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UT May 2013
Issue 20
c s u o y Scout Pride S
couting contributes to an individual’s development through providing many opportunities to reflect on life challenges. It encourages young people of all backgrounds to believe in themselves and to be confident in their voice; to develop physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually. We call this everyday adventure. They just call it fun.
Can you sail? S
ailers are our county sailing centre are looking for a bit of help. The team have got three large sailing boats which we use to give Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers sailing experiences on the waters of Sutton Bingham reservoir near Yeovil. We are running four sail experience days in June and July to which you can bring your group. There are three boats also available for hire at other times, subject to availability of the reservoir and the availability of the Qualified Instructors. Costs are £15 per boat for 2 ½ hour session, £40 for 3 boats per session, £80 for 3 boats for all day.
Sail open days
To provide everyday adventure to young people we need adult volunteers. These adults not only benefit from directly supporting young people, they also gain from developing themselves and learning new skills. All of which they may apply to their everyday working lives. There are many flexible volunteering opportunities to suit you and your needs, however much time you have to give.
Open to all
Scouting is open to all young people and adults regardless of sexuality. Attending Pride is a way of demonstrating our commitment to equality and building a more inclusive society. Find out more about the event and register your interest in attending London LGBT and Community Pride 2013 here:
• 15th June • 29th June • 6th July de • 20th July London Pri
. . . t cou outs.org.uk
scoutout@somersetsc
Hiking the Lakes N etwork took to the Lake District recently on their annual hill walking camp. The guys and girls stayed in a bunk house near Keswick and hiked up the Scafell Pike path before taking a right and heading up Windy Gap.
The snow was 3 feet deep in places, ice axes had to come out in certain spots. Fortunately the clouds cleared for some marvellous views and the bitter cold was warmed by log fires in a local restaurant after a day on the fells.
Ten Tors E
xplorers from Taunton, Yeovil and Wellington took part in this year’s Ten Tors expedition on Dartmoor. The weather was appalling with wet and very windy conditions persisting for most of the weekend. Depsite this, teams powered through making as most of the challenge as they could. Teams train hard for Ten Tors usually taking to the moors before Christmas and training right up to the Ten Tors event in May. The event itself is run by the army out of Okehampton camp and it’s nothing short of a challenge. Congratulations simply must go to every young person brave enough to take part!
3 1 0 2 t o o M r e b m u c u C a s a ool C M
oot began, as all Moots do, with a polythene bag fancy dress party. Perhaps bringing attention to a global plastic pollution problem, the Explorers donned bin bags and tarpaulins to make hats, trouser legs and all manner of fancy dress items.
mass Explorer trip to the seaside on the steam train.
Minibusses and cars full of Explorers drove off to the beach with each Explorer issued with a bucket, spade and sand rake.
The train was brilliant, the Explorers remained firmly in Moot is bonkers and this their seats all the way there year it was bonkers with and enjoyed themselves cucumbers. Loads of thoroughly looking through activities from woodand skills the windows at the passing underneath a large parachute scenery. suspended from trees to laser clay pigeon shooting. On to the beach and sand castle competition followed There was even a massive by a cucumber themed picnic disco with a quiz and lots of competition took place. cucumber related tomfoolery. There was even a chocolate cake with cucumber on the Perhaps the most exciting top to which judges of the part of the Moot was the picnics ate with trepidation.
And as if a day at the beach wasn’t enough the Explorers had a junk kart race on the Monday of camp. Build a kart, race a kart and send you kart down an obstacle course carrying a cucumber as you go. It’s possible that no camp has ever consumed quite so many cucumbers in one go as the Somerset Cool as a Cucumber MOOT did in 2013. This camp was Liz Henderson’s last as Assistant County Commissioner Explorers. So we said a fond goodbye to Liz in this role and welcome her in her new role as Deputy County Commissioner Programme.
County e e r o b m Ja D
Somerset Landmarks
on’t boil your sausages,’ was the message at Jamboree’s opening ceremony on Saturday morning. ‘Don’t boil your sausages and have the time of your life.’ Competition camping is pretty simple, pop your tent up, light the fire and get some sausages on the go. Your boundaries need to be well defined, your log pile pile shaped, your tent pegs in line but perhaps most importantly, your patrol happy.
The merry clatter of pans on burners and mallets on tent pegs on Saturday morning was the soundtrack to Somerset’s Jamboree competition camp. Four subcamps of patrols camping it out for awards. After lunch activities started. Monkey bridging, archery, the patrol challenge, orienteering with Phillip and Jim, woodland and paracord crafts. Campfire followed in the early evening sunshine when young Dillan
joined Rumbungo’s circus performers. Campsite judging, Cub Funday visits and a the cooking competitions took place on Sunday at Jamboree.
