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Contents Page 2 - Group Scout Leader’s Welcome Page 3 - Chairman’s report Page 4 -
Page 5 -
Page 8 -
Page 9 -
Page 10- Fundraising
Page 12 - Queen’s Scout Award
Page 13 - Diary
Visit our website to really stay in touch with what’s happening...
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A word from our leader... Training of our leaders is always taken seriously and 9 people have recently taken their First Response training with anThe group is again this year other 10 completing their refresher moving from strength to strength. training. Other training has included 4 leaders passing their pulling certificates Numbers are high with waiting lists cur- which will allow them to be in charge of rowing boats. BCU and Power boat trainrently lengthy in the Beavers. ing is also being completed. From a Scouting perspective we have been busy on all fronts. Both the Cubs and Scouts have had great summer Looking Forward: camps whilst the Beavers and Cubs enjoyed a wonderful day at Longleat. In a group of our size there are many We have also recruited new leaders and jobs and tasks, which need to be done. helpers within the sections which has With this in mind we are always looking helped to strengthen our teams therefor people to fill roles. Fundraising is a fore allowing more flexibility and contin- key thing for us this next two years. We uing to allow us to provide excellent desparately need people to help our two Scouting for all the children. funding challenges. Aquativity and SupThroughout the boating season the port funding for the group. group has been using the lake as freThe scouting programmes for the next quently as possible and when appropri- few months again look really exciting ate have been renting the lake out to with both inside and outside activities other groups both in and outside of for the children. Have you logged on to scouting. Martin Beach and his instrucsee these through our web site. From tor team have again been working exmy perspective the next important tremely hard to ensure that this has group event coming up is Remembrance been possible. For a Sea Scouting group Sunday on 14th November. This is a it is important that we make best use of morning event and we look forward to a our water based facilities and the full attendance for such an important scouts have been taking full advantage day. of this. Whatever else you are doing this autumn They have also been using the HMS Bris- and winter, I ask you to get involved tol facility (at Portsmouth) again recent- with our group, get active and together ly to gain further water based activity we can continue to provide the best awards. Scouting for your children. Our equipment store is looking the best Happy scouting! it has for many a year with some sterling work having been put in by Eric Hills our quartermaster who is currently manag- Paul Bullock ing a project to give the current hut and grounds a bit of a clean up. Group Scout Leader
Hi All
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... and a few more from our Chairman... Welcome to our October newsletter I hope you all had a great summer and are enjoying getting back into the full swing of the Scouting term. We've had some great news this month on the funding front, which I hope you all agree is well worth holding the front page for, even if some of you have already heard the headlines. We have been in touch for a while with the trustees of a charitable trust to discuss whether they might contribute to the Aquativity project, so when they said they were interested enough to visit us, we were pleased to host them. We showed them what we do as a Scout Group, where we currently meet, where we plan to move to and what we intend to do there. We discussed all the hard work that has been put in over the years to build up the group, its activities, and its funding, and what we are looking to do with Aquativity to build on that. The great news is that we have received a letter notifying us of their decision to help us. They are doing 2 things for us: 1. Giving us a straight donation of £50,000 towards the building costs, payable when we are imminently about to spend it on actual building work. They are happy to put this pledge in writing for other potential donors if we need them to. 2. Matching further building fundraising, pound for pound, between
now and September 2011, to a maximum of a further £20,000. So if we manage to raise £20,000 ourselves over the next year, then the amount we can spend will rise from the current £80,000 to £170,000!
Some of our next fundraising challenges include: Build up the Donkey Derby organising team - there are not enough people involved to arrange everything. If you can help, please contact me as soon as possible · Raise enough funding to meet the most urgent equipment needs - the building is not the only thing we need to spend money on over the next 6 months! ·
Overall, raise £20k towards the building project over the next year to enable us to maximise the benefit from this trust's help
I hope you like the new newsletter format - there is lots going o in the Group so plenty for you to read about.
