ContentsGroup Leader / Commissioners

Conference Page 5

Teens go wild in the wild Page 14

Upcoming events Page 17

Roverway 2012 Page 18

Beaver news Page 20

Cub news Page 24

MPC celebrates 20th year Page 30

Website / Facebook Page 31

SI picture page Page 32

Carrigaline Scouts and UCC Page 34

Roverway 2012 Page 36

Beaver Pumpkin Art Page 38

Cavan Monaghan Scout Bivvi Page 39

Venture Scout weekend Page 40

9th Louth Ferdia Page 41

Surfing in Larch Hill Page 42

Barry Kennedy receives UL Award Page 43

Summer in Kandersteg Page 44

Sionnach in the Burren Page 45

Urban Challenge Day /

Walter McGrath Museum Page 46

First Aid Course for Leaders Page 47

Squelsh Page 48

County Scout Hike Page 49

Ulster MPC 2011 Page 50

Lean-to Built in Lough Dan Page 53

29th Belfast visit London Page 54

SI Tweets Page 56

ONE Programme Tip Page 57

National Campsites Network Page 58

The Chief Scout Page 60

Adult Training – Changes Page 61

Blast from Past Page 66

Ask a Question!Here is a question we posed recently on our facebook page?

In talking to the Chief Scout Last weekend one of the Questions he posed was WHY? Why are you in scouting? Like to hear why you are in Scouting?

Below is some of the responses we got:

Siobhan RogersHand: Cos it’s only an hour a week! LOL

Séamus Mac An Airchinnigh: Because I can’t seem to get out.

Brian Dunphy: Cause its FUN

Angela Stack: Because I went for a look 20 years ago and haven’t gotten around to leaving...

Tom Treacy: It’s not a choice your either a scout or your not :D

Jimmy Myler: cos I got so much from it... cos i enjoy challenges.... cos it makes a difference... cos i never grew up....... bit mainly i really enjoy that witty sarcasm/ humour that is innate to venture scouts ......

Olga Long: Because when you are born into it you just think it is a way of life..

Simon Ronan: because its only one hour a week...lol and i was young once. And oh ya i Love it

Tom McKiernan: Scouting brings out the goodness in people, families, friends and communities

Shauna Doherty: luv it,luv it,luv it.....

Teens Go Wild.....page 14

SI Pictures....page 32

MPC 20th....page 30 Cavan Monaghan...page 39

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Communications Commissioner Introduction

Welcome back to the November Issue of the Inside Out your Monthly Online Magazine for all that is going on in Scouting Ireland.

We have a major feature inside on this year’s Group Leader-Commissioners Conference with a run down on all the action as it happened over the weekend. Our Photography team Headed up Dave Coyne have captured the weekend with many great images inside. This month also features loads of articles submitted by youth members detailing events that they have taken part in either at local or national level. We announce the winner of our recent Competition ran on our

facebook page which goes from strength to strength. We are launching another competition there soon so keep checking in.We have loads of articles from around the provinces, our regular features on our Twitter page, CubScout Corner, Beaver Scout news, along with website of the month.

This month we have started a slot on introducing the management team of Scouting Ireland and detailing their roles. Another new feature is our “Website Training tips” this month we have a walk through on how to book a training Course.

There are lots more, so something for everyone to browse. But don’t keep it to yourself pass it on to your fellow Scouts and Scouters.

So hope you enjoy this month’s issue and remember the deadline for next months submissions is 30th Nov. So please forward your pictures and articles to communications@scouts.ie See you next Month

Jimmy CunninghamCommunications Commissioner

Please note: Because of the change over of the Scouting Ireland Email system last month some of the articles submitted have not been included. This was due to these articles been lost accidentally in the changeover process. We have now recovered these articles and we will publish these articles next month. Sorry for any inconvinence caused. “

Group Leader / Commissioner ConferenceOpening SpeakerThe Conference started with the opening Guest Speaker Christy Kenneally. This was really well received and Christy had the attendees in stitches with Laughter and then would drop in a very relevant point about being a Scouter.

Adult Resources SessionThe Adult resource session was presented by John Brennan, Sean Farrell and Joe Marken. This section covered items such as the recruitment of adults, the retention of adults and the review of existing leaders. The session also went on to cover the cycle of a leader. Starting from the recruitment right through to resignation.

Link to this presentationhttps://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/7%20-%20Adults%20in%20Scouting.pdf

Training SessionThe training session was presented by Sean Hayes and Bernie Rogers. The session covered Group leader and commissioner training. Starting with a run through the induction, to the basic and right through to the advanced training course. Sean went through in detail the various steps in each area fielding a lot of Questions in relation to this area and training in general. Link to this presentationhttps://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/9%20-%20Group%20Leader%20Commissioner%20Training.pdf

NSRAP SessionThe National Spiritual Religious Advisory Panel Ran a Session at the Conference. The session was chaired by Dave Kenneally. The Session covered supporting the S in Spices.It started with a discussion on where we are as a society at the moment in Ireland. It then went on to cover Self

Appreciation and self Respect. Dave went on to delve in deeper to the Emotional spice and positive mental health. He encouraged everyone to have a listening ear.He then touch on two events coming up that is the Peace Light Of Bethlehem and Taize an event for a Venture Scout ,Rover Scout or Leader.Link to this presentationhttps://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/6%20-%20NSRAP%20Presentation.pdf

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Special Needs and Intellectual Disabilities SessionThe Special needs Session was run by Christy Mc Cann and Sondra Meehan. The aim of the Session was to heighten awareness of Special needs Children in Scouting.The session also tried to ascertain what resources Leaders needed to help them deal with this vast area. This session proved very interesting and again got a lot of feedback.

Link to this presentationhttps://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/10%20-%20Special%20Needs%20Presentation.pdf

Youth Programme ResourcesThis session was presented by Ian Davy Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme).

He first spoke about Rover Scouting and a new resource called Welcome to Rover Scouting which helps deal with and explain the issues in turning 18 and now becoming an Adult (Whether you like it or not).

He then went on to launch 2 new resource booklets the first been “Setting up a Rover Scout Crew under ONE Programme. This booklet is designed to assist Scout Groups to establish new Rover Scout Crews.

The 2nd Booklet launched was to assist Scout Groups in establishing new Venture Scout Units. This booklet is called Taking Adventure to a higher level.

He also launched the new Green Card Initiative which is designed to enable us to track and improve the impact we are having on OUR environment.

Roverway 2012 is an international Camp for Venture Scouts and Rover Scouts which is taking place in Finland in 2012. He introduced Mary Nugent who is Scouting Ireland head of Contingent

The Roverway team have launched there new website for anyone thinking of attending the event. You can access the website at www.roverway.ie (Link) Closing date for applications is the 9th December application forms

and all details on the website

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Also launched on the day was a range of Patrol badges The Scouting away from home Initiative was also mentioned. This is a way of hooking up Venture Scouts and Rover Scouts who are attending college and linking them up with Scout Groups who are local to the college they are attending so as they can still have a weekly Scout experience but remain part of their own Scout Group at home.

From November the team will be launching One Programme Administration files which will include Cash collection sheets, Weekly and monthly planning Sheets, Activity planning Checklists, Special interest Badge planner sheet and more. These will be available on a USB card and by download from the my.scouts.ie website

The Last initiative launched was the Volunteer Network 2012. The Aim of this initiative is to enhance the level of support by Adults (Scouters and parents) to encourage the growth & development of

the Association through the utilisation of experience/specialisations

Link to Presentation

https://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/12%20-%20Programme%20Resources%20Launch.pdf

Child Protection SessionThis session was presented by the Child Protection Officer Ruth Hughes.Ruth started with the statement that generally, the most resilient young peopleagainst bullying or abuse are generally those with the most fun and friendship in their life”She went on to discuss the Safe from Harm Conference at the World Jamboree. She then went on to cover Garda Vetting and the Child Protection Awareness programme. Ruth took some questions from the floor in a bid to help explain this vast area.

Link to this presentation

https://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/8%20-%20Child%20Protection.pdf

The Scout Shop Session

Dermot Mc Mullen gave a good overview on the situation with the Scout Shops.He stated that the scout shop in Cork was trading well in a difficult market. He discussed uniform items and other merchandising. He also gave a run through on the rewards card and how this operated. Various questions were raised from the floor which Dermot dealt with on the day.

Communications Team SessionThe Communications Commissioners Jimmy Cunningham Presented this Session.The session covered the broad spectrum of Communications in Scouting Ireland.He went through the Structure of the new team into the various areas.

