Scouting Magazine - August September 2011

g n i t u Sco tember 2011 August/Sep

Scouting AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2011

Providing scout tents for over 100 years

.uk/magazi scouts.org

for generations of scouting...

LETTING GO Tips for dealing with bad behaviour

BUSHCRAFT SPECIAL

British quality ...that stands alone Call NOW for special deals...

01274 728469

www.bctoutdoors.com

SCOUTS.ORG.UK/MAGAZINE

See our complete range of scout tents and special deals online at...

ne

AFTER SUN Why now’s the perfect time to plan your winter programme ‘THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, IT’S FOR US TO LISTEN’ Taking youth participation to the next level

O T K C A B T F A R C BUSH r skills u o y n e p r a Sh xperts e r o o d t u o r with ou

BCT Outdoors Ltd, Windsor Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 7AQ

01 Aug Sep_co e 3.indd 1

1 /07/2011 13:00

e h t e c n e i r e p

Ex

f o t n e m excite

d n a l r e z t Swi

See what’s happening r at KISC this summe on the NEW ad Venture Abro gs Summer Blo

blog.ventureabroad.co.uk

ncing the activity programme rie pe ex by ure nt ve ad h wit er mm Pack your su out Centre, Switzerland at Kandersteg International Sc International Campfires • Rock Climbing & Abseiling

•

•

•

Mountain Biking Rafting

•

High Ropes Park and much much more

Don’t let your Troop miss out on a trip of a lifetime, contact us today to start planning your Switzerland adventure for summer 2012.

www.ventureabroad.co.uk 01332 342 050 | tours@ventureabroad.co.uk in partnership with 223 Scouting Magazine Full Page.indd2 1 002_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

06/07/2011 10:33:52 13/07/2011 15:18

SCOUTING Scouting Editors: Hilary Galloway, Elis Matthews, Dave O’Carroll, Rose Wells and Jolyon Braime Intern: Sam Parker The national magazine of The Scout Association ISSN 0036 – 9489 © 2011 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland) Published by: The Scout Association, Gilwell House, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Tel: 0845 300 1818 Fax: 020 8433 7103 Email: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Website: www.scouts.org.uk/magazine Contributions to: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Please note that the views expressed by members and contributors in the magazine are not necessarily those of The Scout Association.

Publishing Management: Think, The Pall Mall Deposit, 124-128 Barlby Road, London W10 6BL Sub-editors: Rica Dearman and Marion Thompson Art Director: Ian Hart Designer: Shelley Varley ADVERTISING Sales Executive: Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1250 Classified Sales Executive: Rosanna Chambers rosanna.chambers@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 3026 Printed and distributed by: Headley Brothers Ltd Printed on 100% recycled paper

CONTRIBUTORS Anjum Anand is a TV chef.

Read her recipe for a camp curry on page 55.

Mark Tarry speaks about the Regional structure in Scouting on page 37.

Cover photo: David Tett

LOG ON – DON’T MISS OUT If you have moved house, want to change your section supplement or amend your personal details, you can update with a click of the mouse: • Sign up at www.scouts.org.uk – you only need to do this once. You will need your unique membership number to hand (this can be found on the address sheet that comes with Scouting magazine) • Log on • Update your details and anyone else’s you are line manager for • Logging on today also means you can access Programmes Online, the revolutionary programme planner!

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER ISSUE OF SCOUTING This time of year is especially exciting for Scouts as it is the summer camping season.

I love camping and my kids seem to love it even more. It doesn’t have to be extreme; it just has to be an adventure. Sleeping out in a tent, with a fire, marshmallows and the pitter-patter of summer rain to accompany you is always an adventure, especially if you are a young Scout.

Don’t underestimate the power of simple pleasures like this, and remember that for young Scouts it can be a powerful memory. How lucky we are as leaders to get the chance to give kids incredible adventure memories through simple wilderness experiences outdoors.

This issue has lots of cool bushcraft elements to it (page 26), which will help make those outdoor experiences even more memorable for our Scouts. Who doesn’t want to learn how to make fire with no matches?

And as for your Scouts – ensure they join in over the next few months and make use of them as a great opportunity to get out there and build your own adventure. Life is for living!

Oh, and please write in and tell me about what you get up to.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout MORE ONLINE

Visit www.scouts.org.uk/magazine to read more features, watch videos and enter competitions

100,685 average circulation from 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2010

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

3 dito i .indd 3

3

1 /07/2011 12:2

00 _Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

13/07/2011 15:18

Contents

REGULARS 9 IN BRIEF 11 MAILBOX 12 NEWS | Events, campaigns and updates 55 CAMP COOKING | Spicy lamb, tomato and coconut curry from Anjum Anand 58 HEALTH & WELLBEING | Advice on dealing with young people’s bad behaviour, plus how to warm up for exercise 75 Q&A | Scouting experts answer your questions 76 COMPETITION | Win a fire piston and tickets to the Primitive Skills Festival 81 ROUND OUR PLACE | 100th Elvetham Heath contact the world 82 FIVE MILES WITH… | Paul Carr, a challenge event fundraiser for Scouting

32 FEATURES 20 JOIN-IN-JAMBOREE | A Swedish-style send-off for one Young Leader in Devon 25 GIFT AID IT | Get extra funds for Scouting by claiming Gift Aid 26 BUSHCRAFT SPECIAL | Seeking out survival skills at The Bushcraft Show in Cumbria 32 YOU’VE BEEN DANGO’D | Scouts from one county take control at a weekend camp 37 PROFILE | Mark Tarry talks about the Regional Commissioner role 38 BEST FOOT FORWARD | Discover the dramatic beauty of Northumberland’s coastline

42 SPEAKER’S CORNER | Self-confessed failed Scout John Bercow answers your questions 44 THE BIG ADVENTURE – TAKE THREE | Scouts, leaders and parents join forces for fun 49 SKILLS & ACTIVITIES | Get prepared for winter 56 SCHOOL’S IN | A head brings the joy of Scouting to pupils with complex medical needs 62 TWIST AND SCOUT | How the Movement helped to forge a great songwriting duo

26

S T N E T N O C OPINION

7 YEAR-ROUND ADVENTURE | UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt looks at winter Scouting, plus more from the blog

20

PARTNERSHIPS 67 PROMOS & RESOURCES

IN THE SUPPLEMENTS BEAVERS Outdoor activities, and a Colony sports day in Dorset | CUBS A Pack in York

goes time travelling, plus ideas to help your Cubs get their Hobbies Activity Badge | SCOUTS A Scouting fashion parade, and why it’s sometimes worth doing things the hard way | EXPLORERS Helping the older generation get online, and ways to get Explorers to take the lead | NETWORK Putting together a Network website, and one Network takes its adventures offshore | FOCUS Advice on getting the best deal out of partnerships, plus making your Scout buildings accessible

All available at scouts.org.uk/magazine

5

ontent .indd 5

1 /07/2011 12:31

00 _Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

13/07/2011 15:18

Opinion

YEAR-ROUND ADVENTURES

nt as the mme is just as importa ra og pr g tin ou Sc r te in The w ne Bulpitt ief Commissioner Way summer one, says UK Ch

A

lmost every time I ask young people what they enjoy most about Scouting, the response is camping, backwoods cooking or all the outdoor activities we offer.

This could be the reason Scouting numbers are at their highest in September and October of each year. While I don’t have hard facts, I suspect this is because some become a little disappointed when winter comes and they have to move indoors for activities.

So, as you enjoy the summer camp, or perhaps grab a few weeks to recharge your batteries, give a thought to what you can do to your programme to enhance the winter Scouting experience.

365 days of activities Young people should be able to continue to do the things they enjoy most from Scouting and not be confined to what they consider to be rather less interesting, indoor activities. The winter months are certainly not a bar to outdoor activities, whether that is camping (just join any Winter Camp, including the one at Gilwell Park to find out) or just about any of our everyday adventures. Turn to page 49 to read about what some Groups are doing to bring their winter programme alive.

As you plan your programme for the winter term, don’t forget that volunteering is also about having fun

ourselves (it is our hobby, after all).

Make the most of the forthcoming season and start planning your own ‘thank you’ party for volunteers today.

find out more For more information, visit www.wintercamp.org.uk

from the blog

WHAT PRICE LEADERSHIP?

I was recently lost for words (and you know how rare that is) when I discovered a County wanted £900 for four leaders to complete all of the training modules. I was astounded to learn we could put such obstacles in the way of an enthusiastic group of volunteers wanting to start Scouting in their community.

What other obstacles have people experienced and how might we address them?

‘In Cheshire a few years ago, we added a few pence to the capitation fee and now provide all Wood Badge training free of charge for our leaders.’

Graham ‘In our County, for a leader to complete a Wood Badge the total cost is £10.’

Barry ‘I think paying for training is the norm; I must have spent thousands over the years on leader training and activity permit (BCU, GNAS etc) NGB training and validation.

Members at our Group pay for uniforms too.’

John

Wayne Bulpitt is UK Chief Commissioner. You can email him at ukcc@scouts.org.uk or write to him at The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW. You can also catch up with his blog at www.scouts.org.uk/ccblog

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

7

pinion.indd 7

7

1 /07/2011 12:32

TOWER BRIDGE

EXHIBITION Enter the Most Famous

Bridge in the World

Enjoy breathtaking views of London from the Bridge’s Walkways.

Experience the Victorian Engine Rooms.

Enter and be amazed.

Adults: £8.00 Children: £3.40 Concessions: £5.60 Under 5s: FREE Contact: 0845 404 3034 Bridge lift line: 0845 165 9815 www.towerbridge.org.uk

Special rates for groups, contact 0845 404 3034 for an organiser's pack Tower Bridge is provided by The City of London Corporation - a uniquely diverse organisation in that it not only promotes and supports the City and provides it with a full range of services, but also provides wider services for London and for the nation as a whole.

008_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 8

13/07/2011 15:18

In brief

In brief

A snapshot of Scouting past, present and future – all on one page

Going up

What’s popular in the world of Scouting?

↑ The outdoor classroom September is the time when young people and some adults go back to school. But it’s also the time when Scouting starts up again after the summer. We know which we preferred back in the day. ↑ Autumn foraging The season is nearly here to pick up your copy of Richard Mabey’s 1970s cult field guide, Food for Free, and head to the hedgerows.

Weather proverbs As summer draws to a close, the weather gets more unpredictable when you’re out on activities. But imagine a time before the Met Office.

You’d have had to base your weather predictions on old sayings like these: n Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight; red sky at morning, shepherd’s warning.

n Clear moon, frost soon. n Rain before seven, fine by eleven. n When the swallows fly high, the weather will be dry.

We reckon these just rhyme, and have absolutely nothing to do with the UK climate, but drop us a line if you know of any that actually work.

Scouting tattoos

We’ve come across a couple of people lately with Scouting-related ink.

We know the Chief Scout likes to wear a World Membership Badge on his sleeve, but is this (above) taking your passion for the Movement a bit too far? Do you know anyone who has got themselves engraved with a fleur-de-lis or a bust of B-P?

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

n

ie .indd

9

1 /07/2011 12:3

? y d a e r u o y ? are t e y 2 1 0 2 d e n n a . . l . p a e d i n a e v a h e w

phasels wood activity centre

tolmers activity centre

National Scout Archery Competition - May 2012 75 years of Phasels Celebration - September 2012 3000 camping capacity on 95 acre site Indoor accommodation for 42, 26 and 16 Large range of on site activities for all age groups Qualified instructors available all year Easy access and parking for coaches/cars Fully catered and tented packages available Close proximity to M25, M1, M4, M40 and A41 25 minutes to Central London by Rail Situated between Luton and Heathrow Airports Contact - Doug Stack - Activity Centre Manager Phasels Wood Activity Centre, Rucklers Lane, Kings Langley, Herts. WD4 9NA Tel: 01442 252851 Email: info@phaselswood.org.uk Web:www.phaselswood.org.uk

Fire & Ice Winter Camp - January 2012 CTT Activity Camp - July/August 2012 100 acre site available for camping 15 minutes from Lea Valley White Water Centre 55 minutes to the Olympic Park by Rail 5 minutes from junction 25 of the M25 Situated between Stansted and Luton Airports Full Catering available for groups Indoor accomodation for 60, 36 and 15 Large range of on site activities Camping space for over 3000 Contact - Chris Rainbow - Warden Tolmers Activity Centre, Tolmers Road, Cuffley, Herts. EN6 4JS Tel: 01707 872900 Email: info@tolmers.org.uk Web:www.tolmers.org.uk

LE DBIKESRIF ILINGQUA E S LI B C A E Y E R R E CH UTT IRECOCON HROPESAR W IG H IP S Z G R N A IN U W B R ER EE IM OOTINGCL EROCKWAT BINGBUNG H T IM L N L C U E U R A IC A S T G S IN LEA CRES INGKAYAK INFLATAB EAPHOBIA G P O IN R R S E L E L T A N EW KINGORIE ATSMOBIL 012?

CRATESTAC G IN mpics in 2 D y IL l U o e h t RAFTB r ng fo

i es.org.uk e you stay m r a a g 2 e 1 r 0 e 2 h g w pin www.cam

010_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 10

13/07/2011 15:1

Mailbox Email us at scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk or write to Scouting magazine, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW

y a s r u o y e v a H STAR LETTER

Speaking out I was so pleased to see Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt’s video for the Stonewall ‘It gets better… today’ campaign against homophobic bullying.

I’d asked Wayne on an internet forum if the Association would think about doing something to support the campaign, as its core message of self-respect and respect for others struck a chord with me as both a Scout and a gay man.

Within a few days he’d recorded the video and it was on Stonewall’s YouTube campaign site. I know that support groups for LGBT young people have been sharing it with their members and commenting positively, both on it and The Scout Association. This proves that it really is worth taking the time to talk to Wayne and the team at UK Headquarters about issues that are important to you – they do listen, and do take seriously what ‘leaders on the ground’ say.

Duncan Hill The writer of the star letter will receive a copy of A Complete Guide to Scouting Skills, also available from www.scouts.org.uk/shop

11_

i o .indd 11

Hair’s trouble Please get your front covers checked by someone who knows about the topic being portrayed. I appreciate that this is a posed picture, but, when abseiling, anyone with long hair must tuck it firmly up into the helmet at all times. I was present when a girl was nearly scalped when her hair became entangled in the abseil device.

Luckily, she was within six feet of the bottom and a tall man was able to support her weight while she disentangled her hair. John Muston Response from Barney Poulton, Activities Team: It was indeed a posed picture and there were activity instructors nearby at all times. However, you are right in saying that precautions such as tying long hair back so that it cannot get caught in belaying devices should be identified within the risk assessment for the activity. Thanks for that and well spotted.

Facebook comments The 22nd World Scout Jamboree is under way in Sweden.

Participants and International Service Team members have been sharing their excitement on our Facebook page: ‘Been Scouting since I was 16 and this is my first Jamboree.

It starts the moment I leave the house. Going as IST and can’t wait.’ – Yve O’Neill ‘Two years of selection, fundraising, bonding and planning leading up to this one event. It’s going to be brilliant.’ – Ashley Russell

‘38,000 friends I have not yet met.’ – Leslie Button ‘I have a very excited son counting down the days with his very scrummy Jamboree advent calendar – and he won’t share.’ – Annetta Slade ‘Can’t wait to meet the rest of the family.’ – Miles Gasston

‘Looking forward to welcoming the world to Rinkaby.’ – John May

Join in Visit www.scouts.org.uk/facebook for updates, discussions and online networking with other Scouts.

‘Excited much, can’t wait to clean the loos.’

– Connor Phillip Gowers

Follow the Jamboree News, views, photos and fun from the 22nd World Scout Jamboree can all be found at www.scouts.org.uk

1 /07/2011 12:35

news Community spirit

Eight Groups across the UK took part in the Community Scout Week pilot, which proved to be a great success. They raised funds for their local communities by building birdhouses, painting buildings, cleaning up litter and getting stuck into gardening.

One of the Groups, 23rd Salisbury, worked with Salisbury City Council to tidy up a playing field.

Raising funds for Scouting

Family, friends and businesses were asked to sponsor the Scouts for their work in the community. Money was raised for both the Group and the national Development Grants Board, which provides funds for Groups needing financial assistance.

‘This trial gave Scouts the opportunity to design a community project unique to the needs of local residents,’ said Jenni Anderson, Assistant Director for Fundraising & Marketing at The Scout Association. ‘We will collate the feedback and stories to help more Scouts plan their own Community Scout Week next year.’

