On Saturday morning, the Cubs tried their hand at archery joining in with some Cubs from 9th Pack who were down for the day. The Scouts opted for something much messier and took to the slippery slope. After lunch, we had a wide game based very loosely on the theme of ‘Indiana Jones’. Some Cubs from 10th Pack also came along for the afternoon. The most popular bases were undoubtedly Fiona’s blindfold gunge trail, in which the Cubs got to stick their hands into all manner of obnoxious concoctions including jelly, dog food, wallpaper paste and rice pudding, and the ‘Nile River’ aka the slippery slope test-run by the Scouts earlier in the day. The Scouts took to their role as ‘baddies’ with gusto enthusiastically soaking the Cubs with squeezy bottles to hurry them along from base to base and ensuring that a few of the Leaders were ‘accidentally’ caught in the cross-fire for good measure!

That evening the kitchen cooks went on strike, and the Cubs and Scouts were provided with the ingredients to cook their own meal out of doors. The younger Cubs opted for backwoods style grub, cooking sausages, potatoes and bananas by a range of methods, using sticks and foil with varied success. Some of it was surprisingly edible!! There was also a rather runny dough-like mixture which tended to drip off the sticks into the fire. Still at least nothing much could go wrong with the toasted marshmallows!! The Sixers and Scouts were much more adventurous and were soon rustling billie cans and frying pans with all the fervour of Jamie Oliver. Even the Leaders were persuaded to taste the eventual result and were pretty impressed with the mince and potatoes and home-made burgers. Before all this had time to settle in their tummies, the Cubs went off in search of some real food and were soon found at the front of the tuck-shop queue!

Later that evening, we joined in a lively site campfire led by the wardens, Colin and Chris, before rounding off the day with some particularly messy team challenges, even by Akela’s standards. One of these involved covering a jelly baby in syrup, gripping it between your teeth and then trying to drop it into the mouth of your team mate who was lying on the floor in front of you!! Good, messy fun.

Sunday morning was spent Canadian canoeing with Colin and the rest of the warden’s team. Apart from an eventful race where one of the canoes capsized, and the time when we had to paddle furiously back to shore to escape an tidal wave from the seacat ferry at a speed that would have put Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinnsent to shame, the highlight of the morning was undoubtedly when one of the Leaders spotted an unusual seal swimming in the sea. As this creature got closer to land, emerged onto the beach, shook itself and wagged its tail, we realised to our amusement that it was in fact a dog! (time to make that appointment at Vision Express, Jamie!). After lunch and Cubs Own during which Akela inadvertently had all the other Leaders in stitches when he told the Cubs to ‘bow their eyes and close their heads’, we rounded off the weekend by tackling the assault course. Although Akela didn’t intend to ‘do’ the assault course this camp, he arrived back at the Chalet muddier than the Cubs, having had to help them all with a leg-up over the climbing wall and then hold the rope swing for the Cubs to swing over the muddy ditch, inevitably falling in himself (or was he pushed???!!!!) in the process!

In total darkness, we invaded Gosford Forest Park and the Guide House (we had to use the cover of darkness..how else could we get this combined rabble past the local inhabitants?). Once safely inside, we changed out of uniform, again a ploy at hiding our identity and so the chaos of a joint Pack Holiday commenced; two Akelas, 21 Cubs, Leaders who only knew half the Cubs’ names, and that was just of their own Pack! Leaders who didn’t know each other and imagine this… Guides and Female Leaders!! The chaos settled into organised confusion as the furniture in the ‘games room’ was rearranged again and again before the games proper could get underway. As this exercise failed to totally exhaust the Cubs we embarked on the ubiquitous ‘night hike’, the Irish version! ‘You can bring your torch but don’t turn it on!’ To this day , I do not know where we went; I was following my dog, who was following the Cubs who were following the 99th Pack Akela who was following the youngest Cub on the trip!!! Suffice to say we ALL managed to get back to the house for hamburger supper before bed, or rather getting the Cubs to their bedroom. Getting them into bed wasn’t a problem either as it happens. Getting each one into one bed was! We had 6 sprawled over the bottom two bunks, with heads to feet and feet to ears and, ah, what a mess! So I opted for the responsible Leader approach and left them all to it, after all I didn’t have to sleep in it!