One of the points that he wanted to get across was that he seen the Communications team as a service team for the membership not just for national teams but for all the members. He spoke of the new Social media features which Scouting Ireland had now embraced. He described in detail what the Communications team can do for the membership and he told the membership what they could do to help Communications throughout the association. He finished with the words “Communication is two way, so let’s communicate”

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Link to this presentation

https://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/11%20-%20Communications%20Presentation.pdf

The Provincial Competition.

A feature of these Conferences has been the Provincial Fun Competition which usually runs in the early evening just after the sessions have finished. This year was no different with Vinny Heaney and his team of Venture Scouts providing a great array of games. This year there were some great challenges for the teams to compete in.

This was a special year as the 2 previous competitions had been won by the Northern Province so they were going for 3 in a row. All the other provinces were very keen to not have this happen so pull out all the stops to win. At the end of a very close competition the winners were the North Eastern Province thus denying the Northern Province 3 in a row.

Award of Cu CuchallinThe award of the Cu Cuchallin was presented to Vinny Heaney from the Bayside Scout Group during the Conference Dinner. Vinny’s citation was read allowed by John Lawlor and captured Vinny’s career in Scouting Ireland. Vinny has been an Active member of his Group, a Trainer in the North East Province since Scouting Ireland started and long before that in a previous association. This year Vinny was the Deputy Contingent Leader for the World Scout Jamboree. There was a standing Ovation for Vinny when the Chief Scout presented him with is Award. It was great that Vinny’s Family were also in attendance on the night.

Presentation to the Conference TeamJohn Brennan Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) Thanked the Conference organising team not just for this year but for the 3 years of the Conferences. He proceeded to give a small presentation to Dave and Bernie Rogers, James O Toole and Sean Farrell.

ONE Scout County Programme TeamThis session was presented jointly by Ian Davy Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) and Christine Ellis Programme Commissioner (Implementation & Coordination). This session covered

1. What is a Scout County Programme Team?2. What part does the County Programme Coordinator play?3. What part does the County Commissioner play?4. How can it help the Programme Scouters & Youth Members in theCounty?5. Motivating the Programme Scouters to get involved in the CountyProgramme Team6. What do I do when I visit a Programme Section meeting or activity?7. What do YOU require in terms of training members of the County?Programme Team?8. Action planning for your Scout County

Link to the presentation

https://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/GL%20Comm%20Conference/2011/13%20-%20ONE%20County%20PROGRAMME%20Team.pdf

National Treasurers SessionThe National Treasurer Frances Minogue gave a very detailed presentation on the Finances of Scouting Ireland. He gave an overview of all areas of Finance and a run through on the 7 Companies in Scouting Ireland. He then continued to explain the new registration process including a Run down on all the rebates that are available. He spoke of the extra rebates that were in place for the increase in membership in Venture Scout Sections and the opening of new Rover Scout crews. He gave a breakdown on where approximately the Registration fee goes. Francis then went on to talk about Campsites and Event Budgeting. He stated that approximately 7 million Euro was dealt with in all areas of scouting last year.

Link to this presentationh t t p s : / / m y. s c o u t s . i e / u p l o a d s / f i l e s / G L % 2 0 C o m m % 2 0Conference /2011/5%20-%20Nat iona l%20Treasurer%20Presentation.pdf

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Critical Incident Stress ManagementThis session was presented by Lt Ollie Barber. This was very informative session which explained the process that Scouting Ireland has put in place to deal with any Critical Incident which may occur. He went through what happens and what kicks into action whenever an incident Occurs.

Ombudsman for Children The closing Speaker for the conference was Nikki Gallagher Communications Director at the office of the Ombudsman. She went through the role of this office and spoke very highly of the role Scouting Ireland plays in Irish Society.

Closing of the ConferenceThe Conference was closed by John Brennan Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources).He thanked everyone for taking the time out of their busy schedules to attend the schedule.He went on to thank all who had run sessions at the Conference and thanked the organising team of Dave and Bernie Rogers, James O Toole and Sean Farrell.

Challenges Facing Scouting Ireland

At the recent Group leader Commissioners conference the Communications Team interviewed some of the participants, asking them what were the challenges currently facing Scouting Ireland.

The video piece below gives details of what was said.link to Scouting Ireland Vimeo Page.

Out and About at the Commissioners Conference

At the recent Group leader Commissioners conference the Communications Team interviewed some of the participants, asking them what they were doing at the conference. It includes interviews with Two Chief Commissioners some of the programme commissioners and other participants at this year’s conferenceClick below to view the video.link to Scouting Ireland Vimeo Page.

Video Pieces

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Scouts, we all know, is for dorks. It’s all wearing neckers and singing round campfires and dib dib dibbing, isn’t it?

Like I say - dorks. So when a work colleague asks me to put my mountaineering skills to use doing voluntary work on a mountain training course for scouts, I’m reluctant to participate. But, as I find out, that’s because I was never actually in scouts.

Throughout the course of the week in Cappanalea outdoor education centre near Killorglin in Co Kerry, my eyes are pried open to the spirit of adventure that is actually the kernel of scouting. I learn how scouting challenges children to try new things, encourages them to be responsible citizens, educates them as to the benefit of teamwork and shows them how to be strong and compassionate leaders.

I learn, too, how scouting teaches crucial values in taking on life’s challenges: loyalty, trustworthiness, respect and bravery. Crucially, it gives you the courage to be your own person, to separate yourself from the sheep. And lying in my bivvy bag in the dead of night, in the drizzle, amid the all-pervasive smell of sheep droppings on the side of a hill in Kerry, I mean this literally.

Throughout the night, the sheet of plastic I’ve been sleeping in has been sliding incrementally down the hill, until I collide with a snoozing sheep.

‘‘I hate this,” I think, not for the first time this week and not for the last. I lie awake for hours, c o l d and uncomfortable and willing the dawn to break.

Our group of 14 tutors and 36 scouts eventually surface through a haze of mist rising from Lough Caragh beside Cappanalea. Damp and creaking we pull on shorts and runners for our 6.30am aerobic call, followed by a 5km slog-jog. As one of the aerobic instructors it’s my job to get the music, the blood and the giggles pumping. So, there’s no room for my usual grumpy morning routine, no time for a shower and make-up, no time to think about me. I leap around, throwing in some Scottish highland dancing for good measure.

After our run we shower and breakfast and begin a workshop navigation lesson. The patrols of six scouts are assigned two tutors each, of which I am one. During the lesson we are laughing and sharing our stories of the bivvy-out which I’m now thinking wasn’t so bad at all . . . character-forming, even. This time next year, my brush with the sheep will have gone down into legend.

The scouts then have an orienteering exercise while the tutors set up a water-based assault course. Bearing in mind that this is Kerry, in March, this means one thing: mud. Lots and lots of cold, wet mud.

Peak is all about participation, so whatever the tutors expect the scouts to do, we have to be prepared to do too. But an hour later as I am commando crawling along a stream bed with buckets of mud raining down from above I am, at least, thankful that I am in a wetsuit; the scouts are chittering in shorts and T-shirts. Then it’s into the lake for the final challenge, out and a jog back to the showers and lunch.

The days - and nights - at Peak are stuffed with activity. The tight schedule includes day hikes, night hikes, rock climbing and raft-building. There is also classroom work teaching navigation, route planning, emergency procedures, first aid,

Teens go wild in the wild A weekend on the side of a Kerry mountain with a group of scouts is a life-changing experience.

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menu planning and bag packing. More mundane tasks include setting up meals and cleaning up, and keeping track of all our equipment. The week culminates in a two-day expedition through the Reeks mountain range. The scouts will navigate the route in their patrols without our assistance (or so they think).The expedition ends at Kate Kearney’s cottage on the Ring of Kerry, and it’s back on the bus and back to Cappanalea for a slap-up meal and party.

As tutors we are constantly monitoring and motivating our own group of scouts, problem spotting and being open to anything they want to chat about, at any time. We are aware of the importance of maintaining the children’s wellbeing at all times, but have to wear that badge lightly, giving these young adults the space to explore all the week has to offer.This is never more evident than on a day hike up Ireland’s highest mountain, Carauntoohil. One of my scouts, a girl, 14, from Dalkey who has struggled with the physical side of the week, finds herself supported at the back of the patrol by a boy,15, from Coolock in Dublin.

She lives a salubrious existence in south county Dublin while he babysits his younger sister in their council house in the evenings while his mum goes out to work as a cleaner.

