East Lancashire Gazette - July 2008

County Cub Skills Competition

There was a very good turn out for the County Skills Competition, 5 districts had two teams competing and two districts had one team competing. Although the weather was not brilliant, it was not too cold and the rain held off until the end of the event.

The bases that the Cubs completed were:

• Tent Pitching
• Fire Lighting
• First Aid
• Map & Compass
• Pioneering
• Tracking
• Fun Base - Croc Attack

All the Cubs seemed to enjoy the event, having the opportunity to use their skills on the bases and have a good time as well.

The result of the top 5 teams were:

• 1 St Cuthberts (Burnley) 161
• 2 Whalley Cub Pack (Clitheroe) 151
• 3 Highfield (Darwen) 149
• 4 Bold Venture (Darwen) 146
• 5 Trawden (Pendle) 130

Medals were presented to the winners and the runners up by Louise Cooper (County Commissioner). The winning team St Cuthberts also received the County Skills trophy and will keep it for the year. A thank you was given to the Cubs for taking part in the competition, but also to the leaders who ran bases, helped to organise the event and accompanied Cubs to the event.

Kandersteg 2009

A great opportunity to visit the international Scout Centre at Kandersteg, Switzerland and meet other Scouts from all over the world.

We have made a provisional booking for 40 scouts and 9 leaders from the 21st to 30th August 2009.Only £20 deposit is required to secure a place. The total cost will be approx. £550. This will include, coach transport to Kandersteg, a full and exciting programme, excursions, food and travel insurance.

If you are interested as a leader and have a number of Scouts who you think would be suitable for this trip please register your name and group details using the attached application form.

This could be a stepping stone to the next world jamboree in Sweden in 2011 and a great international experience.

Having visited Kandersteg with Scouts for many years it is without doubt the perfect location for Scouts going abroad for the first time.

Finally there may be a restriction as to the number of Scouts from each group depending on demand. Please book early to ensure your place. Please make cheques payable to East Lancashire Scout Council.

All Saints Cubs and Beavers Sleepover & Camp

All Saints Cub Pack and All Saints Mercer Beavers held a joint sleepover camp at Bowley Scout Camp in Gt Harwood over the weekend of 30th May - 1st June 2008.

The sleepover was over 2 nights and was attended by 22 Cubs and 16 Beavers. The camp had a "wild west theme" and on arrival Cubs and Beavers made cowboys waistcoats and Indians ponchos, headdresses and bows and arrows.

Later we joined All Saints Scout Troop who were also camping at Bowley, for a campfire with songs and funny sketches performed by some of the cubs.

After a very late bedtime (and even later getting to sleep time!!!), Cubs and Beavers were up surprisingly bright and early to take part in lots of exciting activities including raft building, climbing, archery, shootingand grass sledging. One raft was tested by a scout leader but unfortunately didn't float too well so he got very very wet. Further attempts at raft building were more successful and one cub is pictured aboard a raft.

Later in the afternoon cubs walked into Gt Harwood via Memorial Park and then back up to Bowley where they enjoyed a chippy tea.

On Sunday there were more activities including parachute games, wild west theme games, more archery, raft building and shooting. Two children managed to hit the bullseye in archery, something even the leaders couldn't manage.

Finally the children paid a visit to the shop before packing for home.

We knew it had been a great success with the number of cubs and Beavers who said "Do we have to go home yet?"

Rossendale District Cub Camp

This years camp was held at Bowley there were 3 packs at the camp this year, with 55 cubs and leaders in total. All the cubs were camping outside this year, however we did have the Den, this was put to good use for activities and catering. The theme for this year was the Olympics.

On the Friday night the cubs had the opportunity to make Olympic flag fridge magnets, winners wreaths, medals, national flags and badges. Just before bed we went for a walk off site.

Saturdays activities included a mini cub fun day, the Olympics, crafts and a campfire in the evening. On Sunday we used some of the site activities to add to our Olympic theme, cubs had a go at Bouldering (climbing horizontally), Shooting and Curling.