Saturday, and nearly time to go home! Breakfast followed morning exercise, for the boys that is. My exercise was extracting myself from my sleeping bag, and that was more than enough activity for one day! And what a breakfast (in this order) a coffee, two rounds of toast with jam and another coffee, another coffee, porridge, more coffee, bacon, eggs, potato and soda bread and more coffee, and to wash it all down another coffee, and all eaten before the boys had finished theirs; and we wonder how we put weight on!! Shelter building followed breakfast, and this was followed by a river walk; well it is always better to organise how they get soaked rather than just leave them to find the water! And then more food, a light lunch of sandwiches, apples, crisps and juice. I think I had a coffee, for some strange reason I seemed to have lost my appetite. More activities followed in the afternoon, culminating in the ‘Search for the Lost Forts’, one of which we eventually found about 3 miles from the site and on the wrong side of the road according to the map. Or maybe we were on the wrong road? Nah we’re not that daft! Then more food. Fish Fingers, chips, and beans with the compulsory coffee before and after and so to tuck shop (more food), campfire and bed or rather six in the bed. You could get a song out of that one I think.

Sunday, and even nearer to going home! Breakfast again followed exercise. Fire lighting with wet wood followed that. We did manage a sizeable inferno, roasted this Akela, toasted marshmallows with chocolate biscuits, cremated sausages and stewed tea (this delicacy is tea made in a baked bean tin and served black). We even had marshmallow tea; yes, you guessed it, a marshmallow fell off the stick into the tin. They drank it anyway. I tidied this mess up, opting for the lesser of two evils, while the Cubs commenced the mammoth task of sorting and Packing their stuff. Finding it proved even more difficult. We had clothing from one end of the site to the other. I still have a load in the boot of my car!! We managed to get it all and the Cubs packed onto the bus and all home safely, if tired, dishevelled and piggin!! And finally to home.

Lunch was a fairly quick affair, to avoid sandwiches being purloined by Tink, with photographs being taken, normally just after a lull in the wind or mist. After scrambling to the top of the Tor, we descended, passing up on Mike Kennedy's enthusiasm to clime Slieves Meelmore and Beg, and returned to the car, to be home (after the Scenic Route through Co. Down) in time for dinner.

After the traditional Boxing Day football and rugby on a pitch which made Lough Dan Camp Site seem like the middle of the Sahara Desert, we finalised our plans for our Winter "mini-camp", as some of our members were involved with less important pursuits (training with the MCB 1st XV) (Writer apologises for being an Instonian), which threatened to constrain the activity. However, having been encouraged by Mike's carte blanche "I don't care what food we have, as long as there is lots of it!", I proceeded to Sainsbury's, where I lifted anything that had the word "ECONOMY" printed on it, as I thought that we would have six very large appetites to deal with.

On the morning of the 29th, three cold Venture Scouts again were waiting for Malcolm to arrive, this time in the 33rd's minibus. On his arrival, we were informed that we were all who would be going from Belfast, as one Venture had cried off with the 'flu, and another was to be picked up in Ballynahinch. We headed through Newcastle, to the Bloody Bridge Car Park, as we all felt that now would be a good time to add a little variety to our hiking in the Mournes. We decided that we would follow the path up to the Mourne wall, then go for Donard. I was appointed Navigator, which meant that I would get blamed if anyone fell in the river. Due to my skill (of course), we reached the top of the mountain, where, lo and behold, all we could see was white. We decided that the most sensible course of action, being mature Venture Scouts, was to indulge in a snowball fight, before the biting gale blew us off the side of the mountain. Unfortunately Malcolm pronounced that there was not enough snow for the traditional sport of bivvy bag racing. We descended the mountain and lunched, and decided to climb over Chimney Rock Mountain. This was achieved successfully, though a nameless member of our party went for the wrong summit!

The next morning, it was so cold, even in the living room, that no-one dared stir before about 10 am. After a large breakfast, with food still left over, we prepared lunch and cleaned the cottage, leaving it cleaner than we found it (even though Dougie CSL 10th, had spent 2 hours cleaning the day before while the rest of us slept!- Ed) We then, despite our leader's doubts about the weather, made our way round to climb Slieve Binnian. Observing safety precautions, we made our way to the top, where the mist cleared enough to get a good view, surprising us. After lunching and scrambling up the summit tor, we descended, as time was at a priority. Just as we got back to the minibus, we noticed it starting to get dark. We were able to feel a sense of achievement after this, as we had climbed three of the four highest Mourne mountains in one week in winter. (We had climbed Commedagh last Christmas Eve, so didn't want to do it again). All enjoyed these activities. I would like to add that we would welcome any members from Groups in the District who do not have Units, as ours is at the minute a young, small Unit. Finally I would like to thank the other Groups who enabled us to do these activities: the 33rd for letting us use the minibus, the 7th for letting us stay in Slievenaman and the 10th for leaving the fire in for us!

