i.scout-glos issue 2
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What’s in this Issue?
1. Bear in the Air
2. Our County
3. Upcoming Events
4. News
5. Items of Interest
6. News from
Gilwell
Bear Grylls, our Chief Scout, recently
visited both Gloucester and the North
Cotswolds on a trip round the South West
of Britain. At both sites, Bear was greeted
by loads of Scouts, despite the poor
weather.
See pages 2 and 3 for more pictures.
Pat has now resumed her duties as
DC. A very successful St George‟s
Day event was held on Easter
Monday. A District Swimming Gala is
due to be held in July. A new
Explorer Unit has opened as a result
of the closure of the Oasis Centre.
Four Leaders are available to run the
Unit. Cheltenham College is
planning to open a Cub Pack in
September. There is a new Scout
Leader in place.
Safeguarding training is taking place
at Fairford on 30th June. Lechlade
Beavers and Cubs are thriving
following support from County to
recruit new leaders. Following the
resignation of the Scout Leader at
South Cerney, two potential
replacements have been identified.
Two Explorer Scout Leaders as well
as a GSL and Scout Leader are
moving out of the District.
Over 100 people attended the
Highgrove Tour. Tickets for the Beer
Festival at Slimbridge are currently
on sale. Plans for building a new HQ
in Dursley have hit planning
problems but alternatives have been
identified. An individual has been
approached to take on the role of
District Media Manager and a new
website is being developed.
St George‟s Day parade was held
at the Cathedral and was the usual
success. Gang Show was terrific
with lots of new talent on display.
Bear in the Air day was a great
event attracting more than 400
Scouts (many of whom camped on
site) and a number of members of
the public in the afternoon. Press
coverage was extensive in the
Citizen and on local Radio.
The district camp coinciding with
the Chief Scout‟s visit was a great
success if rather wet. Good press
coverage was achieved. The first
St. George‟s Day parade and
service for a number of years was
held in Northleach which attracted
a lot of support and interest from
the locals.
190 Beavers attended a 25th Birthday
celebration at Penn Wood. There
was good media coverage of the
Beaver Air Activity Day at
Nympsfield Airfield and was
attended by 175 Beavers. The
District Cub football competition
took place in May. 325 people
attended the Penn Wood Open Day.
The District Beaver trip to the West
Midlands Safari Park and the District
Cub visit to Portsmouth are due to
take place in June. Two new Scout
Troops have opened
What‟s been going on in your district?
Email us at news@gscouts.org.uk and share your event for
everyone to see.
Safeguarding training is taking place
at Fairford on 30th June. Lechlade
Beavers and Cubs are thriving
following support from County to
recruit new leaders. Following the
resignation of the Scout Leader at
South Cerney, two potential
replacements have been identified.
Two Explorer Scout Leaders as well
as a GSL and Scout Leader are
moving out of the District.
Over 100 people attended the
Highgrove Tour. Tickets for the Beer
Festival at Slimbridge are currently
on sale. Plans for building a new HQ
in Dursley have hit planning
problems but alternatives have been
identified. An individual has been
approached to take on the role of
District Media Manager and a new
website is being developed.
Excellent weather was enjoyed by all
those who attended the District Cub
Camp. George Hiscocks was
presented with the Silver Wolf. A
Water Activities Day at Mallards Pike
is being held on 9th July. The District
Explorers need to find a new
meeting place as they are currently
using the Wilderness Centre, which
is due to close. The possibility of
opening a new group in the
Newnham area is being investigated.
24 Beavers and their leaders have
The district camp coinciding with
the Chief Scout‟s visit was a great
success if rather wet. Good press
coverage was achieved. The first
St. George‟s Day parade and
service for a number of years was
held in Northleach which attracted
a lot of support and interest from
the locals.
190 Beavers attended a 25th Birthday
celebration at Penn Wood. There
was good media coverage of the
Beaver Air Activity Day at
Nympsfield Airfield and was
attended by 175 Beavers. The
District Cub football competition
took place in May. 325 people
attended the Penn Wood Open Day.
The District Beaver trip to the West
Midlands Safari Park and the District
Cub visit to Portsmouth are due to
take place in June. Two new Scout
Troops have opened
District events are planned for all
sections. Two new ESUs have
opened with total membership
exceeding 50. At Winchcombe over
100 parents attended a recent
meeting during which Jim Mayer
(GSL) presented Chief Scout‟s
Awards. Promotion of the Group
took place at the Winchcombe Street
Fair. Jean Marshall attended an
assembly in one school with further
visits likely to take place. A belated
St George‟s Day parade run by the
Beaver leaders was held in the
What‟s been going on in your district?
