Jamboree Unit visit Brownsea
On July 10th, the Jamboree Unit (some straight from Gilwell 24) went down to Dorset to visit Brownsea Island just two weeks before they leave for the Jamboree proper. As well as giving the Unit members the chance to learn about the birth of Scouting, the experimental camp and hear about the lessons learnt by the participants, the four Patrols all had the opportunity to pitch and strike an example of the tents they will be using on the Jamboree – on the site of the 1907 camp.
Here is a report on the trip from Explorer Scout Emily Au: 
With rich scouting heritage, copious rare wildlife and panoramic landscapes, Brownsea Island is a haven full of adventure, fun and even challenges. As the birthplace of Scouting and Guiding, the island holds extensive significance for us, as members of the worldwide movements, adding a sense of perpetual enthusiasm and enthralled admiration to our adventure. Ever since Lord Baden Powell hosted the first experimental camp at 1907, for 20 young boys of contrasted social conditions, Brownsea Island has become an indelible and integral part of the largest youth movement of the past millennium. The success of the camp visibly demonstrated a vision of possibilities of bridging the social divide of a society facing social influxes- an apt moment as a contingent of 4000 scouts are participating in the 22nd World Scout Jamboree camp in Sweden this summer, joining scouts all over the world.
Stepping onto the island on a bright summer’s day, thirty six Explorer Scouts discovered the variety of captivating features at Brownsea, visiting monumental locations, such as the heath where the first camp was held in 1907, and the commemorative stone laid in the 1960s to celebrate the founding of Scouting.
Visiting Brownsea Island is not simply a pilgrimage, it is also an inspiring moment to revitalise youthful ideals, dreams and aspirations; we promise that we will do our best. We have one world, one promise.
Hatters Explorers off to Africa
Twenty-eight Scouts and Leaders from the Hatters Explorer Scout Unit in Southgate are headed for the summer camp of a lifetime, in the remote northern part of Namibia. They are on an expedition to the village of Tsintsabis, where they will undertake a project to plant a grove of orange and mango trees, complete with irrigation and fencing, to create a sustainable source of income for the community. The Scouts will also train a team from the village to care for the fruit trees and harvest the fruit.
The Explorer Scouts have been working to raise the funding for the expedition and for the orange grove project by holding Quiz nights, cake sales, sponsored activities and even sponsored leg-waxing (for the boys!). The expedition has also received grants from the Jack Petchey Foundation and other organisations and businesses.
As well as setting up the orange grove, the Scouts will spend time in the Etosha National Park, working with the Park Rangers on conservation projects, including the white rhino project. They will also visit the Skeleton Coast and the Cheetah Conservation Project in Otjiwango.
The Scouts will be camping with local children of Scout age in Tsintsabis to assist the Scouts of Namibia in establishing a Scout Troup in the community. The English Scouts hope to raise sufficient funds to be able to leave all their equipment behind for use by the Namibian Scouts.
Explorer Scout Leader Stephen Ward said: “This trip will not only be an amazing opportunity for the Explorer Scouts, but we hope it will also make a difference to the lives of the Namibians, where after only 21 years of independence there is still a huge gap between blacks and whites and rich and poor”.
Explore
r Scout Andrea Sanderson said: “I’m really looking forward to the adventure, although I’m going to miss having a proper bathroom and toilet”
Explorer Scout Gina Cooney added: “I want to help conserve cheetahs and stop them being turned into coats”
The Hatters leave for Namibia on the 2nd August.
200 x 24 = one amazing weekend
Last weekend, over 200 Greater London North Explorer Scouts, the largest gathering yet of Explorers from the County, joined with three thousand plus from all over the country for Gilwell 24, 24 non-stop hours of activities at Gilwell Park. From Archery to Zorbing, every activity you could imagine was on hand for the Explorers to experience. Gilwell 24 is a highlight of the Explorer Scout year, getting bigger and bigger as it’s reputation grows. Grace Denny, a 17 year old Explorer Scout from Enfield said “This was the third time that I have been to Gilwell 24 and it was the best. I stayed awake for all of it and tried out loads of new activities with my mates. I even tried fishing for the first time and loved it. I saw the sun set on the Saturday evening and rise on the Sunday morning. When I got home I slept for 15 hours”.
All the Districts in the County were represented, with several units choosing to bring along some new recruits and Scouts about to move up to Explorers to give them a baptism of fire. Izzy Way, from Enfield, said “I have been looking forward to becoming an Explorer Scout for ages so I can come to Gilwell 24. It was an awesome event with so many amazing activities. The best bit was going swimming at six o’clock on the Sunday morning”.
A dozen GLN Explorers went even further – members of the Jamboree Unit, they left Gilwell by minibus after being on the go for 24 hours, and went straight down to Brownsea Island to erect a Jamboree tent on the Island. For the full story of their trip, keep an eye on the Unit website. Charlotte Armsby, a Jamboree Unit member from Barnet, said “What a cool weekend. I’m going to sleep all day tomorrow”.
