks.Some also come in spring or autumn to work on the campsite, and many ex Staff return to the Centre for a holiday and work for just a day or two.

OK, now you know more about the Staff. Keep reading and we'll tell you more aboutthe seasons ...




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THE SEASONSOne By One

THE FIRST SEASON IN THE KANDERSTEG YEAR IS......

...Winter ...

This season is all about snow! That's right,! Skiing, snowmen, sledding and snowballs!Many groups of Scouts and Guides stay at the Centre during the winter so you couldbe working in the shop, running craft activities or serving meals. Some groups comeon a Centre Ski Week, where we organise everything for them. If you are a skier thiscould mean skiing with a group during the daytime, if not, perhaps you will take themcaving or sledding in the evening. During the quieter times we can clean some roomsready for the year ahead. By the end of the season you could even be working on thecampsite! During the Christmas week, we run a special programme of activities

ending with a big New Year's Eve party.

Kandersteg is lovely in the winter, especially when covered in snow. It can be very cold at times, but we often have lots of sunshine as well. You can go skiing orsnowboarding at one of the two downhill areas and there are also over 70km of crosscountry ski tracks in the village. From here, it is also possible to reach some of Switzerland's biggest and best ski resorts and many other great places to visit on yourdays off.

Winter is a time for lots of traditional Swiss cheese fondue and huge snowball fights!One important rule applies for all Short Term staff during Winter season. When youstart to learn skiing here on arrival or just have minor experience you will not work asski guide during the whole season.

Finally, winter ends and then we move into......

...Spring ...

Although in spring there are fewer guests, there is still lots of work to be done, muchof which involves getting ready for the summer! The campsite has to be made ready for the 1'200 guests a week who stay there at the busiest time, so be prepared to workoutside cutting grass and cleaning sites when it is sunny; the Chalet must be cleanedand prepared after the winter, so when the weather is bad, you will spend some time

inside waxing floors or washing blankets; there will also be groups staying who needlooking after - perhaps you will work in the shop, serve meals or do some activities with them, such as hiking or crafts.

On your days off, you may be able to go skiing at the start of the season as ski lifts arenormally open until Easter. During Easter the Centre runs a special programme for allthe guests and staff. By May, you should be able to go hiking and climbing in themountains around Kandersteg, though this does depend on the weather! The villagegets very quiet as many hotels and shops close for some of the spring, but we arealways able to find ways of enjoying ourselves! And is a very good time to travelaround in Switzerland and see some of the beautiful towns and country sides.

Come in Spring and get muddy on the campsite!!

The busiest season of all in Kandersteg is ...




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... Summer ...

Do you fancy trying to look after 1'400 Scouts and Guides a week from all over the world? If so, then the summer is for you! Every day, there are Staff leading hikes, working on the campsite, running evening activities, serving in the shop, helping

clean the Chalet, taking groups climbing, working in reception, serving meals andmuch, much more. With lots more Staff and guests, you will have the chance to makefriends with Scouts and Guides from many different countries and learn aboutdifferent ways of Scouting.

During the summer, the Staff work in one main area of the Centre, such as on thecampsite, in the shop or leading hikes. At the end of the Staff training you give us your favourite areas but we finaly decide who works in which area (with respect to your preferences) so expect to spend a lot of time on the job in your department. You will get the chance to have a go at most things during the season, but should beprepared to work wherever and whenever needed. By the end of the season, we havefewer guests and are able to do more work on cleaning the campsite and Chalet.

Although summer is normally very busy, you will have the chance to take some timeoff and there is lots you can do. Hopefully, there will be plenty of sunshine during thesummer, so you can hike or climb around the village, travel around other parts of Switzerland or just laze by the local swimming pool. In the evenings, after running theevening activities, you can go out for a drink or just stay in and relax!Be Staff in the summer and see how crazy this Centre can be!

Maybe you don't want to be in Kandersteg with 1'400 other people, so perhaps you will apply for....

... Autumn ...

After the busy summer season, autumn is a quieter time in Kandersteg. We have fewerguests but there is still plenty of work to be done. While the weather is good, muchof your time will be spent outside, working on the campsite to prepare the groundsfor the following year. There are trees to be taken down, sites to be cleaned,buildings to repair and firewood to be chopped. Work continues outside for as longas possible but there is also work to be done inside the Chalet when the weather isbad. Rooms and kitchens need cleaning and tidying or you could find yourself running activities for the guests, serving them meals or working in the shop.

Autumn is a beautiful season in Kandersteg and you can enjoy the scenery, hiking inthe mountains and maybe skiing at the end of the season. You could also travel andsee the sights of Switzerland, much easier than in the summer as there are fewertourists here! Many shops and hotels close for a month during the season but there isalways somewhere to go for a drink after cheering on the local ice hockey team!