Brian Cope Chairman
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The evening was enjoyed by the residents who Since our last foray into the world of the have invited us back to sing carols at Christmas. Newsletter we have had quite an eventful time. We have seen some of our number move up to The focus over the coming months will be on badgework and in particular working towards the our Cub Pack and some leave us for pastures new. We have welcomed a new Leader in Chan- completion of the Challenge badges which in telle Carter, and a helper in Sarah Prince to add turn brings with it the opportunity to gain the highest award available to Beaver Scouts, nameto the stalwarts of Paul, Craig, Carmela and ly the Chief Scouts Bronze award. Shirley. The summer term saw us take part in ‘Livin it Large at Longleat’ along with thousands of other Beavers and Cubs from around Hampshire. Managing to secure an early slot for our drive through the safari park meant that we saw a lot of animals moving around and at one point our coach was surrounded by a pride of lions, I’m sure they thought that some of our young Beavers would make a nice breakfast. The rest of the day was spent going round the other attractions at Longleat including a ride on the train. It was a long and hot day for all concerned and the trip back to Totton was a much quieter event than the drive to Longleat. One of our new activities for 2010 was the family barbeque in the Forest. The Colony hired the Forestry Commission BBQ site at Wilverley Plain on a Saturday afternoon in July and laid on burgers, hot dogs, salad and cakes for those that could make it. Craig organised a games afternoon which was enjoyed by one and all. The highlight of the summer term in my mind was the Mini Olympics evening held down at Eling Rec. The inter Lodge event was very competitive with everybody giving their all, but even this was surpassed by the races featuring the parents, no holds barred here! The start of the Autumn term saw us visit the Farm House Care Home for a Harvest Festival celebration. Our young Beavers were in fine voice on the night after their walk along Water Lane from the car park in the centre of Totton.
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October has seen our young members take part in a new sport for many, Tag Rugby. The session goes towards the Health and Fitness badge and Fitness Challenge and was hosted by Tottonians Rugby Club who provided the coaches, equipment and space for a fun evening. Shame about the weather but I always enjoyed playing rugby more in the rain! We have also been to Moors Valley Country Park for the Adventure Badge where we saw our boys and girls complete a hike around the lake, take a trip on the miniature railway and undergo a number of challenges as we made our way around the Play Trail. Still to come before Christmas are the Remembrance Day parade in Totton, the County Fun Day at Paulton’s Park with a visit to see Father Christmas himself, the District Swimming Gala, the District Christingle Service at Copythorne and finally our own Christmas party with our friends from Testwood Beavers. Can I remind you all that as from 2nd November our regular Tuesday evening meetings will be at the Testwood Scout HQ in Blackwater Drive, Calmore, usual times 6.00pm start – 7.15pm finish.
Derrick Beaver Scout Leader
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show, went round the house – an action packed day and a badge to wear on our The sponsored walk for Shelter Box was a huge uniforms until success with the Pack collectively raising £220 the end of the year. which will go towards an emergency aid box. The boxes are trackable on-line and Before summer camp we squeezed in a water fight evening and a wide game along with getwe are waiting to see which ting ready for camp. We had decided to go to corner of the world our box Sandleheath Scout HQ in the New Forest this lands. Along with learning about the work of Shelter Box year – a new venue for us. They have a superb and what it would be like to HQ, a large secure field and a campfire circle. The programme included a day trip to Brownsea be homeless we have been working towards Island to see where Baden Powell held the first our Global Challenge Award. scout camp in 1907 and to see the red squirrels. Unfortunately the squirrels were very shy that The summer months are all about scOUTing and we found ourselves without a roof over our day and all we saw were the peacocks. Ruben did however see his sister who was camping on heads practically every Wednesday evening. Fortunately the weather was very kind to us and the island!
It’s been quite a while since the last newsletter so here is a quick recap of our programme highlights since Easter.
we managed to get through a large chunk of our Outdoor Challenge Award in dry weather with a programme of archery, climbing, backwoods cooking, fire lighting and tracking. Over half the Pack also had a session on the Lakes and enjoyed sailing and kayaking.
We following day we spent at Moors Valley Country Park with another action packed day including a train ride, we went bug hunting and along the tree top walk – again the wildlife was playing hid
June 26th saw a coach of Cubs, mums, dads, brothers, sisters and leaders set off for a day at Longleat safari park. They were not alone though, 4600 other people from Hampshire Beaver and e Cubs were also joining in. With the forecast as ‘Hot’ and despite having tonnes of suntan cream packed the lions decided to retreated into the shade. The Cubs (and adults) had a great day in what turned out to be the EXTRA HOT conditions. They joined in the worlds biggest Grand and seek with us! It might just have something Howl, saw the silver back gorilla, the sea lions, to do with the amount of noise we make. A spethe bats and the meerkats. Went to the advencial thank you to Alan who pushed Harry around ture playground, on the train, watched the parrot
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in his wheel chair for the 2 trips. Everyone had a great time at camp with lots to eat and do. So, what did we learn at camp? Some of us learnt to wash–up, some discovered that tents are not sound proof, some Cubs found out that Akela really does inspect your dirty washing bag and others got away with it. I think we would all agree though that going to camp is about learning to look after yourself, looking after your friends and having fun. In a few years time perhaps we will have some Cubs going to a World Jamboree to make some new (international) friends. Here are some of the comments made by the Cubs after camp: Brandon said: It was fun because we had marsh-
on the fire, and got my blanket
t
to keep me warm because it was cold outside. I enjoyed Moorsvalley the best because there was loads of stuff to go on, and people helped me round because I had my cast on my leg and didn't make me feel left out because I couldn't go on certain things. I didn't like the lasagne but I did try a bit, I thought it was a bit scary camping outside because I thought animals could get into the tent.
