Issue 124 Issue 1242018 March March 2018
From the Courtyard
From the Courtyard SAC SCOUTS NEWSLETTER
In this issue Cubs.. - Easter Camp with the Cubs - It’s a Kind of Magic
Scouts.. - Post Campout Checklist
Our GSL tells us what’s on! Easter Camp The Annual Group Easter Camp was held between March 25th to the 31st at Wied is-Sewda. The feedback we received from members has been very positive and parents too appreciated the effort put in by Section Leaders. It was an action packed week for the Troop and the Pack spent three days in the outdoors camping to the theme of Harry Potter’s Magical Adventures. The Venture Unit attended for a few days due to the looming exam period, wherein they held a bike
Ventures..
hike and sleep over at the camp site. A good number of rovers also attended to help where required
- Easter Bike Hike
and to serve as support staff to sectional leaders.
Rovers.. - The Big Cheese
On Thursday night we held a BBQ for members and a campfire which was very successful with all sections participating together. In all eighty two members gathered around the campfire prepared by the GSL and rovers and it was ably conducted by VSL Andre Brincat and fellow leaders. The pack also gave a very good impression with the songs they are learning and led some of the songs themselves. Long may this enthusiasm continue. On Saturday, parents were invited to the camp site for lunch and to participate in some games organised by the leaders. The weather was very windy on the day and hampered some of our plans and ideas but all in all things turned out well. Thanks to all leaders and parents for your support.
Coming up Anzac Day 25 April
Anzac Day On April 25th some of our Troop members will participating at the Annual Anzac Day Memorial Service at the Military Cemetery in Pieta. We are privileged to be invited by the Australian High Commission on a yearly basis and we are proud to serve by helping dignitaries and distinguished guests by laying wreaths at the monument on site, commemorating the dead soldiers buried there during the Gallipoli war. Fr Rector has granted permission to members to attend this event and miss some hours from school. He leader in charge from our side will be ARCL Me Timothy Zammit.
From the Courtyard
ARTICLE TITLE
Issue 124 March 2018
Headgear for Parade The baseball caps have not yet arrived but we are optimistic they will be in hand by the 22nd April. B.P hats as approved by the Association have been ordered and we expect them to be in hand by the parade too. Annual Parade The annual parade will be held on April 22nd in Valletta. A separate email has been sent out to members and parents with further details on this event. Kindly refer to this email for full details. May-June
Feature of the Month
We understand that in the next two months many of our members will be studying for exams. We shall
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however carry on holding meetings regularly and encourage members to manage their time wisely and not to abandon meetings completely. Summer Events As mentioned in previous newsletters and email correspondence, the Group shall be taking part in the Med-Jam Camp during the first week of August. We shall soon be asking for deposits and additional information shall be provided accordingly by Troop and Unit leaders. The Pack is planning an overseas trip to Kent in the UK and soon further information will be provided by Cub leaders. Possibly, an other overseas event will be organised by the Troop in September. Further information will be disseminated if this venture takes off as we are still waiting for costings and confirmations.
From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP WITH THE CUBS
Issue 124 March 2018
Our most recent addition to the pack helpers recounts his experience of Easter camp with the
From the Pack
pack.
Part of the Saint Aloysius College sixth form education curriculum is an initiative called the “Social Responsibility Program�. This is a way in which teenagers are encouraged to help the community by participating in voluntary work, whilst in the meantime, getting to know how other people live, learning to appreciate what you have as well as having fun doing it. I decided that I wanted contribute to my scout group, and I was given the opportunity to help in the cub section. This Easter camp was my first camp with the cubs as a helper. Before that I had attended 6 meetings helping with the pack. For the first few meetings, I made an effort to get to know each and every cub as they were all new to me. From the start I felt welcomed by leaders and cubs alike. During this camp I got to learn more about each scout, but I also learned about the pack: They are always willing to lend a hand; they have a positive attitude towards the activities and camp in general; They LOVE to sing
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Learning campfire songs
From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP WITH THE CUBS
Issue 124 March 2018
scout songs‌a lot; they are always bursting with energy; and they appreciate the time and dedication given by leaders. Overall, although the camp was shorter than usual, I believe that it was a great success and both the leaders as well as the cubs enjoyed it a lot. I look forward to spending more time with this section and
From the Pack
helping to create more great memories.