Around the world in 48 hours

There is still time to get involved in the international extravaganza that is Jamboree-onthe-Air (JOTA) and Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI). Get involved and make contact with Scouts all over the world online or via amateur radio. To find out more and to take part, email jota@scouts.org.uk or joti@scouts.org.uk or visit www.scout.org The events take place over the weekend of 15 and 16 October. Units in the UK may participate anytime during the two days. Read all about the JOTA experience in Round our Place on page 81.

SWIMMING THE BLUES

This summer, swim, kayak, paddle or simply walk one mile to help protect our rivers, oceans and the species that live in them, as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Blue Mile. To find out more and to register, visit www.wwf.org.uk/ bluemile or call 02392 312 008.

12 Scouting August/September 2011

12 13

e

.indd 12

1 /07/2011 12:35

News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

A royal honour

A badge to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 has been produced in partnership with Girlguiding UK. HM The Queen is patron of both Scouting and Guiding. The badge can be worn above the top-left pocket from 1 January to 31 December 2012. Order today from Scout Shops at www.scouts.org.uk/shop

This special badge has been produced to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Pack in Parliament

MPs were put through their Scouting paces during the first ever Cub Pack meeting in Parliament. The event coincided with Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), and was designed to promote the benefits of volunteering to adults. MPs helped leaders run a range of activities, including pitching a tent and joining in with parachute games.

‘It was great working with a team of Cubs and a good way of hearing about young people’s ideas,’ said Kelvin Hopkins MP. ‘I will continue to encourage more adults in Luton to get involved.’

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

12 13

e

.indd 13

13

18/07/2011 10:2

Win a place to sail at the Tall Ships Races 2012

Scouting in your inbox

Do you receive our weekly Scouting Plus email, with all the latest news and updates? If not, it could be we have no email address for you. To view and amend, log in to www.scouts.org.uk, click on ‘My Profile’ and ‘Mailing’.

360° Scouting

There are lots of ways to follow us and get involved: www.scouts.org.uk/facebook; www.scouts.org.uk/ twitter; www.scouts.org.uk/youtube

Deep Sea Scouts, a National Scout Active Support Unit, is launching a great competition at this year’s Gilwell Reunion. Open to Scouts who will be aged between 16 and 18 in 2012, the winner will receive a bursary to sail with Adventures Offshore during next year’s Tall Ships Races. You can also register for the competition at www.scoutsinships.org.uk from September.

Reunion is 2 to 4 September.

For more information, contact gilwell.reunion@scouts.org.uk

ew online Be Purple is a n re notable he charity shop w signers de and upcoming lents in ta showcase their at cause. support of a gre

ty. i t n a u q d e t i m ‘Li lity’ Unlimited qua Purple.org.uk. olved? Visit Be Want to be inv ‘Be Purple’ rch sea – k oo ceb Follow us on Fa

All profits generated from this site will be donated to The Scout Association, supporting their ongoing efforts of providing adventure and education for children and young adults throughout the UK. Copyright © 2011 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

309.8 MA Shirt off my back 1/2 page ad.indd 1

06/07/2011 13:11

14 Scouting August/September 2011

1 15

e

.indd 1

1 /07/2011 12:3

News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

A different kind of White House

A local landmark in Essex is the subject of a new fundraising booklet.

Known as The White House, the building is now being run as Haven House Children’s Hospice and has a long connection with Scouting. Sir Stuart Mallinson, who was Vice-President of Greater London North, owned the house in the 1920s, and Winston Churchill was just one of its many famous visitors.

All profits will go to the children’s hospice. To purchase a copy, send a cheque, payable to Haven House Foundation, for £4.50 (£3.50 plus £1 for P&P), to Mallinson Family Booklet, Haven House Children’s Hospice, 249 Chingford Mount Road, London E4 8LP. The booklet will also be on sale at Gilwell Reunion for £3.50.

Parent power

Parents are the largest source of volunteers for most Groups. But they probably don’t know it. Few realise that Scouting has a whole host of roles they could take on. Do you have a parent who is a first aider, budding gardener or great at DIY, who could run an interactive session?

With Groups returning after their summer break, it’s a time to let parents know how important their help can be. Many will be happy to get involved – just ask – and give them a copy of The No-Nonsense Parents’ Guide to Scouting. Talking to parents can help them engage in their children’s Scouting.

The guide is free from the Information Centre on 0845 3001818 or visit www.scouts.org.uk/ involvingparents. All you pay is postage and packing. www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

1 15

e

.indd 15

15

1 /07/2011 12:3

Scouting_260x190_040711_GUARDIANEDU 04/07/2011 17:15 Page 1

EVENT

2011

TO SAVE OUR RIVERS AND OCEANS, YOU NEED TO GET WET! Get immersed in WWF’s Blue Mile and help raise funds to protect our rivers and oceans, and the wildlife we share them with.

All we’re asking you to do is cover one mile, either in or next to the water – swimming, kayaking, walking on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy – and raise some funds for WWF’s work with water while you do it.

Alternatively come and join WWF and complete an openair one mile swim in London on 4th September.

Register to take part in The Blue Mile, download fundraising tips and find out more at:

WWF.ORG.UK/BLUEMILE

or call

02392 312 008

WWF-UK, charity registered in England number 1081247 and in Scotland number SC039593.

Photo: © NILS AUKAN / WWF-CANON

01 _Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 1

13/07/2011 15:1

News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

Community chefs

The roar of the motorbike engines meant only one thing – the Hairy Bikers had rolled into Slaithwaite, and the 33rd Huddersfield South West (Slaithwaite) Scout Group was there to meet them. The bikers, Simon King and David Myers, were in the area to record a new television series when they heard about a community project called Waves. An old mill has been transformed into a day centre for children and adults with learning difficulties. Waves wanted to create an allotment space at the rear of the premises and the bikers enlisted Scouts to help. The day was spent clearing the area, filling up raised beds with fruit and vegetable plants, and introducing chickens to their newly built coops. As a thank you to the Cubs, Simon and David fired up the barbecue and produced a meal only the Hairy Bikers could.

Would you credit it?

MBNA is offering the McAfee Online Banking Suite, worth £59.98, free for one year when you register with the online card service. You can bank, shop and surf the internet with confidence if you register as an online card user.

IT ALLUP. ADDS Copyright © 2011 The Scout Association Registered Charity Numbers 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).

The redesigned MBNA credit card captures the fun and adventure of Scouting. But that’s not all. Using The Scout Association credit card helps us raise valuable funds. Every time you make a purchase, you will be helping to provide adventure to our 400,000 young people and support the long-term development of Scouting. Use the card for anything from buying lunch, doing the weekly shopping and filling up your car, and MBNA will donate 25 pence for every £100 spent on the card.

And for the first 12 months after you open an account, there is a special introductory rate of 0 per cent on all balance transfers. The interest rate will then revert to a typical 16.9 per cent APR (variable).

The Scout Association credit card also offers fraud protection, as long as you inform MBNA as soon as you notice any unusual transactions and think you may be a victim of fraud.

For more details on any of the above information, telephone the 24-hour helpline on 0800 028 2440.

, Credit Card raise ssociation The Scout A MBNA, has helped us provided bynds. valuable fu

n t Associatio lp The Scou g adults tion you he n and youn ac re ns ild tra ch ch to With ea eryday adventure deliver ev

ths s for 12 mon nce transfer edit om your cr · 0% on bala fr s er sf an ths ey tr t for 12 mon un · 0% on mon co ac t en rr cu ur s yo th to on card for 3 m purchases · 0% on card pical rate (variable) ty R† AP % .9 · 16 statements · Paperless ection ot pr d au · Fr

To apply, call us on 0800 028 2440 quoting 31CV7RKE or visit scouts.org.uk/mbna †As we treat each customer and each application on an individual basis, the APR and the interest rate we offer are determined by the details you supply, along with an independent verification of credit and repayment history.

Your personal APR will be 16.9% APR (variable), 20.9% APR (variable) or 24.9% APR (variable). Over two thirds of our customers will get our typical rate of 16.9% APR (variable).

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

17 1

e

.indd 17

17

1 /07/2011 12:3

Photo: Louise Dyring Neilson / Save the Children

Save the Children and ITV bring you Born to Shine – the must-see summer series to help give every child a chance to shine.

Watch children and celebrities display their talents, and use your own to earn badges and save children’s lives.

SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS THROUGH THE SAVE THE CHILDREN AND SCOUT’S FRIENDSHIP PASSPORT. For more information visit savethechildren.org.uk/scouts For the latest on Born to Shine visit savethechildren.org.uk/borntoshine

WHATEVER YOU WERE BORN TO DO, DO IT FOR SAVE THE CHILDREN

Registered charity England and Wales (213890) Scotland (SC039570)

018_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 18

13/07/2011 15:20

News

Want more? Visit www.scouts.org.uk/news

Gain badges at a Scout Activity Centre Help your young people gain a Challenge Award, while you sit back and relax. New courses being offered by Scout Activity Centres mean your section can fulfil the badge requirements under a trained team of instructors.

Cubs from 298th Silvermere Group in Birmingham tested it out as part of the first Cubs Outdoor Challenge weekend at Youlbury Scout Activity Centre. The Pack tried their hand at blindfold tent pitching, building a campfire, cooking, archery and much more.

Their leader, David Moreton, said: ‘We haven’t had to plan anything. We can stand back and learn from what they’ve done here. The staff and volunteers have been fantastic.’

The new courses are part of the national Scout Activity Centres service to allow Scouts to achieve badges, from Outdoor Challenge to Climbing. www.scouts.org.uk/sac

More fun, less harm

Enjoy the great outdoors with minimum impact on the environment with Keswick Canoe Company. As a specialist provider of bushcraft, wilderness skills and canoeing, it promises hands-on, practical and fun courses in the heart of the Lake District. www.keswickcanoecompany.co.uk

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT SERVICE

Monthly rate after deduction of Management Commission: March and April 2011 0.020%

0.520%

Interest at the higher rate applies to deposits of £5,000 and above. Contact Frances on 020 8433 7252 (Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm) for further information.

Rekindle VENTURE… YOUR AD ER L OFF e A I C E r SP hf e mont

one ip, a bersh arf m e m sc le and wogg

• Keep in touch and share Scouting stories • Annual gift membership from £2 a month

scoutscampfirecircle.org.uk

02.

MA

ampfire

irc e ha f page ad ert.indd 1

29/06/2011 13: 8

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

17 1

e

.indd 1

19

1 /07/2011 12:37

N I N I O J E E R O B M A J

The spirit of the World Scout Jamboree came to a corner of Devon recently when one Beaver Colony waved its Young Leader off on her way with a Swedish-themed evening. Dave O’Carroll flat-packed his pen and paper, and paid a visit

T

he 22nd World Scout Jamboree is about much more than the thousands of young people and adults who will attend.

The event transcends its location and attendees, and is an occasion for all Scouts to enjoy. In no way is this better exemplified than by the sight of a Barnstaple Beaver Colony having a night of Jamboree fun.

‘Having our Young Leader, Georgia, as part of the UK Contingent has given our Beavers an added interest in it,’ explains Beaver Leader Suzi Smale. ‘She has already excited them with tales of what a Jamboree is, so I was keen to capitalise on this Jamboree fever and put together an evening of Swedish games and activities.’

20 Scouting August/September 2011

20 23

o ee.indd 20

1 /07/2011 12:30

International

Are you sure they do this in Sweden?

Suzi and the Beavers celebrate Swedish midsummer

Future Devon Unit ‘I love talking to the Beavers about it,’ says Georgia. ‘I think they understand the idea of a huge camp with Scouts from all over the world.’

More importantly, she is sowing the seeds of Jamboree dreams.

‘We worked out with them that they themselves might be able to go in eight years. They got very excited by that prospect.’

In fact, the Colony has played an active role in Georgia’s fundraising for the event; with a sponsored candlelit walk and the purchasing of some ‘camp blankets’ for teddy bears which Georgia produced.

Jamboree activities On the night in question, the Beavers located Sweden on a map, spoke a few words of Swedish, learned about Swedish midsummer (some were completely stunned by the concept of 24 hours of daylight), experimented with Swedish biscuits and cookies, and rounded off their meeting by playing a game of pinning the antlers on the moose.

‘I was really pleased to see how much the Beavers were able to recall from our last Join-in-Jamboree session in May, when Georgia brought in all her Jamboree gear and talked to them about Sweden,’ said Suzi.

‘All of the activities done were either taken or adapted from the Join-in-Jamboree resource for Beavers,’ she added. ‘We’ve found it to be really useful for providing ideas this year and it’s definitely raised the Beaver Scouts’ awareness of Jamboree in a fun and exciting way.’

‘Having our Young Leader, Georgia, as part of the UK Contingent has given our Beavers an added interest in it’

Ready for 2019 The activities kept all 19 Beavers engaged and happy. One can only hope that some of the fevered whispering on show was sparked by thoughts of this mystical northern European country, where their friend and leader was about to venture.

The Beavers enjoyed their Swedish evening of fun and games

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

20 23

o ee.indd 21

21

1 /07/2011 12:30

01327 843322

Scouts, join our Jar of Hope appeal and change lives!

Join our Jar of Hope Appeal and your Scouts can change the lives of children in India.

For your Jar of Hope Pack or more information contact Eileen Evans at LEPRA Health in Action Tel: 01327 843322 eileene@leprahealthinaction.org Registered charity no. 213251 (England & Wales) SC039715 (Scotland)

022_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 22

1 /07/2011 15:12

International

The Swedish biscuits went down a treat

More resources next issue ‘I’ve been a Young Leader for more than two years now – in Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. They look up to me, so it is really important that I can engage them in this,’ says Georgia. ‘So many young people get to their teenage years and think that Scouting is lame. Well, I’m showing this Group that that isn’t the case and you can still have these amazing experiences.’

‘We are very proud of Georgia for her incredible achievement of being one of only 36 young people in Devon attending the Jamboree,’ beams Suzi.

‘I know the Beaver Scouts will be looking forward to hearing all about it on her return, and I’m sure that her experience will inspire them to apply to attend in 2019.’

Georgia has inspired the Colony to dream of a Jamboree future

‘Hundreds of Scouts, maybe thousands actually, come from all over the world to go on a big camp and have a big party’ And the question of whether the idea really does hit home is best answered by one Beaver, Archie, who, when asked what a Jamboree was, replied: ‘Hundreds of Scouts, maybe thousands actually, come from all over the world to go on a big camp and have a big party.’

I couldn’t have put it better myself.

If, like Suzi and her Beaver Scouts, you have been enjoying our Join-in-Jamboree programmes over the past year, then you’re in for a special treat next issue.

Our Sporting Adventure is a resource jam-packed with activities and ideas for all sections, to get you inspired for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The programmes are based on Olympic and Paralympic values, and are sure to be great fun for all. There will even be a competition to find the Group that has done the most.

Our Sporting Adventure will be free with the October/ November issue of Scouting.

Jamboree live

You can still keep up to date with Georgia and the rest of the UK Contingent on our website.

Experience all the sights, sounds and smells of the 22nd World Scout Jamboree at www.scouts.org.uk

Our Join-in-Jamboree resource will help you to join in with all the fun leading up to the 2011 World Scout Jamboree, even if you’re not going. www.scouts.org.uk/ wsj2011

Scouts

Join-in-Jamboree

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

20 23

o ee.indd 23

23

1 /07/2011 12:31

e n i l n o g n i Scout www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

m or e on l i n e

PLAY LOG ON NOW

n INTERVIEWS n OFFERS AND PRIZES n POLLS n HAVE YOUR SAY n BLOGS

2 p o o2.indd 2

ready to download W I N!

18/07/2011 10:37

Gift Aid

For every £1 that a UK taxpayer donates to your Scout Group, you get an extra 25p

GIFT AID IT According to the 2011 census, around 30 per cent of Groups are not registered for Gift Aid. But claiming doesn’t have to be a chore and is one of the easiest ways of getting extra funds for Scouting Every Scout Group should be claiming Gift Aid. It’s a simple government initiative whereby a portion of the tax that has been paid on any money donated to charity is refunded. This means, for every £1 a UK taxpayer donates to your Scout Group, you get an extra 25p – and you can claim for Gift Aid owed as far back as four years ago.