Email us at news@gscouts.org.uk and share your event for
everyone to see.
24th-26th June Malvern Challenge
1st-3rd July Sun Run
9th July Try Dives 2011
28th July Snorkelling
18th August Snorkelling
16th-18th
September
PADI Advanced Open
Water Scuba Diver
Qualification
23rd-25th
September
“Beast of the Lake”
County Explorer Camp
30th
September-
2nd October
PADI Open Water Scuba
Diver Qualification
8th October Try Dives 2011
14th-16th
October
PADI Open Water Scuba
Diver Qualification
12th November Try Dives 2011
27TH DECEMBER TO 5TH JANUARY
This trip is organised by Stroud & Tetbury District. Skiing around Lake Lu-
cerne. Open to Explorers, Network, leaders, wives and husbands. 40 maxi-
mum. Cost £400.
Want to find
out more?
Visit:
gscouts.org.uk
15TH TO 17TH APRIL
The second weekend of this course saw patrols of Scouts out completing their
Expedition Challenge hike and carrying just day kit. Explorers completed a longer
hike for their DofE Bronze and CS Platinum awards with full kit. After spending the
night at Shurdington they all hiked on different routes into Cranham where they
cooked their evening meal and camped the night. Sunday saw them hiking to Upton St.
Leonards. All patrols arrived in good time. If you want to see what the Explorers got up
to go to You Tube: „Six Idiots and an electric fence‟ & „How to make DofE hot chocolate‟.
Recently, Highbury Cub Scouts raised £37.03 for the New Zealand Blanket Appeal for
the Christchurch Earthquake. The Cubs brought in 2p coins to cover a blanket and
then had fun counting and bagging all of the money. The sister of one of one of
Highbury‟s former Cubs, Jordan Oliver, was caught up in the earthquake whilst
working in Christchurch. She has now, however, been relocated to Wellington.
Felicity Cleaves
1st Cheltenham (Highbury) Scout Group.
John Dover, DSL, Stroud and Tetbury, has
calculated that Gloucestershire has had the
highest percentage increase in
membership from 2001 to 2011 in England
and the second highest numerical increase
after Cambridgeshire.
Gloucestershire!
29TH APRIL TO 2ND MAY
A spell of beautiful, settled weather ensured a truly memorable weekend for Leaders and
seventeen Gloucestershire Scouts and guests from Troops and Units from London and
Eastleigh.
On the Saturday, after a short drive from our base including a crossing of Windermere via
the fascinating Hawkshead chain-ferry, all the groups completed one of several routes on
and around The Old Man of Coniston. An excellent day out was enjoyed by all.
On Sunday all groups walked from scenic Langdale, one group on the Langdale Pikes,
one on Pike Of Blisco and two groups on Crinkle Crags. The strong, blustery winds
prevented the two groups from completing the exposed skyline ridge of Crinkle Crags
but both were able to complete a thrilling circuit by traversing the leeward side of the
crest. On Sunday evening we all enjoyed an hour or so in Bowness for a take-away supper
before returning to base for the traditional indoor games and challenges.
We stayed for the weekend in the Kirkstone Chalet at Great Tower Scout Camp, recently
taken on once more as a national campsite.
A very big thank you to all the Leaders and particularly to Darren, Alan, Stu and Donna
who worked so hard to look after us all with their usual kitchen magic.
David L'Oste-Brown
At the end of May, 150 Scouts, Explorers and Leaders converged on a field in Miserden
for the start Survival Skills and Bushcraft weekend.
Saturday was spent doing training in fire lighting and cooking, use of knives and bivvi
building before the participants were sent into the warmer and drier woods to set up
tarpaulin bivvis. Sunday dawned too early for many, and the training continued with
edible plants and direction finding. At lunchtime, the participants were sent into the
woods to survive - cooking on wood, and building bivvis from natural materials. Food
preparation included gutting fish and skinning rabbits, before cooking them on the
wood fires. Monday started with an early trumpet reveille - which still didn't seem to
waken everyone. The 24 hour exercise was successfully completed just after lunch on
Monday when 60 Survival Skill badges were presented. Congratulations to everyone.
Continued...