ALL SEASONS

Although the seasons vary a lot, they are similar in many ways. Each season begins with a period of Staff training when the Long Term staff train the new Short Term staff to do the huge variety of jobs which are a part of living and working in Kandersteg. Atthe end of this training, the Short Term staff start to work and help to run the Centre.

However, we don't expect you to remember everything, as we are all still learningnew things!




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Every day, there is a Staff member "on duty", who is there to help guests if they have aproblem in the evenings and also do some everyday jobs - sewing, answering thetelephone, feeding the cat, cleaning the Staff room and so on.

Once a week you have one day-off and we have a Staff Night Out, a chance for the staff to enjoy an evening together away from the Centre. This is paid for by the Centre andcan be whatever you want it to be, although we can't afford to go to the cinema every week! At the end of the season we have a Staff Day Out, again paid for by the Centre, when we all go out together for a whole day. We could go up a mountain railway orcable car, go river rafting or skiing, go and explore a city ... there are lots of possibilities for a special end to the season.






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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWTo Apply For Staff

GENERAL

The Staff at Kandersteg International Scout Centre come from all over the world andbring many different ways and ideas of Scouting with them. Generally, we do notexpect formal qualifications, just Scouts and Guides who are willing to work hard, helpothers, learn new skills, make new friends and enjoy themselves. We want people who want to be part of this exciting international Centre and who will take homemany fantastic memories of their stay.

There are just three requirements you must fulfil in order to apply to join the Staff.1. Scouting

All members of Staff must be registered members of a Scout or Guide Association which is recognised by the conferences of the WorldOrganisation of the Scout Movement or the World Association of the GirlGuides and Girl Scouts. If you are not sure about your situation, pleasecontact your National Headquarters who will be able to help you.

2. Age

All members of Staff must be at least 18 years old on the day they arrive inKandersteg.

3. Language

All members of Staff must be able to understand and communicate in English.

Yes. that's it, that's all you have to be!

There are a lot of other things that you need to know when you are thinking aboutapplying for Staff. Below is some important information about money, travel,insurance, languages and other subjects. Please read it carefully and if you have any problems contact us and we will try to help you.

MONEY

Everything you need to live at the Centre is provided, but you have to cover any othercosts you may have whilst here. It is very hard to say how much money you will needand this depends on how you would like to spend your evenings and days off. If youlike only an occasional drink and prefer to spend time in the village, then about SFr.100.- per month will do. If you like to go out quite often for a drink, visit other partsof Switzerland or phone home a lot, then you will need about SFr. 250.- per month.These amounts are only a rough guide, so it's a good idea to think about what you would like to do whilst in Switzerland. Generally, the Centre is not able to provideany money for Short Term staff. However, you may be able to get some supportfrom your group, National Association or your Scout Region.

TRAVEL

You are responsible for arranging your own travel to Kandersteg to arrive at theCentre on the first day of the season. We consider it very important that all Staff arrive on this date to take part in the full Staff training, but if this is not possible,




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please let us know. We will collect you from Kandersteg train station if you let usknow what time you will arrive.KISC is also a member site for the European Scout Voluntary Programme, whichmeans that travel support is possible.

INSURANCE Whilst a Staff member at the Centre, whether at work or on a day off, you will beinsured against all accidents (including sporting ones). However, if you fall sick, youare not covered by the Centre's insurance. Dental treatment is only covered if thedamage was caused by an accident. You should arrange for your own personalinsurance to cover sickness, routine dental treatment, travel to and from Kanderstegand your luggage, both en-route and whilst at Kandersteg. Switzerland does not havesocial security and so medical treatment is very expensive.

LANGUAGE

English is used as the working language of the Centre, but we do not expect all Staff tospeak it fluently. This booklet is written only in English because of this and if you canunderstand most of what is written you will not have many problems working at theCentre. The local language is Swiss-German which is similar to, but not the same as,High German. It is an advantage to be able to speak other languages, particularly German, so please mention any language abilities you have.

FITNESS

Living at a height of 1'200m and taking part in the active life of the Centre can be quitehard. It is a good idea to do some form of training before you arrive as you will enjoy your stay more if you are prepared. In particular, some Staff positions require a good

degree of fitness such as hikers in the summer. The summer Staff training includesseveral hikes, so be prepared!

WHAT YOU GET

All members of the voluntary Staff receive the following while at the Centre:- Indoor accommodation at the Centre in a room shared with other members of

the Short Term staff

- All meals whilst at the Centre, both wilst at work and on days off

- One day off per week

- One staff night out per week and a staff day out at the end of the season paid forby the Centre

- One day out at the end of the season paid for by the Centre

- Full accident insurance cover

- Appropriate staff training, both in the first weeks and during the season asneeded.