County Awards Evening
Following on from the success of the previous event held in March of last year the County will be holding this years event on Wednesday 16th November 2011 at the RAF Museum in Hendon at 7.30pm. This event is to celebrate the achievement of young people in gaining the highest awards in the Scout, Explorer Scout or Scout Network sections. The awards presented will include the Chief Scout’s Gold, Platinum and Diamond Awards, the Queen’s Scout Award and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
We have been fortunate to secure the use of the RAF Museum and it will provide marvelous surroundings in which to hold this year’s event. To ensure we have details of all young people who have achieved these awards since the last event, leaders have been asked to log these awards via the County website. The young people will then get a personal invitation to attend.
Click here for the form and details.
Wall’s – The Big Adventure and Scout Camp Cook Badge
(From www.scouts.org.uk )
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some coupon discounts on food for camp, as well as Camp Cook badges.
Wall’s sausages are delighted to become a partner of The Scout Association and are supporting the Association’s exciting initiative The Big Adventure as well as becoming a partner of the Scout Camp Cook Badge.
Wall’s are interested in supporting youth groups that encourage outdoor fun and activity and therefore have an interest in helping to support The Scout Association.
Sausages are one of the main staples of any Scout camp and Wall’s will be offering specific coupon discounts to Scout Leaders participating in Scout Camps and The Big Adventure this summer.
Wall’s sausages are composed of prime cut meats and are therefore a very welcome ingredient for easy to cook recipes for your Scout camp – be it breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Get your Scouts involved in helping with the preparation and explain to them at each stage what you are doing and why. The recipes can be interchanged for different meals or can be used as snacks for your hungry Scouts who have no doubt been active all day!
Find out more about the requirements for the Scout Camp Cook Badge.
About Wall’s…
Wall’s sausages is one of the main consumer brands manufactured by the Kerry Group, a leader in the global food industry.
Find out more about Wall’s.
Explorers – Dream of being a Chief Executive?
Now’s your chance! B and Q are looking for a team of bright young individuals to form their (and possibly the country’s) first ever Youth Board. This is a money can’t buy opportunity for those aged between 16 and 18 who want their college, university or job applications to stand out from the crowd. It’s a massive commitment (you’ll be giving up weekends and holidays) and the selection process is tough but if you make it through, you’ll gain a real insight into big business and access to B and Q’s actual board
For full details, go to the B&Q Website
Dream of being Chief Executive? Here’s your chance
Whats expected and when
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6th JUN
First phase application available – a written application including a 250 word essay and diagram, electronically uploaded and submitted.
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17th JUL
Closing date for first phase application.
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8th AUG
Successful candidates will have been notified and emailed a second phase challenge – a two minute face to camera video that will need uploading to You Tube.
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28th AUG
Closing date for second phase application.
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18th SEP
Finalists will have been officially notified that they are through to the final and emailed a last challenge – preparation of a five minute presentation to be delivered in front of an audience of the other successful candidates and representatives from B&Q at the company’s Head Office in Chandlers Ford.
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24th SEP
Finalists attend a day-long assessment in Chandlers Ford and deliver their five minute presentation. Youth Board appointments are made.
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10th OCT
The Youth Board’s CEO will attend an evening reception in London.
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29 -
30th OCTYouth Board Meeting – two day commitment.
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19th DEC
Youth Board Meeting – day commitment.
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13th FEB
Youth Board Meeting – day commitment.
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4th JUN
Youth Board Meeting – day commitment.
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30 -
31st JULFinal Youth Board Meeting – two day commitment
We’re looking for a team of bright young individuals to form B&Q’s (and possibly the country’s) first ever Youth Board. This is a money can’t buy opportunity for those aged between 16 and 18 who want their college, university or job applications to stand out from the crowd. It’s a massive commitment (you’ll be giving up weekends and holidays) and the selection process is tough but if you make it through, you’ll gain a real insight into big business and access to B&Q’s actual board.
Changes to badge requirements (all sections) – June 2011
www.scouts.org.uk – 07/06/2011
A number of badge requirements have been updated or amended as of June 2011.
Most changes are very minor, but for full details please see the PDFs below which describe changes relevant to each section. (Each PDF has the minor changes highlighted in red, which makes them easier to spot)
June 2011 badge changes for Beavers
June 2011 badge changes for Cubs
June 2011 badge changes for Scouts
June 2011 badge changes for Explorers
June 2011 badge changes to Staged Activity Badges
June 2011 flexibility statement
For a full list of all badge requirements, please see the badges and awards section of Member resources.
