Join the Adventure…Bishop’s Stortford and District newsletter

the Big Picture January

2009
Special points of
DISTRICT ALL ADULTS FORUM interest in this
issue:
A chance for all adults to meet and share views
There will be a special forum for all adults in the District on Wednesday, 8.00pm 4th Beaver and
2
February 2009, Ferguson Theatre, Bishop’s Stortford College CM23 2PJ. ALL adults Cub updates
working in Scouting in our District are welcome. This includes all Leaders, Section
Assistants, Group Executive members.
Scout
3
Update
The Forum’s purpose is to provide a briefing on the new welcoming and appointment
process for all adults coming into Scouting and to discuss arrangements for the St
George’s Day event in April. There will also be time for Sectional/role specific small Explorer
group discussions. 4
Scout update

PLEASE PUT THIS IN YOUR DIARY AND WE WILL SEE YOU THERE!
District
5
Awards 09
DIRECTIONS

The Ferguson Theatre is on Maze Green Road itself, and parking should not be a Diary 6
problem, just a short walk up that road.

Stop Press…

From initial
returns from our
Scout Groups, it
looks like our
numbers are
going to be up
again… over
900. More news
in the next
edition.

Theatre in Maze Green Road

Changes to Age Ranges

The National Association has now had confirmation from the
Department for Children, Schools and Families that Section 71
of the Children Act does not apply to Scouting. This is
excellent news as it means that there can be flexibility in the
lower age range for Cubs (7½ years). The core age remains 8 -
10½ years, but in simple terms Beaver can go up at 7½ and
children can join from outside Scouting at 7½. This rule
change takes place with immediate effect. Any questions
please ask Ken or Hazel
.

Join the Adventure… January 2009 Page 2

CANAL BOATS ON THE RIVERS LEE AND STORT

Are you short of an EXCELLENT idea for your 2009 Programme…. How about doing
something completely different? Whether it’s for an overnight trip or just a day out,
we can make all thre arrangements and crew the boat for you. We are fully
trained to CCBM standard
and can promise you a
weekend or day out to
remember. Interested?
Please contact:
Stuart Jacobs, ASL 1st
Thorey on
01279 305315

Beaver Scout Update with Hazel Mead

Seeing around 60+ Beavers together with Leaders, parents and many other family
members weaving their way around Pishiobury Park with torches flashing, enjoying
their annual Torch and Wellie walk was super. We avoided disturbing the Longhorn
cattle who are resident there but could not count the amount of cow pats which
were walked through in the dark! After all this exercise and earning our Hike
Badge, we headed for the 1st Sawbridgeworth Scout Group hut and as we drew near
the aroma of sausages being cooked by Conquest Explorer Scouts wafted up the path
and these were enjoyed along with soup to round off a very enjoyable evening.

A very busy 2009 ahead as plans are in hand to open a Beaver Colony at Silver Leys
and a third one at 1st Bishops Stortford & Hockerill so will be welcoming many new
Leaders and helpers. In January Leaders and helpers will enjoy their Christmas
dinner get-together at a local hostelry. We are looking forward to Beaver Splash
Night in March and a Sleepover is planned for June at Skreens Park for which
arrangements are all in hand.

Cub Scout Update with Ken Gordon

Many thanks to all of you who supported this year’s Cub Carol Service and also
thanks to Sue and Maureen for organising a very entertaining service. Well done to
all the Cubs who took part so brilliantly. The poor attendance of Cubs has led us to
re-think the service for next year and the most popular suggestion so far is to have “Good Turn in
the service on a weeknight (Monday being the most popular) instead of a pack
meeting. If you have any thoughts or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me or aid of
bring them to the “All District Leaders” meeting in February. Macmillan
This year’s “Good Turn” in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support has got off to a good
Cancer Support
start with £765 raised so far and still some money to come in. Thanks to all the has got off to a
packs that have made the effort to fundraise. good start with
Silver Leys Apollo Cubs is going from strength to strength under the leadership of
Darren and Jane. Every time I visit there are new faces and the Cubs are always £765 raised so
having fun. Well done to them both and a very belated welcome to the team. far”
As we move into 2009 I look forward to visiting your packs and having a quick chat.
As you know there is no Cub Leaders meeting in the first quarter of 2009 but I hope
to get us all together at the “All Leaders” meeting on the 4th January.
Join the Adventure… January 2009 Page 3

Scout Update with Max Streets

Non - Stop Action!
October saw a Veteran team enter Peak Assault. They acquitted themselves very
well despite having a some what over enthusiastic start on the Saturday. They have
realised that they are not as young as they thought they were; all credit to them for
their achievement.

