Meet our Rover Reps

All contingents attending Roverway 2024 are invited to nominate two Rover Representatives – participants that represent our contingent at planning team meetings.

For the UK Contingent, our Rover Reps are already working closely alongside the UK Contingent Management Team (CMT).

Sam caught up with our newly selected Rover Reps – Katie and Mason – to find out a bit about them.

Tell me about yourselves!

Mason: I’m Mason, 19 years old and from Derbyshire. I work as a teaching assistant in a primary school. In Scouts I volunteer with all four youth sections, which takes up most of my spare time! I’m also the Patrol Leader for Patrol 28.

Katie: Hi, I’m Katie from East Sussex. I’m 18 years old, and currently at university studying mechanical engineering. I volunteer as a Scout Leader and also a District Youth Lead, where I promote top awards to young people. For Roverway, I’m the Patrol Leader for Patrol 57 (the Sussex Brontos!)

What exciting things have you got up to in Scouts before?

Katie: I joined Scouts at the age of 10. I’ve gained nearly all of the youth awards available to me so far, and I’m now working towards by King’s Scout Award. One of my best experiences was an Explorer Belt expedition to Portugal and Spain, which involved walking a pilgrimage route along the coast.

Mason: I’ve done an Explorer Belt too, which was actually the first time I’ve travelled further than Scotland! We did a similar thing in Italy, sticking to the coast where it was super hot but great fun. I’m also looking to work towards my King’s Scout Award before I’m 25! 

Why did you choose to apply for Roverway 2024?

Mason: After my Explorer Belt I was looking for anything to get me abroad again! Roverway is such a unique event, offering the 16-22 age range something quite different, and I liked the idea of the patrol setup. My patrol met for the first time at Roverway On Tour, and at the minute we’re hoping for an adventurous path.

Katie: Having missed out on the chance to attend a World Scout Jamboree, I was really excited by Roverway as it offers a jamboree-style event but with so much more going on. It’s also great to be able to still be a participant at this age. I met all of my patrol for the first time at Roverway On Tour, and we’re already in touch with our neighbouring patrols to plan a combined camp in the spring. It’s been great to meet lots of new people already! 

What’s your role as a Rover Rep?

Katie: We’ll be working with the CMT to provide a youth voice and a participant’s opinion on all discussions and decisions. Already we’ve been along to several CMT meetings and joined discussions about paths, the PL Academy, and ideas for alternative options due to the capacity issue.

Mason: One of our main tasks is to represent the participants of the UK Contingent at meetings with the Roverway planning team in Norway, collaborating with Rover Reps from other countries. As part of the wider strategy to ensure the UK Contingent is youth-shaped, we also take a leading role in the YouShape Team and Youth Forum.

How can participants shape their Roverway experience?

Mason: Social media! We’re keeping an eye on all the patrol accounts appearing (50 and counting!). It’ll be great to see patrols sharing their experiences so more people find out about Roverway and international Scouting.

Katie: A great way to pass your ideas and suggestions is through the PL/APL Facebook group. Mason and I are both members and we’re hoping it will become a useful place for questions and discussions.