S
T U O C
O
letter s w e N t u o erset Sc
Som
r e v i R e c n a d
UT Juley9 2011 Issu
. this month..
r and unit leade s u n o p u is e rain mbore singing in the is t e World Scout Ja rs e m o S plains why Ben Groves ex
PLUS.e.e. and Moot Jambor ion
All the act
and ear’s scout from this y
s Bear Gryll forgotten! The day d a h ief As if you med our Ch elco Somerset w flying visit is h Scout for
Ten Tors
r
an eve et scouts th rs e m o S re Mo rs le the moo before tack wet How to get r awareness and te a Summer w eas. activity id harvesting
Cover image: The WSJ Cheddar Unit on a training camp at Huish Woods in 2010.
mps
explorer ca
oree blog b m Ja t u o Sc d rl o W g/ e Follow th ut-jamboree/wsj-blo co -s ld or /w uk g. or s. www. somersetscout ad the story, Share the link,are re. be part of the dventu
c s you .org.uk
couts scoutout@somersets
d n a s d r i B o o o w a w Twit T the bees
B
eavers from 5th/7th Wells have been helping barn owls in June. Working with the Hawk and Owl Trust and the Mendip Sustainable project the youngsters spent time fundraising to buy two barn owl nesting boxes which will be hung on the Yoxter Range on the Mendip Hills. The beavers will visit the 885 acre SSSI near Priddy in July to see their boxes hung ready for the nesting barn owls.
Give us your opinion
W
hat could you support next year? The county team are planning 2012 events and thinking about an activity camp to sit along side the popular County Jamboree. To help us get next year’s event planning just right please take a moment to complete our on line survey. Your responses will be listened to and acted upon to continue to improve the organisation of our events and quality of scouting for the young people. The survey is open to all appointments. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CountyEvents Closing date is July 17th
Beavers afloat
W
atchet harbour was alive with the sound of youngsters sailing in June. Nine beavers and two scouts from 1st Wellington were taken out in dinghies by the Watchet Sea Scouts and, after playing in the wind, the young people visited the Watchet coastguard station where they were shown rescue equipment. “We had a brilliant day out with Simon Bale and the Watchet SeaScouts”, said leader Sharon Cannell, “and after sailing we went out in the inflatable boats too. You could hear the beavers laughing from the harbour wall!”
S
couts have been helping protect butterflies and bees at Barcroft Hall in South Petherton. 2nd South Petherton held a camp at the hall combining camping skills and fun in the 90 acre gardens working to protect and enhance the wildlife there. The site, which is already used as a release site for the RSPCA, has a series of lakes and a variety of wildlife habitats ripe for the adventuring and the scouts were really excited to be able to team up with the owners to do something good for the environment.
Sand castles everywhere
T
he beach at Weston Super Mare was covered with sand sculptures and sand castles in June. 300 scouting youngsters from Sedgemoor descended on the beach with buckets and spades in hand to build all sorts of sand-based creations. Space rockets, planes, boats and castles were all carved out of Weston’s beach in just a few hours. Huntspill and Highbridge Beavers came first in the beaver category and Burnham-On-Sea came first for the cubs. As for scouts, first place went to Bridgewater Scouts for their motor car while the Sedgemoor Explorers won for the district’s 16 – 18 year olds.
ersetscou
. . . t cou Sea scouts’ awards
Y
eovil’s only sea scout group celebrated the successes of its youth members in June with a presentation evening. A whopping 42 awards were given to scouts and explorers ranging from challenge awards to hikes away awards and a special certificate and medal was presented to 14 year old Ben Gilbert for completing the 35 mile Ten Tors route on Dartmoor this year. The 1st Charltons Sea Scout Group is the only sea scout group in the Yeovil District. Their adventurous activity programme includes canoeing, sailing, raftbuilding, conservation work, hiking and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
On the head
S
couts in Martock are getting off on the right foot as their new scout leader Andy Radford takes on the adventure. After a quiet year, the fledgling group are kicking off again in September with 10 scouts. However, troop night clashes with the football club. If anyone has any friendly advice on growing the group they could offer Andy over at Martock the whole group would be really grateful. Perhaps a scout / football club play off? Andy’s email: andyradford@yahoo.co.uk.
