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.
Safer Swimming Changes in Detail
As part of the ongoing review of all Scouting activities, the rules on swimming have been amended. The new, simplified arrangements will ensure that running such activities is easier for leaders. The details can be found at www.scouts.org.uk/swimmingupdates.
Main changes
• Paddling has been clarified and requires no qualification by leaders
• No further qualifications are required in instances where a lifeguard is provided (including swimming pools and beaches)
• Swimming in pools and Class C waters are now managed in line with other Class C water activities. No qualifications are required by leaders
• Swimming in all other open waters (B1 and higher) has been simplified and safety cover can be provided by either:
- a water activities permit holder (when following the guidelines
outlined in the swimming factsheet)
- someone who holds the Royal Life Saving Society Water Safety
Management Programme (WSMP) or any equivalent or higher award.
Full guidance is available in the swimming factsheet
Why change?
The revised rules for swimming are determined by the classification of water location and required supervision. It ensures that you can continue to provide accessible activities for young people in a safe environment.
Communicating the new rules
The rule changes are initially being communicated to volunteer commissioners and advisers who specifically support relevant activities. A summary will be sent to local communicators.
Please ensure that this is passed on to those adults in your area who this affects.
Any activities planned under the existing rules can still take place under these revisions, which are implemented and in use immediately.
The review and consultations were revised to fit with the way swimming activities work in scouting by teams of specialist activity volunteers, representatives from the Royal Life Saving Society, staff members and volunteers across the organisation via Scouting Plus, survey and formal discussions.
Details of the updates will be communicated to the movement via Scouting Plus on 1 April and the April / May edition of scouting magazine.
Support
A number of WSMP courses are scheduled.
A team of trainers is being recruited to help deliver the WSMP courses.
Guidance has been updated in the shape of the swimming factsheet and POR.
Jack Petchey Needs You!
The Jack Petchey Foundation need your member’s help! They sent us the following message:
Last year the Jack Petchey Foundation undertook a survey of youth attitudes and produced a report on these findings called “Listen Up”:
http://www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/public/file/Listen%20Up%202010%20JPF%20Report_1_7MB.pdf.
We were thrilled with the response – over 6,000 young people took the time to voice their views and let us know the issues that really mattered to them. On account of such a powerful response we were able to get extensive exposure for the good things that young people do in local and national press.
This year we are delighted to be taking this a step further, with a second report – Listen Up 2 – and we are calling for your help!
We want to know about the hopes and ambitions of young people in these changing times. We want to understand exactly what young people in Greater London North Scouts have to say and we will then make sure that people in positions of influence and power, understand and react to these findings.
We would really appreciate it if you can ask all 11-25 year olds in Greater London North Scouting to complete the Listen Up 2 survey by clicking on the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ListenUp2
They can also access the survey through the home page on our website www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk
Everyone who completes the survey will get the chance to win an IPOD TOUCH!!!
PLEASE ASK ALL YOUNG PEOPLE YOU KNOW TO GIVE US THEIR VIEWS!
In addition the number of Achievement Award winners sending their details to JPF has dropped. Please make sure you give a copy of the Congratulations leaflet to every winner and ask them to register their details on line at www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/?sign-up
Doing this will not only put them in the running to win £50 cash prize and an invitation for them to have lunch with Jack Petchey OBE but will also enable us to keep in touch with winners, continue to inspire them, invite them to special winners events etc.
We really appreciate your help – it makes a huge difference!
Many thanks
The Jack Petchey Foundation Team
5th Southgate Scouts enrol Beatbullying to aid in personal development programme
“I just wanted to say thank you for Friday again; it was just what I was hoping for!”. These are the words of Bill Brand, Scout Leader at 5th Southgate Scouts, who contacted Beatbullying earlier in the year to ask for our specialist input in strengthening the values of respect and tolerance towards others in his 30-strong scout group.
5th Southgate group enjoyed a workshop on 26th November exploring the meaning of the terms ‘bullying’ and ‘cyberbullying’, sharing their experiences of bullying and what they can learn from these, and creating a story to understand the effects and consequences of bullying and how they can last a lifetime. The scouts were introduced to Beatbullying’s CyberMentors peer mentoring programme and completed work necessary for them to obtain their ‘Promise’ badge.
Senior Development Officer Zoe Brownlie comments: “the Scouts already knew a lot about bullying and have all of the skills necessary to be trained as great CyberMentors in the future. Some of them had first-hand experience of being bullied and they can use these experiences to mentor other young people both on and offline. It has been a pleasure to work with the Scouts who are incredibly enthusiastic about our charity’s work.”
