Issue 2
Saturday 2nd September 2017
Friendship, Training, Woodbeads and Highlights
The brightly-lit and thumping stage of the Reunion Welcome was not only a welcome respite from the rain, but also had a crowd of fancy-dressed scouters from all ages, wearing their best onesies and biggest cowboy hats, ready for the barn dance. As #TeamUK took to the stage, their messages for the event were all about friendship and learning. The Camp Chief, Ross
Maloney, took to the mic to welcome over adults, leaders, and volunteers who had arrived at camp after their journeys from around the country, and the world. “Gilwell is an amazing training opportunity”, he says. “Historically, the camp chief has been the person responsible for training, and has the privilege of wearing these special six Woodbeads. Sir Percy Everett was the
Commissioner of Training for the first Reunion event and was presented with them. In turn, he later went on to issue them to Lord Robert BadenPowell at a later Reunion event.” Following on, UK Youth Commissioner Hannah Kentish welcomed all to the event and prompted the crowd for an almighty cheer. She gave her three highlights to look out for over the weekend. “The Youth
Commissioners’ Forum”where they’ll be chatting about all things Youth Shaped. The amazing food stalls lining camp square. And there’s going to be a session on How to; Say Thank You at 2pm in the Founders’ Room.” And to finish off our welcome, Tim Kidd shared his highlights too. “The session with the amazing Ed Stafford; the usual return of the quiz on Saturday night and the various masterclasses.”
Saturday 2 Sep 2017
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The Training Ground A field of many activities The Training Ground is certainly just that this year with programme ideas, activities and advice on a whole range of different ideas for evenings and events that could be run for sections, from the partnerships that make it possible. With stalls demonstrating some of the most exciting stakeholders including: international teams, events, and corporate partnerships all of whom can support the programme. There are activities ranging from virtual reality, to wood turning, to chariot racing and all kinds of bushcraft. The Raspberry Pi (a small, inexpensive, and easily coded computer) team talked about how they can be incorporated into an evening. With both the Digital Maker and Digital Citizen badge available, “there are loads of ways in which leaders can run innovative activities on this topic. In fact, the first two stages of the badges can be done without any specialist equipment, and you can get your young people thinking in different ways about the digital world straight away.” With the valuable problem solving and teamworking skills required, it’s a great new way to offer these lessons. In fact, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, in partnership with the UK Space Agency, have two Raspberry Pi computers on the International Space Station (taken up by Tim Peake) which have code running on them written by a Cub Scout! The UK Space Agency is a fascinating partnership too. With a genuine space suit
on display, and some of the infamous astronaut meals placed around, there are loads of activities that can be offered to young people. “The Astronautics Badge is a really popular activity. Young people have to try their hands at five of ten activities, which could include building models of spacecraft and model rockets, designing an astronaut’s meal and showing how craters are formed.”
Is there anything more exciting than a bit of new camping kit? Everyone’s familiar with the GO Outdoors discounts and generous group sales deals, but their offerings of fittings, kit workshops, and demonstrations are an amazing plus. “Just call up your local GO Outdoors and ask if you can bring along your young people. We run boot fittings, backpack
packing, and showing them how to put up tents.” There’s certainly no shortage of ideas and partnerships to invigorate your programme, including from partners such Bear Nibbles, providing activities for Beavers; the RAF, who are supporting the Scout Air Researcher Badge; and Cross Country, who are providing the Cub Personal Safety Badge. Loads on offer!
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What’s on - the next 12 hours This afternoon we have loads going on, make sure you check out the many workshops happening all around the site - see the workshop changes below. At 15:00 make sure you are out on the Training Ground for our guest speaker, explorer and adventurer, Ed Stafford. Remember to come along
to the Gilwell Reunion campfire at 19:30 – 20:30 for the usual singing and dancing in The Large Campfire Circle. Tonight, we have live music in The Lid, or if you have your singing voice with you, head on over to the Queen’s Squiffy Woggle Pub, both 21:00 00:00. Or if you’d prefer a
challenging evening, make sure you are in the Wolf Marquee at 21:00 for the Gilwell Quiz. Remember to be up bright and early tomorrow morning for the Interdenominational Communion Service (08:00 – 09:00) in the Open-Air Chapel.
