S
T U O C
O
UT
2012 r e b m e t p e S Issue 16
sletter w e N t u o c S Somerset
PLUerSS.c.o.uting res Sum12m ut adventu summer Sco . Your 20 er visitors et’s summ and Somers
li s Achiever Oins all the Beaver badgeuts. ga en Sco Oli Chubb o new Que tw s lu p t, e you can g
ust Japan or b uts on the slow bus to co oree. Somerset S Scout Jamb d rl o W d the 23r
. this month..
Karl ’s k r o w t e N t e Somers pic and m ly O n o r o l Tay onies m e r e c c i p m ly Para
s ’ r e d a e Young L . p m a c g n i n i a tr . e n i l n o amp Book org.uk/ylc outs.
somersetsc
c s u o y rg.uk .o ts u co ts e rs e m so t@ scoutou
Hall’s new lease of life
S
outh Petherton Scouts are enjoying their new renovated headquarters thanks, in part, to a Co-Op grant. The group has been raising money towards making some major structural changes and the latest dollop of £2000 from the local supermarket has meant the group has met its fund raising target. 2nd South Petherton supports Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and now a new Explorer unit too which means more equipment, more storage needed and more space to have fun. Together with the need to improve disabled access, the renovations are improving an already valuable community asset which originally was a portable structure used by Taunton Racecourse over twenty years ago. The group’s next fund raising event will be a ‘big breakfast’ in November.
Japan or bust
A
team of 8 intrepid bus drivers are preparing for the adventure of a lifetime in a Routemaster. The ‘Japan or Bust’ team are hoping their antique vehicle will convey them to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree being held in Japan in 2015. One of the team members selected is Somerset Beaver leader Neil Blake from Shepton Mallet who was part of the IST in Sweden at the 22nd WSJ last year. “We’re still in very early stages of planning,” said Neil. “We’ve bought the bus and are busy trying to fix it up.”
County caving experiment Sedgemoor T appoints DC
The bus will be driving thousands of miles over three months to reach Japan in 2015. “We even hope to drive it through the Himalayas and up to Everest Base Camp,” said Neil who is clearly barking but brilliantly mad.
his month Somerset’s county caving team are conducting an experiment which they hope will pave the way for an exciting annual event in the future.
T
On Mendip, at a currently undisclosed location, we’re running our first county caving camp. A weekend event loaded with opportunities to get serious about having fun caving.
he county welcomes Jill Groves to her new role as District Commissioner for Sedgemoor this month. Jill takes the helm having been ADC Cubs in the district.
Somerset is rich in caving challenges, the Mendips, Cheddar Gorge and other locations offer some of Britain’s most exciting underground challenges and the Somerset Scouts now have a whole raft of caving equipment and some expert leaders ready to guide you on your first caving experience.
“Jill will bring experience, energy and above all enthusiasm for Scouting with her as she becomes DC, a role that has been vacant for nearly 6 years. I am sure I can rely on you all to offer Jill all the help and support she needs in this role,” said County Commissioner Shaun Dale.
t u o c s t e s r e m o .s w ww
. . . t cou Climb K2
Network keeps on growing
S
omerset’s 18 - 25 provision goes from strength to strength. A popular and successful summer camp in August is now being followed up with the launch of a new Network hub in Yeovil. Based on demand the county wide Network operates in hubs to make travelling to meetings easy. Yeovil’s hub will launch on September 21st at the Airfield Tavern in Yeovil. Network’s current members are putting together a fun quiz with a first prize and the coveted wooden spoon booby prize for last place. Teams allocated on the night so please join the guys and girls for a friendly meal and social quiz if you’re aged 18 - 25 in Yeovil. Remember to bring two forms of ID if you would like to join on the night. “Network is the best thing I ever did in Scouting, I wouldn’t give it up for the world,” said Somerset Network Scout Will Bugden.
Moon Moot
P
laces are still available on Somerset’s ‘Over the Moon Moot’ event in November at Huish Woods.
The party will be celebrating 10 years of Explorer and Network Scouting in the UK and both the Explorers and Network here in Somerset have got some awesome ideas planned. Chariot racing, rocket launching and a moonlit campfire to name but three of the activities on offer. Book online:
F
ancy climbing the highest freestanding mountain in the world? The Scout Association are offering you the chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. This is no event for the fainthearted; it demands commitment, stamina and a passion for adventure. Not only will you take on an incredible personal challenge, but you’ll join a team who support you right to the summit (and back down again!). Find out more online:
www.scouts.org.uk
Speak, surf and go global
A
Scout meeting in the jungle? Or maybe the desert? Or maybe inner city Cairo?
Get involved in Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) or Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) on the weekend of 20-21 October and you can speak to Scouts in all of these places.
