Issue 122 Issue 1222018 January January 2018
From the Courtyard
From the Courtyard SAC SCOUTS NEWSLETTER
GSL’S NOTE In this issue Cubs..
Our GSL tells us what’s been happening!
Once a Scout, Always a Scout.
Scouts..
Uniforms I would like to thank all members for doing their best to buy their new uniform by January 26 th. Hopefully, the new headgear will be available soon. Cubs, Scouts and Ventures will be wearing a base
Ventures.. Rovers.. Cookout Camp
Coming up 21-26 March Easter Camp (Group)
ball cap whereas Rovers and Leaders shall be wearing the B.P hat. I hope you will all take care of and respect your new uniform and feel proud of being part of our Group when wearing it.
Above Left: The new uniform in action during the 2018 AGM. Above Right: GSL Edward Cassola invests a member in new uniform. Below: The proposed new baseball cap.
From the Courtyard
GSL’S NOTE
Issue 122 January 2018
Annual General Meeting th
On January 26 our Group held its Annual General Meeting at the College Sixth hall. We would like to thank all parents and members that attended and also appreciate the very positive feedback we received from you. During the event, the audience was addressed by myself, the section leaders and the Group treasurer. The purpose was to provide an overview regarding the Group’s main programme, planned projects and past year’s finances. After the presentations we held an investiture ceremony for the Pack and Troop Section where over thirty new members were invested into the World Organisation of the Scout Movement. The event closed with a reception for all attendees. We would once again like to thank all parents for their support in providing food and beverage items for the reception. Subscriptions & Membership forms I would like to thank all those that paid up their subscriptions within the deadline. A few membership fees are left outstanding and we hope to have them by the first week of February. We would also like to
GSL’s note
remind those members that have not yet filled in their registration forms to do so as soon as possible. February As usual February
most members have to face mid-yearly exams so attendance is lower.
Notwithstanding, some events will still be held at sectional level. The troop will be organising the annual rafting event in Mistra, the Pack will be organising a hike in Gozo, the Unit should be holding a weekend camp and the Crew will be organising a bike hike. On February 25th the Troop, Unit and Crew will be helping out at the Malta Marathon. 5 Years th
th
On February 5 , it will be the 5 anniversary since our former GSL John A. Mizzi (Cubbie) passed away. Time flies but memories never die. On February 7th, during the closing fall in we shall say a special prayer for Cubbie and hope he is watching over us too.
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From the Courtyard
Issue 122 January 2018
CAMP PREPARATION Labeling of Items—How and Why?
Now that our new uniform is in place, and Easter camp is fast approaching, we’d like to remind you all about the importance of labeling all your items before coming to camp. And by all, we mean everything, down to your underwear and socks! Why label your stuff? If you misplace anything while at camp, on a hike etc.. it’s much easier for us to identify and return it to you. This is really important for things like uniform items, which everyone has. Please label your items somewhere easy to see, so that leaders won’t have to rummage through smelly sleeping bags and three-day old skivvies to identify the owner! To members: Remember that keeping your things safe is your responsibility. “Mama didn’t write my name on it” is not a very good excuse. Get your parents to show you how to sew, look it up on YouTube, and be on your way to never losing another item again! To parents: Scouts have been sewing their own badges on for decades, and there’s no reason for this to
Notices
stop now. Members of scout age and above should be able to sew on their own badges, nametags etc… but you can also get cubs to write their name on things like plates, cups etc… Item
How?
Uniform (or any) trousers
Inside the waistband, near sizing label
Fabric/iron on tags, permanent marker.
Uniform (or any) shirts and tops
Generally above the sizing label.
Fabric/iron on tags, permanent marker.
Your Scarf Sleeping Bag
At seam between the red & white Permanent marker parts of the scarf, on the inside In the cocoon hood, anywhere easily accessible. (not near the feet, please!)
Fabric/iron on tags, permanent marker. Ribbon or identifying yarn on zippers are also great
Mess Kit—Metal
Along any of the side walls. NOT at the base, as this may get scratched or burnt off.
Permanent marker, engraving, identifying yarn
Mess Kit—Plastic
Sides or bases.
Permanent marker, stickers
Wallets
Bags, rucksacks, kit sacks etc… Underwear, socks etc
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Where to label
Inside, generally on fabric if possi- Permanent marker. Name cards ble are an option but are removable and may fall out. Anywhere easy to get to, generally on the inside
Permanent Marker, fabric tags.