Workshop Updates and Changes Saturday changes and where they are now being held:
Sunday changes and where they are now being help:
UKSN Rovers100 Launch 1800-1845 - Eagle Marquee
How to: Support Young Leaders volunteering with your section 1100-1145 -Eagle Marquee
Be Prepared – Safety in a two word nutshell 1400-1445 - CIC Big Room 1
How to plan a brilliant visit abroad! 1100-1145 - Fox Marquee
Using Social Media to talk to people 1500-1545 - Betty Clay
Embedding Peer Leadership 1200-1245 - Eagle Marquee
10 different ways to communicate 1600-1645 - Betty Clay
Support the next generation!
Saturday 2 Sep 2017
Get in touch and be in the newspaper
We want to share everything you go through this weekend, hear all about your fantastic adventures and see what you see - and there’s so many ways for you to get in touch! We have reporters and photographers on site, so feel free to say hi. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Drop us a text message or a note into one of the suggestion boxes on site - these are at Scout Radio at Camp Square, The Whitehouse Reception or the Rainbow Cafe on the Training Ground run by FLAGS. (You can also find the newspapers at these locations!) Think you have a fantastic story? Get in touch! We’re on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so you can share all the fun with us - and those who are missing out! All our details are on the back page - we look forward to hearing from you! We would like to thank the gentleman on the Branchet field who, in the best traditions of Scouting, lent us a bottle of gas in our hour of need - Val and Bill Butcher A big hello to Gail Seal, Sarah Harradine, Jamie Trickett, and the 10 newest members Mid Hertfordshire who are on there first ever Reunion!
Do you work with Young Leaders? Would you like your say on the new resources? The UK Volunteer Project Team are onsite and would love to hear your ideas and
thoughts on your experiences working with and training Young Leaders. The Project Team has the drafts of new resources which they are in the process of
creating and need your input on what you like, don’t like, and think is missing. They are based in the Wolf Marquee - please do drop in a have your say!
Royston Jewkinson from Sheffield would have been on his 53rd Gilwell Reunion. There is a service at 0945 for him on Sunday.
Saturday 2 Sep 2017
Weather for tonight and tomorrow
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Supporting you to challenge your programme Did you know the UK Programme Support Team are on site this weekend to answer any and all questions about programme? With 30 members of the
team available they are able to answer questions specifically about those more challenging programme aspects. You can also chat to them about supporting your county
and regional events. They can be found in the Wolf Marquee all weekend and are also running a series of different sessions which all are welcome to attend.
Living the history books A different look at Scouting Saturday should be a pleasant, warm day with some patches of cloud and a gentle breeze, and high temperatures of 19°c. There is a small chance of showers to come with this cloud. It should be a warm night, around 16°c but will cloud over by 6am.
As we celebrate 110 years of Scouting here at Reunion we have the opportunity look back at our history to learn about Scouts and traditions of years gone past. Colin Walker, Scout Historian is based in the Panther Marquee throughout Reunion and has with him unique and important archive materials. Test your
knowledge with a short quiz based on the educational boards and earn yourself a badge. Grab fantastic materials to run meetings with your young people on World War I or just learn for yourself. Colin is running a series of walks and talks across site:
Whispers from the Web
Talk the Walk on the Historic Side’ – Sat: 14:00/ Sun 11:00 Gidney Cabin Scouts at War - Sat 20:30 The Eagle Marquee Free tickets are available from the Panther Marquee ticket office.
Your tweets, pictures and comments
NorthantsScouts @NorthantsScouts Northants leaders on tour at the Reunion. – attending Gilwell Reunion 2017 at Gilwell Park
32nd Scout Group @32ndscouts Skip and young skip met the original skip B.P’s granddaughter Gill Clay @GilwellReunion @ScoutsWest #honour Jack Oliver White @jackwhite1997
Slough DYC @Slough_DYC At #GilwellReunion with my Dad to recreate this photo of him and his Dad from 1986 (it’s the same tent)
@GilwellReunion
En route to @GilwellReunion from Palma after delays. Lets hope the weather holds up #iScout All our newspapers are on issuu - read it on your phone!
issuu.com/reunionexpress
/GilwellReunion
Gilwellreunion@gmail.com
@GilwellReunion 07950 737900
Reunion Express 2017 was brought to you by; Team lead; Sarah Paget - Staff Support; Sara Reboredo Production by James Hage - Reporting and Photography by Lizzie Harvey, George Wormald-Kelly and Daniel Haigh Online Edition