East Lancashire Gazette - April 2008

Cub Section Update

You may already be aware that Adene Hall is taking back seat from Scouting and, for the immediate future, Julia Samson will act as ACC Cubs until another person is appointed. If you have any queries or questions relatingto Cub matters you should, in the first instance, contact your ADC Cubs/DC who will contact Julia if necessary - however Julia is more than happy for people to contact her direct.

A reminder about the County Cub Skills Day taking place at Bowley Campsite on 17th May. Leaders to arrive from 9am to set up bases. Groups to register at 9.45am. Presentations will take place at 2.45pm when we will be happy to see parents present. The day will finish around 3pm. Furtherdetails available on the website. See you there!

Following a meeting with the ADC Cubs and Julia a number of ideas for further County events were discussed. Your ADC will relay those ideas to all Cub Leaders at their next District meeting - that will be your opportunity to put your own ideas forward as well.   The Leaders at section level (i.e. you!) are the people with the ears to the ground - ask your Cub members and Leader team for ideas.  We can't promise to fulfil everyone's wishes but we will certainly investigate each suggestion.

Unfortunately we have had to cancel the County Cub Fun Day for 2008. We do apologise for this but it was decided that, as no planning had yet happened for the day, the time available was too short to make the day an excitingand fun filled one for everyone involved. If you have any ideas that you think would be good for the next Fun/Adventure Day next year do let your ADC Cubs know what they are - remember, if you don't ask you don't get!

That's all for now, folks. Keep up the excellent work happening at Group and District level.

St. Pauls Barnfield Beavers and Cubs Mayoral Visit

On Tuesday 26th February St. Pauls Barnfield Beavers and Cubs spent the evening at Accrington Town Hall as guests of the Mayor, Tony Dobson. They discovered the history of the Town Hall from its origins as The Peel Institute to its present day use. They explored the council chambers and the Mayors Parlour.  Whilst in the Council Chambers a short ceremony was held to move 4 beavers up to cubs and to present them with The Bronze Chief Scouts Award. 5 cubs were also invested and presented with certificate of investiture by the Mayor.

Hyndburn Cubs 5-A-Side Knockout

Nine teams of Cub Scouts from Accrington, Oswaldtwislte, Clayton le Moors and Gt Harwood took part in a 5 a side football Knockout at Bowley Campsite recently to find the Hyndburn District Cubs Champions. After a keenly fought match All Saints Clayton le Moors took the Cup with St.Pauls Oswaldtwistle as close runners up.  Both teams will now represent Hyndburn District Cubs at the County Competition to be held in Burnley on the 8th March.  

Is this life as we know it? Or are they Cub Scouts?

On a crisp evening in March, cubs and leaders from the 5th Rossendale Cub Scout pack visited the Halo Sculpture above the town of Haslingden in Rossendale Lancashire. The Halo is a new sculpture that has recently been added to a Sculpture Trail that follows the River Irwell that runs through the Rossendale Valley high up in the Pennines. It was a really good evening for a walk; everyone enjoyed the short walk from Haslingden Town Centre up to the Halo. When we arrived there the Cubs played around the Halo for a short time and also looked at the LED lighting. The LED lighting is powered from a wind generator and batteries near by. The power is stored during the day and the Halo only lights up when it goes dark in the evening. It can be seen from 10-15 miles away. The lads managed to stand still while some time lapse photos were taken before we set off back down the hill to Haslingden.

Hyndburn District Dog Warden

All Saints Tuesday Beavers enjoyed a visit from Hyndburn District Dog Warden, Steve Woods and his Rottweiler dog, Woody Woods. Beavers learned why it was important to wash their hands after they have touched any animals and how they always must ask a dog's owner whether they can stroke their dog instead of just rushing up to it.

Beavers all introduced themselves to Woody and he graciously allowed them to pat him and shake a paw. Beavers are currently working towards their Friendship Challenge Badges and meeting the dog warden counted towards this.

East Lancashire Railway Sleepover 2008

Well fun was had by all when 60 of our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts descended onto the East Lancashire Railway for what would turnout to be an evening of fun, badge work and teambuilding. The trip was a unique slant on the normalgroup sleepover as this year we held it on a moving heritage train that travelled constantly through the picturesque Irwel valley and surrounding countryside, It was a first for us and was defiantly a first for theRailway.