Getting an eye for it
S
omerset’s Network scouts have been busy since building a new gateway at Huish Woods. The 18 – 25 year old scouts were seen at County Jamboree, Explorer Moot and more recently enjoying a spot of ten pin bowling in Taunton. Bringing into play the skills of aiming and throwing, the networkers got quite good at bowling come the end of the evening. The sport also helped develop a good sense of trajectory which came in handy six days later when network were out again, this time clay pigeon shooting. Network scout Charlie Drakeford said: “Some of us didn’t have an eye for bowling or clay pigeon shooting before we tried them but we do now!”
Beaver 25 Fun Day, September 18th...
ilable on the All event details ava ry. Dia ty un Co ts.org.uk/countywww.somersetscou diary/
Shelterbox Scavenger
J
oin in the fun on the 16th of July. With a new route and format, this year’s hunt promises to be more exciting than ever. Equipped with clues and a map, teams will see some of London’s famous landmarks in this fun event. Find out more online or email: youngshelterbox@shelterbox.org www.youngshelterbox.org/events
Cubs in Yeovil More opportunities C ubs have been busy in Yeovil. Not only have 1st Street Cubs recently visited a local Elderly People’s home in Street to plant summer flowers in the wooden planters made as part of their DIY badgework but 11 cubs were also awarded their Chief Scout Silver Awards. The youngsters from Great Lyde Comanche Cubs were each presented their Chief Scout Silver Award which is the highest achievement that can be reached by a cub.
Badges
A
number of badge requirements have been updated or amended as of June 2011. For a full list of all badge requirements, please see the badges and awards section of Member Resources on the www.scouts.org.uk website.
uts.org.uk
T
aunton Deane district celebrates as the appointment of new District Commissioner John Troake was announced at the district’s AGM in June. John said: “I’m still an active beaver leader in Rockwell Green, so keeping in touch with every day adventure and I hope to give the young people of every section as much opportunity as possible.”
Please note: text presented in this shade of pink is a hyperlink.
3
2500 Moot, jamboree, district cub camps, beaver fun days, ACC’s dressed as bananas, marauding pirates and vikings - it’s all in day’s Somerset scouting.
I
n the last two months we reckon Somerset scouts have racked up well over 2500 nights away. That’s people camping times nights camped on the various beaver, cub, scout, explorer and network camps taking place. It all kicked off with the Explorer Moot at Huish Woods which more explorers than ever before went along to. “We had double the numbers for the 3rd annual Somerset County Explorer Scout Moot,” said ACC Explorers Liz Henderson, “And there were even more activities to choose from on previous Moots including canoeing and kayaking at Langport and climbing / abseiling at the 1st Wellington Scout hall.” Moot 2011 also included the presentation of our 2 WSJ Units to the county and evening entertainments included the Big Quiz, a hog roast, a traditional campfire and a fabulous disco with a London DJ. The new Go Bananas Café and tuck shop were both very popular and the Moot also hosted a group based session called ‘Your Voice’ giving the explorers an opportunity to have their say about topical scouting matters and to consider taking on roles as young spokespeople at group, district and county level. Liz, who spent some of the weekend dressed as a banana, continued: “Everyone had a great time and took part in their personalised (very hectic) schedule of activities but best of all, the weather stayed dry for the entire weekend!” Following Moot it was the scouts’ turn for their annual camp. County Jamboree up at Ilton was a huge success. Competition camping was of a high standard, the scouts turning out their best camping skills and when patrol work was done the scouts spent their day enjoying the jamboree activities. Shooting, archery, craft, assault courses, branding, climbing, zip wire, monkey bridge and trolley dashing to name just some and even after all that excitement the disco and talent show could be heard across the airfield as scouts partied into the night. On Sunday over a hundred cubs came to camp to join in the adventure. The Somerset Scouts media team also broadcast the event live through social media for the first time giving leaders, parents and young people unable to make the jamboree, an interactive window on the camp. Despite there being some crockery related security issues, James, Ollie, Dan, Tommy, Mike and Henry from West Coker scouts said the whole camp was ‘excellent!’ And just as everyone was recovering from jamboree the Taunton Deane Beavers held a 25th anniversary fun camp up at Huish Woods. From walking on custard to grass sledging, over 200 beavers had a whale of a time celebrating the 25th birthday of beaver scouts in the UK. The Huish Woods’ Beacon was lit and the beavers sang happy birthday and ate beaver birthday cake. Sadly though, the county’s cubs were considerably less civilised. Not only did Sedgemoor’s cubs spend their district cub camp dressed up as marauding pirates but Yeovil’s cubs pretended to be Vikings for the weekend. Activities included walking the plank, beating the rat, throwing your enemies’ severed head* from cub to cub – marvellous fun if you haven’t tried it – and an innovative version of Chess involving a bouncy castle and an obstacle course. So not only is that collectively over 2500 nights under canvas for Somerset scouts in June but something like 35,000 days of adventure experience. That’s 95 years! If you would like to know how we worked that out please email us: scoutout@somersetscouts.org.uk.