A common misunderstanding is that Groups have to be registered with the Charity Commission to apply. The only requirement is to register with HMRC as an exempted charity by submitting a completed CHA1 form. Guidance

more info To learn more about Gift Aid, and to download registration forms, go to www.scouts.org.uk/giftaid

on this, along with an adapted application form, can be found at www.scouts.org.uk/giftaid

Supplement your subs It’s not just conventional donations on which you can claim Gift Aid. HMRC regards Member subscriptions as donations, so you could be getting an extra 25 per cent on top of all the money you get for your regular subs.

Assistant Group Scout Leader Ian Carter’s Group ended up netting a lot of extra funds when they put in a back-dated claim for three years of Gift Aid. ‘Our Group has two Beaver Colonies, three Cub Packs and three Scout Troops, and we received nearly £6,000 back from what we were owed out of all our subscriptions.’

Online giving One way to collect Gift Aid is to set up an online donation page, so Gift Aid will be claimed for you. The Scout Association is currently in phase one of a trial project with Virgin Money Giving, working with a small selection of Groups to build a system that will work best for us. Once the scheme is ready to roll out, further information will be distributed.

Each Group, District and County will need to register directly with Virgin Money Giving, but, unlike the system with JustGiving (which we have now withdrawn from), the money will be paid directly to them on a weekly basis, rather than having to wait for Headquarters to send payments through. This will give much greater control to local volunteers. www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

25_ i tAid.indd 25

25

1 /07/2011 1 : 3

ON THE WILD SIDE craft Photography courtesy of Bush

Magazine.com

Scouting’s newest writer, Joly Braime, headed to The Bushcraft Show in Cumbria to pick up a few survival skills tips from the experts

I

’m on the banks of Lake Windermere, on a baking hot June afternoon, and all around are career survivalists running masterclasses on everything from firelighting, falconry and foraging to woodcarving, camp cooking and tracking.

One of the first things that strikes you at The Bushcraft Show is the number of Scouts wandering around the stalls and getting their hands dirty participating in the demonstrations.

It’s hardly surprising that a good number of the experts I talk to seem to have some connection with Scouting, too.

Whether they have worked with Scouts at District or national events, or even volunteer as leaders in their spare time, the stallholders I encounter are all overwhelmingly positive about Scouting. As professional tracker Perry tells me: ‘I’m Scout barmy – Scouts is the future.’

Bushcraft and Scouting skills are inextricably linked. After all, it’s the promise of survival skills and outdoor living, practised in a safe environment, that draws many young people and volunteers to their first Scout meeting. I spent the day talking to a few stallholders and getting some of their top tips.

26

2 31_ u

c

t .indd 2

1 /07/2011 13:1

Bushcraft

DUTCH OVEN COOKING

Dave Craze of dutchovens.co.uk reckons that, with a bit of practice (and some patience), pretty much anything you can cook in a normal oven or on a hob can be cooked outdoors in a Dutch oven.

Here’s his recipe for roast chicken and vegetables For chicken, allow about 25 minutes per pound.

Get the oven up to temperature using charcoal (briquettes or lumpwood) distributed evenly underneath the pot and on top of the lid. Add about a half pint of water, a stock cube and seasoning to the chicken, then put the lid on.

To keep an even heat, it can be a good idea to rotate your oven. Try turning the pot a third of a revolution clockwise every 15 minutes or so, and turning the lid about the same distance anticlockwise.

About half an hour before you think the chicken will be ready, add some new potatoes, then, about 15 minutes after that, some carrots and broccoli. Wait a few more minutes and you should have delicious roast chicken with all the trimmings. Just be sure to check it’s all cooked right through and that the juices run clear.

NATURAL TINDER

If you’re going to start a fire from scratch, you’ll need some light material to catch that first spark.

Fire expert Dustin James, of bushcrafttools.com, gives us his top six natural tinders Cramp ball – Look for these on dead ash trees. They are great used with a firesteel or fire piston, and you can cook over them too.

Birch bark – Peel off thin strips and place in a bundle. Ignite with a firesteel.

Amadou (horse hoof fungus) – Found on beech and birch trees.

Use the leathery insides with a firesteel for best results.

Punk wood – Dry, rotten wood that

falls apart when handled. Works well in a fire piston.

Cattail (bulrush) – Often found by wetlands. Fluff up the heads and use to take a spark, or add to a bow drill ember.

Pine resin – Smear onto

something dry and fibrous, and ignite with a firesteel.

For a chance to win one of Dustin’s fire pistons for making fire by compression, turn to page 76.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

2 31_ u

c

t .indd 27

27

18/07/2011 10:22

TRACKING Perry McGee is an instructor in human and animal tracking, and survival. I found him round a sandpit teaching a couple of Scouts how to tell their height from the distance between their strides. Here are his top five basic tracking tips

1 2

3 4 5

The best time to track is sunrise. Get up early and use the shadows of the sun to help you scan for signs. Avoid getting sunlight directly in your face.

Use all your senses. Tracking is more than just following footprints. Using your hearing, touch, smell and even taste are essential.

Use a tracking pace stick or probe.

Improvise one if necessary, and use it to regularly measure the distance between the prints. You can use this to see how far you need to look for the next print.

Create the subject in your mind and imagine its movements and why it has made them. This can help you close the gap between you and your subject.

Remember to follow directional signs.

For ascertaining more general directional signs, it can sometimes be useful to ascend to height.

BOW DRILL

Cub Leader Austin Lill is a self-taught bushcraft and survival enthusiast.

Here he gives us his straightforward guide to making fire by friction COMPONENTS: Tinder Bearing block (handle) Drill Baseboard Bow Ember pan A fresh leaf Fine, dry grit (all these will be described further on) Willow is a reliable wood for both the drill and the baseboard, but you can also use lime, hazel, poplar, sycamore and alder. Whatever wood you use, it needs to be seasoned, but not soft – a good test is if you can just dig a fingernail into the wood without your nail bending.

1

Make a small depression in the baseboard, starting from the middle and working outwards with care. This is for the drill end to engage with.

2

For the drill, up to 25cm in length and 2.5cm thick is a good size. It needs to be as straight and round as possible to keep the action smooth, and the two ends need to be pointed.

The bearing block end should be a long point, and the baseboard end should be a stubby point.

28

2 31_ u

c

t .indd 28

1 /07/2011 13:1

Bushcraft

5 7

3

For the bearing block, use a hardwood or a fresh section of branch a little wider than the drill, and make a central hole to receive the top of the drill. The drilling will be easier if it’s a good fit. The leaf goes into the hole to lubricate it, so you don’t set the bearing block on fire.

Slowly but surely move the bow backwards and forwards, while trying to keep the bow flat and the cord in the middle of the drill. Don’t use too much pressure yet – you’re just bedding the drill and bearing block together. Stop when you see smoke and smell wood charring.

At this stage, you’ll probably need to put another leaf in the bearing block, and put your ember pan in place. The ember pan is typically a thin sliver of wood or bark (though not silver birch, because it can curl up). If the depression has become polished and started to squeak, a tiny pinch of fine grit can rough up the surface and help greatly. Hold the baseboard steady with your foot.

8

Start using the drill again slowly, and get a rhythm going. Once you get a steady amount of smoke and the dust starts to darken, you should press down a little harder on the bearing block and use the full length of the bow.

It will be tiring, but keep going until you can clearly see an ember forming.

Hopefully you will have success, but don’t get downhearted if you don’t because the chances are you will have generated smoke and some cool ash, which is at least part of the journey in the right direction.

2 31_ u

c

t .indd 2

9

4

The bow should be long enough to reach from your wrist to your shoulder, not overly flexible or heavy, and with a slight curve. Hazel, ash and willow are good. When you’re fitting bow and drill together, the loop around the drill should leave it facing out from the bow.

6 10

Cut a small, v-shaped notch in the baseboard depression. This should be on the edge facing you, and no bigger than one-eighth of the depression. This is to allow the hot dust to fall through and, ultimately, make a coal.

Bring your tinder bundle close to the ember pan and gently tip the coal into it. If there is any breeze, turn your back to it and blow no closer than 10-15cm or so (the moisture in your breath will affect it otherwise).

Blow in a steady stream and move the bundle away from you when taking in breath.

Lift the kit up and, hopefully, you’ll see dark ash with smoke rising from it. Gently fan it with your hand to get some oxygen to it and it should glow when you do this.

Once the coal has coalesced, transfer it to the tinder bundle.

15/07/2011 17:32

Keswick Canoe Company

Bush craft and canoe specialists in the Lake District Come and join us for a truly unforgettable, educational and fun experience.

What you will learn on our bush craft survival skills course: • Building a shelter from natural materials • Fire lighting (different methods) including bow drill.

Bush craft and canoe specialists •in Firstthe aid procedures/preventative Lake District • Wild food/plants

measures and treatments

• Safe knife work/whittling • Navigation • Tracking games ……………And many other skills.

We have designed our courses to include many of the skill requirements needed to gain the scout survival badge.

Please call 01539 443543 for availability and booking We run our courses from the YHA Windermere, Cumbria, which is located in a spectacular location overlooking Lake Windermere with panoramic views of the Lakeland Mountains.

Windermere YHA offers fantastic accommodation, and has all the necessary facilities for groups of all sizes.

The youth hostel is surrounded by its own woodland, perfect for the practice of bush craft survival skills.

e

i it

ic _Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 1

t_Scouting.indd 1

030_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 30

2 /0 /2011 17:57

30/0 /2011 1 :1

13/07/2011 15:20

Bushcraft

BUSHCRAFT TOYS

Scout Leaders Terry Longhurst and Derek Wright, of Ilford East Activity Team, spent their day at The Bushcraft Show helping young people to whittle willow whistles. Terry demonstrates how to undertake this easy and fun activity with your Scouts

1

5

Assuming the whistle works, you can now fix the piece of dowel in place with PVA glue.

Take a pre-drilled length of willow, and saw halfway through it until you can just see the hacksaw blade through the hole.

2

6

Now you can start making it look like a whistle. Use your hacksaw to trim the end off the dowel.

Take your knife and point the end slightly to make a mouthpiece.

7

Use a sharp knife to shave away a groove behind the cut, so you have a small hole into the chamber.

3

You can cheat a little bit here and use pre-prepared pieces of dowel, cut to fit snugly inside the pre-drilled hole in the willow. Use your knife to flatten one side slightly by cutting away a few thin strips of wood.

4

8

To make the whistle more fun, push some strands of coloured wool into the other end, take a strip off the top of the whistle and draw a smiley face on the exposed wood.

Push the piece of dowel into the whistle, with the flattened side facing towards the groove you made earlier. At this point, the whistle should make a noise. If it doesn’t work, you can try whittling away a little more of the dowel, or slightly widening the opening on the top of the whistle.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

2 31_ u

c

t .indd 31

31

1 /07/2011 13:21

n one volvement is being take In one County, youth in puts al weekend camp that nu an an ith w er rth fu step tendees to take control. the onus on its young at by for a look Dave O’Carroll dropped

32 35_in ocu .indd 32

1 /07/2011 13:21

In focus

S

pandango brings together Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members to ask them what they want to do in Scouting and how they plan to do it.

This weekend camp performs a number of important functions; it’s a vital tool in retaining the adult volunteers of tomorrow, a means of teaching Explorer Scouts to take more responsibility and a way to encourage more Networks across Greater London and the South East.

Two things are for sure: it’s fun and it works – in every way.

Ease adult workload ‘Ultimately, increased youth involvement is better for adults in Scouting,’ says co-organiser Hannah Kentish, who is also the Assistant County Commissioner for Explorer Scouts.

‘If you have Explorers directly contributing to their own programme, it is easy for the adults to delegate responsibility to them and ease their workload.’

‘Once the young people are used to doing that, it’s important to keep them involved by introducing them to their local Scout Network,’ adds fellow event supremo and Scout Network Chair for the County, Clair Farmer. ‘Events like this do just that.’

The statistics back up that assertion. Last year’s Spandango kick-started a 20 per cent increase in the local Network and the emergence of three new Networks across the County, one per District.

For County Commissioner Ben Richardson, this is proof that giving young people more control earlier keeps them involved for longer. ‘If we invest in Explorer Scouts properly, they will move on and become members of County and District teams, and really make stuff happen for the generation that follows them.

more when ‘We enjoy activitiesbe cause we we organise themwe lik e’ know what ‘Explorers is the transition from having everything handed on a plate to doing everything yourself. It shouldn’t be run like a Scout section, but often seems to be. This event gets young people involved in the decision-making, governance and practical delivery of their programme.’

Activities in abundance The format of the event had the participants gathering for an icebreaker in the form of a game before they moved to a central hall, where a number of stalls advertising activities and opportunities were set up in a plaza. www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

32 35_in ocu .indd 33

33

1 /07/2011 13:21

A project team constructs th eir overseas adventures

Warm-up games are an essential part of any event

Signing up for DofE expeditions, championing green issues, local Network events, international trips and much more were all on offer at this activities pick ’n’ mix.

If the Explorer Scouts were in any doubt about just how much fun Scouting can be once you take control of your own programme, this surely was the moment when many decided to walk that path and take ownership of their Scouting. All of which sounds great in theory, but there are still challenges to overcome.

‘It can be difficult to get some adults to let go and take a step back,’ admits Hannah. ‘You need to earn that trust.’

‘I think that, a lot of the time, our leaders don’t have the training or support to facilitate handing over control,’ says Ben. ‘The young people at this camp will come up with project ideas for what they want to do in Scouting. You need dedicated people at District or County level to take that forward and actually make it happen.’

Ah yes, the projects. This took up the afternoon of the first day of Spandango. The young people split into groups to come up with a plan of an activity they wanted to do.

They were charged with devising, costing and organising everything, with the promise that the best one would become a reality.

Hannah and Clair address the Spandango m asses

Strolling among the smaller groups, I was proudly shown plans for survival camps, overseas tours and spending a night in a haunted castle or house. Not the typical mode of planning programmes, but precisely the sort of thing Spandango is attempting to encourage.

‘Last year, we tried to push them towards thinking about taking on County advisory roles and they just came back with initiatives based on skydiving or completing the Explorer Belt,’ laughs Clair. ‘That inspired us to focus more on that stuff this year. They know what they want. It’s for us to listen.’

Leader support Clair appreciates that of approximately 60 attendees at Spandango, ‘probably only about 10 or so’ will try to drive their project forward to make it happen. ’But what is most important about a weekend like this is that they see 15 adults encouraging them. They need to see that that support is there. Even just setting up a new Network, you can’t just let them get on with it themselves.

They need adults there to assist.’ This was echoed by Explorer Luke, who saw Spandango as a great opportunity to ‘organise a bunch of activities and, with the support of the leaders and other members, push them forward and, ultimately, improve Scouting for our community’.

34 Scouting August/September 2011

32 35_in ocu .indd 3

1 /07/2011 13:22

s There’s alway time to relax

In focus

Project teams devise how to shape their programme

What was most striking about the camp was that pretty much every Explorer Scout or Scout Network member I spoke to was also a leader or Young Leader in their local Group. Perhaps this extra involvement bears out the idea that, if you give young people more control, they will get more involved.

Louise Spinney is one such person. She was hoping to use Spandango to swell the ranks of her Adrenaline Air Scout Network. ‘Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do when you reach 18,’ she said. ‘There are a lot of Explorers who don’t know much about their local Network and what they do. This event is great for spreading the word.’

‘We run some big activities,’ adds fellow Adrenaline-ite Clare Amass. ‘But it’s always good to find out what other Networks are doing and introduce ourselves to the Explorer Units. It’s quite daunting joining Network, but we hope to make it easier.’

In fact, making it easy and fun was a constant refrain from everyone I spoke to. Surely, this is what youth involvement and youth leadership boils down to. As Jasmine Hannam from the Nemesis Unit put it: ‘We enjoy activities more when we organise them because we know what we like and, by organising them, we learn skills that help us in future.’

All of which left me seeking the answer to one final question. What on Earth does Spandango mean, anyway?

A GREAT EXAMPLE

Spandango shows that getting young people involved in various aspects of Scouting can bring other benefits, such as increased links between sections and less work for adult volunteers.

This is true no matter how you involve young people. It does not have to be a large County event or limited to the Explorer and Network sections. Learning from, and teaching, each other and adults is a fundamental part of youth involvement, so why not ask members of your section if they would like to teach everyone a particular talent they have? It could be as simple as getting Beavers to come up with their favourite activities.

On the other hand, District or County events are a good way for young people to meet others and get involved. Many Counties are eager to establish youth forums, enabling young people to direct their Scouting experiences. Others are supporting young people to share in decision-making through involvement in Executive Committees.