All the Cubs seemed to enjoy the camp and everyone went home with crafts that they had made and memories of good a good time.

A thank you to all leaders who did without sleep that weekend, some more than others and gave their time and effort so that a good time could be had by all.

Blackburn West Explorer Unit visit Transylvania

Spring Bank holiday saw St. George's Mill Hill Scout Troop and Blackburn West Explorer Unit visit the Transylvania region of Romania for an international expedition.

The two groups have supported charity projects in Romania since 2005 when they first visited the Country. This visit coincided with the Group sending out around £200k of aid with the generous help of International Aid.

The group sent computers, hospital beds, wheelchairs, clothing, medical supplies and seeds to be distributed to local projects in Romania. A number of projects were visited by the groups whilst in the Country including a day at a local orphanage taking part in a football competition for local orphanages.

The group also spent time with the local Scout Group from Hunedoara and donated a number of tents to the Group to help them continue to develop Scouting in the area.

In all a fantastic experience for all involved. (pictured Group at Hunedoara Castle)

Beavers visit Hesketh Park Farm

Beavers from Loyola (Oswaldtwistle), Baxenden and All Saints Mercer (Clayton le Moors) enjoyed a visit to Hesketh Park Farm at Bolton Abbey near Skipton.

Beavers were able to cuddle lots of different animals including guinea pigs, rabbits, and chickens. (Picture shows 3 Beavers from All Saints cuddling one of the rabbits). They were also able to feed calves, baby lambsand piglets as well collecting newly laid eggs from the hens.

The farmer took us on a tractor ride through the fields, where he introduced everyone to "Robust" the Belgian Blue Bull and his many calves. Beavers also enjoyed playing on the go karts, tractors and finding their way through astraw maize.

Blackburn District Cub Sports

A lovely summers evening helped to make the Cub Sports Competition a winner. The Eventual Winners were Immanuel Feniscowles.

Active-08

This years ACTIVE takes the form of a water weekend at Southport Watersports Centre between Friday 26th and Sunday 28th September 2008.

The centre is the top venue in the Northwest for watersports and the weekend promises to be a fantastic event.

Activities will include

• Sailing,
• Kayaking,
• Canoeing,
• Dragon Boating,
• Rafting
• ...and team building.

The centre offers indoor accomodation with drying rooms, showers etc.. all you would expect for a weekend where you WILL get wet.

The event is open to all Explorer Scouts and Scouts over 13.5 years of age who are perparing to move on the Explorer Scouts.

Places for the event are limited and are on a first come first served basis. If you want to come with your Unit... great. If you want to come on your own then that is OK as well.

The event costs £50 per person which includes all food, activities and accomodation. A deposit of £20 (non refundable) is required to secure your place on the event. Please make cheques payable to

Blackburn District Explorer Scouts,
C/O Stuart Parker,
2, Cypress Ridge,
Blackburn,
BB2 5AQ

Seago Lifejacket Recall

Those of you involved in water sports may be interested to know that Seago Yachting Ltd have issued a recall of all 150 and 175 newton lifejackets (including junior lifejackets) manufactured between the last quarter of 2005and second quarter of 2007.

If you have any concerns please contact Seago Yachting on 01825873632 or email our Programme & Development Advisor. Jess Kelly jess.kelly@scout.org.uk

Welcome to the Netherlands

Well, we've made it, and amazingly we're still pretty intact. Despite the early start, the East Lancashire explorer contingent gathered on time at liverpool airport, and geared up for our 400 mile journey to the Van Elder estate in southern Holland. Soon we were on our way, and in the air. Some of the first time fliers were alarmed at the turbulence, much to the amusement of the others. Fortunately it wasn't long until we were on our double-decker train heading for the jamboree site, along with the other UK contingents we'd picked up along the way. As we arrived on the site we were greeted by a downpour, yet many smiley faces, a warm welcome and the all important 'Jambo buzz'. Unswayed the contingent prepared the site and got the all important first of cup of tea brewing. Next on the list is the Jamboree opening ceremony along with the other 4000 scouts onsite.