*The severed head was actually a bean bag.
1
2
5
A beaver at the Taunton Deane Beaver 25 fun camp is splatted with a very wet sponge. Who said flagbreak was dull?! Pirate cubs show off there arghghhghg-ing.
3 4 5
With a view to raiding Montacute, cubs in Yeovil turn out their home made long boat complete with cardboard oars. Explorers on Moot cart camp leader Liz, dressed as large banana, across a field.
1
Scouts on jamboree, tent pitched, kit ready, the sun is out, four days of intense adventure ahead.
2
3
4 Check out videos from Jamboree 2011 on YouTube.
g n u o y y n a m o s y h w “It’s easy to see n u f g n i v a h d n a e r making adventu
B
ear Grylls’ words as he spoke about what in he saw of scouting ing fly a on t rse me So visit to the county in in May. Stopping twice ited Somerset, Bear vis vil a scout camp in Yeo on in ing pp dro e befor ief ish Woods. The Ch Hu at y da y ivit act an le op pe ng nts, met you Scout toured the eve the of e som in k part and leaders and too some s even seen trying activities. Bear wa Huish at red king prepa of the backwards coo on t ou ab g blin am d scr Woods by scouts an n in a one ate be be to ly on an assault course young person based -on-one race with a not Bear’s words could on the activity. And ys da t tter because jus have resounded be t had been shaking ou Sc ief Ch after the and jumping across hands with beavers lorers from across exp e, a monkey bridg on one of the most Somerset embarked nts in the scouting challenging hiking eve calendar.
ce, termination, enduran careful planning, de the by ork d teamw skilful navigation an s was present in participants and thi ms crossed the line abundance as the tea es. Ed Hull, who all with excellent tim event, even gave the turned 18 during the gruelling ten e hik to ay up his birthd indeed. Explorers tors, commendation th for over a 6 of up de and scouting ma st Ten Tors 51 this, the the teams overall at m ives to engender tea str ich wh ge llen cha sity and ver ad h wit al de to spirit, teach how and fun. promote adventure
oss the county took Eight teams from acr Tors Challenge up on part in the 2011 Ten all finished the route Dartmoor and they ling out across the fal with just 3 hikers on nt is not a competiti eve e Th . eight teams s nd ma de t tha e tur ven but a challenging ad
outs had a 35, 45 Taunton Explorer Sc rer the Wellington Explo and 55 mile team, e sid ng alo m tea le Scouts had a 35 mi plorers and Welton the Wiveliscombe Ex had a 35 mile team. Wanderers who also le o teams, one 35 mi tw Yeovil district sent m tea est m. The lat and one 45 mile tea at 5pm on the Sunday e for be t jus ed finish . say I’d tea for e 16.51 – just in tim
foreheads Below: scouts get their il, scouts make signed by Bear in Yeov Huish Woods feathered hats at the hike the tough activity day, explorers d Bear does Ten Tors Challenge an ing. some serious high fiv
Somerset Network Scout Peter Venn accommpanied Bear on his tour:
“Bear's visit to Somerset was a great inspiration, giving our young people determination to be great at their scouting and continue this brilliant adventure.”