His dad died five years ago. She plump and cerebral - and he cheeky and exuberant - make an unlikely climbing pair. At the top of the mountain, both are exhilarated.

‘‘You know,” says Dalkey girl, ‘‘If you’d told me at the beginning of this week I would climb Ireland’s highest mountain, I would never have believed it. I never saw myself as someone who could do things and now I do. I go to school and am made fun of because I’m not good looking like the other girls, but at scouts . . . at scouts I can really be myself. That’s where my real friends are.” My co-tutor and I exchange glances as if to say,’ ‘beat that David Coleman’’.

At the end of the week the scouts board the train in Killarney to a rousing chorus of ‘ Don’t Blame it on the Sunshine’ (with actions) from the tutors. My patrol say Peak has changed their lives. I believe them. It’s changed mine too.

Get involved

Peak – Patrol Expedition and Adventure Kamp – is a week-long event for 36 scouts held in participation with Scouting Ireland. It takes place over Easter at Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre in Kerry.

It focuses on team building and moutaineering skills and culminates in an overnight expedition through the Reeks mountain range. Many of the scouts go on to complete mountain skills and mountain leader qualifications, and all will be able to make a banoffi pie in a Trangia pot, by torchlight, on a mountain swept by gale-force winds.

Peak is open to scouts between the ages of 14 and 17 who have previous mountaineering experience and have an interest in learning the finer points of mountain navigation.

To apply for Peak 2012 as a scout, log on to www.sionnach. org or see www.scouts.ie

This story appeared in the printed version of the Sunday Business Post Sunday, October 23, 2011

Upcoming Events

Jamoige 1st-4th June 2012 Balbriggan

Camp North East North Eastern Province 4th - 7th May 2012 Portlick

Camp Carnival Northern Province 1st June -4th June

National Council 30th March -1st April Red Cow Dublin

National Youth Fora 28th-29th Jan TBC

Crean Challenge Expedition 11th- 18th Feb TBC

Unplugged 18th-19th Feb TBC

Sluaiocht Na Sleithe--Winter 24th-26th Feb TBC

PEAK-- Patrol Expedition Adventure Kamp 6th - 13th April TBC

MPC----Munster 13th - 15th April TBC

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This month’s article deals with the Physical Spice.

In the beaver scout handbook we are introduced to Zena and Zena is the character for the physical SPICE .

If you would like to know a little about Zena we have a profile of Zena in the box. At lodge time you may find it useful to do a profile of your lodge , it is a great way to get to know interesting facts about the others in your lodge.

As well as enjoying many sporting activities and being active Zena knows how to look after herself and the importance of eating healthily and being clean and tidy.

Zena is not the best dancer but understands that everyone is different and everyone has different talents and it is good to see everyone’s talent.

Zena is aware of what she can do and also what she cannot do, she also understands that she needs to rest and needs to go to bed even if she does not like it.

Profile of Zena.

Age : 7 ½

Likes : Beaver Scouts Athletics Football Hiking Camping Dancing

Dislikes : Going to bed

Favourite Game:Bucket Ball & LandSeaAir

Favourite Food : Pasta with Chicken Biggest Achievement : Level 2 Hiking , I climbed a mountain 524m high with my lodge.

Before I sleep: Brush my teeth Change into clean PJs

Future:When I grow up I want to explore the world.

Best Friend : Spike ( he is great

fun and is always telling jokes.)

Beaver News

Read Zena’s story below and them see if you can answer some of the questions?

Did Zena use her talents ?

Did you see some of the other characters talents ?If so what were they ?

How long did it take Spike to recover ?

Zena’s Favourite Games

Bucketball This is played in two teams. It is similar to Basketball except a member of the team holds a bucket. The person holding the bucket stands on a table and the aim is to score more baskets than the other team.

No rough play is allowed. You cannot walk or run holding the ball. The game lasts about ten minutes.

Land Sea Air.

The colony line up in a straight line in the middle of the hall. That area is Land . When the scouter calls “Sea” all the beaver scouts run to the left side of the hall. When the Scouter calls “Air” all the beaver scouts run to the right side of the hall.

After a few goes the last beaver scout to get to the area is out. The scouter may try to confuse the beaver scouts by pointing the wrong way.

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Zena Finds Help in a Hot Air Baloon.

The fox lodge were on an adventure a long way from the crannog. Spike was showing the others a new dance that he had seen , he leapt into a backflip, landed on a rock and twisted his ankle. He was brave but Star knew that it was serious and the ankle was swelling up, “one of us needs to go get help !! she exclamed.

“I will go” said Zena “afterall I am the fastest”.

Moon looked after Spike and Star worked out the quickest route back to the crannog. Zena will have to cycle three and a half miles to the edge of the blue lake swim to the crannog and then run as fast as she can to find one of the Elders.

It wasn’t long before Casper spotted a hot air baloon in the distance coming towards them . A few minutes later the baloon landed beside them and out popped Zena.Wow !! “that was fast ” shouted Moon. Zena smiled , she was happy that she had got help fast , she was still wet from the swim but was happy.

All the fox lodge went back to the crannog in the hot air baloon. Spike’s ankle healed well and he was better within a few days.

Spike’s father was a carpenter and he gave Zena a wooden cup with the words “ ar nos na gaoithe” carved into the cup as a thank you for finding help so quickly. That translates as “ as

fast as the wind”.

Another adventure ended and a great story for all to tell. It didn’t take Spike long to get into more adventures but that a story for another day.

SCOUTER ZONE

Understanding Learning Objectives:

What is a learning Objective ?

A learning objective is a statement outlining the challenge within the SPICES so that we can encourage each youth member to achieve the aims of the association.

Where did they come from. ?

The Learning objectives came from RAP ( Renewed Approach to Programme)

August 2004 - Educational Proposal – ascertained the needs and aspirations of young people in Ireland. The goals of Scouting Ireland were examined.

October 2004 – Educational Trails - The Educational Trails Document was developed in respect of each of the areas of personal growth outlined in the aim of the Association, building on the Educational Proposal.

October 2005 – Learning Objectives – learning objectives were developed for each of the six areas of personal growth (SPICES) across the different stages of development. There were 36 learning objectives identified

across the six stages of development.

These are the Learning Objectives that Scouting Ireland has identified in the Area of Physical growth.

Physical

Understanding my body and my physical capabilities, while developing skills through appropriate physical challenges.Taking Care of MyselfDemonstrate that I play an ongoing & active role in maintaining my own dietary health. Take responsibility for personal hygiene and the impact it has on others.

Protect and maintain my health through my choice of a healthy balanced lifestyle. Be responsible for my physical development.

Understanding/Knowledge

• Be able to identify when my body is working well and when it isn’t and have the good judgment to get help when I need it. • Understand that society is richer because ofphysical difference.• Before I make important lifestyle choices I will inform myself of all the risks/benefits involved, recognise and understand the impact of my choices on myself and others.• Recognise and understand the impact of physical abuse on myself and others.

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Cub NewsA big hello to all the cubs and cub leaders out there.

Did you have a great Halloween? We hope you got loads of treats and plenty of tricks while you were out.

So the sweets are all eaten, the costume is put away and all the spare fruit is hidden under the bed so mammy and daddy don’t make us eat it. Next month is December and all our minds will be on one thing. How about before that we take a step back and think about other people for the month of November. We have given a few ideas and included a few inspiring stories.

You might not get to do a good deed every day but remember the cub motto-‘ do your best’. Even one small good thing is better than doing nothing.

Helping someone else

You want to do something good for someone? You can’t think of anything. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Here are some ideas of what you can do:

• Help a charity• Ask someone how they are doing• Carry an old person’s shopping• Buy Mam and dad a chocolate bar out of your own money• Hold a door open for someone• Play with the ‘quiet’ kid in your class• Clean your room without being asked!

These are only a few ideas but you can pretty much do anything you want that is helping someone else, being courteous and most of all safe. Don’t be the cub that helps the old lady across the road when she doesn’t want to go

We all look up to people, we all know people that we really want to be like. Most of these people are famous pop stars or footballers. However, there are people in your community the work really hard to make it a better community. In your sixes make a list of 6 people you look up to in the community and why. After that on a piece of paper that no one else sees write down 3 things you will do to help out and improve your community. Put this piece of paper in an envelope on seal it. Get your leader to collect them and in 3 month ask for the papers back and see did you complete your tasks. It’s not a big deal if you don’t complete them but do your best to do them at some stage.

STOP - REWIND - BE KIND!

