Issue 2
Sunday 6th September 2020
Weekly Reflections Social Media has been a powerful tool to keep us connected with our loved ones during the COVID19 pandemic. A place to share photos of freshly baked banana bread, and to ask the question “are you OK?” more than ever before. Deputy UK Chief Commissioner Graeme Hamilton spent his first Sunday evening in lockdown reflecting on the past week and
shared his thoughts on his open Facebook page. “It seemed to hit a note with people”, Graeme told us. “I was getting quite a lot of favourable comments and I think I just captured the mood of how everyone was feeling after that first week of going into lockdown, and the uncertainty of what we were doing.” Today Graeme will be writing his 25th Blog. They have become a down to
earth reflection of how each week has been; from the unusual lack of petrol his car needs, to promoting online Scouting activities such as The Great Indoors and of course, Gilwell Reunion. “My role as Deputy UK Chief Commissioner is to inspire, motivate, enthuse and encourage people to feel that we are getting through this”. We asked Graeme what he felt has been the impact
of online Scouting. “I think it started off really well. When you look at the stats we collected, 85% of the groups that responded said they were using Zoom or some sort of online engagement”. It has also meant that he can support and attend more Scouting events online, than he could in person before COVID19. Search ‘Graeme Hamilton’ on Facebook to read his weekly blogs.
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What’s Online - Sunday With a jampacked Saturday of activities and sessions under the belt, your Sunday morning looks set to be no less interesting, valuable or fun. Activities kick off bright and early (for a weekend!) at 09:00, with what will surely be a great session on Bushcraft with two experts, Ed Stafford and Steve Hanton.
Perhaps you can join from your own back garden and follow along live? Then at 11:30 on the ‘main stage’ will be the Scouts’ Own: closing ceremony - definitely an interesting reflection on a unique year! The activity bases are all still open too - slots are running on all manner of topics, from social media
for recruitment to the role of Scouts during the First World War, taking a look at Moot 2022, empowering youth voice, and what is sure to be enormously useful session, taking a look at updates to the risk assessment procedure. Amongst these too, there will also be a session to allow a panel of experts to identify
your mysterious badges, and another which looks at the best way of leading a campfire! It’s definitely key to keep an eye on the programme pages on the Reunion website as well as via posts on the Reunion facebook group throughout the weekend. See you in some of the sessions!
Bushcraft Skills with Ed & Steve
After months of being limited on our adventures, what more could we want than an opportunity to share in the outdoors together. This was provided by a bushcraft skills session with Scout Ambassador Ed Stafford and Steve Hanton. The session this morning shared the simple joy of being in the great outdoors, building a fire
and cooking over it. We caught up with Ed to discuss his and Steve’s passion for the outdoors and bushcraft skills. As fathers to young families, they wanted to share their outdoor skills and to encourage everyone back outside. “We have no idea how online sessions will be received… It doesn’t have the same physicality and sense of sitting in the
woods around a fire, but we hope it’s a fun half hour” explained Ed. Steve has over 20 years of experience in bushscraft and woodland skills, including being awarded the coveted Hazel-Handled Instructors Knife in 2008. Ed says he is in awe of the level of skills Steve brings to their partnership. Speaking of his own skills “I’m more survival skills”. The pair have been working together for years, and the uncertainty of lockdown presented an opportunity to both of them to share their skills in a different way. This mornings session was a sneak peak at what is to come with their soon to be launched online sessions with www.bushcraft. academy. This goes live on the 23rd of September, but you can register interest now.
Saying Thanks
This is Christine Artur, Treasurer for 1st Boroughbridge North Yorkshire. Her son Stuart told us “ she is probably the biggest 'fundraiser' for our Group (well she does the 'Gift Aid', no mean feat when our Scout Group has over 100 young people). After fourteen years service and two certificates from 'The Bear' her current totals are in excess of £25,000.” Every group needs a people like Christine who take on roles to benefit our young people. We want to say thank you to each and everyone of you!
Tune into Scout Radio Online
Scout radio will offer the sound track to your Reunion. Tune in all weekend for coverage and interviews as well as your messages and shout outs. Broadcasting on Sunday from 0900 until the Closing Ceremony. You can listen along live at www.scout.radio or ask your smart speaker to “Launch Scout Radio”.