...The Advanced Survival course now runs parallel to the Bushcraft course so that
participants can attend either course in either order once they have completed
the Scouts Survival Badge course. This year 16 Scouts and a leader completed the
course in unusual circumstances. The inability to have fires at the bivvi site meant
that the teams had a lot more walking to do before they could practice their fire
lighting skills and cooking. Building upon skills learnt previously the course de-
veloped their knife awareness and safety, cutting techniques, making natural
cordage, preparing game, plant identification and wild food, traps and snares, wa-
ter purification and the priorities of survival and shelter building. For those look-
ing at attending the "Nabbo" course in the future the ability to construct a warm,
dry shelter efficiently and quickly is a prime concern. Despite a wet finish all fin-
ished in fine spirits, if a little hungry. Food may be the last of our survival priori-
ties... try telling a group of teenage boys that when they are cold and
tired!!! However in our game points mean prizes. By completing tasks each patrol
earned more food. Some exciting meals were cooked including pasta with duck,
nettles, wild garlic and other wild plants. Well done to everyone... a great course
spirit and some good skills learnt.
14TH MAY
This saw another 10 Scouts and Guides embark on this exciting fun-filled sport
spending an hour swimming around on and under the water at Lydney White
cross Swimming Pool. I wonder how many of them will be fully qualified Open Wa-
ter Scuba Divers before the end of the year (next course in October)?
Cranham is currently buzzing with activity. Not only that, but it is buzzing with peo-
ple from Gloucestershire Scouts and Guides – there is an active group of Brownies
in the main building, over a hundred Scouts who are preparing to attend the Haar-
lem Jamborette on the camping field and a hundred and fifty Beavers from
Gloucester enjoying an activity day in the Grove. All we need to do now is make
sure that every weekend is as busy and exciting!
Since my official start after Ken‟s retirement at the end of March, I have been of-
fered a range of opportunities. Firstly there has been the opportunity to meet so
many wonderful and interesting people from around the county and beyond. Get-
ting to know the Scouting „locals‟ has confirmed the fact that I have done the right
thing by taking on the role at Cranham.
I have also been offered the opportunity to see how the centre can be further de-
veloped. So far we have:
Introduced a new activity – Sumo Wrestling which can be hired for an hour by
groups on site and can be taken off site for events such as the recent camp in
Gloucester (Bear Grylls was wearing one apparently!)
Completed construction of a new bridge in the Grove by the toilet block
Made improvements to the Managers house and garden, including felling trees
in the garden, selective planting, repainting downstairs in the house and we are
currently in the process of insulating and plastering upstairs
Plans over the next twelve months include finishing jobs that were started before I
arrived and work on the infrastructure of the site some of which will ultimately
save the centre money and time. This includes:
Replacing signage and putting a new sign on the road
Redoing the website, flyer and brochure – website done
Finishing the Challenge Course (hanging tube)
Replacing heating in dining room
Reinstating the shop
Investigating solar panels
If anyone knows anyone who may have a business or skill that can help to improve
the centre please let me know (please note the new email address below).
I am also trying to develop the Service Team on site. This is being done with
Gloucestershire Active Support. We already have a small number of extremely
hard workers whose work I greatly appreciate, but I am keen to expand this team.
Opportunities are available for:
Activity Instructors
Maintenance
Cleaning
Supporting administration
I have pencilled in a number of dates where we can get a few jobs done. Some of
these weekends are busier so may be more orientated at working with groups.
The dates are:
18th - 19th June – Himalayan Balsam eradication, fencing and strimming
16th - 17th July – Fencing and benches
27th - 29th August – Bank holiday weekend
8th - 9th October – Planting and fencing
26th - 27th November – Decorating inside crew cabin
7th - 8th January – Main building and social
11th - 12th February – To be confirmed
3rd - 4th March – To be confirmed
Please contact the centre for further information.
Pete Richardson
Centre Manager
Cranham Scout Centre
Cranham, Gloucestershire, GL4 8HP
Tel: 01452 812309
Email: info@scoutcentre.org.uk
Website: www.scoutcentre.org.uk
The ticket agency “Youth Fun Days” is offering Scouts and Guides
discounts on many popular theme parks including Legoland, Alton Towers
and Thorpe Park. It is run by Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire Scout
Counties and raises money for Scouting AND lets you get tickets at
cheaper prices.