We started off by assembling at Rawtenstall station to catch our train to Bury where the night service would begin. Everyone was so excited (including the leaders), and the Cubs were taking bets on who could stay awake thelongest. This was a extra special trip as we were joined by some guests - 2 Cubs from St Matthews (Burnley) had also come along for the ride as well as the GSL and AGSL from 3rd Padiham's partner group in Rochdale (Manchesternorth).

Once we all boarded our heated train in Bury the fun began! We played games completed quizzes, rocketed through badge work and even had a campfire and Scouts own on the Train! sadly the time came when the children were asked togo to sleep (who were we kidding)! All 62 children on the trip then entered their sleeping bags and settled down for the few hours of the night left.

The next morning we held a spectacular flag break and investiture ceremony that attracted a crowd of well over 90 'normal' people. The trip was a huge success and we look forward to organising a similar one next year.

Thank you to all the children for being so well behaved and making scouting seem so appealing to all the other children (non scouting) who approached our leaders on the event asking how they can join! Also the following comment was sent to me the weekend after whilst I was working on the railway: "Simon, can I just say how well behaved you children were on the nightrider service last week. They certainly make people stop and think that not all children are like those we see on TV....... they are true ambassadors of Scouting and a promising hope for our future!"

Thank you to ALL leader for making this event possible both from Padiham and also St Matthew's.

Kick for Children with Cancer

Kick for Children with Cancer is a fun football fundraising event run by CLIC Sargent for people of all ages, abilities and interests with the added incentive that the organisers i.e our Scout Groups are able to retain 25% of any money raised to reinvest in their own group. CLIC Sargent keen to work in partnership with the scouts to promote the event and encourage participation throughout the community. For more information on Kick please visit http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/football

Last year over 80,000 children took part. In 2008, the aim is for 100,000 children and young people to participate in the sponsored football event, across the country, raising funds for CLIC Sargent-'caring for children with cancer'

It's really easy to register; it can be done onlineat http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/football . Everyone who registers also gets free footballs and pumps, in fact everything they need to organise their event.

CLIC Sargent supports children and young people who have been diagnosed with Cancer and Leukaemia and their families by providing various grants, services, practical and emotional support. Today alone 10 more families will hear the devastating news that their child has cancer. Asthe UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent's goal is simple: to give more children the support they need to beat cancer and have a happy, fulfilling childhood. Cancer shatters families' lives........... With your help we can put them back together.

Posters for you group notice board can be downloaded from http://www.eastlancashirescouts.org.uk/page.php/159

Are your Beavers Healthy Eaters?

Eat in Colour, the sponsors of the new Healthy Eating badge for Beaver Scouts have been in contact with a newspaper in the Lancashire area which would like to cover a local Beaver group undertaking the tasks to complete their Healthy Eating badge.

This would provide an excellent opportunity for us in terms of getting positive publicity for the Scouting and encouraging more potential Beaver members (and possibly leaders) to sign up. If any Group is about to start the Heathy Eating badge and would like to take part in this please contact Janet Wilmot as soon as possible.

Terrain 2 Assessments

Because of lack of interest I will be unable to offer the Terrain 2 assessment over the weekend starting 16th of May. I simply hadn't enough participants to make the assessment work. Those of you who intend to take young people out into terrain 2 areas need to ensure that you gain a permit by attending ML training or take part in another Scout led assessment offered by another area.

Remember Form M's are now out of date.

Bowley Camp Site and Activity Centre

The first quarter of 2008 has seen a busy start to the 40th anniversary year at Bowley. Earlier in the year, we launched a competition for all members of East Lancashire Scout County to design an anniversary badge and I am pleased to confirm that the winners are Lower Darwen Cubs.

The badge design incorporates all that Bowley has provided to the thousands of adults and children who have visited us since 1968! The badge will soon be going into production and will be on sale in the Trader soon. Congratulations to Lower Darwen Cubs and thank you to everyone who submitted their unique designs.

In conjunction with our anniversary, an Open Day was held in March to highlight the work being carried out on site and to preview the work and projects to be carried out in the future. The event was very well attended (I think the cakes helped !!) and in addition to the information and displays on show, a number of new people have expressed a desire to become activity instructors, site crew members and to help in the Trader. All the current staff looks forward to welcoming them to the gang!

Maintenance work has continued on site which has included two new boilers in the Lodge, a new staff room roof and a new roof on the Den porch. In addition, work has been carried out to re-connect the gas supply to the Den and offices which required a great deal of new pipe work.

On behalf of all the staff at Bowley we look forward to seeing you in our 40th year.

Dates for your Diary