Think about some of the phrases below – maybe chat about them with your Six or your Cub Scout Pack …. What do they mean to you? How could you use them every day … in school? At Home? At Cub Scouts?

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

In November the Americans remember the time that their forefathers came to America and they celebrate all the things that they are thankful for. Why not hold a thanksgiving ceremony in your den?Each Cub Scout could bring something for a feast and tell each other what you are thankful for. You might realise that you take some things for granted and that you aren’t really thankful for these things, these things might be something that other Cub Scouts really appreciate and would be very thankful to have …. think about what you are truly thankful for. There are plenty of activities that you can base around the story of the Pilgrims. You could ..• Hold an international night – Each six learns about a different country and presents to the rest of the pack what they have learned (I have included some questions to help you!)• Organise a night of entertainment for the local Old Folks • Plant some bulbs around your den or plant bulbs in small pots and give them to someone as a thanksgiving gift • Organise a cook off in your den and have a feast!• Renew your Cub Scout Promise • Do a thanksgiving craft or make a gift

There are many ways that we can be thankful and show kindness to others. Together with your Pack why not list all the things that you are thankful for? You could also set up a “kindness” zone …… put some poster paper on the wall in your den and as Cub Scouts do a good deed or an act of kindness … write it onto the poster paper …. That way you can share your ideas with the rest of your Group AND you can see just how easy it can be to do a good deed! Remember that just as the large strong oak tree came from the small acorn, big things can happen from spreading

small seeds of kindness and charity.

Thanksgiving

What are the things that you can’t see that are important?Think of justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love...They’re the guiding lights of a life.

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another.Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.

When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they’ll remember and be kind to someone else. And it’ll become like a wildfire

A smile is a curve that sets everything straightDo it that very moment!Don’t put it off-don’t wait. There’s no use in doing a kindness If you do it a day too late!

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The Story of Thanksgiving

Nearly four hundred years ago, a great many of the people in England were very unhappy because their king would not let them pray to God as they liked. The king said they must use the same prayers that he did; and if they would not do this, they were often thrown into prison, or perhaps driven away from home.

“Let us go away from this country,” said the unhappy Englishmen to each other; and so they left their homes, and went far off to a country called Holland. It was about this time that they began to call themselves “Pilgrims.” Pilgrims, you know, are people who are always traveling to find something they love, or to find a land where they can be happier; and these English men and women were journeying, they said, “from place to place, toward heaven, their dearest country.”

In Holland, the Pilgrims were quiet and happy for a while, but they were very poor; and when the children began to grow up, they were not like English children, but talked Dutch, like the little ones of Holland, and some grew naughty and did not want to go to church any more.

“This will never do,” said the Pilgrim Fathers and mothers; so after much talking and thinking and writing they made up their minds to go to America. They hired two vessels, called the Mayflower and the Speedwell, to take them across the sea; but the Speedwell was not a strong ship, and the captain had to take her home again before she had gone very far.

The Mayflower went back, too. Some of the Speedwell’s passengers were out onto the Mayflower and then she started alone across the great ocean.

There were one hundred people on board - mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and little children. They were very crowded; it was cold and uncomfortable; the sea was rough, and pitched the Mayflower about, and they were two months sailing over the water.

The children cried many times on the journey, and wished they had never come on the tiresome ship that rocked them so hard, and would not let them keep still a minute.

But they had one pretty plaything to amuse them, for in the middle of the great ocean a Pilgrim baby was born, and they called him “Oceanus,” for his birthplace. When the children grew so tired that they were cross and fretful, Oceanus’ mother let them come and play with him, and that always brought smiles and happy faces back again.

At last the Mayflower came in sight of land; but if the children had been thinking of grass and flowers and birds, they must have been very much disappointed, for the month was cold November, and there was nothing to be seen but rocks and sand and hard bare ground.

Some of the Pilgrim Fathers, with brave Captain Myles Standish at their head, went on shore to see if they could find any houses or white people. But they only saw some wild Indians, who ran away from them, and found some Indian huts and some corn buried in holes in the ground. They went to and fro from the ship three times, till by and by they found a pretty place to live, where there were “fields and little running brooks.”

Then at last all the tired Pilgrims landed from the ship on a spot now called Plymouth Rock, and the first house was begun on Christmas Day. But some of the pilgrims became very sick and they suffered that first winter. The weather was cold, the snow fell fast and thick, the wind was icy, and the Pilgrim Fathers had no one to help them

cut down the trees and build their church and their houses.

The Pilgrim mothers helped all they could; but they were tired with the long journey, and cold, and hungry too, for no one had the right kind of food to eat, nor even enough of it. So first one was taken

sick, and then another, till half of them were in bed at the same time, Brave Myles Standish and the other soldiers nursed them as well as they knew how; but before spring came half of the people died and had gone at last to “heaven, their dearest country.”

But by and by the sun shone more brightly, the snow melted, the leaves began to grow, and sweet spring had come again.Some friendly Indians had visited the Pilgrims during the winter, and Captain Myles Standish, with several of his men, had returned the visit.

One of the kind Indians was called Squanto, and he came to stay with the Pilgrims, and showed them how to plant their corn, and their pease and wheat and barley. When the summer came and the days were long and bright, the Pilgrim children were very happy, and they thought Plymouth a lovely place indeed. All kinds of beautiful wild flowers grew at their doors, there were hundreds of birds and butterflies, and the great pine woods were always cool and shady when the sun was too bright.

When it was autumn the fathers gathered the barley and wheat and corn that they had planted, and found that it had grown so well that they would have quite enough for the long winter that was coming.“Let us thank God for it all,” they said. “It is He who has made the sun shine and the rain fall and the corn grow.” So they thanked God in their homes and in their little church; the fathers and the mothers and the children thanked Him.

“Then,” said the Pilgrim mothers, “let us have a great Thanksgiving party, and invite the friendly Indians, and all rejoice together.”So they had the first Thanksgiving party, and a grand one it was! Four men went out shooting one whole day, and brought back so many wild ducks and geese and great wild turkeys that there was enough for almost a week. There was deer meat also, of course, for there were plenty of fine deer in the forest. Then the Pilgrim mothers made the corn and wheat into bread and cakes, and they had fish and clams from the sea besides.The friendly Indians all came with their chief Massasoit. Every one came that was invited, and more, for there were ninety of them altogether.They brought five deer with them, that they gave to the Pilgrims; and they must have liked the party very much, for they stayed three days.Kind as the Indians were, you would have been very much frightened if you had seen them; and the baby Oceanus, who was a year old then, began to cry at first whenever they came near him.

They were dressed in deerskins, and some of them had the furry coat of a wild cat hanging on their arms. Their long black hair fell loose on their shoulders, and was trimmed with feathers or fox-tails. They had their faces painted in all kinds of strange ways, some with black stripes as broad as your finger all up and down them. But whatever they wore, it was their very best, and they had put it on for the Thanksgiving party. Each meal, before they ate anything, the Pilgrims and the Indians thanked God together for all his goodness. The Indians sang and danced in the evenings, and every day they ran races and played all kinds of games with the children.

Then sometimes the Pilgrims with their guns, and the Indians with their bows and arrows, would see who could shoot farthest and best. So they were glad and merry and thankful for three whole days.The Pilgrim mothers and fathers had been sick and sad many times since they landed from the Mayflower; they had worked very hard, often had not had enough to eat, and were mournful indeed when their friends died and left them. But now they tried to forget all this, and think only of how good God had been to them; and so they all were happy together at the first Thanksgiving party. All this happened nearly four hundred years ago, and ever since that time Thanksgiving has been people “rejoice together” like the Pilgrims, and have had something to be thankful for each time.

Every year some father has told the story of the brave Pilgrims to his little sons and daughters, and has taught them to be very glad and proud that the Mayflower came sailing to America so many years ago.

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Trangia Stoves

Trangias are one type of cooker you can cook food on on hikes / expeditions.They are made up of many parts depending on which type you buy, but all will have the following:

» Wind Shield (two parts) » Burner & lids » 2 pots » Frying pan (lid) » Handle » Strap » Some have kettles. » The burner will also have a simmer lid and a

screw top

The whole cookset packs together as a single item and is very light to carry.They mainly run on two types of fuel

» Gas » Methylated Spirits (Meths)

Assembly and Care

» Before you cook you should know how to put the cooker together. Your Scouters / Scouts can show you. » Assemble the two parts of the wind shield » Depending on which fuel you are using, you fill the burner with Meths before putting into bottom half or

connect burner to gas cylinder. Take care at this part in case some meths gets spilt. » Light the fuel. Care again is taken with meths as it burns flameless and you may not think it is lighting » When lighting you can put your pot with water or food on. (the pot will sit on the catches on the side of

the wind shield) » You can regulate the heat with the meths by the simmering lid which has a sliding top you can open /

close. The gas by turning the tap (+ / -) on the regulator » When your food is cooked you can put the lid over the burner to put out flame on meths. If using gas

turn off.