However it works for you and your young people, getting them involved is certain to bring fresh ideas, interesting experiences and ensure Scouting stays relevant for all.

Charlotte Tow, Programme and Development Adviser, Youth Programme Team

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

32 35_in ocu .indd 35

35

1 /07/2011 13:22

NEW BROCHURE OUT NOW

at

Imagine a land where the wonderful world of Disney comes alive. Imagine a Disneyland® Park, where make believe is real. And Walt Disney Studios® Park, where the magic of Disney meets the magic of cinema.

Imagine a Disney® Village, where fun and entertainment stay open day and night. Seven Disney® Hotels, where sweet dreams come true in the very heart of the magic. Imagine you are here...In a Resort as big as imagination itself. Welcome to Disneyland® Paris. A holiday destination like no other.

The Magic is Closer than you think.

HALLOWEEN 2

© Disney

1st - 31st Oct 201

CHRISTMAS SEASON

7th Nov 2011 - 8th Jan 2012

acular Join in with some spook-t Halloween fun as Disney Characters conjure up plenty of entertainment.

Experience the most magical season with your favourite Characters.

WELSH FESTIVAL

BRITISH FESTIVAL

8th - 11th Mar 2012

Celebrate St David’s Day in style with this fantastic festival of all things Welsh.

Sometimes getting embroidered or printed clothing sorted for your camp, group or campsite is a real headache...

Cool Threads can help relieve your fevered brow

We have been supplying Scout Groups, Guide Units and campsites for over three years now. We are leaders ourselves and so can understand what you are going through and can offer experienced advice and quality embroidery or print.

5th - 8th July 2012

A weekend long celebration of all things British including i. a tribute to the British Min

For more information contact Gill, Claire or Janet

Tel: 0161 928 3242 Email: gto@greatdays.co.uk Web: www.greatdays.co.uk

Special group rates for 12 persons or more travelling by Coach, Eurostar or Air

A large range of Ladies, Men’s and Children’s sizes.

From T-shirts to Hoodies Outdoor wear to Hi Viz. Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Jerzees, AWDis, B & C, Kustom Kit and loads more brands to choose from.

Simple to complex...NO PROBLEM! With an initial set up charge for embroidery of only £16.00 whatever the size of your design, you can’t go wrong.

Visit our website: www.coolthreads.co.uk View our online brouchure www.coolthreads.co.uk/Catalogue.asp Phone 01202 515 401 Email: sales@coolthreads.co.uk Take a visit to our new shop at www.coolworldthreads.co.uk for ready printed items, gifts and loads of other cool stuff

oo t e d _Scouting.indd 1

03 _Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 3

0 /07/2011 10:15

13/07/2011 15:20

Profile

Deputy Chief Commissioner for England Mark Tarry tells us about the Regional Commissioner initiative

Regional s r e n o i s s i Comm My role is to provide leadership and management to the Regional and County Commissioners I ensure, through the Regional Commissioners and County Commissioners, that the District Commissioners are receiving the right support and guidance. Through working closely with the Regional Commissioners and their teams, I guide, shape and develop Scouting in England, working towards the objectives of the Association.

The Regional structure was put in place in 2007 Previously, the four Chief Commissioners across England each supported around 20 County Commissioners. Under the new structure, there are eight Regional Commissioners, who each support between five and nine County Commissioners.

There are eight Regions in England The Regions are the North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands, South West, South East, London and East of England. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have slightly different structures.

The Regional Commissioners support the development of Scouting The Regional Commissioner will ensure County and District Commissioners are correctly supported. If this is in place, leaders within the groups should also be supported. With the right level of programme support, the sectional leader

will be able to provide the right programme.

Young people join to have fun and adventure, and leave if it stops. So the quality of the programme is fundamental.

Through the work of the Regional Commissioners, we are ensuring that Scouting will develop and be fit for another 100 years We know that, without clear objectives and development plans, our future is not sustainable and we will not grow. The recruitment of enough adults to ensure every young person who wants to be part of Scouting can be, has to be the ultimate priority for us all. I would like to see every County, District and Group have the appropriate leadership in place.

Why I volunteer There are so many things that fill me with pride.

At the end of the day, it is all about seeing the smiles on the faces of the young people, knowing that every one of them will be better off in life through their Scouting experiences.

contact your Commissioner

For more information and to find your Regional Commissioner, speak to your County Commissioner or contact the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

37_

o i e.indd 37

37

1 /07/2011 13:22

38 0

.indd 38

1 /07/2011 13:25

CUT OUT AND KEEP WALK

Walks

Best foot forward Enjoy a bracing walk along Northumberland’s beautiful heritage coastline to this dramatically situated castle, says Steve Backhouse DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE Dunstanburgh is one of the UK’s most iconic medieval castles, in a stunning location on the Northumberland coast.

This five-mile walk will give you plenty of time to explore its ruins.

Start from the car park at Craster, heading north along the top of The Heughs, then west to the farm at Dunstan Square [A]. Continue north past an old lime kiln to Dunstan Steads, before descending to the dunes overlooking Embleton Bay [B]. From here, follow the coastal path to the impressive ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle [C], which stand guard over the headland. It’s worth stopping off for a visit here before the final section along the coast to Craster Harbour [D].

most enjoyable stroll – 1½ miles in each direction.

Add interest to your walk n English Heritage manages Dunstanburgh Castle and offers free admission to pre-booked educational groups, including Scouts – see www.english-heritage. org.uk/education n Craster is famous for its kippers – herring that have been soaked in brine, then cold-smoked. They are still produced using the traditional method

by L Robson & Sons on

Be prepared for winter walking

1

Allow for the shorter daylight hours and plan to finish your walk well before it gets dark.

By early December, sunset is around 4pm; or even earlier in Scotland – see www. sunrisesunsetmap.com Don’t forget your torch in case your walk takes longer than expected.

Warm drinks can be very welcome on a cold day. Hot orange or blackcurrant squash are often more popular than tea or coffee.

If you’re leading a group, carry spare warm clothing. Extra hats, gloves and fleeces are a useful addition to your rucksack. You may also want to consider an emergency shelter, which can provide relief from the wind and rain.

Bring your camera.

This is often the best time of year to capture a stunning image.

2

4

The coastal section between Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle is a Craster Harbour

.indd 3

the harbourside – see www.kipper.co.uk. Why not try this delicious delicacy at the end of your walk? You may even be inspired to build a smoker and cold-smoke your own cheese or fish. n Discover the rich variety of marine life in Craster’s rock pools. The Field Studies Council produces an excellent laminated identification chart for rocky shores – see www. field-studies-council.org/ publications/ and don’t forget to check the tide times before your visit – www.tidetimes.org.uk

3

Want an easier walk?

38 0

The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

39

15/07/2011 17:30

Key facts

DISTANCE: 8km (5 miles) TOTAL ASCENT: 70m (250ft) START AND FINISH: Craster car park MAP: 1:25,000 sheet 332, Alnwick & Amble SCOUTING CLASSIFICATION: Terrain Zero [B]

[C]

[A]

[D]

START & FINISH

38 0

.indd

0

15/07/2011 17:30

Earn more than a badge for your IT skills! you ha e helped others to et online then you ould e eli i le to win an i ad or a laptop a e you helped your parents send emails your randparents sur the internet or your auntie do her shoppin online so then you ould enter the T nternet an ers award s heme

our o the most inspirational ran ers will win an i ad and o T ou hers or a laptop and an o erall winner will re ei e an additional o ou hers To find out how to apply or to nominate someone else isit www.bt.com/internetrangers

T nternet an ers rewards youn people up to the a e o who ha e tau ht indi iduals or roups asi omputer and internet s ills

www.bt.com/internetrangers

You could be in with the chance to cook for James Martin and win a trip to the filming of Saturday Kitchen!

Do you love cooking? If you are interested in food or looking for the chance to get some experience in a celebrity kitchen – and win some great prizes too – then the Red Tractor beef and lamb Mmmake it with Mince Young Chef Challenge is the competition for you!

The competition is completely FREE to enter and is open to all 11 and 16 year olds in England. Just create an original recipe using 225g of beef or lamb mince under a budget of £10 that can be cooked within one hour. James Martin will select finalists who will participate in one of six live “cookoff” finals across the country, where you will cook-up your recipes for James.

Each Regional Winner will win an iTouch and £200 cookery vouchers for their

0 1_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

1

school, and James will select a National Champion who will win a money-can’t-buy prize trip to London with James to watch Saturday Kitchen being filmed and visit some of the city’s top restaurants.

For full details, to access all available materials and to register, visit www. simplybeefandlamb.co.uk/mincechallenge or email mmmakeitwithmincechallenge@goodrelations.co.uk All entries must be received before 21st October 2011 and the regional cook-off tour will take place between 14th and 16th November 2011.

We’re also on Facebook search “make it with mince” On Youtube search “make it with mince

mm make 2011 it with mince Challenge Entry deadline: 21st October 2011

James shows how it’s done

Olivia Spurrell, last year’s National Champion

13/07/2011 15:21

Interview

r e n r o c s ’ r e Speak He’s the self-styled referee of debates in the House of Commons and a fan of Scouting.

We put your questions to John Bercow MP at the end of a big day out in Parliament

Scouting magazine: First, some quick-fire questions. Cats or dogs?

John Bercow: Cats. I had a dog, but these days we have cats. I have a cat called Order.

SM: Chocolate or ice cream?

JB: Ice cream.

SM: Train, bus or bike?

JB: Bus. SM: Were you ever involved in Scouting as a young person?

JB: I was a Cub, briefly, and I wasn’t very good at it, I’m afraid. I was particularly bad at orienteering. I think at the time it wasn’t for me, and I went on to all sorts of activities such as judo and swimming. Tennis was the thing I latched on to and became quite good at. I think Scouting does fantastic work in terms of moulding character and encouraging leadership skills, team spirit and a sense of civic duty. It’s a magnificent cause and should be celebrated, highlighted and promoted at every turn.

SM: What’s the role of the Speaker?

JB: I have three roles: act as the referee of the debates in the House; chair the House of Commons Commission, which employs thousands of staff; and lastly, meet and greet visitors from across the UK and around the world.

SM: How did you get involved in campaigning?

JB: When I was at primary school I stood in a school election on an anti-schoolmeals ticket. That was when I made my first platform speech and it fired my interest in debate and argument. Several years later, I became actively involved in politics during the ‘Winter of Discontent’ in 1978-79. The country was in a terrible mess and I thought ‘This is no way to run a country’.

Margaret Thatcher was my local MP at the time and Leader of the Opposition. I met her, expressed my support and she asked me ‘Are you a member of the Conservative Party?’. When I said I wasn’t she told me to join, and I owe her a debt of gratitude for encouraging my interest in politics.

SM: Who else inspires you?

JB: In the field of sport, I admired my tennis coach, Dudley, who was a great fighter and believed that you never give up and there’s nothing you can’t do. My tennis hero was Bjorn Borg, a Wimbledon champion several times over.

Borg really didn’t know the meaning of defeat, it was just alien to him. One other person I admired was a character in a French novel called Papillon.

He was sentenced to periods

of solitary confinement and ghastly imprisonment in French Guiana, and eventually managed to escape and rebuild his life. I thought he was a really courageous, impressive figure.

SM: What can Parliament do to make it easier to volunteer?

JB: I’m very keen that more and more and more people should volunteer.

Where companies and other employer organisations can be accommodating of their staff who volunteer, then that is great. It’s sometimes easier for large employers if they take a sympathetic view of those staff who are, after all, contributing and enriching the communities in which they live.

SM: At the moment we have a campaign – Don’t Raise our Rents! – on behalf of Scout Groups who have faced dramatic hikes in building rents from local authorities and landlords. What can we do about unfair increases?

JB: Just as Scouts are resourceful in their activities, they must be resourceful in fighting their corner. If a Group in my Buckingham constituency says to me they are concerned, I will make representations on their behalf to try to preserve what they’ve got and minimise the burden. I think everyone would agree Scout Groups do fantastic work and we should explore every possible means to make savings and expenditure that do not impact negatively on that core activity. I’m a fan of the Scout Group and I don’t want to see it suffer.

42 Scouting August/September 2011

2 3_ nte ie

2.indd

2

1 /07/2011 13:27

OUR BIG DAY OUT IN PARLIAMENT

Politicians were invited to join in a Cub Scout meeting – the first ever inside the Palace of Westminster

The Pack contained Cubs from all parts of the UK, and the Cubs and MPs worked together

Parachute games provided great fun for all

Later on, the Speaker’s Reception took place in the Speaker’s residence, where MPs and Scouts made speeches

IN THE HOUSE

You can watch the whole interview on our YouTube channel at www.scouts.org.uk/tv

SCOUTS SPEAK UP Join in our public affairs work by attending a Scout event at the party conferences this autumn.

See www.scouts.org.uk/speakup

Steve Pound MP delighted the crowd with tales from Westminster

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

2 3_ nte ie

2.indd

3

43

1 /07/2011 13:28

The Big – e r u t n e v Ad e e r h t e k ta parents Put Scouts, leaders and

The Big Adventure encourages a weekend of family time

fun begin together and watch the

T

he Big Adventure has been bigger than ever this year. To find out if recruitment really is that easy – and to find out how The Big Adventure works – we spoke to three people who attended the 5th Carmarthen Scout Group’s third Big Adventure.

THE SECTION LEADER’S VIEW ‘We started involving parents about six months before the event as members of the planning committee,’ says Assistant Scout Leader Lisa Williams. ‘Jobs were assigned, such as catering, transporting kit, campsite service and activity planning.’

Lisa has firm views about how worthwhile these events are. ‘I think the value of Scouts involving parents in their Group’s Big Adventure is incalculable. When family time is at a premium, it’s an opportunity for families to come together in a relaxed, informal way that is entirely child-driven.’

44 Scouting February/March 2011

5 ig Ad entu e.indd

1 /07/2011 13:2

The Big Adventure Wall’s supports The Big Adventure

For the young people, it’s a time to show off all the Scouting skills they’ve learned. ‘The Scouts have an entire weekend of undivided attention and a chance to shine in front of their families,’ says Lisa.

‘Parents see directly how Scouting has empowered their child and every year a few more join in. Because of the enthusiastic feedback we got, the campsite is already booked for next year.’

THE PARENT’S VIEW Being a busy working parent, Julia Perkins-Thomas didn’t think she could spare the time to camp. ‘When I found out The Big Adventure involved us camping for a whole weekend, my immediate answer was no.

‘I then realised that camping was something every family should try, but we had just put it off. So I changed my mind and said yes.’

With a borrowed tent, fold-up chairs, blow-up mattresses and no hair straighteners, Julia, her husband and two daughters threw themselves into The Big Adventure experience.

‘The whole weekend was extremely well organised and greatly exceeded my expectations,’ she says. ‘As parents, you could do as little or as much as you wanted. I found that by joining in with the activities, you definitely got more out of it.’

Teamwork Julia was impressed by the way leaders, young people and parents all worked together to make the event a success. ‘It was great to see the young people, from Beavers up to Explorers, working and playing collaboratively.

Teamwork was paramount and, as a parent and first-time camper, I genuinely felt part of the team. Will I go on a Big Adventure camp again?

Yes – most definitely!’

THE MANAGER’S VIEW Getting parents involved is good for young people and Scouting as a whole. ‘The value of The Big Adventure can be measured in several ways,’ says Group Scout Leader Steven Butterworth. ‘It gives parents a much greater insight into

what Scouting is all about, and an appreciation of what goes on.’

Recruitment ‘By involving parents, we have recruited some to both our Executive Committee and our leader team,’ Steven adds.

One such example is Perry Davies, who attended The Big Adventure last year. He then started to help with Troop meetings and applied to be a Troop Assistant. He was invested as a leader during this year’s Big Adventure.

And the final word from Steven: ‘As with all Scouting activities, planning our Big Adventure takes considerable effort, but the more you put in, the more you get out. Sometimes you get out even more than you expected.’

Competition time!

There’s still time to enter The Big Adventure photo competition for a chance to have your Big Adventure feature in our souvenir book. See details on page 76.

Closing date is 1 September.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

5 ig Ad entu e.indd

5

45

1 /07/2011 13:2

THE IAL C I F F O .