William Gowdy, Venture Scout 4th

Camp Report- 30^th Pack at Gosford Forest Park, March 2000

30th Pack spent an action-packed weekend at Gosford in mid March. Despite the usual first night ‘excitement’ which continued unabated until almost dawn, we were up and raring to go by 8.00am on Saturday morning. After a game of football while Akela was burning the French Toast (again!) in the kitchen (once again he managed to set off the smoke alarm repeatedly this camp), we headed off to Gosford Karting for the rest of the morning.

Our would-be Eddie Irvines and Michael Shumachers had the opportunity to don overalls, gloves and helmets and try out their skills on the race track with varied success. Having watched him swerve off the track, skid on the sand and ram a pile of tyres, albeit at about 15mph, the Leaders are somewhat relieved that it will be at least another 7 years before seconder Paul can even think of applying for L-plates!! The Leaders also got behind the wheel, in faster karts, revving up to speeds in excess of 60mph. While our Bagherra, Jan, adapted to this with the elegance and finesse of Penelope Pitstop, Jonathan displayed all the cunning of Dick Dastardly to see off the challenge of his rivals, Alyn and Richard. How Akela ever passed his driving test remains a mystery to us all!

We then headed into Armagh for lunch and a stop at the Armagh Planetarium to complete the Astronomer badge with the help of our friendly guide, Julie Thompson. She certainly had a captive audience of Cubs: having invited the Leaders to relax over coffee in the café, she took the Cubs into a seminar room. When Akela ventured up later, he found his entrance barred by a combination lock on the door! Still, the Cubs found the session good fun and all passed with flying colours. Our tour also took in a star show at the Auditorium. The seats were very comfortable…too comfortable… and with the effects of sleep deprivation beginning to set in, Cubs and Leaders alike soon dozed off only to be rudely awakened by some very loud special effects at the grand finale to the show.

A dip in the pool at Orchard Leisure Centre soon revived us, and after tea we started out on a hike through Gosford Forest at dusk. Somehow Akela managed to get us all lost, following on in the best East CSL traditional established by Brian and Alex in November. We wandered for some time during which Jonathan attempted to draw unhelpful comparisons to the Blair Witch Project which certainly encouraged the stragglers to move a little faster. Then, quite unexpectedly, we turned a corner and found ourselves back home once more.

The rest of the evening was taken up with indoor games and getting ready for our Saturday Night ‘Talent’ Show. We use this term loosely!…never before in the history of East has so little talent been assembled on one stage on a single night (with the possible exception of a certain play in the mid 1980’s in which Dougie, Walter (VSL, 10th), Charlie (SL, 10th) and I starred for our Scout Entertainer Badge…which I’m sure Ian will remember only too well!). We had ‘music’ to rival bands such as Steps, Westlife and S Club 7, our very own Paul Daniels, and jokes that proved beyond a shadow of doubt that stand up comedy had just lay down and died!! How our judges, Fiona and Carolyn, found a winner amongst that lot is beyond us all.

On Sunday morning we were once again up early to get in some practice for the forthcoming District Cross-country Competition, before indulging in some backwoods cooking and invention of all manner of unusual camp gadgets. We then headed down to the river for a ‘boat-race’. Coaxing our flotilla of squeezy bottles, lollypop sticks and other assorted junk down the river to the finish, by fair means and foul, soon had everyone, Cubs, Leaders and especially Fiona’s dog, Tess, wringing wet! Finally, we headed for home with a brief stop at Oxford Island Nature Reserve en route. Many thanks to Alyn, Fiona and David, and to Carolyn (21st) and Jonathan and Richard (10th) for all their help during the weekend.