Paolo (first on the right) together with the pack leaders. Paolo is a great addition to the team of leaders and we look forward to having him around more often!
Paolo Bezzina Pack Helper
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From the Courtyard
IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC
Issue 124 March 2018
This year’s aster Camp theme was Harry Potter, and among the wonderful activites planned throughout the camp, one of the pack’s most loved activites was the astronomy session followed by some painting with light. Armed with their torches and a fair amount of determination, the cabs marched off to meet Professor Tuffington (a.k.a. photography afficionado Luca Tufigno) who lent a hand to help the cubs create some
From the Pack
magical night-time photos. Take a look at the result of each house, below!
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From the Courtyard
POST CAMPOUT CHECKLIST
Issue 124 March 2018
A post-campout checklist every Scout, Venture or Rover needs These ideas come from my nephews’ scout group in Madison, Wisconsin. Their leader, Sherrie, knows her stuff: she’s been in Scouting for 23 years as assistant Scoutmaster and committee chairwoman, in addition to serving on her district’s advancement committee. I’ve included this American scoutmaster’s thoughts below. You’re free to print it out and share it with your Scouts, Ventures or fellow Scouters. It’s Sunday night after a fun but exhausting weekend of camping. But before your Scouts or Ventures collapse on the couch with a book, favorite show or videogame, hand them their post-campout checklist. You’ll be glad to have everything put away properly and your Scout smelling good again. They’ll be glad upon arrival at their next campout to find everything clean and ready for use. By following the 10-step post-campout checklist below, your Scouts/Ventures can make the transition from Scouting on Sunday to school on Monday much easier.
Post-campout checklist
From the Troop
1. Dry your tent and gear Just say no to mold. Put your tent up to dry right away, preferably outside or in the garage. “You don’t know what insects have crawled in there,” Sherrie says. “Last resort might be the basement or another uncarpeted area.” Do the same with your sleeping bag, rain jacket and anything else that might still be damp. Or don’t, and risk finding out at the next troop or crew meeting that you left your gear rolled up in the back of a leader’s hot car! ( Mani often invoking unknown divinities in a pidgin language is no pleasant sight) 2. Wash your clothes Don’t take your backpack or bag to your room. Instead, head straight for the laundry room. Take out your dirty shirts, pants, shorts, bandanas, jackets, socks, underwear, towels … and whatever else needs to be thrown in the washer. And start a load. Your parents will thank you, and so will your clothes. Why? “First, if there are any bugs in the clothes they get washed (killed),” Sherrie says. “If you rubbed around in some poison ivy, this washes away the oil the plant deposited on the clothes. I heard about a Scout who once had poison ivy at a campout. Upon arriving home he laid his clothes over the bed, later sitting in the same spot and got poison ivy again!” 3. Put away food What do you do with leftover food from your patrol box? Hopefully the answer isn’t to simply leave it in there. Gross. (It is not QM Maistre’s car floor, y’know!) “There might be a gallon of milk, cheese, bread, mustard, ketchup, mayo, etc.,” Sherrie says. “You get the idea. It’s time to put the food away or in the refrigerator. Don’t forget the leftover sandwich in your backpack from the hike!” 4. Take a shower Your clothes are getting cleaned, but what about you? That foul smell — yeah, it’s probably you. “Soap up from head to toe, paying special attention to areas with hair and also ankles,” Sherrie recommends. “Just like your clothes, you are trying to get rid of any fleas, ticks, chiggers or poison ivy/oak oils
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From the Courtyard
POST CAMPOUT CHECKLIST
Issue 124 March 2018
on the skin. As ankles are the closest uncovered area to the ground, they seem to be especially sensitive to bites, scrapes and plant oils.” 5. Apply bite treatment, if needed Insect bites are a common side effect of a fun Scouting adventure. Some troops/crews carry biterelief sticks to immediately remove that itchy feeling. “I carry clear (non-scented) ammonia and cotton balls,” Sherrie says. “A friend in the army told me they use ammonia for bites. You can buy a half a gallon of ammonia (not the lemon-scented one) for the cost of one bite-relief stick.” If the bites are still itchy at home, don’t scratch them open. Instead, use calamine lotion.