mallows and hot chocolate at the camp fire. I was happy because I was in a tent with all of my mates and managed to stay and not go home.
Tom wrote the following: 'I enjoyed camp lots because there was lots to do and they really pushed us to the limit by making us tidy our Rhys said: 'I liked the food, being a tent leader, tents. We were given a lovely experience by gothe camp fires, the trips, sleeping, the midnight ing to Brownsea Island (and getting to buy stuff feasts, supper and playing games. I didn't like yay!) and Moors Valley. I and everyone else washing up, brushing my teeth and people mak- loved it' ing farting sounds'. Dylan had an article published in the Hampshire Harry said: The best bit about camp was when I Scouting News in Sept and his comments includwent into the camp fire and did my marshmellow ed: I liked all the food at camp but especially the
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are there. All 5 Cubs achieved their Chief Scout Silver Awards before leaving us – well done.
pizza.
The summer term was completed with a family game of rounder’s in the forest – the wildlife had A welcome to Megan (who was invested on her also been warned about this evening and decid- birthday at camp), Greg and James who have all transferred from the Beaver colony. Their ed to hide again. swim ups were also good fun – one day the Beavers will win the tug of war and pull me over! This autumn term we have tackled knots and been bug hunting at Dear Leap and made housWe are also very pleased to welcome back a es for elves. Lizzie, our Young Leader organised an International evening based on the USA. number of leaders to the Pack. Richard after The quiz and puzzles gave us much amusement. his extended paternity leave, Donna after her maternity leave and Tom after his ‘annual’ leave. Everyone also enjoyed the burgers and sticky buns as part of the theme and our Global Chal- It’s good to have them back especially as we have such a large number of Cubs at the molenge badge. ment. The waiting list is still bursting and I would love to hear from anybody who would like As part of our Community Challenge badge we to help out. Let me know what time you have made a visit to the SS Shieldhall in Southampavailable to give and we can work around it. ton Docks. As a Sea Scout group it was good The more leaders/helpers we have the more to find out about this restored vessel and the history it has. The boiler room was certainly the opportunities we can give the Cubs. most popular part of the ship on a cold evening.
Akela
Our safety evening just before half term was run by Rob Blackman, a fire fighter in Southampton (also Luke’s dad) and go towards our Personal Vanessa Safety Badge. If you have a skill or know of 023 8086 7582 something the Cubs would enjoy please let me know. vanessa@nickscott.co.uk A quick reminder that on the 3rd November we will be hunting down the bats in the woods (not real ones of course) and the following week we are back at Abbotswood School for the rest of the term.
Goodbyes and Hellos……. We transferred 5 Cubs up to Scouts at the beginning of June with the sail-up completed at the Lakes. Emma, Kitty and Alice were the first 3 girls in the Pack and we know they will enjoy Scouts. I have also heard that Keiran and Jack are also doing very well with their boating activities – don’t forget to pop in and see us to let us know just how good it is in the Troop now you
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Pulling and Kayaking Regatta
The trip to Clearwell caves was good fun The Regatta this and we found out lots year took place on a of information about the cold, windy but sunarea that we were stayny day at Testwood ing in. My worst moLakes. ment at camp was Warrior Troop enhaving to sit still at the First Aid base. I have got too tered the biggest many best bits to mention but White water canoeteam ever from the ing and the bridge building will be memories that I troop. Eling started won’t forget. I am really looking forward to next the event in a very positive way with high finishing years camp. results in the Under 14 and under 12 1/2 single Kayaks. The pulling boats also did very well managing Emma Cully Age 11 to show many other teams on the start line how to handle the boats, and despite the very windy conditions all of our team continued to do very well. STOP PRESS! At the end of the day we all gathered around for the presentations and were very pleased to find out that Just to let you know that Warrior troop came first we came 3rd overall with only 4 points between the and second in the District Stags head trophy with top 3 teams. only 1 point between them. An Excellent effort from This was a fantastic result with class wins in the un- all who took part der 14yr single kayak, joint winners Tom Cully and Michael Brackstone. Under 14 double canoe winners Gregory Cole and Michael Brackstone. Under 12 ½ single Kayak 3rd place Chris Blake, Under 12 ½ pulling 3rd place Chris Blake, Sam Townrow, Emma Cully, David Stephens and Kieran Eagle, and finally Under 14 pulling 3rd place Chris Abbess, Tom Cully and Gregory Cole. WELL DONE EVERYONE Tom Cully age 13.