DO NOT TOUCH THE BURNER AS IT WILL BE VERY HOTThere may be fuel left in the burner after use. When cold screw on the lid to save this fuel for the next time

Care » Always use your Trangia in well ventilated area » Do not over fill your burner » Do not fill near naked flame » Methylated spirits burns with an invisable flame and you may not see the flame in daylight

» When packing away the cold burner put it back into its plastic bag. This helps to contain the smell of meths and stops the pots / kettle tainting » NEVER refill a hot burner » If you need to refill the burner

PUT the flame out with the lid, let the burner cool down before refilling

Fuel

Most Trangias burn Methylated spirits but you can also get a gas burner. Using Methylated spirits please see above about CAREMeths is a cheap source of fuel, is not explosive, can be transported without special containers BUT you can get containers to store and these have taps on which make it safe to empty into burners. The fuel has to be kept in tight screw top bottles and clearly labled. Always bring spare fuel.

Fuel Conservation

Cooking time will depend on weather (cold / hot, your height above sea level) Use the lid to cook quicker and save fuelYou can adjust the heat by the simmer ring (opening /closing) Wind will use up a lot of your fuel and increase your cooking time so try to get shelthered spot to cookWith practise you will know what is the amount of fuel you will need to cook. Only put in this amount into your burner

Cooking

You can cook anything on your stove within limits. Some of these limits are » The number of pots you have (mostly two) » The size of these pots

Having your food cooked saves time and fuel as you only neeed to heat up your food.If cooking from scratch choose meals that do not require hours preparing and cookingNon – Stick coating helps with frying as you will need only a little or no cooking fatUse only wood or plastic utensils while cooking with non – stick pots /pan

Cleaning

Clean as soon as possible after cooking.While you are eating your meal have water on for hot drink /washing Non – stick pots are easier to clean but require more care. The bottom / sides of the pots / pan can get sooty while using. A good scrub will remove this.Over time check the holes in the burner are not blocked. If they are clean with a needle / light wire.If not using your cooker for a while and fuel is left in the burner it is advisable to remove the fuel and put it back into the bottle.

Bottles

You can buy special bottles to store your methylated spirits. They come in two sizes 500ml or 1000ml. They are made of plastic and have a screw cap for filling and a safety valve for emptying. To empty you use the special valve which helps you to pour into the burner. The bottles are coloured red.

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Mountain Pursuits celebrate 20th Year

The Mountain Pursuit Challenge is celebrating it’s 20th year in 2011. Picture shows me presenting a thank you gift to John Barron who has coordinated the event since 1991. I created & illustrated the first handbook for a prototype hillwalking event run out in the hills near Murroe while a scout leader in Caherdavin. The scout team at the time visited and the handbook was upgraded and published to support a national event which is still going strong.

Website of the MonthThis Month’s featured website is Maynooth Scout Group.

Maynooth is a small University town located 15 miles west of Dublin in Ireland.

The Scout group consists of 5 sections, Beavers (6 to 8 years old), Cub scouts (9 to 12 years old), Scouts (12 to 15 years old), Ventures (15 to 17 years old) and Rovers (18 to 26 years old)

The website features reports of group events, update links to the Scouting Ireland websites

It also features a calendar for group events and a photo gallery.

Scouting Ireland Facebook Competition WinnerWe are pleased to announce the winner of our first competition on our new Scouting Ireland Facebook page.

Big congratulations to Karen Free who is the winner of our first competition. Karen gets herself a €60 voucher from The Scout Shop.We would hope to have a picture of Karen picking up her prize for next month’s issue

A big thank you to everyone who has been sharing our links and entered the competition. We will be starting our next competition very soon so if you haven’t already please check out our our facebook page and gives us a like

Thanks to the Scout Shop, our sponsors for the competition. If you have any thoughts on the page or any comments then you can contact us at communications@scouts.ie

You can check us out and leave a comment at the link below

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ScoutingIreland

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SI Picture Page

These Conferences are great Fun!

Jo did you hear the one about!!

Look who’s behind you!

Come on now sit up straight!

Paudy were are all your

badges!

I can do that!

Now I’m not going to tell you again its my conference!

Scouting is like hanging out with friends!

First again Gerry!

Peter I can’t give you that

one its part of my collection!

We love being married to Scouting!

Declan is my hair getting Longer!

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Carrigaline Scouts and UCC: Education Partners in Teacher Training

Members of the 55th Cork Carrigaline Venture and Rover groups were this weekend teaching students on the Sports Studies and Physical Education degree programme from University College Cork for the fourth consecutive year.

The Course, which upon completion, awards the student an Honours Bachelor of Education, qualifying each as a PE teacher and a teacher of one of five chosen Arts subjects (Irish, English, Maths, History or French) was founded in 2006. Since 2007, the 55th Cork Carrigaline Venture and Rovers alike have been taking the entire cohort of second year students every year to teach them basic camp craft skills. This initiative has been lead by Jim Shalloo. Campcraft skills comprise one element of the Adventure Studies strand of the Junior Cycle Physical Education (JCPE) programme. To support deilver of the programme, the scouts have designed a comprehensive manual for each participant in line with JCPE guidelines.

The camp craft skills are taught in small groups in true scouting style with each group rotating around a series of five bases to learn the five core skills.

Tent PitchingWhere the students are taught the proper method for pitching light weight and standing dome tents, and they race to put them up correctly. They are also instructed

as to the correct care and maintenance of tents.

Fire and Cooking The students learn about the various way of starting a fire and learn how to cook on an open fire using backwoods techniques, and cooking using lightweight stoves. Following this students each cook some sausages using either the fire or the various types of stoves

Map ReadingThe students learn the basics of map reading they also learn how to take bearings and read bearings off a map; they practice this on a set of OS maps before going out and playing several compass games.

Shelter BuildingA set of sample shelters are built and the key aspects of each are pointed out along with some basic shelter building rules laid out. The groups of students then scour the forest in search of materials to build a shelter big enough for them all to fit in.

EquipmentThe students learn about the various personal and group equipment required for going on hikes, climbing trips, weekends away or general excursions. They also learn the correct method for packing a rucksack and then apply this using the equipment provided.

Upon completion of the half day session with the scouts the students then must write up a series of lesson plans detailing how they would include some of the techniques they learnt.Dr. Fiona Chambers, Acting Director of Sports Studies and Physical Education at UCC expressed her thanks to the scouts involved saying “We really value the work you do with the students and the fact that you have been involved with the programme since the outset.”

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Beaver Pumpkin Art

The Leaders of the 8th Louth Slieve Foy Beaver Section were taken by surprise when one of Their Beavers took in the Pumpkin. It was really well crafted and personalised for the Group.

Cavan Monaghan Scout Bivvi & Survival Night ~

1st & 2nd Oct. 2011

On 1st October 10 Scouts from the 2nd Monaghan Monaghan Town set off to Bailieborough for a county bivvying and survival night. The weather was horrendous but that did not deter them or their leaders. A lot of backwoods skills were covered. The highlight of the night was building our Shelters and sleeping in them overnight.It was a great experience and we survived ok.

We would like to thank the 6th Cavan Kingscourt for hosting this event

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Venture Scouts weekend in DublinLast Friday 15 Venture Scouts from 3rd Monaghan Scout Group Carrickmacross went to 4th Port Dodder Scout Den, Ringsend, Co. Dublin for the weekend. The trip started off with the bus breaking down on the motorway and after waiting for around an hour another bus came and we were on the road again. Our delayed trip meant that we reached our destination later than expected but never the less we set up camp and headed off to bed, lacking the knowledge of what task we would have to accomplish when we awoke the next day.

The next morning after breakfast we headed off to the Phoenix Park for a quick game of Frisbee before we were split up into three groups of five and were given a sheet with a list of buildings and monuments around Dublin. Each team was supplied with a camera and a LUAS ticket for each member. Pictures were to be taken of each item on the list we could find. Taking these pictures would lead us from congo-lining in Trinity College to appearing on television with Mary Davis and along the way meeting many of Dublin’s weird and wonderful people.