Follow the link HERE
to get to their website
www.youthfundays.co.uk
Ordnance Survey are starting to run a series of map reading workshops to
brush up your skills or learn from scratch. They are running them across
the UK and will take you through the basics of map reading and compass
navigation.
Find out more HERE.
Also, Ordnance Survey have produced a series of videos on their YouTube
channel with the TV naturalist, Simon King, to help you with any bits of
map reading you get stuck on.
These can be found HERE.
Now, you can get 20% off all your purchases at Cotswold Outdoor just by
showing your Scout membership card. You can also visit Cotswold
Outdoor‟s “Tent Roadshows” to test some tents that your Scouts could be
sleeping in.
Sainsbury‟s are looking for places to host team building events for their
staff. If you can lend them your Scout HQ for a day or can arrange for them
to train in the place that you meet they will give you one day of bag
packing. This is a great opportunity to raise funds for your Group .
You can fill out the form HERE.
The Scout Association has now released an
iPhone/iPod Touch App that can be a very helpful little bit of information.
On my badges you have a list of all the badge requirements plus badge
position diagrams, the ability to track personal progress and even
reminders of you promises and laws.
More information can be found HERE
You can download the app HERE for £1.19
Gilwell Reunion
On 2-4 September the 85th Gilwell
Reunion will excite, exhilarate and
entertain adult volunteers. And it’s
not too late to book your place.
Media workshops A series of national one-day media
workshops have been arranged to
provide media skills to any adult
interested in doing positive Scouting
media work at Group, District or
County level. The following courses
are coming up soon,
Saturday 24 September 2011 at
Leicestershire Scout County Centre
Saturday 21 January 2012 in Leeds.
To book yourself and others from your
area to attend of these courses, please
email Wendy Cook including
your name, contact phone number,
email, Scouting appointment and
which event you want to attend.
Scouts Speak Up
Six nationally co-ordinated
communications courses are
being run for young people in
Scouting. These courses are
designed to give young people
the skills needed to talk about
their experiences in Scouting to a
wide variety of audiences, and
learn how to plan and carry out
campaigns. There are also
opportunities to lobby politicians
at this year‟s party conferences.
Click here if you are interested.
The Pride of Scouting
For the third consecutive year, The Scout
Association will be represented at London
Pride – the annual celebration of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender life. The
parade through the heart of London will take
place on Saturday 2 July and we hope you
can join us.
Chairman, County
Finance Sub-committee
- to support County
Treasurer and advise
on budgeting and
investments.
Assistant County
Commissioners for:
Beaver Scouts
Cub Scouts
Scouts
Explorer Scouts
Director of Adult
Training
Please contact the County
Commissioner if you would
be interested in any of these
roles at cc@gscouts.org.uk.
Scouts Speak Up
Six nationally co-ordinated
communications courses are
being run for young people in
Scouting. These courses are
designed to give young people
the skills needed to talk about
their experiences in Scouting to a
wide variety of audiences, and
learn how to plan and carry out
campaigns. There are also
opportunities to lobby politicians
at this year‟s party conferences.
Click here if you are interested.
The Pride of Scouting
For the third consecutive year, The Scout
Association will be represented at London
Pride – the annual celebration of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender life. The
parade through the heart of London will take
place on Saturday 2 July and we hope you
can join us.
5th July County
Leadership Team
Meeting
9th July County Exec.
Meeting
6th
September
County
Leadership Team
Meeting
29th
September
DCs Meeting
For more information visit:
gscouts.org.uk
or phone the County Office
on: 01452 812309
The year ended with a deficit of £23,546. This was largely attrib-
uted to a drop in income from
Cranham. The accounts were ap-
proved unanimously by the Execu-
tive with thanks to Bill Bowen,
County Treasurer.
The annual contribution to the sup-port fund will be increased to
£4,000 to reflect the increasing
call on the fund .
A Service Team at Cranham is to be set up and will be open to Ex-
plorers, Network members and
other adults.
The provisional date for the Beaver and Cub Fun Day at the Race-
course is 16th June 2012.
Paul Trott proposed that changes to the County Constitution were re-
quired to bring it in line with POR.
As a result it was agreed that the AGM be postponed to September
and that a further meeting to dis-
cuss the Constitution be held on
Saturday 9th July at 2:30pm,
Eastcombe Scout HQ.
The next edition of
i.SCOUT-GLOS will be
published in September.
Please submit all
contributions by 31st August
2011.
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