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Sunday 6th September 2020
Campfires Burning
It wouldn’t be Gilwell Reunion without the crackling of a fire in the gathering dusk, with woodsmoke rising together and voices lifted to the sky. This year we couldn’t fill the campfire circle at Gilwell, but we gathered spiritually as many of our favourite songs were sung, and we sang along with those who led the campfire. This highly succesful campfire was hosted from the recently refurbished campfire circle at Gilwell Park by over 80 International Volunteers who have been lucky to call Gilwell home during the pandemic. These amazing
volunteers have been been working hard on projects, maintenance, and activity training over the past few months. The team at Gilwell were joined by singers from around the world, including from Kandersteg with a hilarious item -we all felt the water
flying through the alpine air as we sang and laughed along. The enthusiasm of Stuart Fetherstone for Three Blind Jelly Fish was infectious, while Scout Vespers led by Inge and Jamie set the perfect end for everyone to reflect on their own Gilwell
Pandemic Reflection
“The Scouts of 2020 had it rough!” one of the Eplorers pipes up. They’ve just been learning about Scouting history, and we’ve been focussing on some of the difficulties that they had 50 years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve dug up some photos, videos and articles in the Gilwell archives about the way in which Scouts dealt with the adversity, and all of the
young people are flicking through the images with their retinal implants. Did any of you find out anything interesting on the History Store™? “Lots of Scouts did stuff to help out in their local areas, like getting shopping and helping out by collecting food for foodbanks” one of them says. Another Explorer jumps in: “Yeah, and it was the first
time that Scouts meeting face-to-face stopped ever supposedly, but loads of groups started doing video meetings over the internet, which was really unusual at the time”. “Loads of their summer camps to like Poland and other places got cancelled too but most of them just happened the next year or the year after” one of them tells us. “There was a big focus
Reunion journey, and the opportunities this weekend offers. The comments on the Facebook live feed have been full of high praise for this virtual campfire and the oppotunity to bring all the participants togther as one. No matter where you live in the world, the pull of the campfire is strong. This evening was no different, although many miles apart we all shared in the same moment and campfire.
on mental health too, ‘cos the lockdown made a lot of people anxious but lots of the skills that scouts taught were really helpful to get them through it like ‘courage in the face of adversity, resilience and and self-confidence’” one of them read from a historical article. That’s right, the other leaders and I tell them (one of whom has joined as a hologram as they’re staying away with work this week). It was completely unprecedented, and was a big challenge for all kinds of reasons. But the Scouts not only came through it stronger than ever, they also helped out in their communities, built relationships with their neighbours and learnt a lot of valuable lessons which held them in good stead for many years to come.
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Try it at home Challenge Corner
Messages from Far & Wide
From all of us at Reunion Express if you are celebrating today we wish you a very Happy Birthday! ~ Janet Campbell GSL (Baloo) 1st Barrhead, UK
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Dave Baxter from SpitďŹ re District, Birmingham loved coming to Gilwell every year, meeting and making memories with his many friends (old and new). Sadly, he went home earlier this year. He was a great character who will not be forgotten, especially by everyone who camped on Woodlands for many Reunions.
Want something to keep you entertained between virtual sessions, or perhaps a quick distraction whilst making a cup of tea this weekend? Why not try one of the challenges below? Share your attempts on the social channels
Challenge 1: Whilst blindfolded, blow up the biggest balloon you can in one minute without it popping. Challenge 2: Using a spoon in either hand, throw an item from one spoon and catch it in the other. Challenge 3: Make the best snowman without using snow.
Whispers from the Web
Your tweets, pictures and comments Victoria Lawton (Via Facebook) Got all my tabs open ready, and now just rocking out to Scout Radio Trying to decide which session to join later - there are so many amazing ones to choose from #Reunion2020 #GilwellReunion #Virtual #ScoutRadio
JoĂŁo Paulo Lucena (Via Facebook) Ready to begin! Be prepared and safe! Best regards from Porto Alegre, South Brazil! Nimuendaju 014/RS Rhonda Stengel (Via Facebook Album) Having an awesome time Zooming with Scout friends around the world
Dave Finch (Via Facebook) Bit of backwoods in the garden
@GilwellReunion
/GilwellReunion
Kirsty Wilson (Via Facebook) Almost had my blanket ready for Gilwell, will have all the badges sewn on not pinned for next year though
@GilwellReunion
Reunion Express 2020 was brought to you by members of the Scout Content ASU. Team Leader; Sarah Paget Production by James Hage & Daniel Haigh Reporting by George Wormald-Kelly, James Traynor & Holly Sloan Online Edition