From the Troop
6. Care for those feet See peeling skin around your toes or the bottoms of your feet? That may be athlete’s foot, especially if you were recently in a shower used by other Scouts. Find over-the-counter treatment for athlete’s foot. This will keep the rest of your family from getting infected. Oh, and next time, remember those shower shoes, or sandles! Blisters? Treat them with moleskin padding. 7. Watch for fleas and ticks Dogs aren’t the only mammals subject to those creepy crawlies known as fleas and ticks. You have two options, Sherrie says: One is to grab a flea or tick comb to comb through your own hair.” The second is to have a parent do the check. “Grab ticks with tweezers behind the head and gently and slowly pull it out of the skin along the line of its body. Then dispose,” Sherrie says. 8. Have a headache? If you came home with a headache or you’re overly tired, don’t rush for the aspirin just yet. Instead, drink some water. “One of the first signs of dehydration is a headache,” Sherrie says. “You might also notice the dark yellow to orange color of your urine for a second clue.” 9. Organize those advancement records Now that you’re clean, it’s time to make sure all that advancement work wasn’t for naught. Record the campout in your Scout Handbook or other logbook, marking down how many nights you were camping. “It’s also a good idea to make yourself a note of anything you want to accomplish,” Sherrie says. “Maybe it’s a rank advancement item. Maybe it’s a merit badge requirement. Did you do service time? “Record the hours in the log in the back of your book. Is there a pen in the zippered pouch cover? It’s a good time to put one in there.” 10. Relax At last, you’re done. Everything is taken care of, and you can plop in front of your favorite game or the TV. But wait: Is your homework done? Maj. Ivan Consiglio SAC Rover Central District Commissioner (IHQ)
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From the Courtyard
EASTER BIKE HIKE
Issue 124 March 2018
From the Unit
SAC Ventures Easter Bike Hike
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Seeing that the Venture Unit’s first bike hike was an exceptional success, the ventures together with their leaders decided to plan another one for our outdoor activity in March. Even though many members are currently going through a tough exam phase, the number of attendants was pleasing. Obviously, in order to have a bike hike one must have a bike. Members without bikes rented, whilst the ones who did made sure their bikes were in good condition for the difficult Maltese roads and terrain. We met at 1 o’clock on Thursday 29th at SAC HQ. It was a hot spring day and in fact the sun was so bright we all wore sunglasses and took the necessary precautions to protect our pale winter skin. Everyone was eagerly waiting to start the trip and after collecting consent forms and quickly checking bike safety, such as helmets and working breaks, we were off. In order to get out of busy Birkirkara we rode towards Ta’ Qali. Our first checkpoint was at Attard church where we got further instructions on how to get to Ta’ Qali national park. On arrival the the park we sat in the shade and rehydrated because we all knew what was coming ahead. We set off again this time facing much steeper roads which took some struggling in order to reach Saqqajja Hill. Luckily the flat road towards Ta’ Brija cemetery crossroad allowed us to catch our breath. However, the hill we faced next was the most demanding
From the Courtyard
EASTER BIKE HIKE
Issue 124 March 2018
From the Unit
one yet and the climb to is-Salib Tal-Għolja was such a burden. With some pushing and encouraging words from our leaders and people passing by we managed to reach the top. We had a break, and visited the cross on this symbolic day. After taking some pictures and replenished our bodies with electrolytes and energy for the next part of the hike, we began the descent from the hill. Our next checkpoint was Speranza chapel, on the way we ran into a kiosk and decided to buy a few drinks. On arriving to the chapel we took a couple of pictures and had a few laughs whilst enjoying each other’s company and the beautiful Maltese countryside. We also had some serious moments while discussing what courses we would like to pursue at university. Moving