P O H S T U O SC Uniform

g

n dern Scouti

ts for mo key elemen

tel: 01903 766 921 2pp 7SS op ad .indd ert.indd 1 2

1 /07/2011 13:31

Men’s L/S Shirt 101584 Sizes: XS to 4XL

£20.00, £19.50 (short sleeve)

Women’s L/S Blouse 101605 Sizes: XS to 4XL

£20.00, £19.50 (short sleeve)

Scout Tie 101640 Colour: Navy

£10.25

NEW! Men’s Scout Activity Trousers 101652 Colour: Navy Sizes: 30 - 60” waist

Women’s Smart Skirt 101620 Colour: Navy Sizes: 10 to 26

£19.50

£27.00

NEW! Men’s Smart Trousers 101622 Colour: Navy Sizes: 28 - 46” waist

£27.00

Women’s Scout Activity Trousers 101653 Colour: Navy Sizes: 8 to 36

£27.00

Scout Leather Belt Brown and Buckle

101611 Sizes: S/M (fits waist 24 - 30”) M/L (fits waist 30 - 34”) L/XL (fits waist 34 - 44”)

£11.25

Women’s Smart Trousers 101621 Colour: Navy Sizes: 10 to 26

£19.95

101602 Sizes: XL/XXL (fits waist 46 - 59”)

£14.30 Plain Embossed Leather Scout Woggle 101647

£1.00

7

op .indd

7

Adult Plain Scarf/Necker

101623 Colours: 20 available, see online.

£3.90

16:0 127/06/2011 /07/2011 13:31

8 cti it .indd 8 8Ad.indd 8

1 /05/2011 15:38 1 /07/2011 13:33

SKILLS & S E I T I V I T C A is, for The middle of summer plan many, the best time to e. With the winter programm to some this in mind, we spoke up an leaders who have built activities adventurous roster of for the colder months

P50 P52 P53

man Mountain Snow man clouds ead How to... r

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

53_S i

nd cti itie .indd

49

1 /07/2011 13:35

N A M N I A T N MOU The winter is when the adventure gets interesting for seasoned expedition leader Dick Griffiths. Elis Matthews meets the man who has organised trips for West Lancashire Scouts for more than 15 years

T

hough he tells me he’s ‘taking a back seat’ right now, I can tell from speaking to Dick Griffiths that his passion for adventurous activities hasn’t waned. ‘I’ve had a good life in the outdoors and it’s the buzz of expeditions that has kept me sane in the office,’ he confesses.

It’s because of the enjoyment Scouting has given him that he devotes his time to offering those experiences to others.

And it’s not just young people.

A minimum age is set for the expeditions, but no maximum, so 15-year-old Explorer Scouts can find themselves walking with leaders of a different generation.

It’s a wonderful life

Running mountaineering expeditions is Dick’s passion. As well as those he organises for Scouts, he also helps audit commercial organisations for the British Standard for overseas expeditions and fieldwork, BS 8848.

When he first started volunteering for the County, there was only a handful of qualified mountain leaders. ‘I found one or two other guys

53_S i

nd cti itie .indd 50

who were interested in mountaineering and, with a friend’s help, started running our own mountain leader training programme. Now we’ve got more than 50 people through the ML qualification.’

With such a group of trained leaders, the opportunities for young people are fantastic with expeditions to Greenland and winter mountaineering in Scotland, and summer trips to Peru and Canada on the calendar.

Having built up an equipment stock, the County can provide kit, so costs are kept down for participants.

Ice if you can get it

Since 1998, February half-term has been Snow and Ice week. Two groups of West Lancashire’s Scouting membership travel to their mountaineering base in the Cairngorms for four days in the hills. Dick has a system that works with near-military precision. The week runs in two phases: the first from Thursday to Monday, with a training day and three days on the hill. At the halfway point, the Scouts in phase one are transported back down to Preston, where the Scouts in phase two are ready to repeat the process.

1 /07/2011 13:

Skills & activities

It’s a tried-and-tested model that depends on a good team of leaders. These are from the West Lancashire Scouts Mountaineering Group. ‘They come out to instruct on Snow and Ice week, and many have gone on to get the Winter Mountain Leader qualification.’

There is one person in the team, however, that Dick would not be without. ‘We have one holder of a Mountaineering Instructor Certificate (MIC), which is of huge benefit to us. Every County should have one.’

Taking the MIC

Andy Brown joined the team a few years ago and runs the County’s mountain leader training. ‘To become an MIC you need a lot of experience and training. It’s

Dick’s six steps to running expeditions

1 2

Build your team. Identify a ‘champion’ and get to know like-minded leaders in your County who are qualified to lead hillwalking with Scouts. Start climbing and mountaineering together.

Get your County behind you. We had an easier ride because our County Team and Executive were on board, and they supported and helped facilitate the concept of developing a far higher level of adventurous activities.

3

Find a partner. Get a Scout-friendly MIC or Mountain Guide on board.

Although we have developed many well-qualified, experienced leaders, it’s good to have a technical adviser in the background.

4

Build up a stock of quality gear. Not just ropes, harnesses, axes and crampons, but also waterproofs and boots for when young people turn up in sub-standard clothing.

The value of our stores is now in excess of £25,000, including satellite phones and distress beacons.

a progressive qualification system and this is a high point of it,’ says Dick.

‘Andy is one of only about 400 MICs in the UK. His technical advice gives us the reassurance that our activities are properly organised. He’s indispensable, so we’ve made him the County’s Mountaineering Technical Adviser. It’s a partnership that works well for us, for him and for the young people.’

Dick’s approach in developing year-round activities at the County level is based on sound principles.

‘Getting like-minded people together, building a team and using that team to deliver activities to young people is what it’s all about.’

They have now applied this simple approach to caving and sea kayaking, and the whole County is reaping the rewards. Four out of eight Districts now have a pool of caving equipment and an instructor to take groups out, and a sea-kayaking expedition to Greenland is planned for next year.

So what makes it worth it? Comments from young people like Jacob, who, after Snow and Ice week, said: ‘This has inspired me to move on to bigger trips and activities because of the experience and the people.

I now have a passion to get out into the mountains.’

5

Plan a progressive programme. You need to be able to cope with easy walks for first-timers and less fit Scouts, up to ice climbs and big overnight expeditions for the more experienced.

The programme should always include a day’s base-level training so the instructors know that everybody, whatever their activity, knows the basics of looking after themselves and their equipment in a harsh environment.

6

Safety is paramount. We don’t play in the snow and ice all year round, so we ensure all winter hillwalking instructors get together for a weekend to hone their skills before The permit scheme taking responsibility.

To run hillwalking in Scouting, you need a permit (apart from terrain zero). To find out more, visit www.scouts.org.uk/ hillwalking

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

53_S i

nd cti itie .indd 51

51

1 /07/2011 13:50

SNOW MAN

e Cairngorms, On the other side of th outs from Fife Scouts and Explorer Sc e adventurous are getting a taste of th stablished life, thanks to a well-e e. Callum snowsports programm behind it Farquhar is the leader

Swedish base We went to a Jamboree in Sweden in 2003 and met a group who live at a ski centre there. We’ve been going back and forth to Sweden ever since. Every winter and Easter we get in three weeks’ skiing. Because last winter was so good, we stayed in Scotland to ski over new year.

Scouting connection = manageable costs The mountains are on our doorstep and we can be there in an hour. We go up to Glenshee, where we’ve got 200 sets of ski boots, and 60 sets of skis and helmets, so we’re pretty much fully equipped. The kids don’t have to supply anything.

Because we’ve got our own skis and minibuses we’re able to offer snowsports to the Scouts for relatively little cost. We leave a minibus in Sweden for the winter and get cheap flights across. We sleep on the floor of their hut when we’re out there, so it’s really affordable.

Careful of possessions and property

The first thing you need to learn is how to stop

When we’re gearing up for the ski season, the Scouts and Explorers are encouraged to take part in the maintenance of our equipment. The more we look after it, the longer we’ll be able to offer snowsports to the Group. They learn how to repair the skis and snowboards and we get a team of helpers, which makes it quicker to get through all the skis.

Don’t look towards Europe immediately Last year, the snow in Scotland was absolutely superb, it was like the Alps – powder-perfect snow as far as you could see. Skiing in Scotland is a great option. If anyone wants to come up here and use our meeting place, they’re more than welcome. We’ve got the equipment, the buses and we can provide instructors. If you’re looking for something different to do for a weekend in November or December, give it a try.

53_S i

nd cti itie .indd 52

We have five or six every Easter who’ve never skied on snow. We make sure on the nursery slopes that they’ve mastered how to stop and then move them up 50 metres at a time. By the end of the week, they’re skiing really advanced black runs. It’s a great activity for building up confidence quickly and getting quite good.

What the Scouts think ‘At the end of a black run, it’s a great feeling of relief, but also of pride – you’re proud that you’ve managed to hold your concentration and complete the run with safety and style’ Jamie, 16 ‘If other leaders are nervous about skiing with their Scouts they should look at our photos and get our leaders to tell them how it’s done’ Lachlan, 14

1 /07/2011 13:50

Skills & activities Further reading The Natural Navigator

by Tristan Gooley

HOW TO... READ CLOUDS

When you’re planning for an expedition, you need to be prepared.

Knowing the names and properties of clouds can get you ahead of the game Cirrus

Thin, white and wispy.

Usually indicate fine weather.

Altocumulus

Cirrocumulus

Sheets of small clouds forming a pattern of ripples. Fine.

Midlevel clouds

Blobs of fluffy cloud, often in rows. Can indicate rain or snow on way.

Stratus

Low, flat and grey.

Cloudy days are usually down to these clouds. Can produce light rain.

Cumulus

Separate clumps of white clouds. When scattered, usually fine. Accumulate to produce showers.

The Cloudspotter’s Guide

by Gavin Pretor-Pinney

Cirrostratus

A thin sheet of cloud that covers the sky.

Sign of deteriorating conditions.

High clouds

Nimbostratus

Thick layer of dark, grey cloud that covers the sun.

Usually brings moderate to heavy rain/snow.

Cumulonimbus Big thunderclouds, cauliflower-shaped.

Tallest clouds in the sky and bring heavy rain or snow.

Lowlevel clouds

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

53_S i

nd cti itie .indd 53

53

18/07/2011 1 :28

ver

F D T NSIT S T INIB S WIT T C , .

PS T B DI S L N IN , SP D B , CD PL , L CT IC WIND WS, L CT IC I S, S TS N IC L S, , IL S, FINIS D IN W IT , C LL NT C NDITI N, S PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

F D T NSIT S T . T B DI S L PS, , IL S, S WIT NT S T, F LL S T D SC ST ND NT S P TS ND L B W VT

INIB S, PPLI D VIC D DS, NT ,

minibuses to choose from

F D T NSIT S T DI F INIB S WIT T C P , , .

B DI S L PS N IN , SP D B , , IL S, CD PL , L CT IC WIND WS, L CT IC I S, I C NDITI NIN , FINIS D IN W IT , C LL NT C NDITI N, S PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

F DT NSIT S T INIB S, .

T B DI S L N IN , TWIN SLID L DIN D S, L CT IC WIND WS, L CT IC I S, NL , IL S, FINIS D IN W IT , S PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

F D T NSIT S T INIB S, T B DI S L N IN , T D NTIL CT B , I C NDITI NIN , TWIN SLID L DIN D S, L CT IC WIND WS, L CT IC I S, FINIS D IN SILV , , IL S, C LL NT C NDITI N, S PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

F D T NSIT S T INIB S, . T B DI S L N IN , INIST F D F NC V ICL , NL , IL S WIT F LL S VIC P INT T, FINIS D IN F D T D BL , C LL NT C NDITI N, S PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

F D T NSIT S T DI F INIB S WIT T C P , .

T B DI S L, L CT IC WIND WS, L CT IC I S, LL P VI S T’S, , IL S, FINIS D IN W IT , S PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

V L SW N LT S T W LC I CC SSIBL INIB S, .

PS TDI N IN , F NT NT L CT IC PL D , N L T C P , T C IN F W LC I S, VS L CT IC SID ST P, CC SS ND FL L CT IC W LC I LIFT, NL , L S, FINIS D IN W IT , C LL NT C NDITI NS PPLI D WIT NT S T, F LL S VIC D T D SC ST ND DS, NT S N TI NWID P TS ND L B W NT , VT

T

See our full stoc list at ll vehicles sub ect to V T at en e

.

.b vans.co.uk

Competitive Finance

Warranties vailable

e _Scout _AugSept2011.indd 1

07/07/2011 12:1

DISCOVERY SAILING PROJECT Celebrating 40 Years of Sail Training

Take advantage of last minute bookings for summer 2011. Only £180.00 per week!  July 30th – August 6th Copenhagen (Denmark) to Kiel (Germany) th th  August 6 – 13 Kiel (Germany) to Ijmuiden (Near Amsterdam)  August 13th – 20th Ijmuiden to River Hamble (Near Southampton)  Three English Channel Voyages based from our Hamble Headquarters Dates… Aug. 20th – 26thAug. / Aug. 27th – Sept. 3rd / Sept. 10th – 16th Summer Sailing in 2012  Cruise Hamble to St Malo (Brittany, France) 30th June – 7th July  Tall Ships Race St Malo to Lisbon (Portugal) 7th – 21st July  Cruise Lisbon to Porto (Portugal) 21st – 29th July  Cruise Porto to A Coruna (Spain) 29th July – 5th August  Tall Ships Race A Coruna to Dublin 11th – 25th August  Cruise Dublin to Penzance 25th August – 1st September  Cruise Penzance to Southampton 1st – 8th September Information packs for our 2012 Summer Programme now available

….For an adventure of a lifetime come and sail with Discovery Sailing Project Unit 6 Universal Marina, Crableck Lane, Sarisbury Green, Southampton SO31 7ZN

Tel: 01489 580099 / 07973 481460 Email: office@dsp.uk.com Web site: www.dsp.uk.com

05 _Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 5

13/07/2011 15:21

Camp cooking

This simple curry recipe comes from Anjum Anand, the popular Indian chef who combines traditional Asian flavours with a healthy eating outlook. The perfect dish for Scouts and leaders who want to get in shape This is a really easy-to-make dish, from the coast of south west India, that is rich and deep in flavours.

Nearly everything is thrown into a pot and cooked until done. Taste a little before and after the browning or ‘bhunoing’ process, to see how it changes a dish in flavour and texture. If you don’t have ghee then use half oil and half butter.

g n i p m a c n Curry o Spicy lamb, tomato and coconut curry

200-300ml coconut milk, or to taste 1½ tsp lemon juice, or to taste

Ingredients 1 tbsp coriander seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 15 black peppercorns 5cm cinnamon stick 4 cloves 500g boneless or 600g bone-in lamb leg or shoulder, cubed 3 small onions, finely chopped 3 tomatoes, chopped 15g ginger (peeled weight), grated into a paste 8 fat garlic cloves, grated into a paste 3-6 green chillies, whole but pierced salt, to taste 2 tbsp ghee, or vegetable oil and butter

Method n Using a spice grinder or a good mortar and pestle, pound the whole spices to a fine powder. n Place the lamb, two of the onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, chillies, spices and salt in a large saucepan.

Add 500ml water, bring to the boil, then cover and cook gently for 45-60 minutes, or until the lamb is cooked and tender. Give the pot a stir every ten minutes or so. n After about 45 minutes, melt the ghee in a small saucepan and fry the remaining onion until well browned. n There shouldn’t be too much liquid left in the pan once the lamb is cooked. Cook off any excess moisture over a high flame for six

Serves 4, Preparation 20 mins, Cooking 1hr 30 mins

or seven minutes, stirring quite often, until the sauce has mostly been absorbed by the lamb. This bhunoing process will help homogenise the sauce and deepen the flavours. Add the browned onion and ghee. n Pour in the coconut milk and lemon juice, bring to the boil and simmer for five minutes; the sauce should be thick and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding lemon juice or coconut milk until the dish is perfect for you, then serve with Indian breads.

I

curry

Anjum’s new book, with more tasty recipes, is available from all good shops, published

by Quadrille.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

55_c

p coo ing.indd 55

55

1 /07/2011 1 :00

n i t u o s ’ l o o h Sc v

l

District Commissioner John Burdett was approached by a school that wanted to set up its own Scout Group. But this school is slightly less traditional, as it’s for young people with physical disabilities and complex medical needs

H

eadmaster Duncan Gorwood and staff member Kim Thomas, a Beaver Scout Leader with 13 years’ experience, who now leads the Group, were keen to bring Scouting to the students at Saxon Hill School. The additional needs and disabilities these young people face might have made their integration into mainstream Groups more complicated.