See www.cybermentors.org.uk to read more about CyberMentors. For more information on Beatbullying workshops for your school or community group contact Diane Lench, 0208 768 2177, diane@beatbullying.org.
GLN County Sailing Regatta
The County Sailing Regatta took place at ESSA on 25/26 September with a practice day followed by the main event.
Despite strong winds all of the Scouts who took part cope very well and completed the course.
Here are a few comments from some of the Scouts who took part in the event:
This was my first time sailing. I really enjoyed my time an learnt the basics of how to sail including how to rig a boat and steer. I was then able to go out on the water and experience the freedom of sailing for myself. It was an exhausting experience and hope to be able to do it again but next time in the sunshine.
Ruby -1st City of London
I thought the sailing was really fun and we didn’t capsize once even though it was our first time. We learnt a lot thanks to the people at ESSA who were so nice and helpful. I would like to do it again especially in the summer as it was freezing cold
Yasmin – 1st City of London
What I have learnt this year is that is not the taking part that counts, its the winning part. I know that saying it is wrong, however, it is twice as difficult for people to win. Coming second last year I also learnt that sailing with my scout family is also fun and a fantastic experience on the other hand I really would like to win.
Molly
8th Holborn
I thought it was a very a very good achievement and I think I will sail again now that I have tried it. I can’t comment on the teaching as my friend just gave me rides. Everyone was really Nice.
Adam, 1st City
The results from the Regatta were as follows:
| Race | Race | Race | Best | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Two | |||
| Mark & Jan Thompson | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | A |
| Molly Raymond | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | E |
| James Thornhill | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | E |
| Paul Thompson | 2 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 4 | A |
| Chris Price | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 5 | S |
| Greg Egan | 3 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 6 | A |
| Jed Newan | 8 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 7 | S |
| Jessica Hands | 7 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 8 | |
| Alex El-Nemer / Glacomo | 4 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 9 | E |
| Alex Maeay – Howse | 10 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 10 | S |
| Dan Farr | 11 | 10 | 18 | 21 | 11 | S |
| Fain Lee | 12 | 18 | 11 | 23 | 12 | S |
| Frankie Jones | 13 | 11 | 15 | 24 | 13 | S |
| Owen Jenkins | 17 | 16 | 10 | 26 | 14 | S |
| Thomas Simpson | 15 | 12 | 17 | 27 | 15 | S |
| Zitian Peng | 16 | 17 | 19 | 33 | 16 | S |
| Ruby Nightingale | 14 | 19 | 19 | 33 | 17 | E |
| Adem Bayraker | 18 | 19 | 19 | 37 | 18 | E |
Well done to all teams who took part.
Many thanks go to all at ESSA and especially Marion and her team for organising the event.
A few evenings out at ESSA will bring another activity to your Troop programme and allow the Scouts to achieve another part of the Adventure Challenge badge. Let’s see mote Troops entering next year.
Colin Batsford
ACC (Scouts)
Haringey District Canoe Expedition
Back in July Haringey District did a 14 mile Canoe Expedition. 6 Scouts from three troops took part inn the big journey to gain their challange badge
Here are some comments from a couple of scouts who took part
DAVID:
On Friday night when we arrived at Rammey Island for the kayaking
expedition I expected the trip to be a bit tiring but easily
durable however I realised the next day after we set off that I was
wrong! After a few hours I was longing for lunch where we could
stop and have a break and at lunch every part of my body was aching
and I was ravenous. Whilst I ate my lunch I dreaded the next part
of my journey but to my surprise I found it easier than before and
began to enjoy the trip more and was even able to admire the beauty
of the scenery as we paddled past. A highlight that afternoon was
seeing a water snake swim elegantly past us. After having dinner I
was exhausted and flopped into bed. The next day we kayaked for a
> couple of hours before we reached our destination back at Rammey
Island and we had a barbeque and a massive water fight that was
really fun. Overall I was really proud not only because I had
earned my expedition badge but also because I had manged to Kayak
16 miles which I thought was a great acheivment.
ALEXANDER:
I took part in the kayak expedition hoping to earn my Expedition
Challenge Badge and improve my paddling skills. The challege was
to plan and execute a 16 mile expedition by kayak over two days,
stopping at a field camp site after the 12 miles of the first day.
The next day we finished the last 4 miles and returned to Rammey
Island where there was a barbeque waiting for us – this raised
moral as we were all very tired. Overall the expedition was harder
than I thought it would be but I raised my stamina and learnt
things about paddling and technique.