on, we proceeded towards Siggiewi. We then took the Siggiewi bypass in order to get to Zebbug. We all rode carefully behind each other in a single file whilst keeping an eye on the traffic around us. At the Zebbug roundabout we crossed cautiously in order to make our way to Wied is-Sewda. The ride down to the black valley campsite, although being rather bumpy, was one of the most thrilling and Adrenalin boosting ride of the entire hike. Even though our muscles were sore we were delighted to reach our final destination and join the rest of the Group during the annual Easter camp. We were welcomed with bright smiles and after a well deserved cool down we pitched our tents then joined in helping to prepare and cook a scrumptious open fire dinner. Each and every one of us filled our mestins with mashed potatoes, sausages and pork and sprightly spoke about our hike. We then helped plan and joined in on the evening campfire together with the group. We slept till the next morning and alas went home back to our studious lives. This bike hike was long awaited and it turned out to be another of SAC scouts unforgettable experiences. All the ventures agree that it was a success and we can’t wait till our next hike. On behalf of the ventures I’d like to thank our leaders Isaac and Andre for accompanying us on the hike and Zarby for cooking the food we so needed after the hike.
Max Evers Unit Storyteller
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From the Courtyard
THE BIG CHEESE
Issue 124 March 2018
Rovers look forward to the monthly activity as much as they despise having to organise it themselves.
From the Crew
ARCC Timmy Zammit describes how the Crew Leaders turned the tables on the Rovers in March.
The monthly activity has now become a regular appointment for the second Wednesday of the month. The monthly activity serves as a change from the weekly rover meetings that involve mainly sitting down. The monthly activity is mostly organised by the Rovers themselves. However, attempts at finding volunteers to organise this activity themselves is usually met with a number of excuses. Another regular activity that the Rovers regularly partake in together is eating. Seeing that finding a volunteer to organise the monthly activity for March was going to be difficult, the Rover Crew Leaders took it upon themselves to organise it. The solution was in incorporating the Rovers’ love of food into the monthly activity. Rovers were asked to pair up and given a budget of EUR 3 per team to cook a meal from scratch in 45 minutes. This challenge required good planning and preparation (which the Rovers are usually keen on trying to avoid when it comes to the monthly activity) as well as successful implementation (upon which the
Rovers’
food
satisfaction
depended). A total of seven teams – fourteen Rovers – participated in this monthly activity. From the onset it was clear that Rovers were taking this challenge seriously – ingredients were budgeted down to the last cent and culinary skills required ranged from the lazy to the downright ambitious. Ftajjar and omelets on the left, pasta on the right
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From the Courtyard
THE BIG CHEESE
Issue 124 March 2018
As the Rovers set up their cooking stations and readied themselves to start the challenge, proceedings were ground to a halt once one of the teams discovered that their minced meat was missing. Exhaustive searches and persistent interrogations of the usual suspects by a seasoned investigator, failed to uncover the whereabouts of the missing minced meat. The team in question, consequently, had to settle for cooking a vegetarian dish. The activity was, indeed, a spectacle worthy of a TV show. A couple of teams chose easier straight forward options: an omelette and an omelette in a bun! A couple of other teams played safe by going for favourites such as a plate of pasta or rice. The two winning teams, however, proved their mettle by opting for more complicated dishes which they managed to cook in just
From the Crew
about the maximum time allowed: a grilled stuffed aubergine
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topped up with melted cheese and a curry complete with homemade pita bread. Timmy Zammit Aubergine melt in the foreground; veggie curry and pitas in the background
ARRC