August Newsletter from the DC Team – Ben, Simon & Heather
Hello,
July was certainly a month of highs – many of them related to the summer weather. The adventure has been happening all over the district including 25th Ealing family camp (“return of the popcorn machine”), Explorers on expedition in Snowdonia and the cubs having fun at Camporee. It’s also been awesome to see photos of so many of our leaders having as much fun as our young people.
As the sun continues, do read this great blog from Gilwell on camping in the hot weather.
Camporee
Heather visited on the last day of Camporee (this year it ran from Sunday morning to Wednesday 6pm, giving the Cubs 4 full days of activities and 3 nights of camping) It was clear to Heather just how much the 40+ Cubs had enjoyed all their badge work and adventurous activities; asked about their favourite activities during the camp, several simply said ‘all of them’! Heather was also very happy to help present the various certificates and badges during the Closing Ceremony – an opportunity to congratulate Cubs and Leaders alike. Well done everyone!
There were so many dedicated leaders who gave up their time to run this excellent camp, but a special mention must go to overall Camp Leader Lee Randall and ADC Cubs John Stanton who pulled it all together.
Some wonderfully evocative photographs were captured during Camporee by Charlotte Randall and Sharon Lunney – and we certainly hope to be able to add lots of these to the new District website in due course.
By the way, the Cub Leader team also took the opportunity – while at Camporee – to plan ahead and have drafted a provisional schedule of District Cub events for the coming year – a Navigation challenge, possible mini ‘gang show’, football competition, athletics and more – specific dates for confirmed events to follow in due course.
Also, there was general consensus and enthusiasm for attempting a week-long Camporee next summer (as long as sufficient Leaders sign up to cover the extra days). Frances Buchan has kindly agreed to take on a new District Scouter role and will undertake the Camporee administration while John Stanton will act as Camp Leader. (Meanwhile Lee Randall will be off galavanting as a Jamboree visitor next July apparently)
Expedition Training – DofE
Our Explorers were out hiking Snowdonia and Chilterns – the self sufficient expedition of between 1-3 nights completes a significant stage of their Duke Of Edinburgh and Scout Awards. It is the culmination of five months of commitment starting at a training weekend at Stoke Poges in February, and practice expeditions in the Brecon Beacons or locally.
The programme is led through the county by our very own Ben P – it’s a huge part of helping support more of our young people achieve the highest scout award – the Queen’s Scout Award. The team is always looking for help – don’t worry about your current role, if you’re a fan of having fun in the hills and want to help some young people on their way to getting their Queen’s Scout Award presented at Windsor give Ben a shout.
Brigantia Summer Camp
Simon and Ben spent last week away in the Peak District with Brigantia, our Explorer Scout Unit, whilst taking a week off from their DC roles and spending a week at the coalface as Explorer Scout Leaders. Gareth George, AESL, and Jack Horsfield, 8E ASL and former Explorer, completed the leadership team. 15 Explorers had a great week away with some caving, axe-throwing, canoeing, climbing, archery, gorge walking and a cultural visit to local attraction The Heights of Abraham. It transpired that Ben and Simon could do with some additional axe-throwing training and that Gareth and Jack make a really fantastic catering team. We also found out that a dawn hike during the longest period of unbroken sun EVER does not guarantee sun..who knew?
Grow Your Group
We’ve been talking about it for some time and Grow Your Group starts in Ealing & Hanwell in September. The objective is very simple “more adults, doing less but having more fun” and I think we all agree that sounds great. Your GSL should have been in touch with the adult uniformed and non-uniformed team as we need the same 4-6 adults from each group to attend the three sessions. Session one is on Sunday 23rd September. This is a massively important step in improving Scouting in E&H for the next generation of adults and young people and we look forward to taking part with you.
Other News from the Groups: DC Visits this month
Heather attended 25th Ealing’s AGM on 14th July, held during their Family Camp. At the meeting Richard Baker was confirmed as the Group’s new Executive Committee Chair. It was also great to meet some of the new Assistant Beaver Leaders who, as a team, (with support from CSL Nisha) will be running the Beaver section from September. Sadly we must say goodbye to Jay – unable to commute from his new home in Canada. He will of course be sorely missed by the Group, and indeed by the District as a whole – not least due to his skills as a recruiter of additional Assistant Leaders!
On behalf of the District, we would also like to wish everyone involved with 25th Ealing Scout Group a very Happy 50th Birthday! Here’s to your next amazing 50 years!
Congratulation to Sofia Orti, 7th Hanwell Scout, on being added to the Jamboree team. Sofia was on the reserve list and has joined the trip due to a non E&H withdrawal. Well done Sofia and we look forward to hearing about the trip.
Simon stepped in for Ben to join Malcolm in thanking Sharon and Dominic Lunney for everything they have done in leading the St Benedict’s Cub Pack at 1st Ealing North over the last 10 years. They leave the pack in great health, with an awesome set of leaders to take it forward over the next ten. More to follow from Sharon and Dominic as they start their new roles using all of their incredible experience to support and guide our Young Leaders across the District.
Brigantia Go To Croatia – 2019
Our Explorer Scout Unit are heading off to Croatia next year for their summer camp and we are looking for some additional adults to come along to join the leadership team. Beaver, Cub and Scout leaders are all welcome but please email Ben if you might be interested.
Keeping Summer Activities Safe
Some quick fire reminders to ensure that in all of the activity, we’re well prepared to stay safe.
* Have an intouch system in place to manage communications while at camp
* Keep an eye on your food safety, fire safety and gas safety
* Stay healthy, including being on the watch for ticks and waterborne diseases
Enjoy the rest of the summer, and alongside the adventure, we hope everyone gets the chance to have a break this August – and plenty of fun.
Heather, Ben and Simon.
DC team, Ealing & Hanwell
dc@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk
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USEFUL INFORMATION
District Website
The refreshed and updated Ealing and Hanwell Scout District website is on its way – the DC team hope to have it functioning in time for the Autumn term – but it will only stay fresh, attractive and useful if YOU help by submitting additional content that we can include. We are also looking for someone to assist us with the ongoing updating.
District Contacts
Some of your regular District contacts now have new email addresses. Please see below:
Jenny Foxwell – District Training Manager – je.foxwell@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk
Anthony Phillips – District President – a.phillips@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk
John Matthews – District Vice-President and Leighton Hall Bookings – j.matthews@ealingandhanwellscouts.org.uk
These are very new so I suggest including their personal address for the next few weeks.
Please update your contact lists for these as it’s really important that we reduce the number of ‘business’ emails going to people’s personal email accounts.