We then headed to the DART and returned back to the Den where we played card games and shared stories of our expedition around Dublin city. Later on, the pictures taken earlier that day were projected on a wall for everyone to see, leaving many of the Ventures and Leaders in hysterics. The next morning we packed up and headed for Dalkey quarry for a few hours of rock climbing. At 2pm the bus arrived and we left behind what all considered great memories from Dublin city!

9th Louth Ferdia Ardee Investiture

On Saturday 22nd 9th Louth Ferdia Scout Group from Ardee invested 44Beavers, 17 Cubs, and 9 Scouts into the Group.

Aishling Silke Group leader stated that it was a great Day for the Ardee Scout Group. We are not long restarted having been closed for over 10 years. She also said that they invested 5 new Leaders also on the Day.

The Hall was full with Parents and friends of Ardee Scouting which included many leaders from other Groups in the County along with Louth Scout County Commissioner.

Congratulations to Aishling and all leaders in the group for the fantastic work they are doing.

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Surfing in Larch Hill

During the weekend of the heavy rain in Oct in Larch hill the little stream that usually trickles along became a roaring River.

Pictures taking by the Huntstown Scouts show two members Surfing on the river.Also below are two other beautiful pictures which show the real beauty of nature in and around Larch Hill.

Barry Kennedy receives UL Volunteering Award

On October 12th, the University of Limerick presented 83 students with the first ever UL President’s Volunteer Award, honoring the voluntary commitment of UL Students to the community. Barry Kennedy, a Scouter and Rover Scout from the 23rd Limerick Scouts in Caherdavin , a fourth year student of Computer Systems, received the Gold Award for logging over 60 hours of service with his Scout Group during the last academic year.

Professor Don Barry, President of UL thanked all the students for their ongoing efforts in the community despite the challenges placed upon them by their academic commitments.

36 students received the award for volunteering with 27 external organizations including Girl Guides, Order of Malta, Limerick Rape Crisis Centre, Clare Youth Services, Doras Luimni, Enable Ireland and the Northside Learning Hub. A further 69 students volunteered their time within the UL community; in the Students Union, Clubs and Societies, Peer Mentoring and the UL Access Campus, a new imitative to help school children from disadvantaged areas progress to further education.

Barry has been an active member of the Caherdavin Scout Group since joining as a Beaver in 1993. Today he is a Scouter, alternating between Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Ventures as well as being a Rover Scout. Barry assists with administration, participates on the quartermaster team and runs the group website. This year Barry took part in the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden in July and was one of two representatives for Scouting Ireland at the International Peace Camp in Saudi Arabia in September.

Barry said he was delighted to receive the award. He praised his fellow students for having such a positive impact in the community and hoped that more students would take up the challenge of volunteer work. For more details on the President’s Volunteer Award check out www.ulpva.ie

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Luke McAndrew describes summer in Kandersteg

Luke McAndrew a Rover Scout in the 6th Tipperary Roscrea Scouts was lucky enough to be selected to go to the famous International Scout Centre in Kandersteg (Switerland) to work as a volunteer staff member for the summer of 2011. In this difficult economic climate the opportunity to gain valuable experience was too hard to pass up. The following article is Luke’s account of his experience. Kandersteg International Scout Centre – Live the dream! Having spent 3 months of the summer in Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland (KISC) my love for scouting has been thoroughly renewed. KISC is open every day of the year, 24/7, and welcomes over 11,000 guests from all over the world every year! This summer over 7,000 guests stayed at the centre throughout the 3 months, many of which taught me a great deal about their

culture and left me with some very fond memories! Throughout my season at KISC I worked (though it really didn’t feel like work) with 70 people, from over 27 different countries! Working in such a diverse place allowed me to learn a great deal about different cultures and religion. (Most memorably, never offer an Egyptian a plate of food before 9pm during Ramadan without expecting a stern lecture!) The short term staff team (officially called ‘pinkies’) of the centre, after training, were divided into 3 different departments: Chalet Services (Catering, shop and house), Campsite maintenance and grounds, and Programme (Climbers, hikers and in-camp activity management). I was one of the lucky ones, getting selected to be a hiking guide / climbing instructor, a position which taught me a great deal about group management, alpine geography, mountain leadership and rock climbing! My work gave me the opportunity to spend a great deal of time guiding groups of up to 15 people at a time from all over the world on long hikes in the mountains, and also to teach groups of people the finer points of rock climbing in the Alps! Despite every member of staff having a specific role in the centre, our work often varied: some days I found myself working in catering, helping catering staff cook for up to 400 people, other days I could be serving people food at a barbeque, where one barbeque involved feeding over 1,100 people! Not every day was hectic however, some days I simply relaxed at the local swimming pool, or took a leisurely hike to the local mountain huts or glacial lakes! For three months I had the privilege of working in a village of 1,100 people and no police force, simply because crime was not an issue there, in a centre where everyone was a scout and also a volunteer worker. In the words of Robert Baden-Powell, found of KISC and grandfather of scouting, “the most worth-while thing is

to try to put happiness into the lives of others”. I believe Kandersteg International Scout Centre puts happiness into the lives of all it’s visitors and staff members, it certainly did for me!

Sionnach Adventure in the BurrenThe four of us met up at the scout hall at 6pm on Friday evening. We shared out the tents, pegs, poles and triange (cooking stove) and set off in Chris’s car to the Burren in Co, Clare. We sang and talked for the whole journey so much so that we never missed the time go by. We spent a bit of time navigating our way to the start point. Once there we got our hiking gear sorted out and strapped on our backpacks for the hike into base camp. When we got there we pitched our tents in the best possible site so it would give us a good night’s sleep. It was pitch dark by now and here we were on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere and I heard one of the lads say “anyone want hot chocolate” at that point I knew that we were going to be ok. It was quite late when we went to bed with all the talk.

We woke up at 0730hrs. We could hear other teams moving around outside but none of us wanted to move as it was lovely and warm in our sleeping bags. Eventually we got up and made some breakfast. It was really foggy and we knew that it would be quite hard to navigate our way to the checkpoints. We hiked off into the fog and within a minute could not see where we had come from. Scary. On and on we went looking to our map and compass to get around the unseen landscape. It started to rain then and the temperature dropped. At one point we had a bit of difficulty finding a particular checkpoint so we did a grid search and eventually found it. We arrived at high camp and once again looked for a nice spot to pitch our tents. By then we were soaked as it had been

raining for a long time and the wind was really strong. We made lunch and packed our day bag and set out again. We had to climb up this steep mountain which had a sheer cliff at the other side. When we got to the top the organisers told us that we were going to abseil down the cliff. It was a long way down but we made it without injury. By then it was six o’clock so we headed back to high camp. We got changed into some dry clothes and put on our dinner. Sometime later when we were all full and rested, we headed out for a bit of socialising, and had the crack with all the other teams who were on the event. They were teams from all over Ireland.

Sunday morning and we woke up to a howling wind beating at the side of the tent. This was no time to be brave so we turned over for an extra few minutes sleep as we knew that we were going to need it before this day was done. After a while we had breakfast and decided to head outside. The weather was awful as we tried to take down the tents, but we managed it ok. The weather was so bad that the organisers decided to let everyone head back in larger groups than normal. We had to cross a river which was in flood with all the rain. Everyone gathered for the final presentations and we all got our Sionnach badges. We hiked back to the car and changed into another set of dry clothes and headed for home. On the way back we stopped at McDonald’s for some food. That was lovely. Back at the scout hall everyone agreed that we had a great weekend, full of adventure in the worst weather conditions. Thanks to Grainne for the pictures.

by Jessie McCarthy Fermoy Scout Group

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URBAN CHALLENGE DAY FOR SCOUTSThe Lee Valley County Urban Challenge will take place on Saturday 5th November and we form part of the County Cup for the Year. Three parts of the event will be marked consisting of 100 marks for the Log Book, 60 marks for the Spices and 40 marks for and additional Challenge on the day.

On the day Scouts will meet at Kent Station at 9.45 am, where they will be given further instructions and all the equipment that they will need to complete the challenge. This is a Patrol event, and each Patrol should consist of not less than 5 and no more than 8 Scouts. Patrols must attend in uniform. Scouts will ensure that they take no risks when out and about. As the weather in November is unpredictable, staying warm and dry may provide an extra challenge.

There are three parts the Challenge day. Part one consists of a Log Book and treasure hunt type activity. Part two will be six short challenges based on the Spices. Part three is an extra challenge which will be given to you on the day.