- A full reference upon request at the end of the season, upon completion of astaff evaluation

- A great time in a unique place!




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The Centre will supply you with some basic things while you are here, such as:- 2 Staff T-shirts and 1 Staff Sweatshirt

- Work clothes and gloves

- All bedding

- Towels and face cloths- Shampoo, soap and other basic toiletries

- Sun protection cream

- Basic first aid items

- Laundry facilities - all Staff clothes are washed together, so it is a good idea toname your clothes!

- Joint use of a Staff room with CD player and cassette recorders, television, video and DVD-player

- Basic equipment for hiking, climbing and skiing

If you are accepted to work on Staff, you will receive more information about exactly what the Centre provides and what you need to bring with you.




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APPLY FOR STAFFHow?

GENERAL

So, now you've decided that you want to apply to become a Staff member and you want to know "How?" This section will tell you everything you need to know aboutapplying and what you need to send us.First of all, read everything through again! Then, get the application form and readthat through as well!.

SECTION 1 - PERSONAL DETAILS

This is where we want all the basic information about you - please fill in all the detailscorrectly! Don't forget to attach a recent photo of yourself.

SECTION 2 - WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK?Please tick the season(s) that you would like to apply for, and write the dates you areavailable if they are different from the beginning and end dates of that season.

SECTION 3 - WORK

Please indicate in which jobs you are interested.

SECTION 4 - WORK SKILLS

Briefly tell us why you would like to work at the Centre during the time you have

indicated and in what ways you could contribute your knowledge and skills to theCentre. We expect all Short Term staff to work wherever necessary, though at times we need Staff with particular skills, such as skiing or climbing.

SECTION 5 - OTHER BITS AND PIECES!

We also need to receive some more information from you, as detailed below:• A "personal profile" about your involvement in Scouting / Guiding, your hobbies

and interests, why you want to apply for Staff, any experience you have at similarCentres and so on. Please give us as much information about yourself aspossible to help us.

• Copies of any relevant certificates or awards such as first aid, climbing or hikingqualifications

• An International Letter of Introduction, available from your National Headquarters.

• A medical certificate stating whether or not you have any problems that may affect your work as a Staff member.

• Two letters of reference from people who know you well

• Your signature!




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SECTION 6 - NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Once you have completed the application form and collected all the other necessary information, send it to the International Department of your National Headquarters.They will then complete their section and send everything to us.

OTHER BIDS AND PIECES

The arrival and departure dates for each season are on the application form, together with the closing date for applications to arrive at Kandersteg International ScoutCentre. We acknowledge all applications at once, but do not make an immediatedecision about the application.

The selection of Staff for each season will take place about 2 weeks after the closing date forapplications to be received at the Centre. Normally, a complete Staff team is chosen from theapplications that arrive by the closing date. However, under unusual circumstances, lateapplications may be considered.

Once the selection of Short Term staff has been made, we will notify all applicants of our decision.Those who receive an offer to work here for a season and accept it, will then be sent more detailedinformation about that particular season.

As always, if you have questions, or need more information, contact us and we will be happy tohelp.




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LONG TERM STAFFA Short Intro

As you have probably realised, there are some Staff who go so crazy while working at

Kandersteg that they decide they want to come back and work for more than 3months! The "Long Term staff" have all been Short Term staff and worked round theCentre, but they return to do a specific job. There are people who work on theprogramme the Centre offers, others who work in the administration, the shop, themaintenance, the kitchen and so on. Most of these people work at the Centre forabout 9 months, then leave to return to the real world! There are also some whocome for only 4 months over the summer to help cope with all the guests. Finally there are a few who stay for several years to provide the continuity and progress that aCentre as big as Kandersteg International Scout Centre needs. As Long Term staff stay in Kandersteg for a longer time, they generally live away fromthe Chalet and get some pocket money from the Centre, as well as a few otherbenefits. The number of Long Term staff and the exact jobs they do varies every year,but most positions are for 9 months, from December to the following September. Anyone who has worked at the Centre as a Short Term staff can apply to return as amember of the Long Term staff. If you are interested in applying at any time after your voluntary season, contact the Director who can give you more information andan application form.

Be warned, we are always looking for people crazy enough to return!




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THE ENDGo For It!

We hope that now you have read this booklet you are going to fill in the application

form, get the other information together and send it to us here in Kandersteg as soonas possible. We can promise that you will have an amazing three months here as aShort Term staff member and will have fun, learn, help and enjoy the spirit of the oneand only Unique Permanent Mini Jamboree!

Go on, go for it!

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ST StaffBooklet