Scout Camp August 2010 FAB-B- LOUS This was the best camp that I have ever been on. I enjoyed the whole time, from travelling in the rickety minibus with the other scouts singing and chatting, to cooking our own mostly edible food and all the washing up. Working in the patrols was good for our team work and we soon realised that if we didn’t work together we wouldn’t get many points for the point’s competition.
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The last few months at Explorers have been very busy as usual. Our programme is put together and run by the Explorers themselves, with the leaders on hand to make sure health and safety is observed and a few other boxes ticked along the way!
Survival training - 2 County Instructors came to the hut and showed us how to make survival kits in a tobacco tin, containing everything you might need if you were stranded. They also demonstrated how to make water filters and start fires.
I would like to welcome Dom our newest leader Wide Game - this was well supported and brilwho is eager to get involved with everything and liant fun. has already completed courses on first aid and pulling. Our annual Birthday party in October took place again at the hut, this year with fancy dress and Three of the girls, Lizzie, Hannah and Emily a disco. There were lots of pirates and Nikki’s have been selected for world Scout Jamboree “Mrs Neptune” costume to mention but a few. trips and have all been very busy with fund raising and training camps throughout the Summer. Forthcoming Events: Lewis has also been busy fundraising and training for his Gambia Expedition at Christmas. International cooking Laser Quest September started with more training for the Night Hiking regatta and covered canoeing and pulling. This Play Zone really paid off as Relentless finished 3rd overall Many District Christmas events. and Dan Adams won the under 18 single kayak well done to everyone who took part and thanks to those who came and supported us on the day. I cannot finish this report without mentioning It’s brilliant to see the lake used to it’s maximum one of our original Explorers, Flic Wright, and potential. her amazing acheivement in gaining her Queens Scout award. The first in our unit and in On the following day (busy weekend!) we also our group for many years. Well Done Flic, I realsent a team to take part in the “Soap Box Derby” ly enjoyed your presentation evening. held at Netley Marsh. This was great fun as always and although we were the only Explorer John Pickering Explorer Leader unit to turn up, we were able to race against the leaders and older Scouts. Danny, Matt W and Andy performed really well and won all their races. We attended two District events: a trip to Splashdown with the other three units and the annual car wash at Lyndhurst. So far this term are activities have included: “Backwoods Cooking” where we learnt to boil eggs in oranges on a pit-fire!
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scouts. Here's how to set 4th New Forest (Eling) No, not the 5th Sea Scouts as your favourite charity: of November, but that we still have a LOT OF 1. Sign into My eBay and visit your Donation MONEY to raise to pay for the new Aquativity Account, under the Account Tab Centre at Testwood Lakes. Here are some EASY, and dare I say it, PAIN2. Click on ‘My Favourite Charities’ under My LESS ways to help secure a glowing future for eBay th the 4 New Forest North (Eling) Sea Scouts, and 3. Search for 4th New Forest (Eling) Sea a few that require just a little more effort. The Scouts and click ‘Save as a Favourite’ great news is that everything we raise until next September will be MATCHED POUND-FORRemember to activate your GIFT AID declaraPOUND (see Chair’s report). tion via your donation account to boost every £1 you donate by an extra 28p, at no cost to you. Fundraising Idea 1 – Sell Things! Confused about either of these? Contact DorWe are now registered as a charity on ebay - so othea Kennard for help (details below). this is an ideal time to declutter your house and raise some Fundraising Idea 3 – Buy More money for Things! your scout Many of us buy stuff online. group. easyfundraising.org.uk gets the companies you If you are an buy from to donate to a good cause (and there ebay seller are few better than the Sea Scouts!) so long as you can doyou go through their website first. It costs you nate between 10 - 100% of your final selling nothing other than a few minutes to register and price to the group. Every time you list an item a couple of extra clicks each time you shop. for charity, you’ll get a fee credit on your basic The money comes from someone else! For exinsertion and final value fees equal to the percentage you donate. Once you’re ready to sell ample, Amazon, The Book People, Boden and M&S will donate 2.5% of what you spend. Gap your item, go to the Sell hub and select ‘Advanced Sell’. As you’re filling out the details, will donate 3.5% and Groupon 6%! eBay dolook out for the charity box just below where you nate 15% (of the seller’s fee). Supermarkets offer set your price. Select 4th New Forest North a once only flat rate dona(Eling) Sea Scouts and the percentage (10%100%) of your final selling price that you'd like to tion when you begin ondonate. The minimum donation is £1 per listing. line grocery shopping with them. Many utilities A week after your item sells, MissionFish (eBay's charity partner) will automatically collect and telecoms companies do the same when you the donation from you. You can also manage your donations through the 'My Donations' sec- switch to them (offering donations of up to £40!). tion of My eBay, under the My Account tab. Any Between July and September we raised £39.43 this way. I estimate that there are less than 10 fee credits will appear on your next invoice. members of the group using this service. If half Fundraising Idea 2 – Buy Things! of you did, we should be able to raise about £500 a year! There is almost nothing that canWhen you pay through eBay Checkout for an not be bought through easyfundraising, so item you’ve won, you can give £1 to the sea please register now:
Remember remember...