David and Jan, 30^th

30^th and 59^th Packs at Ballintoy, February 1998

The 30^th and 59^th Packs spent a very enjoyable weekend recently at Ballintoy Youth Hostel, attended by 28 cubs and 6 leaders. Many thanks to 10^th GSL, Ian Diamond for lending (and driving) the minibus, and to Paula’s friend Susie Barnes for all her help. Programme included a trip to Coleraine for trampolining and swimming, and a hike along the Giants Causeway (and an impromptu photocall among the rocks for a group of Japanese tourists). Highlights included Ian Fawcett’s worm hunt and race, Margaret getting up at 5.30am and rushing into the kitchen bedraggled and half-dressed to make breakfast when she thought that she had slept in when a cub banged on her door in the middle of the night, and Susie and Paula’s ‘Soup-of the Day’- faced with 3 dozen to feed and enough soup for about ten, they raided the local village shop, not admittedly used to selling vast quantities of soup, and bought every packet and tin in sight, regardless of flavour-the boys rated it a major hit -Bryson & Barnes ‘chicken broth with leek, and mushroom and cauliflower and broccoli and pea and ham and chicken noodle’ could soon be rivalling such greats as Campbells and Baxters! Remember where you heard it first- now is the time to invest in shares- why not contact their marketing manager/financial adviser 59^th economics whizzkid, Ian Fawcett, for more details and a portfolio!

10^th Group at Glebe House 1998

The annual Group Camp took place over the weekend of 22-24 May. Everyone had a whale of a time with over 50 cubs, scouts, ventures and leaders staying the weekend and a further 30 beavers and squirrels joining us on Saturday. Amongst the activities, including baseball and crab fishing, the Troop visited the new Downpatrick Jail (unfortunately we got them all back!), while the beavers, cubs and squirrels took the Strangford ferry to Portaferry and spent the afternoon at the Exploris Aquarium. We don’t know who was more frightened, our scouters on the journey over on the ferry or the fish in the touch tank when 50 royal blue scarves were suddenly dipped into the water! A BBQ on Saturday evening for some 150 people is surely a record for a camp weekend? And a huge campfire was led by SL, Robert McKissack. This was followed by a Sports Day on Sunday after a Scouts’ Own led by AGSL John Corry. Our thanks to the Glebe House Duty Warden, Simon (ex-10^th) and his staff for great grub. It was also great to have Ernie and Rhoda Sharp with us for the weekend.

Ian

30th Cub Pack in Fermanagh

30^th Pack summer camp was held in early August in the beautiful leafy environs of Cladagh Glen Scout Centre, near the Marble Arch Caves, in midge-invested wet and wild outer Fermanagh. The tranquillity of this picturesque setting, already shattered by the arrival en masse of the cub pack on the Thursday was further eroded by the appearance of reinforcements to the exhausted leadership team on the Friday in the form of Dougie, Junior, Pamela and Jamie from 10^th (Had Junior decided to bring Hollie the hound, this happy group, cramped into Dougie’s Ford Fiesta would have borne more than a passing resemblance to Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five …are lost in Kesh?’). Activities included a visit to the Marble Arch Caves, horse-riding at Castle Archdale and a double helping of watersports, first at Tudor Farm Watersports Centre on Friday and then at the Share Centre on Sunday.

While David was paddling furiously in circles in a canoe and going nowhere fast (must have been a faulty oar..yeah!) and Louise was attempting to get back into hers, having capsized for the umpteenth time, the cubs were having a great time in a ‘tube’ attached to the back of Martin and Paul’s dad’s speedboat. Not to be outdone, and in response to popular demand, David and Louise also had a go, and despite the valiant efforts of all in the boat to capsize them managed to cling on with grim determination. Once dry, it was off to the Johnston’s caravan - these brave kind people had actually volunteered to have a BBQ for us all that evening (well, we were taking Martin and Paul off their hands for the entire week!) The leftover burgers from the Group Treasure Hunt in June made a re-appearance and were washed down with gallons of weak orange. After this, it was off to hunt for worms as fishing bait. After a 1½ mile trek out of the caravan park and down a lane following our seasoned guides, Martin and Paul, who remained convinced that a multitude of the elusive species were to be found just around the next corner, and we eventually returned with one short skinny specimen as darkness descended. Not to be deterred, we shared out the worm and dipped our rods into Lough Erne, but nothing was biting in the dusk save the ever present midges!