John was delighted by the idea, but realised that, to oversee the creation of such a specialist Group, he was going to need a little help.

‘My first step was to contact the Regional Development Service [RDS]. If it had been a mainstream Scout Group then we’d have had

no problem in setting it up, but I needed further knowledge, which the RDS was very keen to give.’

Reaching understandings Regional Development Officers Stuart Nimmo and Sam Booth were involved throughout the set-up process, and one area that

needed careful handling was safeguarding procedures. Because Saxon Hill runs residential and respite care, operating 24 hours a day, the Group falls under the school’s duty of care as well as that of the Scouts, and Stuart had a lot of work to do making sure all parties were able to fulfil their own responsibilities.

As Stuart explains: ‘A big chunk of this project was getting commonality of understanding between us and the school, in the sense that, obviously, the school has young

56

5 57_ couting o

.indd 5

1 /07/2011 1 :1

Scouting for all

people with very defined needs and circumstances.’

Eventually, an understanding was reached and, in April 2010, John watched 20 young people make their Scout Promise.

‘That brought a tear to one or two of the assembled dignitaries,’ says John. ‘Some of the pupils had to tap out their Promise on a computer; while others tapped a player containing a pre-recorded Scout Promise.’

Adapting the programme Rather than being a traditional Scout Group, Saxon Hill is more accurately a Scouting facility, with adjustments that were proposed after John visited the school with some of his Assistant District Commissioners and the RDS. ‘We were made very welcome at the school and given the full tour, and it was apparent that the young people couldn’t be put into sections, so it was more practical to have a range of Scouting activities across the age groups.’

This flexibility allows Kim and her leadership team to tailor their activities by ability as well as age, and means that, with a bit of inventiveness, they can get stuck

‘We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there – it’s a learning curve’ in to filling up their uniform sleeves with badges.

‘We’re adapting the badge requirements to meet the needs of the young people. Some have gained their cookery badge while others are doing some art and media work,’ says Kim. The group has also been camping and climbing recently. ‘We hired a climbing wall, where they’ve got harnesses that they could put on our young people to enable them to go up. When they’re in wheelchairs normally they wouldn’t have the experience of being hoisted up that high, so it was really successful.’

Fostering connections with the District The necessity of meeting straight after school means that it’s difficult to hold joint meetings with other Groups, but the Scouts at Saxon Hill do their best to get involved in District events when they can. They’ve

attended the St George’s Day parade and Remembrance Sunday, and plans are being made to field a team in the District cooking competition.

Duncan Gorwood has since moved on to another post, but as John recalls: ‘The vision that Duncan had when he first came to us was that he wanted to integrate the children at Saxon Hill into mainstream Scouting, and he also wanted to expand the community spirit within the school.’

Looking forward Despite their alterations to the programme, in many ways Kim thinks Saxon Hill is just like any other Scout Group. They struggle a bit in terms of help, and they’re still trying to sort out a committee, but the enthusiasm is there. As with Groups up and down the country, the leaders are driven by a desire to provide young people with the sorts of experiences that some of them remember from their own time in Scouting. They’ve just got hold of some specialist outdoor buggies and Kim’s hoping to take the Group’s activities one step closer to the wilds.

‘We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re getting there – it’s a learning curve for all of us.’

The Saxon Hill Scouts enjoy the full range of Scout activities

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

5 57_ couting o

.indd 57

57

1 /07/2011 1 :1

KIDS G N I V A BEH Y L D A B viour is a frustrating Dealing with bad beha leader encounters. experience that every to one expert who Dave O’Carroll speaks e leader’s behaviour thinks that changing th can hold the answer

60 Scouting December 2010/January 2011 58

58 5 _ e t .indd 58

1 /07/2011 1 :27

Health & wellbeing

F

or all the joy that being a Scout leader brings, at times it can be a difficult and challenging role. As volunteers, you are often responsible for groups of boisterous, excitable and energised young people, who will not always be on their best behaviour. What’s the best way to deal with it?

Dr Stuart Murray has more than 40 years’ experience of working with young people with behavioural, emotional and mental problems.

He also spends many a weekend helping out on Scout camps, and so is well placed to offer guidance.

‘The main problem I see is that a lot of leaders have unreasonable expectations of how young people act,’ he says. ‘They can adopt a general outlook of “this is how a Cub behaves” or “this is how a Scout behaves”, which is not realistic.

‘Some people have little real experience of dealing with young people. They may have their own children, but that doesn’t necessarily give you any real understanding of how children might behave in groups,’ he adds.

Ask why

G

According to Dr Murray, the first thing you should think about is why young people are behaving in a particular way. You shouldn’t assume that they are aware that their behaviour is inappropriate.

Ask yourself: Are they engaged in the programme or activity that is being run?

Are they being set bad examples by their peers or leaders?

Are there different standards of behaviour at home?

Do they have a medical condition that is causing them to behave in a certain way?

‘Give [young people] more freedom and they’ll have more fun, and will be better behaved’ You then need to think about how best to deal with their behaviour. Essentially, are you going to challenge it or let it go?

Dr Murray thinks that, in some circumstances, the best way to deal with challenging behaviour is to relax and be flexible. ‘If you have a group of young people in a tent at night, they are not all going to go to sleep at 10.30 just because you call “lights out”. They are excited, so they might stay awake talking.

That’s normal, let it go. You don’t have to get downhearted and have a big post-mortem the next day.’

Considered challenge If you decide that you do need to challenge the behaviour, think about how you do this. Are you being clear about the behaviour you are challenging? Do you explain why you need them to behave in a different way? And are you using simple language and saying exactly what you mean?

Dr Murray believes that leaders should allow themselves some time to reflect on how they have dealt with such circumstances.

‘The leader needs to treat camps or trips away as observational experiences. Watch how young people behave in those situations, take that away and, if possible, build it into future programmes.’

And remember, there is no onesize-fits-all approach. If something doesn’t work, then try a different method. Don’t be surprised if

Tips for prevention

The Scout Association’s Adult Support team has the following quick tips to help you:

1

Get to know your young people. If you know what interests them and makes them tick you’ll learn how to get the best behaviour out of them.

2

Get your young people involved in creating a code of conduct themselves. If they are involved in agreeing what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour they will be more likely to stick to it.

3

Find out what your young people like to do. If you plan engaging activities that they want to do they will be less likely to behave badly.

4

Talk to parents. If their child is behaving badly it may be that they can give you some tips about how best to deal with them.

5

Other leaders or Scouting volunteers in your area will also be an invaluable source of advice, guidance and knowledge.

something works one day, but not the next. Dr Murray believes the key is remembering that, in the right environment, young people are capable of managing their own behaviour. ‘Give them more freedom and they’ll have more fun, and will be better behaved.’

Which will make it more fun for you, too.

more info More information can be found in Managing Behaviour in the Colony and Pack (FS155054) and Promoting Good Behaviour in the Scout Troop (FS315066).

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

58 5 _ e t .indd 5

59

1 /07/2011 1 : 3

Room for Single or Double Occupancy Valid On

Scout Members * with ID (nett per room per night)

Scout Members’ Referral Bookings (nett per room per night)

1st – 4th August 2011

HK$650.00

HK$700.00

5th - 6th August 2011

HK$800.00

HK$850.00

7th – 11th August 2011

HK$650.00

HK$700.00

12th – 13th August 2011

HK$800.00

HK$850.00

14th - 18th August 2011

HK$650.00

HK$700.00

19th - 20th August 2011

HK$800.00

HK$850.00

21st – 25th August 2011

HK$650.00

HK$700.00

26th – 27th August 2011

HK$800.00

HK$850.00

28th – 31st August 2011

HK$650.00

HK$700.00

* Scout Members are requested to present Scout Identity Card upon check-in.

Additional benefits on the below will remain the same : Buffet Breakfast:

HK$55.00 nett per person per day

Airport Shuttle Service:

HK$90.00 nett per single trip per person (Advance reservation is required).

For information & reservation, please contact Administration Branch of Scout Association of Hong Kong.

No.8 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2376 1111 / Fax: (852) 2376 1333 Direct line to Reservations: (852) 2378 7611 Reservation Direct Fax: (852) 2376 1159 E-mail: enquiry@bpih.com.hk Website: www.bpih.com.hk

nte n tion _Scouting_AugSept_2011.indd 1

0 0_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

0

0 /07/2011 0 :50

13/07/2011 15:22

Health & wellbeing

WARM UP Part two of our series to get you fit for next summer concentrates on the warm-up, one of the most important elements of any exercise programme.

Jennifer Anderson outlines what to do A good warm-up physically prepares you, reduces the chance of injury and gets you in the right frame of mind for your task. Depending on the exercise you’re about to do, it can take between seven and 15 minutes.

The clue is in the title: your warm-up should raise your body temperature so you feel warm by the end. Here are some basic components:

THE MOST COMMON STRETCHES ARE: Quadriceps (thigh) Hold onto a wall for support. Bend one leg behind you and hold your shoelaces.

Keep your knees together and push your hip forward.

Mobilise the joints Prepare the joints for the exercise you’ll be doing. Whether you’re planning to jog or do a weights session you should add mobility moves. These include shoulder rolls, arm circles, side bends, knee lifts/ bends and ankle rolls. Do all these in slow and continuous movements.

Stretch or not?

There will be many classes or fitness programmes that will advise you to stretch as part of the warm-up.

Sometimes you may not need to stretch until the end as part of the cool-down. Take advice from a fitness professional.

more info

Keep one leg straight.

Bend your other leg and place your hands on the bent leg. Keep upper body upright.

Calves

Keep your rear leg straight. Bend your front knee. Make sure both feet are facing forwards. Lean foward slightly with the upper body.

Adductors (inner thigh)

Raise that pulse Aerobic activity such as walking briskly outdoors is perfect. If you’re in the gym, use the treadmill, rowing machine, cross-trainer or bike. Take it slowly and build up your speed/ exertion for five to ten minutes.

Hamstrings

Shoulders

Reach across your chest with one arm. Hold the fleshy part of the arm with your other hand.

Upper back

Stand upright.

Bring your hands round the front of the body. Open up the shoulder blades.

Head slightly down.

For more advice about healthy living and fitness, visit www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness

Sit on the floor and place your heels together.

Hold your ankles and press your knees to the floor.

Keep your back upright.

Top tips – don’t:

Stretch cold muscles Go past the point of discomfort Hold your breath Hold for longer than 15 seconds or ‘bounce’ in the stretch.

Speak to an instructor at your gym or a coach at the club to check the exercises and stretches are right for you and your goals.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

1_ e t .indd

1

61

1 /07/2011 1 :

Scouting is full of surprises, says Chris James. Not least is to discover that John Lennon and Paul McCartney, probably the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, both got their start in Scouting

T

he next time you sing ‘Yellow Submarine’ around the campfire, you might want to share the Scouting story that eventually led to its creation.

In his 2008 Grammy-nominated song ‘That Was Me’, Paul McCartney takes a nostalgic look back at scenes from his extraordinary life. ‘That was me, at the Scout camp’, he sings in the first line, giving a clue to how fresh Scouting still is in his memory. In fact, it’s possible to identify which trip he’s referring to – a camp in July 1957 at Hathersage in Derbyshire, which he attended with his brother Mike (later Mike McGear of The Scaffold) and one John Lennon.

A legendary meeting place It’s hard to believe, but John, the acerbic wit behind such songs as ‘I am the Walrus’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, was once a member of 3rd Allerton Scout Group. The Cubs met in St Peter’s Church Hall (the very place where John first met Paul on 6 July 1957).

John enjoyed the best of Scouting – frequent trips into the countryside

Darren Suttle is a leader at the Group and interviewed his predecessor, David Ashton, who knew John. ‘John Lennon turned up at Cubs and later at Scouts from time to time,’ David recalls. ‘I remember him being at Scouts Sports Day at Allerton and the swimming gala at Garston Baths, but mostly he turned up for the normal Troop meetings with their easy-going, relaxed atmosphere. We called ourselves The Backwoodsmen.’

John enjoyed the best sort of Scouting – frequent trips out of the city and into the countryside. ‘We prided ourselves in being able to live off the land,’ says David, ‘going camping and leaving the campsite as though no one had been there. We had two-week summer camps on farms in North Wales and the Lake District, and also weekend camps at Graces Farm near Cronton.’

Child of nature The influence of this early contact with nature is easy to spot in their work. Paul’s ‘Mother Nature’s Son’ and ‘Blackbird’ – both from The Beatles (more commonly known as ‘the white album’) – evoke idealised rural scenes, as does the original version of John’s ‘Jealous Guy’, which started life as ‘Child of Nature’. It

62 Scouting August/September 2011

2 5 o n ennon.indd

2

1 /07/2011 1 :30

Untold stories

63

2 5 o n ennon.indd

3

1 /07/2011 1 :30

Belchamps Scout Activity Centre Hawkwell in Essex

YOU CAN WITH A BOX VAN The versatile solution for transporting and storing equipment

Ifor Williams Box Van Trailers are a popular choice for Scout Groups.

Ideal for transporting and storing equipment, they are strong and robust with low depreciation making them a cost effective choice.

To find your nearest Ifor Williams Trailers Distributor call 01490 412527 or visit our website www.iwt.co.uk Over 50 Distributors Nationwide

0

_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

Large range of activities and quality accommodation Southend beaches and Adventure Island close by

Camping - Residential Visits - Day Visits Holders of the LOtC Quality Badge Summer Activity Week 6th to 13th August Spooky Activity Day 29th October Fireworks Activity Weekend 4th to 6th Nov Winter Camp 17th to 19th February 2012 TEL 01702 562690 E-mail Info@belchamps.co.uk www.belchamps.co.uk

13/07/2011 15:22

Untold stories

was a theme they would return to throughout their careers, from Paul’s ‘Heart of the Country’ and ‘Jenny Wren’ to John’s ‘Norwegian Wood’ and ‘Across the Universe’.

Paul evidently enjoyed Scouting, too. ‘I was a Scout,’ he remembers, ‘but I didn’t get many badges. I got a bivouac badge for camping out.’

His attentions were already turning to music and he was, by his own admission, a more diligent school pupil than John.

A positive influence One of the experiences John and Paul shared was the loss of their mothers at an early age. In fact, Paul and his brother were away at Scout camp when their mother died of cancer.

John lost his mother, Julia, twice – once when she handed him over to be fostered by her sister, Mimi, and again when Julia was run over by a drink-driver.

‘The men were just invisible in my family,’ said John. ‘I was always with the women.’ With an absent father, perhaps the leaders he encountered in Scouting provided the missing male role models he needed. It’s a sentiment with which David agrees: ‘I think the (leaders) played a very important role in John Lennon’s formative years, as they certainly did in mine.’

A musical education But it wasn’t just camping tips John picked up in Scouting. It also formed a key part of his musical education.

One gift Julia had given him was teaching him some chords on the

Paul evidently enjoyed Scouting t too… ‘but I didn’t ge many badges’ banjo (which he then transferred rather clumsily to the guitar). This was an interest he developed further in the Scout Troop.

‘John’s Scout leader, Bill Whiteside, had a brother, Charlie, who lived near Penny Lane,’ recounts David. ‘Charlie could play chords on a banjo and we often had a campfire sing-song.

I remember making nettle soup and bread twists on sticks while Charlie taught John the chords to “Way Down Upon the Swanee River”. He also got to perfect his skills on the mouth organ, which were later to feature prominently on such early Beatles hits as “Love Me Do” and “Please, Please Me”.’

The boys had learned to sing the song ‘The Happy Wanderer’, which John Lennon soon mastered on his ‘mouthy’. This tune obviously stuck in his mind. ‘I used to embarrass authority by chanting out a weird version of “The Happy Wanderer”,’ he later recalled. ‘I daydreamed my way through school. I wasn’t there – I was at the movies or running around.’

But did Scouting affect them on a more fundamental level? In many ways, Scouting, with its strong values system, curiously prefigured the 1960s notions of universal peace and love. The clothes may have been very different, but the sentiment of doing good turns and spreading a message of international peace and global happiness are strikingly similar.

Our story – more than 100 years of adventure

From 20 young people on a tiny island off the coast of England to 31 million members worldwide, Scouting is now bigger than ever.

In villages, towns and cities across the world, we’ve been changing lives and helping young people experience everyday adventure for more than 100 years.

If you were a Scout at any time, at any age, then you are part of this amazing story.

Scouting – rarely indoors since 1907.