Things that might be useful for patrols would be to know how to prepare a Log Book, Navigation, Estimation, Mapping, Resourcefulness, problem solving and Team WorkPatrol Leader who can plan and delegate tasks and it would be a good idea to bring a copy of The Scouting Trail with you.

As it stands the costs are approx €10 per Scout. That covers the cost for the train, eats at McDonalds and all the bits and pieces that will be needed to complete the challenge. Some Good news is that the county Scout budget will cover €3 per scout so the final cost per scout will be €7.

WALTER McGRATH MUSEUM

The recent heritage week brought some very welcome visitors to the Museum and in particular some very interesting items donated to the Museum. Jimmy O’Donovan from Capwell Road brought along a box of memorabilia on behalf of the family of the late Patrick Lynch from Carrigaline who grew up in Blackpool and was member of the 1st Cork Troop (North Cathedral). Included was a membership card in mint condition with all yearly registration tabs from 1934 to 1941 attached. The late Mr. Lynch who died in 2007 joined the 1st Cork Troop in 1932 and was later appointed as Scoutmaster in 1937. Amongst the articles was a hand painted flag of the 1st Cork and a special neckerchief presented to Mr. Lynch in 1980 at the golden jubilee dinner of the 1st Cork. In the 1940’s he became skipper of the local Sea Scout group and used to have their boat moored in front of St. Mary’s Popes Quay Church. An employee of M.D. Daly of Academy Street he will be best remembered for getting together all the food orders for troops going to summer camp in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

FIRST AID COURSE FOR LEADERSA three day training course was held for the leaders of Cois Laoi County facilitated by Alan Donovan and Jim Grimes, County Training co-ordinator. They ran with a 3 day Occupational First aid course, which was Fetac level 5 accredited.

It trained the leaders as Cardiac First Responders, in which they could operate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). They also took part in outdoor training sessions in the Woods above Cuskinny House in Cobh. There numerous exercises were held including one in conjunction with Crosshaven Coastguard who attended with their Rescue Boat. All attendees said the skills practiced on this weekend could be very beneficial, at home, at work and in scouting.

After the training the participants were offered the opportunity to be accessed up tolevel 6 in the emergency skills badge.

Membership Card of Patrick Lynch

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Plenty of mud at SquelshThere was plenty of muddy washing after the scouts and guides returned home after the annual squelsh event for scouts and guides held at Farran Woods. The attendance saw over 400 participants and they came from Cork, Kerry and Waterford. Organised by the Joint committee for Guiding and Scouting in Cork, now on the go for thirty or more years, it is a wonderful event full of fun and frolics. The weather on the day was excellent, mild and fair, but the days beforehand had some rain which added greatly for those who wanted to get good and muddy. Of course there were also those on all sides who remained gleaming and spotless.

The organising committee and all the leaders who come on board to run basis do a wonderful job and deserve our sincere thanks. Leaders from CGI, Betty O’Donovan, Marie Hannigan along with Judy Green from IGG did a great job on the catering, providing hot soup for all along with munchies including crisps. Octogenarian guider Violet Warner was on the check and in charge of all monies but also made sure at the end of the event that all scouts and guides got a ‘Squelsh’ badge which I have no doubt they will wear with pride. Colin Heas had all the maps for each group and made sure along with Judy Green that all the bases were staffed. Colin also looked after the Marquee, cooking facilities etc. Well done Colin.

County Scout Hike (Torc Mountain) by Caherdavin Scouts

Last Saturday, three scouts (Eoin, Mark and Conor) and 2 Scouter (Neil and Baz) headed off to Killarney for the day to take part in the County Scout Day Hike. The weather was miserable as we arrived in the Mucross House car park where we met the other teams.

After a quick walk around the Murcross Estate we were out on the trail, passing the impressive Torc Waterfall. We continued up the Kerry way until we reached the turn off for the Mountain Trail. The weather started to clear off as we made our way up the trail until we reached the summit where we stopped to eat and take a few photos. After a few minutes the temperature started to drop so we packed up and made our way down the hill.

After the hike we made our way to supermacs where we were quickly joined by every other scout on the event. On the journey home baz went through the Adventure Skills requirements with the Scouts ticking all the boxes for level 2 Hillwalking (With some progress made towards reaching level 3).

Well done to the Scouts who kept a very good pace going up and down the mountain, despite the weather conditions. Thanks to Neil for driving, Eoin’s dad for donating some money so the lads could go to supermacs on the return journey and to Dave and his team for organizing the event.

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7th Waterford De La Salle Ulster MPC 2011

We were meant to meet up at the school at 4:00pm but Seán and Oisín were late tut tut. We left at about five and we went down to Centra on the Quay to get food and then we went to a garage in Ferrybank to get petrol, after that we set off. Once you leave Waterford, it’s motorway the whole way up. It took us about 4 hours to get there and it’s over 300 miles or kilometres, I’m not really sure! We got there at about nine, then we checked in and head off. We followed a path until the first marker. Matt decided to stay following the path, which was wrong, but at the time we didn’t know. We followed it for about 200 metres, then some staff told us to re-check our bearing. Matt checked it and realised his mistake so we headed back down to the marker and found the route we were supposed to take, so we followed it. It was very dark and there were lots of holes you couldn’t see. We fell a lot on the way but we got there. We pitched out tents, had something to eat and went to bed to get a good nights sleep because we had a long day ahead of us.

Another Google Maps Marathon and we only got lost once

We got up early, lit the trangia and left the water to boil as we started to take down our tents. You weren’t allowed check out until nine and after a team left another team go ten minutes later, we left at about 9:40 and headed off. The route was to get to the peak of the mountain, go down in to the col below and there were four mountains we had to climb. Cock Mountain, Pigeon Rock Mountain, Slievemoughanmore, and Eagle Mountain.

Saturday

Taking a break half way up Cock Mountain

On Pigeon Rock mountain was the Mourne wall, we had to follow it to the peak and to a col and to the peak of Eagle Mountain where we left it. It was a long day with poor weather conditions. Along the way to the peak of Eagle Mountain, Oisín was struggling and slowing us down so Seán decided to go to the peak and wait for him there. After waiting about a half hour, one of the staff told us the would bring him down with them so we headed off, still following the wall, we got to a check point and we were given a bearing of 225 I think and we were told to follow it until we got to three tributaries and follow them down and we would find base camp which we did find unlike some people ;) fail wink fail. Also heading in to a col, Matt fell waist deep in to a bog LOL. Poor vis following the Mourne Wall

Never bring more than the bear minimum on a full pack weekend

Sunday

We woke up kind of late, myself and Adam had a poor nights sleep. We took down myself and Adam’s tent and headed over to the Scout’s Own. After the Scout’s own, we took down Jack and Matt’s tent and we checked out and headed off on our last hike up the Mournes, it was a 6k hike, 4k through forest track and 2k on a road. It felt really long because we were all so tired. After we got back we headed off to Friar Tucks for some chips!

High camp, early on Sunday morning

by Liam o Connell De le Salle Scout Group

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Quick march back to the car park

Obligatory chin holding pose

Dodder Scout County Build Lean-to in Lough DanOn the 14th of October a bunch of enthusiastic Rovers and Ventures from Dodder Scout county made their way to Lough Dan with the ambitious hopes of building a ‘Lean-to’ and a pizza oven. We started off the weekend with an abundance of chipper chips and telling everyone what school we went to - awks. Saturday morning was a ridiculously early start (it was just unneccessary in my opinion..) but we got up and got to work straight away. Now, I don’t think anyone there had actually built any kind of ‘Lean-to’ like this and without Ronan Mason and the staff up in Lough Dan I doubt we would have gotten very far! Working through the rain was a blast in a glass and after what seemed like only minutes (time flies when you’re having fun) we were halfway there, and finally got our well deserved lunch break, during which we got to watch some really great TV (including mesmorizing ADS).After lunch the work continued and in a few hours we had built a functioning ‘Lean-to’. SERIOUSLY. I know, I didn’t think we could do it either. Shocking, Olivia, Shocking. That night we were joined by even more Rovers and Ventures and some of us had a nice relaxing evening in the hot tub. (not joking, there was a hot tub. it’s like a 5 star resort up there.) Sunday gave a few of us an opportunity for a lie-in, and the others got a lovely fry. After those lazy NEWBORNS finally got up (disgraces) we had a photoshoot in front of our newly built shelter, and it looks FAB (who says fab?)