Saturday, and Castle Archdale was the venue for our epic Incident Hike/Wide Game, ‘The Great Escape’ featuring David and Jamie as SS Agents, Andrew and Louise as Adolf and Eva Braun, John and Pamela as Renee and Michelle. The cubs adopted various disguises and aliases, the most original being ‘Jurgen Klinsman’ and ‘Swine-hundt’. En route, the navy team, led by sixer Ross Adair, together with Dougie, blew up the German base in the forest with candles and party-poppers, rendezvoused with the resistence, using the code word ‘The hike is almost over!’ to which Pamela replied with feeling ‘I fear it has only just begun!’, diffused submerged grenades on the jetty and sneaked across the border checkpoint into Switzerland. Meanwhile, the army team, led by sixer William Maher together with Junior, had misread the map, wandered out of the forest and stumbled into the middle of a wedding photo shoot (GSL, Ian Diamond please note: Junior cannot use a compass or find a grid reference!!)

Another highlight was caving, split over 2 sessions on Saturday and Sunday evenings, run by Marios from Corrylea Activity Centre. This saw us in boiler suits, wellies and industrial gloves, slithering on all fours through mud in a maze of narrow tunnels into a partially submerged cave. Super fun!

On Sunday morning at the Share Centre, we took to two boats for a sailing lesson. That old sea-dog, John, was up to mischief as usual, and started to teach the cubs in his boat to sing sea shanties. We still have not established whether John or Andrew was responsible for the following:

‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor (x3)… early in the morning?

‘Let him have a snog with Pame-l-a (x3)… early in the morning!’

The lady in question sat with a face like thunder in the opposite boat as it sailed by. Needless to say, a waterfight between the 2 boats soon followed, with our instructors aiding and abetting by manoeuvring the boats as close together as possible to ensure that all concerned were suitably drenched.

After this it was time to ‘man the banana-boats!’ The jetty took on the appearance of a scene from the movie, Titanic, as a sea of cubs in lifejackets bobbed up and down in the water. ‘Women and children first!’ cried Andrew and Junior as they threw Louise and the cubs off the jetty as quick as they could climb out of the water again. Captain ‘Murdoch’ Corry surveyed the chaos from the relative safety of the craft towing the banana boat. The funniest moment was when the leaders (Jamie, Junior, David, Andrew), while singing and doing the actions to YMCA, capsized and all tried to clamber on again on the same side of the banana at the same time, capsized again, tried exactly the same procedure on the other side with the same result. Pamela was in absolute hysterics watching from the boat!

We spent Monday morning swimming at the Lakeland Forum (except for John and David who went off to boil their heads and chat up the talent in the steam room!- didn’t those girls get a big disappointment when the steam eventually cleared!). On the afternoon our teams went on a spying mission in Enniskillen town centre, each team trying to hide from and trail the other, while completing a challenge to obtain objects ranging from a Dunkin Donut, and a Dunnes bag to a bus timetable and ‘evidence that you’ve been in a ladies fashion shop’ (the mind boggles!). On Monday evening we had our campfire, on which (former ACSL and friend?) Andrew had placed an effigy of Akela prior to setting light to the fire much to the amusement of the cubs. John, David and Andrew took turns to lead the campfire- according to Louise, the Three Tenors have nothing to worry about, just yet!

During the camp, the seniors also had the opportunity to build and sleep out in a bivvy, cook a backwoods meal, construct a kitchen shelter and table and undertake a night hike as well as some unforgettable ‘crystal maze’ style challenges set by Andrew for which they became worthy recipients of the ‘Most Ancient and Noble Order of Gilnahirk’ Award. Some of the juniors slept under canvas and successfully completed their explorer and camper badges, while the leaders were subjected indoors to the night-time antics of the mad Junior, who danced on the tables in his boxer shorts making gorilla sounds and gestures interspersed with Beavis & Butthead impressions! (we have since heard that David Attenborough is coming to Northern Ireland to film a special documentary!)

Finally, congratulations to the navy team who won the intersix competition [what possessed Andrew to buy pea-shooters (and peas!!) as prizes?- you just can’t get the assistants these days, can you?!!], to Ross Adair, who won the Cub of the Camp Shield and to Peter Rodgers who won the prize for best junior. Also, thanks to the 10^th Group for the loan of both their minibus and their AGSL (thanks John, we couldn’t have done it without you!!), to Louise for surviving the whole camp (and agreeing to come back in September!) and to Jamie, Pamela, Dougie and Junior for all their help and all the laughs over the weekend.