Blast! Festival to celebrate 10 years of Explorer Scouts
Blast Fest is a brand new event in the form of an open‐air music festival with huge headline acts, up
and coming stars and local established bands. It’s open to Scouts from across the United Kingdom.
Hours of live bands and a full day of diverse activities are sure to bring enjoyment ahead of a great night of dancing, raving and jumping in the main arena.
Pose like a rock‐star, become a festival‐chic or even dress up! Come alone and enjoy live music from your favourite bands and artists!
Day tickets will cost £20, which includes the full list of activities and a wristband giving access into the
main arena for live music including headline acts.
(If you are interested in staffing, you must be aged 18 and over. The staff fee is only £15 per‐person
which includes camping, catering and a wristband.)
Payments must be payable to ‘Greater London Middlesex West Scout County’
Download the flyer and booking forms
More information at www.blastfestival.co.uk
Calling all Explorers! Royal British Legion Tube Challenge
90 Minute Tube Challenge
On Saturday 2nd July, there will be lots of people racing around London’s Zone 1 Tube stations as part of the 90 Minute Tube Challenge in support of The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal’s 90th Anniversary.
How does it work? Each team will be between three and five fit, fun-loving people who will be running up and down escalators, along corridors and leaping on and off tube trains. The stations have been allocated different points so there will need to be some cunning strategies to get the highest number of points in just 90 minutes. There has to be an ‘evidence’ photo of all the other team members in their special T shirts on the platforms, in front of each chosen station name.
How to take part? Each team has to think up a name for itself; create a Just Giving page and make the first donation the £20 team registration (this covers admin and the cost of the Tshirts). Then register all the team information, including Tshirt sizes, on the www.britishlegion.org.uk/tubechallenge website Then all that remains is to get as much sponsorship and practice running up and down escalators!
Each team will need a digital camera or mobile phone camera, plus each member will need to have a Travelcard or Oyster card valid for Zone 1.
Did we say there are great prizes for the winners?!
Where is it happening? Just to make it more interesting, we won’t give out the start location nor the station points map until a week or so before the event, but it WILL be within Zone 1
More information? Go to the special website address to get more info, team sign-up sheets and posters www.britishlegion.org.uk/tubechallenge
Why is this such a great thing to do? Apart from having a lot of fun, by getting involved in with the Poppy Appeal you will be helping provide financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. People as young as 17 ½ can be sent on active service, so veterans are often much younger than people realise.
So, just how many Tube stations can you hit in 90 minutes?
DofE Update and training this Friday 13 May 2011 at Coram’s Fields
Rescues! The DofE Training Syllabus talks about: ‘Appropriate rescue
techniques … appropriate to the environment, for example throw line
techniques suitable for moving water.’
So in this exam season, after a long hard week of revision, we will be
having a Friday evening with some physical exertion – but we will also
be making sure that we have the teams right for the summer. And also
that you have done the right sort of quality and quantity practice
journeying! Please note the vital dates for the three weekends for DofE
expeditions this year:
1. DofE Gold walking, Black Mountains, 1 to 5 July (plus a weekend of
canoe training on the River Wye 1 to 3 July for anyone who needs a
practice journey for Silver or Gold).
2. DofE Bronze canoeing, River Thames, 8 to 10 July.
3. DofE Silver and Gold, River Severn, 27 August to 2 September.
Hope to see you this Friday when we finalise the teams.
1. REGULAR TRAINING NIGHTS
Every month – the second Friday 7pm to 8.30pm in the Band Room at
Coram’s Fields (door at the eastern end of the frontage), 93 Guilford
Street, WC1 (close to Russell Square tube station).
13 May
10 June
8 July
9 September
[Our aim in the course of the academic year is to take in our stride all
the DofE Expeditions specialist training under the DofE syllabus: 1
Safety Precautions; 2 First Aid; 3 Navigation; 4 Campcraft; 5 Country,
Highway and Water Sports Codes; 6 Team Building; 7 Purpose Work; 8
Additional training, e.g. canoe training for expeditions on water.]
Please remember to bring along your DofE Books on training nights, so
that we can sign off items you have completed.
2. WEEKEND TRAINING
Friday 27 to Monday 30 May, Group Camp at Gilwell Park.
Friday 10 to Sunday 12 June, BCU Three Star course, Longridge.
Friday 1 to Sunday 3 July, DofE canoe training weekend, River Wye, based
at Biblins just below the Symond’s Yat rapids. You need to be a
competent paddler for this whitewater weekend.
Friday 8 to Sunday 10 July, BCU Three Star course, Longridge.
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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at 8th Holborn Scouts
Contact: Julian Fulbrook (GSL and DofE Co-ordinator)
julian.fulbrook@camden.gov.uk
Anyone ‘rising 14′ and up to age 25 is welcome to come along to any of
our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award training nights, once a month on Fridays,
and to participate in any of our camps and activities towards achieving
their own Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Awards.