Look out later this year and into 2012 for our new heritage brand and new range of heritage-based merchandise, including pocket tools, camping equipment, books and smartphone apps. We believe that our heritage should be as exciting and accessible to young people as it is to adults.

Thank you

Darren Suttle, David Ashton and Bill Whiteside of 3rd Allerton for their help and cooperation with this article.

Chris James’ new collection of poems, Farewell to the Earth, is out now from Arc Publications.

65

2 5 o n ennon.indd

5

1 /07/2011 1 :30

Join us on:

Find us on: oungdriver

ook.com/y

www.faceb

11-17?

DRIVE A CAR! ved it!” ce, we all lo n e ri e p x e c outs “Terrifi Glasgow sc Andy – 44th E NATIONWID 8 VENUES

om £99.99 6 Scouts fr £149.99 from 10 Scouts gdriver.eu www.youn

010

0844 371 9

lls Bouldering Wa Rope Walls Traverse Walls

Inspection, Mainten ance & Training

www.zigzagclimbingwalls.com

It’s

k

Need extra storage?

Secure and fire resistant Steel Buildings www.elwells.co.uk

Unity can cover all your events We can compensate you for the loss of expenses when events such as fetes, jumble sales, fireworks displays and family days are cancelled or abandoned.

Supplied in various colours and sizes for self build or installation service available.

Don’t let your fundraising leave you short of funds, get Unity’s event cover.

made by

Call Unity now on

0845 0945 703 www.scoutinsurance.co.uk

scouts@unityins.co.uk

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FRN 312976.

Unity Insurance Services is a trading name of Scout Insurance Services Limited.

unity_scouting_quarter.indd 7

0

_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd

17/6/11 12:57:32 pit o ted Stee .indd 1

ELWELL BUILDINGS LTD

Unit 5, Excelsior Industrial Estate, Cakemore Road, Blackheath, West Midlands BT65 0QT Tel 0121 5615656 Fax 0121 5590505 mail@elwells.co.uk

0 /05/2011 1 :35

13/07/2011 15:23

s p i h s r e n t r pa ort come on board to supp ve ha es ni pa m co of r A numbe ent or an initiative onsoring a badge, an ev sp by it’s er th he w g, Scoutin Sainsbury’s Active Kids and The Big Adventure.

Resources and equipment available. www.scouts.org.uk/sainsburys

B&Q Cub Scout and Scout DIY Activity Badges.

Activity packs coming soon. www.scouts.org.uk/bandq

Chubb Fire & Security Scout Fire Safety Activity Badge.

Activity packs available. www.scouts.org.uk/chubb

Cotswold Hikes Away Staged Activity Badge. www.scouts.org.uk/cotswoldoutdoor

Eat in Colour Beaver Scout Healthy Eating Activity Badge. Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/healthyeating

Maritime and Coastguard Agency Safety resource and competition. www.scouts.org.uk/mca

Merlin Entertainments Offers available to UK attractions. www.scouts.org.uk/merlin

Microsoft IT Staged Activity Badge.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/microsoft

National Grid Cub Scout Home Safety Activity Badge.

Activity packs available. www.scouts.org.uk/nationalgrid

NatWest Money management resources coming soon. www.scouts.org.uk/natwest

Wall’s The Big Adventure and Scout Camp Cook Activity Badge.

Resources coming soon. www.scouts.org.uk/walls

Ordnance Survey Cub Scout and Scout Navigator Activity Badges. Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/ordnancesurvey

Pets at Home Beaver Scout Animal Friends and Cub Scout Animal Carer Activity Badges.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/petsathome

Police Scout Community Challenge. www.scouts.org.uk/police

Puffin Scout Adventure Challenge.

Posters and skills cards available. www.scouts.org.uk/puffin

Rolls-Royce Cub Scout Scientist Activity Badge.

Activity packs available. www.scouts.org.uk/rollsroyce

Serco Environment Partnership Award. www.scouts.org.uk/serco

ShelterBox Global programme partner. www.youngshelterbox.org

Venture Abroad Adventure holidays for Scouts. www.scouts.org.uk/ventureabroad

Worcester Bosch Group Cub Scout Global Challenge.

Resources available. www.scouts.org.uk/bosch

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

7

t opene .indd

7

67

1 /07/2011 1 :

p u n a e l C and win o c r e S h wit

A new competition could be the perfect way for you to help the community and win a prize for your Scout Troop Serco, sponsor of the Environment Partnership Award, is running an exciting competition for Scouts. Do something good for your local area and you could walk away with a great prize at the same time. It’s easy to enter and win.

Do something good d for your local area an ay you could walk aw at e iz with a great pr the same time

Get involved

What do we need to do?

Is there a park or beach in your area crying out for a clean-up? Do you know of somewhere that needs a helping hand to become a safe and clean place for the whole community to share? Is there a piece of land nearby that would benefit from a makeover, creating a safe environment for wildlife to thrive?

You could create a space for your Troop to grow vegetables to donate to a local homeless charity. All of this could make your Troop a winner.

There are four simple steps to success: Arrange a community clean-up or other environmental project with your Troop.

Download the competition form at www.scouts.org.uk/serco Fill in the competition form and email it to scouts@serco.com or post to Helen Milward, Discovery House, Bartley Way, Hook RG27 9XA. Complete your community project and tell Serco all about it.

1 2 3 4

Did you know?

Serco provided more than 200 sponsored clean-up kits in 2009, so if you were one of the lucky groups that received one, then dig them out and spring into action for a 2011 cleanup campaign. Don’t forget to return your kit once you have completed your project, to enable others in your area to take part.

Prizes First prize: a day out at a National Scout Activity Centre of your choice for the whole Troop or £200 to spend at Scout Shops. Bonus prizes of £50 and £25 to spend at Scout Shops.

Closing date The competition will close 31 December 2011. The winners will be announced in the February/March 2012 Scouts supplement.

Give a piece of neglected land a makeover

68 Scouting August/September 2011

8

Se co/ ot

o d.indd

8

1 /07/2011 1 :52

Partnerships

20

% OFF for all Scout leaders

s t r e p x e Outdoor As sponsor of the Hikes Away Staged Activity Badge, Cotswold Outdoor is the ideal place to visit for equipment, advice and great discounts for your Scouting adventures The Hikes Away Staged Activity Badge is a fantastic opportunity to equip young people with essential knowledge and experience to allow them to become confident on the hike and find all there is to offer in Britain and further afield.

It allows Scouts of all ages the opportunity to undertake different levels of hikes or journeys depending on their level or ability. As a sponsor, Cotswold Outdoor would like to ensure that the correct clothing and equipment is readily available to Scouts and leaders. The advice that Cotswold Outdoor can give ranges from expert knowledge and advice on planning and navigation right through to what to wear.

s Cotswold Outdoorleha t been helping peop thge an outdoors for more s a 35 years and it ha re passion to make sume you have the best ti

Equipment Cotswold Outdoor provides all the items required to support this activity, with a wide range of footwear, waterproof jackets and fleeces, plus tents, sleeping bags and outdoor accessories – all from brands such as The North Face, Berghaus, Helly Hansen, Mountain Equipment, Scarpa, Merrell and many more.

Cotswold Outdoor has been helping people get outdoors for more than 35 years and it has a passion to make sure you have the best time on your hike or camping trip. Whatever you get up to outdoors, having the right kit can make all the difference.

Staff are highly trained to make sure you get exactly what you need for all your Scouting adventures.

This honest advice and expertise is just one of the key reasons Cotswold Outdoor is recommended by The Scout Association.

Advice Your Scout Group can receive kit talks when preparing for activities.

These can be tailored to your requirements either in-store or at a convenient venue on a case-by-case basis. The in-store teams will provide boot and rucksack fittings, and work with you to create fundraising opportunities at Cotswold outlets for your hikes and adventures.

Discount offer

More information

Scouts receive 15 per cent discount* and Scout leaders receive 20 per cent discount* at Cotswold Outdoor.

Cotswold Outdoor has more than 60 stores nationwide. To find out more, call 0844 557 7755 or visit www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

*Not to be used in conjunction with

any other offers or discounts. Discount only valid on production of a leader’s appointment card or Group scarf.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

8

Se co/ ot

o d.indd

69

1 /07/2011 1 :52

A new resource for leaders will enable you to inspire and excite your young people by introducing them to a world of energy

Engineer the future National Grid is working with The Scout Association to create a new activity pack that will enable Scout Groups to understand how energy is made and transmitted, and what it will look like in the future.

The activity pack A series of activities that can be utilised at a meeting or a camp are being developed and will soon be available.

These include converting energy by building catapults, transporting energy by building bridges, examining how we use energy now and where energy is going to come from in the future.

The pack will include leader notes explaining the theory behind each activity and how they apply.

Who is National Grid?

National Grid is an international electricity and gas company, whose job is to connect people to the energy they use. It encourages young people to learn about energy and the opportunities to become the engineers of the future, in a fun and interactive way.

Working in partnership with The Scout Association is an ideal way to develop interesting and fun activities that will inspire young people about engineering. This resource will be launched in September at Gilwell Reunion 2011.

more info

Discover more about this new resource at www.scouts.org.uk/nationalgrideng

70 Scouting August/September 2011

70

tion

id.indd 70

1 /07/2011 1 :3

Partnerships

The UK’s largest DIY retailer has joined forces with The Scout Association to offer your Scouts a chance to improve their DIY skills and earn their DIY Activity Badge

B&O prepared You will soon be able to get your hands on some fun and informative online DIY activity packs for leaders and young people, thanks to B&Q. The packs have been tailored for different age ranges and groups, but are perfect for any Cub Pack or Scout Troop.

Fun activities The content allows young people to meet DIY challenges that are appropriate to their age. As well as practical skills, they will also cover issues around sustainability.

The packs will help Cubs and Scouts work towards their DIY Activity Badges. There are also games, challenges and activities that your young people can participate in, both at home and in your meeting, to ensure they have fun while working towards that all-important badge.

Leader resources For leaders there are activity packs on building an insect hotel using plastic bottles, the essentials of a toolbox, and growing plants that will encourage bees and other wildlife.

B&Q experts will be at Gilwell Reunion on 3 September, where they will be able to teach you the DIY skills and confidence you need to enthuse your Group.

Public demos B&Q has introduced a raft of initiatives for young people to help them learn basic DIY skills. From classes that are held at its ‘You Can Do It’ centres to its partnership with the charity UK Youth – which will see B&Q employees working alongside young people at a local level – and ‘Job Done!’, a free DIY and home improvement programme for schools. Visit www.diy.com for details.

Take your Group to a store Make the most of our Kids Can Do It Classes, which are offered free to Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at selected stores.

Call your local store or check www.diy.com for details.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

71_

.indd 71

71

1 /07/2011 1 :

Scout with the animals Free in-store workshops for Beavers and Cubs at Pets at Home

P

ets at Home is offering your Beavers and Cubs an opportunity to get help towards their badge work. Beavers and Cubs attending the workshops will receive advice from trained advisers on how to care for pets responsibly to achieve part of their set badge criteria. The free workshops will give local Beavers and Cubs all they need to achieve some of their badge tasks and teach them how to care for pets responsibly. Examples of suitable animals for the badge include dogs, cats, gerbils, guinea pigs, fish, birds and rabbits.

Beavers To obtain their Animal Friend Activity Badge, your Colony will learn how to care for small animals, fish or insects, plus the correct type and quantities of food to feed them. They will also discover the right habitats for small animals, where they sleep and how to ensure they get the appropriate level of exercise.

Cubs To help gain their Animal Carer Activity Badge, your Pack will find out about different types of fish – such as freshwater, seawater or tropical – and what food they eat. Cubs will also learn the correct foods that small animals need to keep them healthy and how to recognise common illnesses.

more info Pets at Home offers great products, tips and advice to keep your pet happy and healthy. From specialist pet food to toys and training aids, there is everything a pet owner could wish for and more. There are more than 280 Pets at Home stores across the UK. To find your local one, visit www.petsathome.com/storelocator

You can use getamap to:

A new Ordnance Survey online tool will make it even easier to plan your adventures

search the online maps see the location of Scout camps find things to do and places to visit near where you live or an area you’re visiting make your own routes and see them plotted on the maps look at ready-made walking, cycling and running routes save and share the maps online with your fellow Scouts and friends check the local weather for places on the maps before you set out print out your map to take with you on your activity.

Ordnance Survey getamap is a new website that allows you to view the whole set of Explorer 1:25 000 and Landranger

getamap can be a great help for Scouts and Scout leaders. Use getamap to plan your outdoor activities today.

Get this

1:50 000 maps, and other map views, such as ZoomMap and satellite/Earth view images, all on one website.

more info To find out more, go to www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap

72 Scouting August/September 2011

72_

tne

ip .indd 72

1 /07/2011 1 :52

Partnerships

G N U O Y G HELPIN D N A T S R E D PEOPLE UN MONEY The Scout Association is teaming up with NatWest MoneySense to create a series of activity packs that will teach Scouts more about money The packs cover five areas of money management and will provide exciting ideas for you to do within your Group. They will also give young people an opportunity to relate money management to their own lives.

This will include information and activities specific to Scouting, and will help towards achieving a number of activity badges.

Specific activities will teach Scouts how to fundraise and how to help budget for camp.

The packs will be:

activities within Groups, but also giving Scouts the opportunity to adapt what they’ve learned to their own lives.

Tools NatWest is also providing some useful resources that can be used by you and your Scouts. These include a budgeting tool, which could be helpful for working out budgets for any forthcoming events/camps that you are planning.

‘Whether your Scouts need help with budgeting for an activity, or

The packs and tools are designed to be fun and engaging, as well as teaching your Scouts some important life skills

simply want to learn new skills to equip them for the world they live in, these packs should provide a valuable resource for both them and you,’ says Graham Steven from NatWest MoneySense.

Money matters The materials in development are fully impartial and build upon the successful NatWest MoneySense for Schools programme, used in more than two-thirds of British secondary schools. For more information, visit natwest.com/ moneysenseforschools

Making the most of your money Money and event management Fundraising Money and your life Running your own business.

Each will offer an insight into some aspect of money management and provide handy tips on saving, budgeting, setting up a bank account, raising money and much more.

The packs will be interactive, providing an opportunity to run

more info To find out more and to download the activity packs (available from 1 September), please go to: www.scouts.org.uk/natwest

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

73

t e t.indd 73

73

1 /07/2011 1 :5

68 Scouting August/September 2011

7

.indd 7

1 /07/2011 1 :57

Ask Camp thecooking experts

O&A

Leaders must train their Scouts to use knives safely

The panel is here to answer your Scouting questions and concerns

I am taking my Cubs on camp and I want to run an activity around whittling. I’ve seen some people use safety knives with the rounded tips. Would you recommend these?

Austin says: If using knives, any leader needs to teach their section about careful usage of the cutting edge. For me it’s as much a fallacy having a rounded end as it is saying that a sharp knife is more of a danger than a slightly dulled one.

Consider purchasing budget knives.

The Mora range is a good place to start, and you’ll always know that they are sharp if looked after.

I have five new Explorer Scouts in my Unit. Four of them have integrated really well, but one of them is very withdrawn and doesn’t take part. Can you help?

Dr Stu says: The remedy for Explorers who seem isolated and unhappy can quite often be time and a range of experiences. The fact that they attend regularly demonstrates that the Explorer Unit is meeting their social, emotional and psychological needs. But you should make them feel an important member of the group, whether it’s through developing skills or getting them to take on a specific and regular role in the meeting.

Do remember, however, that you are not there to diagnose the mental health conditions of your Explorers,

but rather to help them grow in character and personality. If you are very worried about the individual I would recommend that, in the first instance, you speak to them in an informal setting.

I have been a section leader for more than ten years, and have agreed to become District Commissioner. I haven’t done any training since 1999, when I completed my Leadership 2, and am concerned that I may not have the time to commit to the new training requirements. As a manager in a large company, I understand the principles of management. Do I need to do more training?

Sam says: One of the principles of the Adult Training Scheme is that it recognises prior experience, so you don’t have to learn things you already know. Your experience as a section leader and your job as a manager will help with this. You need to create a personal learning plan with your line manager and training adviser, where you talk about the training needs of your role, and assess what additional learning you might need to do. You may be surprised at how much you already know. We advise that training should take no longer than three years, so it’s about prioritising what your needs are, and then doing the role.

I pay my membership fee.

What am I insured for?