David and Andrew (30^th)

Over 70 cub scouts from 7 packs attended the County Camp at Ardnavally from 25^th-27^th September including the 30^th and 73^rd Packs from East. East’s ADCs Deirdre Coulter and Harry Kissack did an excellent job catering for us throughout the weekend .It should be noted that they were definitely not responsible/guilty for the ‘porridge’ served up each morning- this apparently is one of ACC Steve Hoskins’ specialities! Most of the cubs and all of the leaders wisely stuck to cornflakes!! Nor should the steady stream of leaders hot-footing it to the nearby Maxol garage on Saturday (allegedly at the request of their cubs) to spend upwards of £20 each on chocolate and sweets reflect poorly on our Deirdre and Harry- there was no tuck shop at camp and Steve had banned 70+ cubs armed with £3 pocket money each from leaving the site! At least, that’s the official explanation! Incidentally, we also caught Margaret from 30^th ‘phoning home to beg her husband to help her escape from camp!!

Most packs had managed to pitch their tents before darkness descended on Friday evening and it was then time for a very active wide game which saw gangs of cubs giving merciless chase to the leaders in search of ‘coloured dots’ which they had to mark on cards that they had been given. The leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was at last time for supper (and just before it would have become necessary to call in the paramedics!). Activities on Saturday included Mountain Biking, Abseiling, Orienteering and Archery. At lunch time, the cubs had the opportunity to ‘cremate’ their own French Toast outdoors before smearing it liberally with sugar and jam! (‘Cook your own or starve!’ it stated on Steve’s programme- the leaders opted for the latter!) The outdoor campfire on Saturday evening was excellent and notable not least for the sight of Caroline (ACSL, 21^st South) who was dragged up between Steve and David during a lively demonstration of Alice the Camel and for the antics of Margaret and Louise (30^th) as camels in a sketch in which they were flogged by among others ,30^th Cub Martin Johnston, while Steve put his heart and soul into the part of an Arabian Princess!

Sunday Morning, according to Steve’s programme was loosely described as ‘Water Olympics’; it took only a matter of minutes and a cast of nearly 100 cubs and leaders armed with 3 hose-pipes, a slippery slope, dozens of buckets and basins, plastic bottles, carrier bags, pots and pans, jugs etc. etc. before this descended into the Armageddon of all Water fights! Cub against cub and/or leader, and leader mainly against leader ! We shoved Andrew and Steve down the slippery slope , drenched an unsuspecting Margaret and Christine, extracted revenge on Robert by placing him in the large outdoor sink filled with freezing cold water, sneaked up behind Caroline, Lisa and Louise and tipped the basins they were holding over them etc. etc. ! Good, wet fun!

Many thanks to Steve for a super weekend:- here’s to the next! What about some more Packs from East next time around?

David and Andrew (30^th)

The 4^th had a successful if wet and windy camp at Crom Castle in County Fermanagh in the summer, with activities including DoE Bronze hike for the seniors and canoeing on Lough Erne. This was followed by an invitation at short notice to the Melvin Trophy: this resulted from our third place in the camping competition at Castle Archdale in June: neither the first or second place teams were able to go. Unfortunately, we could not produce a full team of eight, but the six who could go had an excellent experience and are determined to qualify for another go in 1999 (an account by Chris Sherlock, one of the team, of his experiences in Cork is contained in this issue). The Melvin certainly had an effect: 10 of our scouts led by PLs Mike Kennedy and Will Gowdy organised their own week-end camp at Crawfordsburn in early October to practice pioneering projects and complete camper and camp cook badges. Our thanks to the warden team for their assistance. 5 PLs and APLs took part in an overnight hike in the Mournes during half-term- it was scheduled for two nights, but the first night had to be abandoned due to appalling weather, and gale force winds and rain meant that the planned bad weather escape routes still had to be used on day two!