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1. Go to easyfundraising.org.uk 2. Click on “Register as a user” 3. Select the charity/organisation you wish to donate to (we are listed as 4th New Forest North Sea Scouts)
shall be packing between 10 am and 4 pm: 1 hour for Beavers accompanied by a parent, 1 – 2 hours for Cubs accompanied by a parent and 2 hours for Scouts and Explorers (solo!).
Fundraising Idea 5 – Go to the Pub!
4. Fill in your details and then click on “Register” The DONKEY DERBY organising committee
You then just need to remember to log in to
easyfundraising.org.uk first before you do any more shopping online! Contact Debra Hughes-Leitch with any questions about easyfundraising.org.uk.
desperately need help to put together next year’s event. Please consider joining up and helping with the group’s largest fundraising event by far. And they meet in the pub by the way... Contact Debra Hughes-Leitch, and she will put you in touch with the right person.
Fundraising Idea 4 – Help Other People Buy Things Our latest BAG PACK at ASDA, on 30th October, raised £872.40! Thank you very much to everyone who helped. We did this with the help of only about 1/3 of the group’s members, working on less than half of the available tills. The next one is on SATURDAY 4th DECEMBER. If we could man every till, all of the time, think how much more we could raise, especially with all those warm Christmassy feelings about! It is actually quite fun helping your son/daughter pack people’s shopping for them: the customers are invariably pleasant and generous, and pleased to be able to donate to such an obviously deserving local cause. Please VOLUNTEER yourself (or your scout) NOW by contacting Dorothea Kennard. We
Contacts Dorothea Kennard: d.kennard1@tiscali.co.uk or 023 8066 0043. Debra Hughes-Leitch: hughesleitch@aol.com or 023 8076 6379.
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centre, paid for by their own fund-raising. “The children so wanted to go to school and was presented
could not wait for us to finish the building”, she
with her Queen’s Scout
said. “It was a privilege to help them “.
Award at a ceremony at King Edward VI
She thanked the many people who had helped
School earlier this month.
her achieve her dream; the staff of CLIC
Flic gave a presentation
Sargent in Shirley, where
showing her journey
she had helped
Towards the award.
out, David and Elaine
Illustrated with numerous
King, from
pictures from her
Southampton Youth Wind
expeditions; she amused
Band, who
the audience with
provided musical inspira-
stories of searching for
tion to develop her
guinea-pigs in Poland, of
the
delights
skills and the volunteers
of
at Cricket Scout Camp
“mashed pig’s organs”,
in Bursledon. She also
chasing trams in Krakow,
thanked the school staff
melting snow for
who ran the Duke of Edin-
cooking high on a gla-
burgh
cier in Norway, and the
Award
and
many Scout leaders who
ups and downs of moun-
had helped and encour-
tain walking. Whilst videos of a rendition of the School Hymn from a kayak in the middle of a fjord and an insect-eating Bear Grylls look-alike highlighted
aged her, as well as the many friends she had made on the expeditions.
She is now a Scout Leader with 4th New Forest (Eling) Sea Scouts .
the funnier side of her travels, she spoke of her recent expedition to Zambia where the group constructed a school and medical
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the
Many congratulations to Flic from all at 4th New Forest North!
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November 2010 M
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County Paulton’s Park Cubs County Scrap heap challenge
All Remembrance Day Parade. 10 am. Full uniform.
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County Patrol leader training
County Patrol leader training- into 21st Nov
County i Scout conference At Thornden School
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