Unfortunately we didn’t get around to building the pizza oven, so if you’re up there I’m afraid Dominos will have to do for now. So, far the ‘Lean-to’ is unnamed so everyone feel free to give suggestions, I, myself am very partial to calling it after everyone’s favorite reality TV show ‘Steakface’. And, maybe we’ll get around to the pizza oven one day too. In the end, we finished the shelter, made some amazing woggles/christmas decorations and tried out an inventive new way of making grilled cheese/melting toasters. A great weekend! Thanks so much for everyone who helped out, I can’t name you all but, you’re obvo amazing! :)

You know you love me, xoxo Gossip Girl.

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29th Belfast Venture scouts head to London

On Friday 14th October 2011, the 29th Belfast venture group, as part of a long running cross community programme, between themselves and the 37th Belfast, headed to England for cross community weekend trip to London which included a trip to Thorpe Park adventure centre. The programme was supported in part by Castlereagh Council’s through their DPP office as part of their youth development programme.

The two groups who had been working together for several months met at the airport and flew together into Heathrow. A 29th Belfast venture scout now takes up the story……………………….

Taking hand luggage is a huge timesaver (and reduces cost) and in no time at all after landing we headed towards our hotel, our base for the next few days.

Once we arrived we organised ourselves into our respective rooms, settled in and then collectively then went for late dinner.

Once the dinner was over, everyone spent the rest of the evening working through the programme and catching up on the gossip.

Saturday

It was an early start, as were dying to get to Thorpe Park and so everyone was up for breakfast by 9, and out by 9.30am. By chance it was a Halloween weekend which meant it was opened all day until 10.00pm, and the weather was glorious, everyone was in t-shirts, what a bonus.Thorpe park has some fantastic adrenalin rides such as STEALTH, COLOSSUS, NEMESIS INFERNO and the famous TIDAL WAVE. We all hung about together and the day went really fast but as 10pm closed in, we knew it was time to head back. It had been a fantastic day with loads of great memories.

Once back at the hotel, both group which by now had morphed into one, decided to sit in the restaurant for an evening of crack and gossip.

Sunday

Everyone had a well needed lie-in on Sunday morning, making up for the hours they had missed the night before, it seems that everyone had stayed up half the night rather than go to their beds.

Both groups had to be awake by 10am at the latest to get some breakfast before checking out of their room. After breakfast was served, everyone headed into London using the underground trains. Pat our leader gave us all underground maps and insisted we tell him how to get to our destination near Downing street. He said it was to teach us but we still believe he didn’t know himself and was using us to get around.

We visited all the major sights including Houses of Parliament, London eye, Millennium Bridge, horse-guards parade and Buckingham Palace. Later the girls headed to Oxford Street for SHOPPING time.

Finally at 4.30 pm it was time to get back on to the underground and make our way to the Standstead airport.

Altogether it was a brilliant weekend (although the word on the street was a bit more shopping next time), and the friendships we developed through the cross community trip will last for a very long time. Already we are organising something closer to home for our next outing,

As a youth group we would like to express our thanks to Maurice Johnston, Pat Polin and Lauren Hinds for arranging the programme, putting it all together and taking time out of their busy schedule to go with us. We all really appreciate your support.

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This month’s Scouting Ireland tweets

Scouting Ireland is now sending out regular tweets on various news items on it’s twitter account.The account was used really well during the recent Group leader- Commissioners Conference were it give hourly updates and pictures of what was happening.

So make sure you are following us at the following Linkhttp://twitter.com/#!/scoutingireland

Below are some of the Tweets this month.

One Programme TipBeavers Leading the way

A Beaver Scout Lodge does not have a permanent leader. Every member should be given the chance of leading the Lodge at some time. Individual Beaver Scouts should be given responsibility for minor jobs, such as setting up for activities and tidying up afterwards, in order to further develop their ability to take on such jobs.

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National Campsites NetworkWhere are you going on Camp next year?

It is that time of year again where most groups start to think about where they will go for their annual camp. So this year maybe have a think about staying in Ireland and availing of the Campsites that Scouting Ireland have dotted all around the Country. Not only will you have a brilliant camp but you will also be supporting

Scouting Ireland campsites.

Scouting Ireland has an extensive network of campsites. There are over 25 spread throughout the Island of Ireland and this number is constantly on the increase. Every campsite whether owned and operated nationally or locally is made operate to an exacting standard of excellence.

Our campsites provide Scouts with a safe environment to participate in some of the outdoor elements of our Programme. Some of the campsites provide indoor accommodation in addition to their camping areas.

A lot of them provide a varied range of activities on site, including kayaking, rock climbing, archery, orienteering and so much more.

It’s very possible that there is a campsite very near to your Group or even at the other end of the Country, just check out our listing and see which campsite is perfect for you.Click here for a link to the campsites where you will get contact details and more information on the site you are looking for.

http://www.scouts.ie/more/national_campsites_network/campsite_locations.html

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Adult Training – Changes to Booking onto a CourseThe new Course booking Form can be downloaded from my.scouts.ie Link Here

https://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/Training/1%20-Training%20Booking%20Form%20-%20Rev%20E.pdf

The Group Leader/Trainer or Person wanting to attend the course can book on to the course byCompleting the form and sending the form along with payment (by cheque) to National Office.

The Training Administrator in National Office will note all bookings for training courses.

The Training Administrator will contact the member attending the course by email before thecourse, to provide any instructions/directions that might be required by the participants.

Things to remember:• All booking forms for Courses on the Training Calendar must be sent to National Office• Courses will only be booked when payment is included with the course booking form• Course information will be emailed to the course participant. Please ensure there is a correct email noted on the booking form.• Courses must be booked in the following order: » Stage 1 » Stage 2 » Stage 3 » Stage 4 or Stage 5 (can be completed in any order but participant must have completed » Stage 1 – 3 before hand) » Stage 6

• Cancellations should be noted to the Training Administrator at least two days in advance of the course.• Should you required any more information on the above please contact your PSO/GSF or National Office at trainingbookings@scouts.ie

Note:These processes do not apply to members of the Northern Province of Scouting Ireland.Members in the Northern Province should continue to return application forms and TrainingBooking Forms to the Scout Foundation of Northern Ireland Office.

Click here for Northern Province booking form

https://my.scouts.ie/uploads/files/Training/Northern%20Training%20Booking%20Form%202011%20-%202012.pdf

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Here is a guide to help you view your Training Courses online

Step 1 Go to https://my.scouts.ie/index.htmlStep 2 You will see this page. If you have a username and password type these into the boxes provided and then click the login button.

If you are not registered as yet you must click the register button and this will walk you through the process. If you have any queries in relation to registering contact web@scouts.ie

Step 3 Once you login in you will be brought to the members area where there is a myriad of resources for you to browse. (But more on that another day). Today we are concentrating on the Training Calendar. You will see a page with a row of menu buttons across the top. See screen below.

Step 4 Move your mouse over to the events and training menu. Another window will appear underneath see screen below. Now click on the item training courses. See arrow on screen below. Step 5 Once you click on this page the training calendar will appear. You will see 3 months displayed in the calendar. To navigate to another month you can click the arrow to right or left to move forward or back. Below the calendar is the list view of courses stating the course type

the date it is on the province it is on in, the location of where the course is taking place and the status of the course i:e full, cancelled etc. If you want to see courses running today or for this month you can click the icons shown below with red arrow

Step 6 Another way to get the course list for a particular month is to click on the top bar stating the month name. See arrow on screen below. This will give you a list of all courses taking place in that month. You can also click the date in the month that you want to do a course and it will show you all courses running that date

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Step 7. Now when you have decided which course you want to book click on it see screen below.

Step 8 This will take you to the page where the link to the booking form is . You have the choice to open it and fill it on line or you can download it and fill it in your own time

Step 9. When you fill out the form you print it off and send it to national office with your payment see screen below to see what form looks like.

Another way to view and customise your training list is by using the training widget on the iscout page. Here you can customise what province you want to do the course in ad limit the courses you see to just that province or provinces.

First click on the iscout page and go to the upcoming training widget. If you haven’t got it downloaded go to more widgets and click on it.

Now at the top of the upcoming training widget you will see a small wheel. If you click on this it will give you options on which provinces courses to display. See screen below

When you click this box appears and you click in the tick box which province courses you want to view. You can choose a few if you want. Then when you click the save button you will only see the courses in the provinces you choose. See screen below

Hope this guide helps you through the training feature on the website but if you need more information on how to book courses contact your PSO or the training Administrator in national office.

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Blast from the Past...

45th Dublin, Mount Argus

Original Troop Photo