Ralph says: The Scout Association, through Unity (Scout Insurance Services), provides three kinds of insurance for its members: n Public Liability arising out of accidents on a Scout activity n Personal Accident and Medical Expenses n Trustees Indemnity.

Your Scout Group, District or County may need to buy extra insurance to cover: n Non-members associated with your Group, District or County n The things your Group, District or County owns n Events that you run and the trips you take.

For more information, visit Unity’s website, www.scoutinsurance.co.uk or speak to them on 0845 0945 703.

This issue’s experts: Skills: Austin Lill is a Cub Scout Leader and bushcraft specialist Mental health: Dr Stu is a psychiatrist Training: Sam Marks is Programme and Development Adviser (Adult Support) Insurance: Ralph Doe is a Liability and Insurance Adviser for Unity

Ask them a question

Email your question to scouting. magazine@scouts.org.uk

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

75 e pe t .indd 75

75

1 /07/2011 1 :58

Competitions

Win a fire piston Win this handy gadget to get your campfire glowing

W I N!

One of the things we discovered at the Bushcraft Show in June was the fire piston. This simple little device, consisting of two cylinders that fit tightly inside one another, allows you to create a hot ember, which you can then use to start a fire.

The people at Bushcrafttools.com have given us a number of aluminium full fire piston kits to give away. If you fancy winning one, just answer the following question: Which of the following is a method of making fire?

A) A bow drill B) A longbow Send your answer to: scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk or by post to Piston Competition, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, London E4 7QW by 23 September.

Win family tickets to the Primitive Woorth ver Skills Festival £100 If you are looking to try a different outdoor sport and celebrate the summer, then look no further than the Primitive Skills Festival. Taking place on Bank Holiday Monday 29 August at Celtic Harmony Camp, the Iron Age settlement near Hertford, in Hertfordshire, you can spend the day with storytellers, warriors, woodsmen and archers.

There will also be lots of family activities, including craft workshops, longbow archery, drumming, cave painting and an owl display. To be in with a chance of winning three family tickets, simply answer the following question: What colour is the centre of an archery target?

A) Yellow B) Black C) Blue Email scouting.magazine@scouts.org.uk Competition closes 15 August 2011.

You can beat the queue and save 20 per cent by booking online at www.celticharmony.org or calling 01438 718543.

Enter all the competitions and find exclusive ones on www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

tition e p m o c y h p a r g to o h p 2011 Make it snappy if you want to enter our photography competition. Don’t forget to take your camera with you to capture that special picture which shows Scouting at its best. There are four categories: Your Big Adventure event Urban Scouting Diversity Action This is one of the many photos that have been submitted so far. You have just enough time to submit yours.

76 Scouting August/September 2011

7 _ o petition.indd 7

How to enter

Go to www.flickr.com/groups/ scoutingcompetition2011 and upload your photograph. Please ensure that you provide an email address where we will be able to contact you in the event that you are shortlisted. If your photograph is shortlisted for the cover, you will be asked to provide a high-resolution version of the image – so make sure you save them in the meantime.

The closing date for entries is 1 September.

MORE Log on to Scouting online for ONLINE more great competitions – www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

1 /07/2011 1 :5

g n i t u o Sc

DIRECTORY Visit www.scouts.org.uk/magazine for the online directory

Appropriate Scout Association authorisation is required by leaders and adults running activities and events, even when using products and equipment supplied by commercial companies. Inclusion in this listing does not imply endorsement by The Scout Association.

EVENTS

SUPPLIERS th s* Wi tures dge a pic he b t of

The Little Books of Badge Requirements are handy, pocket-sized (A6) reference/record books for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, containing the current badge requirements and spaces for signing off.

They also contain information on Scouting history & basics.

Available from East Sussex County Scouts† The For more information Little Book of Badge and an order form, Requirements please contact:

Y SCOUTS EX COUNT EAST SUSS

Scout Law

The Cub do their best, lves Cub Scouts always before themse think of others turn every day. and do a good

to do my best To be kind and helpfu And to love God. l

ise Scout Prom The Cubthat I will do my best,

The Beaver Scout Motto Be Prepa

I promise the Queen, to God and to to do my duty people to help other Law. the Cub Scout and to keep

red

All Scout Association trademarks and This booklet designed copyright content

by C T Green (CSL, used by permission.

1st Horam (Kamba) under Scout Association Cub Pack) 02/11 copyright licence and produced No.0211.

o The Scout Mott d Be Prepare

For please call: 07788 more information about this book 587603 or email: badge.books.sx@btinte

used by permission. copyright content and produced trademarks and Cub Pack) 02/11 All Scout Association 1st Horam (Kamba) No.0211.

by C T Green (CSL, copyright licence This booklet designed under Scout Association

rnet.com

Produced by East Sussex Scouts

badge.books.sx@btinternet.com • 07788 587603 or visit: www.broadstonewarren.org.uk JUNE 2011

about this book rnet.com For more information badge.books.sx@btinte 587603 or email: please call: 07788 Sussex Scouts Produced by East

EAST SUSS EX COUNT Y SCOUTS

The Beaver Scout Promise I promise

CBRR0211

BBRR0211

Beaver 2011 Cover v2.indd 1-2

JUNE 2011

17/5/11 17:17:13

v2.indd 1-2 Cub 2011 Cover

17/5/11 20:00:08

East Sussex County Scouts have been granted a copyright licence to produce The Little Books of Badge Requirements. *Cub and Beaver versions only

†

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

c

i ied_ i ecto _AugSep2011.indd 77

77

1 /07/2011 12:27

SUPPLIERS ACTIVITIES & ACTIVITY CENTRES SUPPLIERS

Fire Barrels STRONG STABLE STURDY     

Complete Kit includes: Barrel, Legs & Grid Can be sold separately Self Supporting Legs. No Assembly Required 3 Leg Heights Easily Transported

Visit www.tanmill.co.uk Call 01902 880991

See website for current designs

OUTDOOR MEALS www. 2Blazes.co.uk 01725 552283

New and Used 11 and 13 man canoes

noeAd entu e _Scouting_AugSep_2011.indd 1

0 /0 /2011 1 :28

78 Scouting August/September 2011

c

i ied_ i ecto _AugSep2011.indd 78

1 /07/2011 12:27

SUPPLIERS

ACTIVITIES & ACTIVITY CENTRES

• Group tuition • Windsurfing, Canoeing, Sailing, Archery, Raft Building • Camping, Café, Bar, Disco, Games room • 1st aid courses

We offer Bushcraft Forest chools Duke of Edinburgh Award cheme Mountain Biking Problem olving Mountain Activities Caving Climbing kiing nowshoeing.

Please visit our website or contact Ian on

Ad entu e o t

Croft Farm Leisure & Water Park Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 7EE 01684 772321 Email tom@croftfarmleisure.co.uk

or

Bursledon, Southampton.

t_ uiding_Autu n_2011.indd 15/07/2011 o t 1 10:17 _Scouting_AugSept2011.indd08/07/2011 1 10: 0

023 8040 5151

ACTIVITIES & ACTIVITY CENTRES

LNBP at Braunston

Runway’s End

Re-ope n Autum s n 2011

Outdoor Centre

BRINGING THE EXPERIENCE OF CANAL BOATING TO YOUNG PEOPLE

Runway’s End

Available to schools, Youth Groups and Community Organisations throughout the country

Outdoor Centre

World class, indoor and outdoor activities in North Hampshire t. 01590 623903 www.hants.gov.uk/runwaysend

CAMPING

The project was founded in 1981 and in 2006 received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services. Our boats are based on the Grand Union Canal at Braunston, Northamptonshire.

They provide the opportunity for young people from organised groups, including schools, groups working with the less able and disadvantaged, to experience the benefits of canal boating.

Tel: 0870 240 6724 Email: gh.lnbp@virgin.net www.lnbp.co.uk

Why not visit the Safety Centre a fantastic indoor interactive experience where children learn about safety in a realistic and fun environment Will achieve work towards Activity and Challenge Badges

Visit our website to view the Centre in action www.safetycentre.co.uk For booking details and information on help with costs ring 01908 263009 or email info@safetycentre.co.uk 18 Carters Lane, Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes MK 11 3ES

Eight-acre site near underground for exploring Central London. Ideal for Pack/Troop/Unit Camping. Patrol camp. Beaver Fun Days. Indoor Accommodation for 36+ with hall kitchen. Good toilets and shower facilities plus special need toilet.

Climbing Wall/Archery/Rifle Range/ Pioneering/Canoes – Nature Watch centre. Large Hall and kitchen for events. Meeting Rooms and Wi - Fi. For details please visit @

Reg Charity No: 1019093

a ety entre_ couting_ un

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

2 11.indd 1 / 1 /2 11 11:1

A c

i ied_ i ecto _AugSep2011.indd 7

_S

_A

S

79

2011.indd 0 /07/2011 1 12:35 15/07/2011 10:18

BUSHCRAFT

CAMPING DIRECTORY

Bushcraft, survival and nature awareness.

Quality experiences for Scout and Guide camps in the East Devon Blackdown Hills. www.wildsideexperience.co.uk

FOR HIRE KESWICK SCOUTS’ CAMPING HUT 2 /0 /2011

i d idee pe ience_Scout _2011.indd 1

12 bunk basic camping hut with tent area.

3 miles from Keswick.

For further details contact: Gill Reader 1st Keswick Scout Group Treasurer bobandgill44@btinternet.com Phone: 017687 72073

CLUB FUNDRAISING es ic _ couting_

r

ay.indd

GT COMBAT 1

1 / 3/2 11

If your kids like LAZER TAG / BLACK OPS, they will love GT COMBAT! We have an inflatable battlefield and high tech, lazer free light guns, which can be used indoors or outdoors, including fields, woods, etc.

And as we are completely mobile, we bring it all to you as a fundraising adventure!

The kids enjoy a great day and you raise much needed funds for your Scout Group. oug For more information please contact us on:

01702 - 475760 / 01702 -520087

And see our website at

www.gtcombat.co.uk.

UNIFORMS o

t_Scouting_AugSept.indd 1 Uniforms & Camping ONLINE

Go to Trekwise From our shop in Dorset to the whole world. Uniforms, camping and walking equipment.

CAMPING DIRECTORY 07/07/2011

www.trekwise.co.uk call us on 01308 456117

Snowdonia

Rough Close Scout Campsite, Tanners Lane, Berkswell, CV7 7DD www.roughclose.org.uk • roughclose@btconnect.com 07946 516 891 • 024 7646 4310

• 43 acre woodland campsite and activity centre close to Coventry • 2 large camping fields • 22 bedded building, fully equipped, toilets, showers, adjacent field • 3 cabins & adjacent fields 17:3 • Activities, archery, crate climbing, air rifle, traverse wall, pedal cars, orienteering and pioneering • Indoor activity hall • The Retreat bar & café • Trading Post, tuck shop, uniforms & badges

• • • •

Toilet blocks, shower facilities Easy access to NEC Open all year ASGC Member

WALES 11/07/2011 Yr Hafod The Scout Mountaineering Centre In the heart of Snowdonia

o e_Scouting_AugSept_2011.indd 1

15:1

1 :20

www.yr-hafod.org.uk

also known as www.walkalotonline.co.uk

CAMPING

Rough Close Scout Campsite & Activity Centre 15:50

NORTH WEST Devon, PL21 0JG

e i e_ cout .indd 1 0 /07/2011 17:0 Campsite + Bunkhouse + Activities Rock climbing, canoeing, gorge scrambling + more

www.bachventures.co.uk Tel: 01286 650643

c _Scouting_AugSept2011.indd 1 0 /07/2011 11:31

MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS www.glasgowscoutshop.com Equipping you for your Scouting adventures!

80 Scouting August/September 2011

c

i ied_ i ecto _AugSep2011.indd 80

1 /07/2011 12:27

Round our place

The 100th Elvetham Heath makes a departure from its usual meeting place to get together for some radio Scouting. Group Scout Leader David Millen explains why

LIVE ON AIR

O

ur regular meeting place is the church hall in Elvetham Heath, a housing development near Fleet in Hampshire. But today we’re taking all the sections in the Group to a local activity site, Runways End, to enjoy a full-on Funday, which includes participation in Jamboree-onthe-Air (JOTA).

Whole Group days out are important for us, as we’re relatively new (formed during the Centenary year in 2007 – hence the 100th) and the leaders get to catch up and compare ideas.

Having the local amateur radio team here is a great chance for Cubs and Scouts to realise that Scouting is as much about technology as it is about firelighting, climbing and other outdoor bases we’ve got going.

Calling out around the world We always try to fit in JOTA, because there’s nothing like being able to speak to a Scout in another country about your experiences. The Scouts realise they’re part of something much bigger than just the Troop in their home town.

They’ve had conversations today with Scouts in Scandinavia and New Zealand. The massive radio mast installed in the camp square

explains the huge reach and also captures the youngsters’ imagination.

During JOTA, certain frequencies are allocated to Scouts and, if we listen around them, we find clusters of Scouts waiting to talk to us. Our signal here is quite strong, so the Scouts have a good chance of getting connected and starting a conversation.

Change is good We’ve found that changing things regularly encourages growth. Whether by meeting somewhere different or doing something different (such as JOTA), varying the programme keeps young people engaged and allows us to involve more adults in the running of things.

I operate an active management system, with the expectation that parents get involved in leading or helping, and because of this we’ve been able to open new sections and grow the Group, from zero in 2007 to more than 100 youth and adult members already.

Tell us

If you’d like us to come round your place, drop us a line at scouting. magazine@ scouts.org.uk

join the JOTA-JOTI fun JOTA-JOTI takes place on 15-16 October 2011. To learn more and take part, visit www.jotajoti.org or follow @JOTAJOTI on Twitter.

www.scouts.org.uk/magazine

81

ound ou p ce.indd 81

81

1 /07/2011 15:0

Interview

Five miles with…

a challenge event fundraiser Paul Carr, 53, is one of 30 runners who are fundraising for Scouting as they take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October. We caught up with him (well, we tried) on a training run Scouting magazine: How did you start running?

Paul Carr: My 25-year-old son ran the London Marathon last year. I’d never dreamed of doing it, but watching from the sidelines was amazing and I said ‘I’m going to do it’. I built up my fitness, lost 20lb and, a year later, was on the start line.

SM: What made you want to do a challenge event for Scouting?

PC: When I saw I could run the Royal Parks for Scouting, I jumped at the chance. To be part of that team will be great; it’s my five minutes of fame.

It’s a great run, I love it.

SM: What is your volunteer role?

PC: I’m a District Scout Active Support Manager, running and maintaining the District campsite, Fairmead. We repair

challenge yourself

and upgrade the facilities there, as and when we can. The Unit also helps run events, such as a big sleepover.

SM: What have you done on the campsite?

PC: A few years ago, we bought a log cabin for £25 from Exchange and Mart. We dismantled it in one place and reconstructed it at Fairmead. A lick of paint and it’s as good as new. That’s what Scout Active Support means to me. We’ve also made parts of an adventure course, including a monkey bridge. When you see 20 Scouts on it at once, it makes it all worthwhile.

SM: What’s your goal for the half marathon?

PC: I want to finish in less than two hours. I’ve never managed that before, so I’m training hard.

The run took place at Fairmead Scout Campsite in Essex, where Paul is Scout Active Support Manager

If you’re inspired by Paul’s efforts, why not sign up for a challenge event? Seven fundraisers recently completed the British 10k, raising more than £1,800 for Scouting. Learn more at www.scouts.org.uk/challengeevents

82 Scouting August/September 2011

82_5

i e cop .indd 82

1 /07/2011 15:0

_Scouting_AugSep2011.indd 22

13/07/2011 15:23

g n i t u Sco tember 2011 August/Sep

Scouting AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2011

Providing scout tents for over 100 years

.uk/magazi scouts.org

for generations of scouting...

LETTING GO Tips for dealing with bad behaviour

BUSHCRAFT SPECIAL

British quality ...that stands alone Call NOW for special deals...

01274 728469

www.bctoutdoors.com

SCOUTS.ORG.UK/MAGAZINE

See our complete range of scout tents and special deals online at...

ne

AFTER SUN Why now’s the perfect time to plan your winter programme ‘THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, IT’S FOR US TO LISTEN’ Taking youth participation to the next level

O T K C A B T F A R C BUSH r skills u o y n e p r a Sh xperts e r o o d t u o r with ou

BCT Outdoors Ltd, Windsor Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 7AQ

01 Aug Sep_co e 3.indd 1

1 /07/2011 13:00