CRB identity checking
M
embers may be aware that the Criminal Records Bureau are introducing new ID checking guidelines.
The Scout Association is currently consulting with the government regarding these changes. We will inform members as soon as there is an update on how these new guidelines may affect CRB checks for Scouting volunteers. The Scout Association is also working on a replacement for our online membership system. The new system will offer more tools to manage local Scouting within a safe, easy to use online system.
2 1 0 2 t o o m / k .u g r ts.o
Volunteering on an Olympic scale Somerset Scout Karl Taylor works on the stage LX crew at London 2012.
Look out for Karl in Sunday’s Paralympic closing ceremony.
S
omerset Network Scout Karl Taylor has been helping out at the London 2012 games on the stage lighting crew.
Karl, from Crewkerne, worked on ScoutFest before London so the Olympics has been something of a radical scale up: “It still takes 10 minutes to walk around the access tunnel underneath the field of play and if you’re on the roof it takes 15 or 20 minutes with another 20 minutes to get up or down.” “We were responsible for moving lighting on and off the stage during ceremonies, usually with not a lot of time to spare!” It was Easter last year that Karl first got involved with the Olympics. Candidates were
put through interviews before rehearsals got under way early this year: “I remember the hype building up to the opening ceremony and I just wondered what it was all about as I have watched it grow and change and it never felt that big to me. Now I’m starting to realise just what I have been part of,” said Karl, but it’s not been a journey without hardship: “Traveling to the stadium takes just over an hour from my London accommodation but it takes over two hours to get to the rehearsal venue and that made for some very long days.”
Karl, from Somerset!
Karl is in his second year at the Rose Bruford college of Theatre and Performance in London studying Creative Lighting Control. “I’ve been working with some of the best people in the country on the Olympics and this has helped me to make some great contacts for the future.” “The shows have all been great fun to work on, the opening ceremony was the best for me due to the anticipation and excitement building in the stadium. I could feel it from under the stage waiting for my first cue during the industrial revolution / pandemonium scene change. We worked with nearly all of the headliners too making sure the lighting on the One
Direction and Madness trucks during the closing ceremony were working. We did final checks with members of both bands which was quite cool.” Mid Olympics Karl took a break and travelled to Oxford for the Somerset Network’s annual summer camp and was keen to reveal all about the opening ceremony: “I still can’t stop myself smiling when someone is talking about the Olympics and I just think - I was there. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and there was no way I was going to miss out!”
somersetscouts.org.uk/network
u S s ’ t e s r e m So res Your 2012 summer Scouting adventu
F
inland, Belgium, Nottingham and Bodmin, the Somerset Scouts have been all over on summer camps this year and Scouts have been visiting Somerset from all over as well.
Coming
In August Huish Woods welcomed hundreds of visitors from across the south of the UK to camp and Scout in Somerset and be a part of ‘busy week’ – the campsite’s busiest period of the year.
G
Cubs from 4th Putney Drummond Cubs, a group from inner city London, bought so many young people to the countryside that they filled four indoor accommodation spaces at Huish Woods. The busy week disco and Olympic themed camp fire bought the whole campsite and site service crew together for all to enjoy the shared summer adventure. And Somerset Scouts have been leaving their mark around the country, 5th Frome spent their summer camp at Buddens in Dorset whilst 2nd Templecombe had an alter fires, back to basics camp near Seaton. The Holy Trinity Scout group held their annual camp at Georges Meadow – the group’s very own campsite in Yeovil.
1st Welling at the Nati
With fabulous weather and a meadow to themselves the Scouts did ‘Bear Grylls style’ shelter building, canoeing and even managed to find time to plant two Purple Beech trees to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year and an Oak to celebrate all the GB medals won at London 2012. 1st Mells, Frome, had a Robin Hood themed camp with activities including nabbing the Sherriff of Nottingham’s jewels, building an outlaws’ camp in the forest and making siege catapults that could hurl tennis balls up to 40 metres! The weather was awful but everyone had a great time. Over at Henlade, near Taunton, all the Scouts on their summer camp gained their Outdoor Challenge badge. Plenty survival food was roasted on open fires while problem solving challenges and a hike around the woods made for an action packed camp.
2nd Long Ashton Guides camp at Huish Woods.
But while Henlade were sweating it out surviving the 1st Wiveliscombe Scout group had a well-earned holiday in Cornwall. As part of the group’s centenary celebrations nearly 30 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Young Leaders and Leaders enjoyed a week’s camping at Roadford Lakes. The South West Lakes Trust laid on high ropes, sailing, kayaking, river walking and river dipping all punctuated with some pirate themed Olympic activities at the Roadford Lakes dam.
s out ods 1st H h Sc sh Wo t a B i u d cam r 23 p at H cam
The North Devon Cubs camp at Huish Woods.