Remembrance Parade.
A excellent turn out by all. Sawbridgeworth and Much Hadham attending their own
parades in their respective homes. We achieved the largest representation amongst
the various youth sections that were parading. Thank you to all the leaders for
encouraging your members to attend. It is very much appreciated by not only the
public at large who attend but also by the veterans who have made a special effort
to thank us for attending. Thanks also to the Explorers for assisting with distribution
of the order of service leaflets at the memorial. Whilst we were attending the
service in Bishop’s Stortford, some of our members from St Michaels Mead and
Thorley Buccaneer Troops were holding their own Remembrance service under a
large yew tree at Beaudesert Camp site as part of their Camp service weekend.
Once again they were busy “Rhodie Bashing” helping to clear the wooded areas
around the camp site.

Green Beret Challenge -25th Anniversary. November 14 – 15th

This year held at Lees Wood site. Greatest number of teams every accepted for the
competition of 135 A total of 118 teams completing the Competition – another
record. Our District entered 6 teams. Best position achieved in the district of joint
22nd equal by St Michael s Mead and Thorley Buccaneer. Both who were novice
teams. A good weekend all round with all teams doing well to complete all the
elements. Thorley Adventure have attended all 25 competitions, a real
achievement. Thanks again to the Explorers and their leaders for providing and
running the day and evening bases. It was a very enjoyable weekend helped by the
fact of being mainly dry and not as cold as of previous years. Next year the
competition is to be held at Gilwell Park. Hope to see even more teams competing.

Around the Troops.

 1st BS. -Busy with snorkelling and “pass it on cooking” evenings.
 Sawbridgeworth -Half Term camp and cooking evenings. “It is great to
 Silver Leys- Busy using their new outdoor cooking facilities
 St Michaels Mead – Beaudesert Service weekend and Guy making see such a
 10th BS – New troop started with a nucleus of seven members under the variety of
leadership of Martin Adams.
 Thorley Adventurer. Congratulations to Alex, David and Ed on achieving their
activities”
Chief Scout Gold awards. (Great photo in the press)
 Thorley Buccaneer. Joined with St Michaels Mead at Beaudesert weekend, and
skating.

What a terrific programme you are all providing for your various sections. It is great
to see such a variety of activities; both new initiatives and tried and tested
favourites. Long may it continue to provide engaging evenings and weekends. This is
the key to your continuing success.
Join the Adventure… January 2009 Page 4

Explorer Scout Update with Nigel Reed

Once again all 3 Units in our District have been busy with their programms and
weekend activities.

Conquest ESU are joining the County Expedition to Swaziland in 2009 and they are
busy fund raising and preparing for that. They have 9 of the Unit going plus 2
leaders. The Unit will spend some of their time working on a community develop
project with children at risk. They will also have a 2-day trip in the Kruger National
Park and 2 day trip to Maputo the capital of Mozambique. The Unit also had a
weekend on a narrow boat in the company of Captain Bunny Jacobs.

Endeavour ESU and still growing stronger with more young people from St
Elizabeth’s School joining the Unit. Su Jones is now helping William on a regular
basis and they are able to offer the Unit a wider range of activities for them to try.
Their Planetarium evening was a great success with Cubs from Blackfoot and Scouts
from 2nd Much Hadham all joining together for the meeting.

Voyager had a team entered in the Hertfordshire Peak Assault competition held at
Llanthony, Black Mountains in South Wales. They came a very creditable 11 th out of
the 32 Explorer teams that entered. The Unit also had 26 of its members attend
County Explorer Christmas Meal at Stevenage, which helped push the attendance to
over 400 for the first time. The Unit also ran the Day and Night Base for the District
at this years Green Beret Competition.

We now have 25 Young Leaders in the District that help regularly at Beaver, Cub or
Scout meetings. 20 of those Young Leaders have completed the compulsory part of
the Young Leaders training and are now eager to do some more modules of this
training. Many of them recently helped out on the Districts Torch and wellie walk.
If anyone knows of a Young Leader that is not registered with the District then
please let Julie Thorpe have his or her details.

Chief Scouts Awards

Since the last edition, we have been notified of the following Chief Scout Gold
Awards achievements:

Alex George (1st Thorley)

David Williams (1st Thorley)
Ed Hazell (1st Thorley)

Also the following Chief Scout Silver Awards have been awarded to :

Jonathan Platts, Andrew Kent, Scott Soley, Calum Newbury and Mark Holmes all
of Silver Leys Saturn Cub Pack.