Malcolm Kerry (GSL, 4^th)

Knights, Monks and a man in tights! The search for the Holy grail! 10th Troop Winter Camp 29-31 Jan’ 99

Everyone in costume, including leaders, we headed off on a crusade to

Slievenaman School House in the Mourne Mountains in search of that ancient

relic, the Holy Grail. Our merry band included twelve Knights, a Nobleman (ASL Mike Loder!), a jester (Cookie with bells on!), two monks (David Ayton and Graeme Kinkead), Robin Hood (Dougie Black CSL), and a Viking (Matthew Thompson).The Scouts hiked onto site under lamp light and were accosted by a Turkish attack which rendered Robin Hood (Dougie) horrifically injured with an arrow through his forearm (a bloody emergency incident using fake wounds and blood created by Mike for the occasion). Each Patrol of scouts leapt into action differently. The first mistook the injured man for the enemy and interrogated him as he bled into a coma! The second (led by Adam Stronge) attempted to pull the arrow out (to Dougie's blood curdling screams!) and the third (led by Steven Dunn) tried to put him out of his misery by suffocating him! A good start to the weekend!

Following on Friday was an exciting 'defend the flag game', under torch light

(real flaming torches) with water balloons (boys attacking, leaders defending)

and a cracker medieval Quiz. During Saturday morning pioneering, we built a 4m (c15ft) high observation tower which everyone climbed, including Akela in his Sherwood Green tights!. After lunch we headed for an incident hike in Tollymore and in the evening was a delicious four course Medieval banquet, (Charlie's home-made char grill chicken soup was tasty), during which the Scouts put on entertaining sketches. That evening everyone had a massive shaving foam pie fight, the lads especially enjoyed slapping pies into the leaders faces! On Sunday we had a Scouts Own and a visit from Ian our GSL.

Then Sir Connor of Kirkliston and Sir Benny of Cyprus (Venture Scouts Connor Markwell and Michael Bennett) put on an amazing Medieval Tournament to the delight of cheering Scouts and leaders who had to guess who would win each round, in a bid to raise money (sounds like gambling but it wasn't!). The action was very lifelike, five rounds, mace, Joust, hand-to hand combat and so on. Both competitors finished up with bumps and bruises having thrown themselves around the arena and broken broom poles over one another! At the end of the weekend, having gathered clues at every activity the Troop set about finding the Holy Grail, which was eventually uncovered under a large boulder, and to celebrate a massive bonfire was lit, into which every unwanted piece of rubbish, costume and kit (where did that tent go?) was cast!

An excellent weekend, every having one entered into the spirit of the occasion, went home with a story to tell! thanks to ASL Ross Anderson for all his hard work organising this event!

Dougie Black, CSL 10^th

10^th & 30^th Packs

Slievenaman Schoolhouse, Mourne Mountains

The Sixers and Seconders of 10^th and 30^th Packs spent an action packed weekend in the Mournes from 12^th-14^th March, 1999. We all eventually found our way to Slievenaman, having left Belfast later than scheduled. David and Jamie groped around in the dark for some considerable time and with limited success trying to connect the gas cylinders and light the lamps and fires before Louise and Pamela took over and sent them off on a midnight walk with the Cubs while they made supper. Saturday dawned bright and sunny: the Leaders were treated to the dawn chorus of the ‘Lesser-spotted Cub Scout’ awakening us from a few hours of blissful sleep at 6.30am. After a breakfast of Akela’s now legendary French Toast, saturated in sugar and ketchup to mask the true flavour!, we started off in a convoy of cars on our journey to East Coast Adventure Centre. Half an hour later and having encountered a diversion at the end of the Slievenaman Road, Pamela was in Hilltown, David and Louise were in Warrenpoint, and Jamie was in Rostrevor and we were all frantically trying to communicate via mobile and public telephone! (Somehow, I don’t think John McKay will be calling on any of us to be examiners for the navigator badge!!). We eventually found our way to the Centre, where we spent an enjoyable day rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing. Many thanks to our instructors, especially Gordon and Ron who ensured that the Cubs had a super time. Then it was on to Newcastle, to invade the Amusement Arcades and for tea at Country Fried Chicken. That evening we had a few indoor games and a campfire at the Schoolhouse. Our growing suspicions that Akela is tone deaf and cannot sing a note were again confirmed on Sunday morning with a particularly tuneless (even for Akela) rendition of Kum Bah Yah during Cubs’ Own. Later that morning, we set off on a Hike to Hare’s Gap along with George Jackson (7^th) and Roy Lamont (3^rd) and faithful hound, Lassie:- many thanks to both for all their help and for the banter along the way. We rounded off the weekend by building shelters at Moneyscalp Forest.