Im age dly
kin don ate d by Len ern
d, W est
lan
Cop Ga zet te.
g people are n together.�
BEAR GRYLLS TEN TORS.
s r e b m u In n
38000
3204
1100
7000 10 10
60 2
So far I
WSJ 2011 website
Join in Jamboree
Follow the units
Read the blog
is was a t is hard to believe that we met at th little over a year ago what w, wo d for the first time an m fro d ha an adventure we have es, cooking training camps to parad e shooting to rifl competitions to hikes, e, the list is sit mp moving our entire ca achieved we ve ha t really endless. Wha st description from it all, well the be ough we th Al ? would be a family scouting de wi rld all belong to a wo veloped is de s ha at family the bond th n Groves UL something special. Be
W
IS
• 38000 Scouts will attend the World Scout Jamboree. • 3,204 Young people are in the UK contingent. • 7,000 Adults from nearly every country in the world are on the IST. • 1,100 Adults are attending from the UK. • 10 Guides join the Cheddar unit. • 10 Scouts from Gibraltar join the Apple unit. • 2 units, Apple and Cheddar, will travel to Sweden as part of the UK contingent from Somerset. • 60 Scouts from Somerset will attend this year’s WSJ.
UPO
U
e of So far I’ve had the tim my life. Jason ories I have so many mem been and we haven’t even yet! Emily ready As a unit we are now when for every eventuality in Sweden. Caroline
27 July – 7 August 20
WSJ
S
ON
Send off
US
011 Rinkaby, Sweden
M
ining and arking the end of tra Jamboree the of g the beginnin ple and Ap J WS the th bo itself, ry icto led ded a Va Cheddar units atten e. Jun in y be Ab ury service at Glastonb es and the ari nit dig al loc rs, Parents, leade sked in the evening unit participants ba
y for their formal sunshine at the abbe ree. Leader Mandy bo Jam to ‘sending off’ “The Valedictory Merrett commented: e humour, some som service was lovely l words and moments singing, many specia and sorted out sunshine and someone even ns!” rui und the Abbey white doves flying aro
e c n a d r e Riv
ays journey that has alw pinnacle of a larger r eve n’s the Be oss nt. acr me e mo this very time you com been building up to part of that er WSJ units they er Dance has been Riv effervescent explor us ulo fab d een an y erg en nd h to make bo s betw are bubbling over wit journey and hopes en be g. e son y’v gh the ou ely thr lat t boree enthusiasm and jus cultures at the jam the song as well. Ben, bubbling over with ds gets up front and lea are part of a 3000 + Cheddar unit leader, Our Somerset units ides the ‘river led cal act tu mp nt of scouts and gu this hilarious impro strong UK continge trols pa e UK will also tak dance’. from 89 units. The a, ine Gu w Papua Ne from Sierra Leone, t the water cycle, firs rope, the Pacific Eu rn ste We ia, “The song is about en Arm tinkle) then is , kle t will travel with tin , rse kle me (tin So ls d the rain fal Caribbean an le, bb ba le, bb (ba ok bro outs from Gibraltar. runs into a babbling dance),” British Sc er (riv er riv the ns babble) then it joi th tting on July 27 , our is Michael Flatley ge chants Ben. When The Jamboree starts th er riv t en Before fer . dif 24 a t’s the leave for camp on here then? Oh no tha its way into units lf the UK kes itse ma site it en ree bo “Th : dance, carry on getting onto the Jam n the sh) agen, oo nh wh pe , whoosh, eting in Co the ocean (whoosh contingents are me te, ora ap the (ev er es aft rat d po an m’ from the ocean it eva Denmark for a ‘preja e).” our units are off evaporate, evaporat jamboree in Sweden me hospitality. The ho in e rop Eu travelling to inly ma s ng rni d and the Cheddar mo an “We use song in the ple unit will visit Pol Ap of bit a d give them ain. wake the unit up an unit will travel to Sp ngs people together. olved in the bri o inv t als ge it t can Bu e y! energ Everyon l different d, an rst de un to e it’s young people wil It’s a simple routin experience. Our un be ing can gg al barriers