Congratulations go to the 6 scouts who took part in the activity and who gained their Expedition Challange Award
Thanks to Broxbourne Cruising Club for allowing us to camp the night, Dave Rudland and Edmonton Canoe Club for all his suppport, Del Austin and Brian Smith for help with transport and Dave Walsh for orgnising the event
Derek Chambers
Haringey ADC Scouts
My Expedition Challenge Award-by Charlie
| From Charlie – a Scout at the 23rd Southgate Scout Troop
I completed my Expedition Challenge Award on the weekend 19 to 21 March 2010. My Patrol’s topic to speak about was Britain at War. I was in a Patrol all weekend with Dominic, Lorcan and Nathaniel. To complete the Expedition Challenge Award you must: Take part in an expedition over two days (including a night away) with at least three friends. Be involved in the planning of the expedition, complete relevant training and be properly prepared. During the expedition:
On the Friday night we stayed at a The Kelvendon Secret Nuclear bunker and while there we had a good tour of it and were able to understand about the war and what kind of people stayed in the bunkers. The next morning, we had breakfast and my Patrol were first to start hiking. We walked a long way. We got stuck at a river and it took us ages to find a bridge. However, we managed and hike on. About half way, we were to meet at a North Weald airfield. When we arrived we worked out that we had completed our four hours of walking so headed to our campsite for the night. When we got to the campsite we set up our new tents. This was the first time the Troop used our new hike tents which we had bought using a grant from YOFI. In our Patrol we cooked our dinner which we had planned. We then had a wide game and went to bed. We woke up on Sunday morning ready to do the last part of our expedition. We cooked our breakfast, washup and took down the tents. Everything was packed and we were ready to go. We hiked to the Epping Forest Conservation Centre. There was a path that went all the way there and we took that route. Of the two days hiking, the Sunday was better as it was sunny and we never got lost. But the route was a lot more hilly. We arrived at the Conservation Centre where we meet the rest of the Troop. We were all exhausted and ready to go home but all very all happy as we had all achieved our Expedition Challenge. A Scouts the next week my Patrol gave a presentation to the rest of the Troop about our hike and our project. We all got our Expedition Challenge Award Charlie - 23rd Southgate Scout Troop |
mini indoor golf course to raise funds for the Haiti appeal
The Scouts from the 201st Islington sea scout group have been busy building a mini indoor golf course to raise funds for the Haiti appeal
The Scouts aged 10 and a half to 14 have been busy building the course on the Monday night Scouts sessions for a few weeks now designing the holes and the course and building them.
Monday 8th February they opened the doors to the other sections in the group and parents to come and have a round of golf at £1 a go.
The work they have been doing not only helps other people it teaches the Scouts new skills and helps towards bettering themselves and helping towards new badges and also unites them in a great cause
Scouts are great at helping others and we have a keen interest in international friendships and the Scouts decided they wanted to do this themselves to help the many people in Haiti who are suffering after the devastating Earthquake some weeks ago.
They raised £130 for Medair who are doing great work in Haiti
They appeared in the faces ion the news in the Islington gazette the other week as well
Mark Darlow
Hampstead Scouts brave the Snow at Winter Camp
Scouts from across the UK welcomed in a new year of adventure. The Scouts from as far as Devon and North Wales braved sub zero temperatures and fields of snow to camp at Gilwell Park in Chingford, the home of Scouting and outdoor adventure.Winter Camp provides the opportunity for Scouts to take part in over 70 adventurous and fun activities ranging from abseiling to zorbing. More than 1,800 boys and girls aged between 10-18 along with over 600 adult Leaders enjoyed the experience of sleeping in tents for two nights, cooking on open ἀres and enjoying a packed snow ἀlled programme led by a team of 200 adult volunteers. “Every young person deserves an adventure,” says Chief Scout Bear Grylls. “It’s great to see that so many young people are getting stuck into adventurous activities like climbing, abseiling, quad biking and having a go on the high ropes, all in the coldest month of the year.”
Hampstead Scouts
MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE
A walking and climbing weekend in Snowdonia
(Must be 16 years and above, no experience necessary)
Friday 18th June to Sunday 20th June 2010
COST £35.00
This includes all food & accommodation
Transport to be arranged plus costs
ACCOMMODATION
Coetmor Mill, Bethesda, Gwynedd, Snowdonia, North Wales
Tel No 01248 600 652
please download the form M.E. 2010 Form which has all the information on it