1st Taunton Wilton spend summer camp on Bodmin, Cornwall.
1st Tac camp a
1st Bothenhampton Guides and Bere Regis Scouts camp at Huish Woods 9th Paignton Guides camp at Huish Woods
32 Central Taunton Scouts at Blindmans campsite, Plymouth.
1st W Woo
s p m a C r e m um
Going
t ton Malle p e h S m o d. ars fr llette Me overway in Finlan o C r e r lo Exp al R ternation in s d n e t t a
gton in Nottingham, ional Water Centre.
ckley & Heyford Scouts at Huish Woods. Somerset’s Network summer camp, Youlbury, Oxford.
s Scout . erford Hung ish Woods u H t a mp
1st Putney Drummond Cubs visit Huish Woods.
Wellington camp at Braggers od in the New Forest.
Six Somerset Scout leaders volunteer at the Essex International Jamboree, Chelmsford.
Yeovil Explorers check out Belgium for a week.
s ’ r e d a e L g Youn p m a C g n i Train
sD&F le u d o M : d n a m e d r la By popu ds’. e e N l ia c e p ‘S d n a ’ ly ‘Kids Behaving Bad 7 h Woods October 6 & Huis th
YL Camp 2012 is open to any active Young Leader in Somerset, our 2012 and is paid for by the Somerset County training budget. There is a small charge of £10.00 to attend which is to cover for your catering for the whole camp. Indoor accommodation is provided and places are limited so book quick!
th
YL Camp is a great way to do training during a fun weekend camp.
Starts 9am Saturday October 6th Please arrive in uniform. You will be ready to depart at 3.30pm on Sunday 7th.
Book online: p m a lc /y k .u rg .o ts u co ts e rs e www.som
Last year you guys said:
‘You made it varied, relaxed and informal and I got to know lots of new friends. My tutor gave me great advice all weekend which was really helpful.’
nal o i t a n r e int s ’ l l a w n Cor ack. b s i e e r Jambo ities v i t c a + 100 ends i r f f o s 1000 de. a m e b to a, e s , f r u s ll, Cornwa ting. u o c S , n su
w n r Ke 2013
nit u r u o y Bring n. o i t c e s r o
the n o r e e t Volun w. e r C w o Kern
28th July t s u g u A d 3r
ow n r e K s ’ l l Cornwa re. u t n e v d ra summe
Book online
www.kernowjamboree.org.uk
18 year For 10 pen olds & o s in ult to all ad g. Scoutin
ALL CORNW
com/ twitter. boree m a j w o kern k.com/ o o b e c a f boree m a j w o kern
The County Diary
s t n e m e v e i h c a f o r A summe Double Queen’s Scout Award
S
am Gaines and Carl Davis are the latest to be awarded their Queen’s Scout Awards in Somerset. A presentation ceremony took place at their group in Wiveliscombe over the summer. Both Scouts have also completed their Gold DofE awards. Sam took on learning to play the Cello, Rugby and hiked an expedition in County Antrim. Carl raced model cars for his skill, worked on personal fitness and visited the Brecon Beacons for his expedition. Both Scouts completed their service with 1st Wiveliscombe and both worked on the Environment and Faith partnership award.
Oli Chubb’s full house
Meanwhile Oli Chubb, also from Taunton district, has gained all of the badges a Beaver can gain.
That’s six challenge badges, twelve activity badges and six more staged badges as well. Oli, from 1st Henlade, worked towards his Challenge badges during Beaver Colony meetings and also at home. He achieved his Bronze Chief Scouts Award at Easter – the highest award in the Beaver section - and has only been a Beaver for two years. Oli said: “The hardest one was the Musician’s badge as I had to sing! My ‘best’ badge was Air Activities as I had seen a Red Arrows display live at Dawlish which made me interested in completing this badge. My football skills gained me the Hobby Badge.”
FRI 5/10 to SUN 7/10
Young Leader’s Training Weekend
FRI 19/10 to SUN 21/10
Adult Hill Walking Weekend
FRI 2/11 to 4/11
Explorer and Network 10th Birthday: ‘Over the Moon Moot’.
Come to Huish Woods for the Young Leader event of the year, meet YL’s from across the County and get all your training done and dusted in one fun weekend.
Dolygaer - Brecon Beacons. A chance to gain hill walking skills with an experienced hiker and mountaineer.
This time last year they were only 9 - and now they’re 10! Don’t miss the Explorer / Network event of the year guaranteed to rock.
Your ScoutOut Tell us what’s Scouting where you are:
scoutout@somersetscouts.org.uk
Issue 17 will be published November 2012.
SOMERSET
Written and Produced by Richard Shepherd. www.richardesigns.co.uk Copyright Somerset Scout Council July 2012
k .u g r .o ts u o c ts e s r e m o s t@ scoutou