The adventure begins

It's official the 2008 Netherlands National Jamboree has begun. With an overwhelming opening ceremony jam packed with song, dance, and an amazing laser show. Even though we'd been awake for over 19 hours and travelled 400 miles most of us managed to stay awake throughout the show, except for some who found sleeping while stood up the most practical, Fil!!

The camp song "My future, My fantasy" spread through the audience for the first time and we were instantly hooked. At that point the jamboree buzz gripped us all and wouldn't let go. We know in we're in for a Dutch adventure like no other.

Anyways I'm off for more Jambo food, yum we're having 'meat' and rice.

At least the weather has turned to hot hot sunshine, mores on the way, but I'm late for tea, bye...

Cubs Review

We had an excellent day on 17th May at the County Cub Skills competition with every District having a team(s) present - fuller report elsewhere in the Gazette. Very many thanks to all who helped that happen. Thanks alsoto Gerry Tipling who organized the day for us - a job well done, Gerry.

It was good to talk with some of the Leaders present. Some were old hands, probably more experienced than me, but others were new to the role. It is always good to see new faces as this helps to keep things alive and well, asthey always bring new and fresh ideas to this game of Scouting. One of the comments from some was that they thought it was a skills day where the Cubs would learn - they were surprised that it was a competition. I strongly suspect that all of the Cubs learnt something new on that day - I know I certainly did!

With summer upon us - well, I think it is summer - our minds should be looking towards planning our programmes for next year. I always find it difficult to actually start the process, so I think of a word - say, bakedbeans - and draw a spider web of thoughts round it - from that web I can usually find several ideas for a very interesting programme. Works for me - it might work for you too.

With ideas in mind the team of ADC Cubs are working towards building a series of days where you can bring your Cubs to Bowley and help them work towards an activity badge. The idea is only in its infancy at this pointso you still have a chance to have some input. Tell your ADC what you really need help with and we will see what we can do. I suspect we will have hundreds of ideas - it's just turning those into workable plans that will be the hard part. You can help too, by sending me your workable plans and maybe we can put them together in a booklet. That way we can share our ideas and make the planning bit a tad less fraught.. The booklet will, I'm sure, prove very useful for new Leaders too.

That's all for now - keep up the excellent work happening at Group and District level - and thanks for all your effort and support. Have a great summer!

Two windsurfer boards, a BIC sail and a harness...

Karl Mather has two windsurfer boards, a BIC sail and a harness that he is willing to donate, ideally to a group or if no groups are interested, an individual scout or leader.

Please contact Karl if you are interested.

The Bowley Bucket - Explorer Challenge

After a weekend of challenges, and navigation around Beacon Fell, Columbus Explorers, part of Burnley District Explorer Unit triumphed at this years Bowley Bucket.

The weekend started from Jeffery Hill from where the Units had to navigate to Waddecar Scout Camp whilst being hunted by Leaders from around theCounty.

Saturday saw a series of challenges which tested teamwork, stamina and skills to the limit for points.

Sunday saw teams waken at 4am ... yes it was still dark to be set a navigation tresure hunt again while being chased and hunted by the Leader Team.

The event finished on Longridge Fell with Columbus Unit (pictured with the 'Bucket') being the proud winners and holders of the trophy for 12 months.

Joint second were an all female Burnley Explorer team along with a team from Blackburn West Explorers.

2009 will see Columbus aim to defend the trophy against all comers ... can your Unit take the trophy in 2009?

Book the dates now in your diary June 26th / 27th / 28th 2009.

Water World

380 Beaver Scouts from around the county attended on the day plus about 80 Adults. A great time was had by all.

I would like to thank all Leaders and helpers who helped to make it a great afternoon. I also like to thank Bowley Staff for their help thoughout the afternoon.

Finally, for those who still don't know, the answer to the trail was "Don`t Waste Water".

Dates for your Diary