We had awards at flagbreak for adults and young people with three Gold Chief Scout awards going to Harry, Jack and Martin. Cubs started arriving shortly afterwards where they made kites in the craft tent and toured around the subcamps looking to find their scout seniors and to see how they competition camped. Cubs from Weare and District found their scout section on the Washford Transmitter Station subcamp and were amazed by the pioneering pole dining table, wood cooking fires and gadget gateway. For the scouts activities continued each subcamp revolving around the different bases which
included air rifle shooting, archery, a scout challenge course where the scouts had to walk blindfolded around a pretend minefield, the busy craft tent with paracord, cake and kite making crafts, two monkey bridges, the Patrol Challenge, orienteering and carriage race. Come evening time there was just enough energy left for a talent show in the 100ft marquee which saw acts performing to judges and a packed audience. Singing, drumming and stand-up comedy was topped only just by some excellent break dancing by Robert which won the competition ‘hands down…’ Meanwhile Somerset’s Network scouts hosted a Network and Explorer rounders game on the games field. Around 30 Network and Explorer Scouts took part before heading into the disco to teach the scouts how to dance to Saturday Night.
More pictures: e e r o b m ja / k .u g r .o ts u o somersetsc
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Yeovil scout group marks 1st anniversary.
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he Barton St David Scout Group in Yeovil is one year old in April and is celebrating ‘spectacular success.’ Membership has doubled during the year and a full programme of adventure was run for all ages. The group’s beaver colony was full within just a week of it opening and the group’s leaders have completed their wood bead training in record time. In just a year the group’s beavers made instant snow for their experiments badge, fruit salad and sandwiches as part of learning about health diet. This was followed by an evening learning about fair trade during Fairtrade Fortnight and finding out about how chocolate is made. Cubs delved into astronomy and first aid while the scouts have worked towards various badges, including Navigator, Artist Activity, Global Conservation and Circus Skills. The troop visited the pottery studios of Julia Manning and made barn owl nesting boxes. Diablo Dave came to teach the scouts some circus skills. Over Easter this year some of the older scouts took part in an expedition challenge which they wrote this report about:
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ur expedition started at Orchard Park Farm (Mendip Farm) where we followed Mill Stream into West Lydford and then took footpaths and roads into Barton St David. After passing the church we took a footpath into Kingweston where we had a drink, played a few spirit lifting games of I-Spy and then set off again. We skirted around Butleigh before heading into Coombe Wood and walking downhill to Compton Dundon, where we stopped for another wellneeded rest. From here we headed off to Street Youth Hostel, the oldest Youth Hostel in the UK. There we had a heart warming meal of sausage pasta and then headed off to bed. We were all tired and all went to sleep quickly. When we woke up we were greeted by a breakfast of toast and cornflakes. We walked past Hood’s monument and then crossed down to Cedar Drove which took us around the west of Butleigh. At Wallyer’s Bridge we turned right and followed the Brue to the Baltonsborough Flights (A weir) we then followed Dunstan’s Dyke to Tootle Bridge before crossing fields back to West Lydford Church car park where we were greeted by our parents and taken home tired but happy with the prospect of a hot bath waiting at home! We worked well as a team taking it in turns to map read during varying stages of the challenge. The weather was good to us and thankfully our waterproofs stayed in our rucksacks. Thanks to the leaders for giving up their weekend to help us get our badge. We couldn’t have done it without them.
Severn Exped T
he Levels Explorers undertook an expedition along the River Seven in May. The trip was in working towards their Queen Scout Award and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Rosie, Holly, Becca, Emma and Becky have all now achieved their awards. The group were very grateful to John Rudge who came along to make the 6th team member.
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The County Diary
The show must go on!
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aunton Deane’s Gangshow were left in the lurch during show season when the county’s Brewhouse Theatre closed down. Cast and crew were left with nowhere to perform but excited theatre goers to perform to! Thankfully Junction 24 near Bridgwater were able to accommodate the group last minute and the show did indeed go on.
Fri 20/9 to Sun 22/9
Frome District Camp
Fri 4/10 to Sun 6/1o
County Young Leader’s Training Weekend.
Fri 11/10 to Mon 13/10
WSJ 2015 Leader Selection Residential Weekend
Fri 25/10 to Sun 27/1o
County hillwalking weekend.
Your ScoutOut ScoutOut will be stopping after our next issue to be replaced by a monthly emailer. Please drop Richard a line if you have any comments on this. mediamanager@somersetscouts.org.uk
SOMERSET
Written and Produced by Richard Shepherd. www.richardesigns.co.uk Copyright Somerset Scout Council 2013
k .u g r .o ts u o c ts e s r e m o s t@ scoutou