Where are the events held?
The events are usually held somewhere in South Yorkshire which is easily accessible for teams travelling long distances to the competition, though after four years the competition is starting to get "itchy feet", hence a desire to find new areas slightly further afield. We always consider accessibility before deciding on a location to make sure all our teams can easily get to the event.
Who
can take part?
Any Scout who is aged between 14 and 25 on the day of the competition can take part in the Apex Challenge. All our events are run as two separate competitions side by side for the Explorer (14-18) and Network (18-25) age groups. We're well aware that some groups are still in the transitional phase, so it doesn't matter if groups aren't fully up and running yet; just grab three of your mates and get yourself entered! Entry is in teams of four.
Who's behind all this?
The Apex Challenge team is made up of young leaders from Yorkshire who fancy putting a bit back into Scouting. We doing it to make scouting events more modern and exciting. Our main aim is to put on an event we'd have liked to take part in when we were younger, or even still want to take part in now. We're working closely with the South Yorkshire County team and all the county activity advisors are helping us out. If you're a leader or instructor who would like to help out, we'd love to hear from you so please contact us.
What
activities will there be?
Depending on the area we're using, some activities are easier to set up than others. We don't like to give away too much in advance to spoil the surprise. From the events we've organised in the past you can expect to have things like climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, assault courses and weaselling. We have event had driving challenges before.
How can I enter?
All entries for the events are processed online. Just visit our next event page where you'll find all the details about what you need to do. If you want to be added to our mailing list to get all the latest Apex Challenge news as it's announced then follow the links from the main Apex Challenge home page.
How will we know you've got our entry form?
To cut down on costs and make things simpler, we'll not be sending any details about the event through the post. Once we've received and processed your entry, your team name will appear on our waiting list page. This means that you have registered an interest in taking part in the event, but your place is not yet confirmed. It is only confirmed once we have received a cheque to cover your entry fee and any T-shirts you want to order. Once we have that your details will be moved to the team list page.
Will it be safe?
Of course. Safety is, as always, the number one priority. Qualified and experienced instructors are running all the activities. Members of the local mountain rescue team are also involved in some of the activities and offer advice to the planning team who arrange the event. The consent form of every Scout is thoroughly checked before the event begins so we know what specific issues some of the team members may have. All people helping out at the event must have satisfied the Scout regulations on Criminal Records safety checks.
Why is there an entry fee?
Simply just to cover the costs of putting on the event. Because everyone involved is giving their time for free, those costs are at an absolute minimum. There are still things we need to buy though. Maps, food and marquees all cost money, but we're confident all our events work out to be at a bargain price compared to what else you could get for the money. Any cash that's left over will be ploughed back into next year's events.
When do consent forms get filled out?
It's a bit bureaucratic, but these things are important. After you've entered a team we'll send out by email nearer the event permission and consent forms detailing the activities we plan to include in the competition. These will also be available on the website. These need to be filled in and signed by parents/guardians of competitors under 18, or just filled in and signed by the competitors themselves if they're 18 or over on the day of the competition. They then need to be handed in at the registration desk on the day of the event.
Why haven't you answered my question?
If something is still unclear, please do contact us. We will try to reply to all emails within 48 hours.
Registered Charity No. 1102633 |