At the waistband, top elastic
Permanent Marker/fabric tags/ identifying yarn sewn into an easy to get to place
From the Courtyard
NOTICES
Issue 122 January 2018
How do I sew? You’ll need a needle, thread in the same colour as your name tag/badge etc… Poke a length of thread through the eye of the needle and double over part of the thread. If you practice an appliqué stitch on your name tags, you’ll be ready to make some really neat stitches when you come to sewing on your own badges.
Notices
Good luck!
Bagheera Emma Gauci
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From the Courtyard
Issue 122 January 2018
ONCE A SCOUT, ALWAYS A SCOUT SAC welcomes 21 new cubs into the Pack.
The Investiture Ceremony is the first and most important step of becoming a Scout and joining the Movement. It is through this significant moment that a young boy joins the worldwide brotherhood of scouting. This is exactly what we did during the Group’s Annual General Meeting which was held on the 26 th of January 2018. It was a great honour for us leaders of the pack to see our cubs all dressed up in full uniform and prepared to make their promise and be invested as members of the St Aloysius College Scout Group, the Scout Association of Malta as well as the World Organisation of the Scout Movement. As part of the investiture ceremony, the Cubs were asked to recite the Cub Scout Law; ‘A Cub Scout does his best, thinks of others before himself and does a good deed everyday’ as well as the Cub Promise; ‘I promise to do my best to do my duty to God and to my country, to help other people and to obey the Cub Scout Law.’
From the Pack
After reciting both the law and the promise, the Cubs were then given the Group scarf by GSL Edward Cassola and were told to ‘wear it with pride and to never do anything to disgrace it.’ A super well done to the following Cubs that were invested during the AGM of the 26th January 2018: Benjamin Attard
Julian Briffa
Franco Drago
Jack Attard
Michael Caruana
Lucas Falzon
Luke Aquilina
Rafaele Ciappara
Benjie Fenech Adami
Matthew Bagnaschi
Giuseppe Ciliberti
Isaac Gauci
Gianluca Bonavia
Matteo Coleiro
Julian Gouder
Nigel Borg Pullicino
Beppe Demicoli
Sam Hills
Matteo Panzavecchia
Nathan Peresso
Benjamin Tanti
Pack Leaders and their pack, along with the newly invested cubs, following the investiture ceremony.
Hathi Nicole Mifsud
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From the Courtyard
ON THE LOOK OUT
Issue 122 January 2018
From the Troop & Unit
We’re on the look out for word from our troop and unit.
Have you seen these articles?
Any information should be relayed to SAC HQ under the strictest confidence.
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From the Courtyard
COOKOUT CAMP
Issue 122 January 2018
Luke Cassola tells us about his first camp with the Rover Crew, having just left the Unit. Venture days are over, on to the Rover Crew! My first Rover activity was a one night camp in Black Valley together with another 7 rovers and our rover leader. The majority of the activities were based on the various ways of cooking outdoors, using different techniques and structures into successfully cooking a delicious meal. The first method of cooking and building a fire is known as a Rocket Stove using bricks. This method is an incredibly simple and efficient way to cook using natural fuel such as leaves or sticks. The beauty of this design is it focuses all of the heat from the fire into one 4″ by 4″ square which is perfect for cooking. Rocket stoves can also burn much hotter than traditional camp fires because of the constant air flow. As the hot air rises, fresh air is sucked in to replace it which allows the fuel to burn more rapidly. The second method used is done by preparing a fire in a tin can and cooking over it. It's light, disposable,
From the Crew
and free. Best of all, you don't need to carry fuel with you - just pick up a good quantity of twigs and kindling, things which can be easily found if you’re in the outdoors. You'll need a large tin can with holes punched at both ends. We also required each a piece of chicken wire which was used as the grill. Our challenge here was who could first boil an egg on their individually built tin can fire. Although not everybody managed, it was still a load of fun.
Boiling an egg on a tin can stove
Lunch on a rocket stove. Luke Cassola Rover
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From the Courtyard
DOUGHNUT WENDESDAYS
Issue 122 January 2018
Back by popular demand, the Venture Unit will be dishing out their delicious donuts again, every Wednesday evening after the meeting. We apologize for keeping you waiting so long.. but cooking them on a stove takes time :)
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