king and blo language and cultur be tweeting, faceboo dancing. At the the gh boree and all of ou jam thr ir wn the do t ou broken through on the nce da the do to through our county jamboree we hope this can be accessed ple of days cou a er couts.org.uk. It’s aft ets d an ers ge om subcamp sta website www.s to t ge can we its un Baden Powell defined see how many other an adventure for all, ople give different “Pe : join us.” the word jamboree y Ma in ck ba s this year selection this word but from Since the initial unit ed, meanings for op vel de , meaning. wn c cifi gro ve spe ha ea 2010 the WSJ units on, Jamboree will tak really st ge ing lar eth the som h e wit d com bonded and be It will be associate k place.” ir Swedish too the r for eve t ion tha rat th pa you pre special in gathering of boree itself is the adventure. The Jam
E
Y T N U O C E TH DIARY
How to get wet
T
aunton’s annual water camp was a big splash at the beginning of July. It was soggy, damp, moist, wet and anything but dry as youngsters from across the district hurled buckets of water at each other, learned to fish, sailed rafts and kayaked on lakes at Brompton Ralph. But when water seems in such plentiful supply and despite it falling from the sky at a seemingly endless rate sometimes, it isn’t always as convenient to come by...
A guide to harvesting rainwater for Summer
Always purify, filter and boil ‘wild’ water before drinking it but these methods are effective as rainwater harvesting techniques that might just come in handy:
1. When the clouds do decide to burst, simply pop a bucket out. A more efficient method, however, is to string up a large tarpaulin and funnel the rain water into a bucket. This way you catch a lot more in less time. 2. Overnight, dew tends to form as the air cools and harvesting this is simple too. Dig a pit and line it with a clean plastic sheet. As dew forms on the plastic it will collect at the lowest point.
No lie in the following morning though otherwise the sun will just have the dew back again! 3. Harvest water from plants. Tie a plastic food bag around a leafy branch. The theory is evaporation from the plant’s leaves will condense in the bag. Give it a couple of days and although the water will be brown (probably) with a little purification, filtration and heating (to boiling point for 10 minutes) the water is good to drink. It will probably taste sweet.
k
scoutout@somersetscouts.org.u
SUN 17/7
County Shoot
WED 27/7 to SUN 7/8
22nd World Scout Jamboree
WED 4/8 to MON 8/8
Network Summer Camp
SAT 17/9
County Cub Day
SUN 18/9
MON 26/9
Clay pigeon, archery and a chance for scouts and explorers to be considered for the county shooting team. Event near Kingweston.
Kristianstad, Sweden. Somerset takes part in the world’s largest gathering of scouts.
This long weekend of summer fun takes place at the Blackwell Adventure Centre. Contact Peter Venn for more info. network@somersetscouts.org.uk
A day at Devon’s Crealy with cubs from across Somerset. £9.50 per participant.
Beaver 25 Fun Day
Celebrating 25 years of Beaver scouting in Somerset join Somerset’s beavers for a fun day at Merryfield Airfield, Ilton. See County Diary on line for full details and booking.
County AGM
Join us for our annual general meeting. Details forthcoming.
s please... e i r o t s r u o We wantr dyeaddlilinneefoforrcoconntetennttisis x e nsi OOuur dea ay 24/1/12/1 0. Issu e te sday 18/8 1. Issu esd n d e e W n d e W sheedd e publilish utut utO wwilill lbbe pub t, 202110.11S.co utO Sco 1sr 1st, ry a u e b n Ja m te p Se
t... Chw.seomcerksetsicotutso.orgu.uk/county-diary iary, ne County D for the onli plication ap t en le ev downloadab kit lists. h forms and forms, healt by d ce
ww
d Produ Written an the epherd for Sh d ar h Ric l. ci n out Cou Somerset Sc h the it w d ce du ro t Images rep s. Copyrigh er n ow of the . 11 20 ly permission Ju l out Counci Somerset Sc
MEDIA TEAM
8 4