WELL DONE!
If you have any young people who have gained the Chief Scout’s Award, please
email Greg on: [email protected] or tell your ADC Section.
Join the Adventure… January 2009 Page 5

Bits and Pieces

District Scout Shop
Open most Wednesdays 7.00pm – 8.30pm. If in doubt ring Reg Jacobs 01279
653806

District Camping and general Equipment

In the last newsletter there was a list of District equipment you can borrow.
If you want to use this, please ring Geoff Markwell 01279 655366.

District Communications and Promotional equipment

A list of special equipment to promote Scouting was circulated to Section Leaders
and GSL’s via email just before Christmas. It included professional displays, Laptop,
digital projectors, Sound system and so on….If you want to book and borrow this
equipment, contact John Henson.
Phone: 01279 507886
Email: [email protected]

District Swimming
Remember you can take advantage of the FREE District run swimming session most
weeks on a Tuesday Night – why not make this your Section meeting for one week?
Full information can be obtained form Geoff Markwell on 01279 655366.

Give aways:
The District have two overhead projectors to dispose of. They are free to anyone
whether in the movement or not. If interested ring Geoff on 655366. They will be
available until the end of February.

Risk Assessments:
As we enter the new year it is a good time to remind all GSL's that it is necessary to
complete a 'risk assessment' of the meeting places, grounds and play areas in their
responsibility. Guidance notes, if needed, can be supplied or viewed on
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs120000.pdf

Group travel:
Any Groups, troops, packs booking holidays should check their travel agent is a
member of ABTA and ATOL. ABTA phone 0207 637 2444

www.abta.com or www.caa.co.uk/cpg/atol/contact-us

District Awards 2009

Section Leaders have received full details of the process for you all to nominate
young people and adults for the 2009 District Awards. These will be presented at a
special ceremony at the St, Barnabus Centre on the 6th May. As a reminder, the key
categories are:

 Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer Scout of the Year:

The young person that has done their Best and carried out their Law and Promise to
help others. Make sure
 Special Event
The Section that has had the most interesting day out in the year.
YOU
nominate
 Interesting Programme.
The section that has had the most unusual programme night/activity in the year.
someone!
 Leader of the Year
The Leader that a nominee(s) feels has either:
(a) Done something beyond the normal call of duty for Scouting and inspired
others;
(b) Helped young people enjoy a special Scouting experience.
Join the Adventure… January 2009 Page 5

 Special commendation
Special category for the item/person/event that you feel deserves a special
recognition.

If you know of anyone from your Group, Unit or Section that could get one of these
awards, nominate then to your Section Leader, GSL or ring Sue Byford on 01279
832351 NOW!!!

Dates for your diary….

January February
Contact Contact
10 First Aid Training (County HQ) CO 2 Appointments Committee KR
ALL District Leader Meeting
14 Beaver Leaders New Year Dinner HM 4 GS
7.45pm
Dist. Explorer Scout Leaders
14 NR 10 First Aid Training County CO
Meeting
16/18 Fire and Ice, Tolmers Winter Camp CO 11 District Team Meeting GS
21 Group Scout Leaders Meeting GS 11 Module 11 - Administration CO
Cougar Scout Network
TBC EM 16 Getting Started URC BS JW
activities/meet
17 Module 17 - Activities CO
18 Module 18 – Practical Skills CO
19 Module 19 - International CO
First Aid Training (Thorley
21 GC
HQ)
20/21 February Chiltern Challenge NR

March April
Contact Contact
2 Appointments Advisory KR 4-11 Inter.Mountaineering Course, CO
Committee Loch’hed
5 District Executive Committee GM 10-18 Inter.Mountaineering Course, CO
Loch’hed
7 CUB and SCOUT Splash Night, BS GM 16 Getting Started URC BS VD
College
8 Leaders Practical Skills Day CO 26 St George’s Day Event - GS
Birchwood High School, BS
9 District Scout Leaders meeting MS 27 District Cub Scout Leaders KG
Meeting
14/15 Modules (Managers) CO TBC Cougar Scout Network EM
20,21,22,23,24,26 activities/meet
14 Module 14 – Young People Today CO 28 1st St Michaels Mead AGM
14 Module 15 – Challenging Behaviour CO
14 Module 13 Growing the Movement CO
15 Module 8 – Skills of Leadership CO
15 Module 7 – Valuing Diversity CO
15 Module 9 Working with Adults CO Bold Text are District run activities
28 BEAVER Splash Night, BS College GM
28 Bring a Friend Day - Tolmers CO