David, Louise, Pamela and Jamie

33rd Cub Camp Gosford Forest Park, Co.Armagh

Our annual Sixers and Seconders camp had come once again, although some of us felt that it was only last week from the last time we had been there.

Two eager Leaders ventured of on Friday morning to set up camp. On arrival to the Forest Park, we could have quite happily have sat in the car and admired the sunshine instead of tackling the issue at hand, which was a trailer full of tents. Before we knew, night had descended upon us and we attempted to light our fire. Unfortunately for us there was no wind, not even a breeze. However, once the Cubs arrived we had a roaring fire that seemed to impress the Cubs.

On the Saturday morning, we were awoken at 5am by the sound of the Cubs playing and collecting wood! After breakfast we did some bases in camp skills in which the Cubs attempted to make shoe racks and other similar pieces.

Any weekend away wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the ‘sweet shop’.. So the 33^rd Pack attacked the local sweet shop in Markethill and made their essential purchases of water pistols, chocolate and cans of Pepsi. Unfortunately during Saturday night, the weather broke and by morning the campsite looked more like a mud pie. Nevertheless, the Cubs played rounders, seemingly unaware of the change in the surroundings. The weekend finished with the usual trip home in the minibus with the Cubs falling asleep after exhausting themselves during the weekend.

Angela Dunbar, ACSL 33^rd Stormont

Northern Ireland Cub Fun Day’99

Cubs from 10^th, 30^th, 64^th and 99^th Packs travelled to Co.Tyrone for this year’s Cub Fun Day which was held at the Ulster American Folk Park on Saturday 22^nd May. Highlights of the visit to the Park included Barn Dancing, candle making, singing in an American general store to the accompaniment of a yukalaylee, and in an 18^th Century Irish church to the organ, meeting a Red Indian squaw and clambering on board a replica of a ship that took the settlers to America. Many thanks to Sinclair Trotter , NI Field Commissioner, and to Iris Graham and the local organising team for all the planning that went into this event (though we did miss Dougie and Brian’s usual water antics at Fun Day this year- shame there wasn’t the chance for some wet and wild activities in Gortin Glen later in the afternoon!!).

30^th and 64^th Packs took advantage of the opportunity to spend the weekend in the Omagh area, each holding Pack Holidays from 21^st to 23^rd May; 64^th at a Scout Hall in the centre of town and 30^th at the Omagh District Campsite, Glasmullagh, near Mountjoy. We heard on the grapevine that Steve Hoskins also had a group camping in Gortin Glen, including quite a number of the smaller packs in the County and East’s ADCs, Deirdre and Harry who were catering for the weekend. 30^th Pack activities included trips to Aladdin’s Kingdom adventure playground, Omagh Leisure Complex, and The Ulster History Park. The staff at the History Park were very helpful and were a hit with the Cubs who much preferred this visit to that to the Folk Park the previous day. There was certainly more to do than we had expected in the Omagh area, and Glasmullagh Lodge, similar in many respects to Slievenaman, is a suitable venue for a Pack Holiday. I’d be happy to provide further information to any other CSLs who are interested.

David, CSL 30^th

Camp Report- 7^th Belfast Scout Group at Killyleagh

Killyleagh Outdoor Pursuit Centre did not know what had hit it when 37 boys and leaders from 7^th Belfast Cubs and Scouts descended on it for a weekend of outdoor activity during the second week in September.

During the weekend, the Scouts spent their time sailing and by Sunday had progressed to handling one man boats. Our thanks to the instructors at Killyleagh, particularly Keiran Loder assisted by Mike on Saturday and Des and John, our SL and ASL respectively, who have completed an instructors’ course at Killyleagh. Between times the Scouts chatted up some Guides also from Dundonald even though the Cubs had a fair go at out-staging them.

The Cubs had a whale of a time during the weekend getting wet. Saturday morning saw the boys at a place called Jayne’s Shore just outside Downpatrick on the River Quoile suitably clad in the appropriate gear having a go at canoeing in Canadian canoes. All morning the rain came down from above as well as coming up from below. Incidentally, Pamela and Stephen, two of our Cub leaders, have also completed the appropriate course at Killyleagh.

Saturday afternoon saw us out at the Ballagh River between Newcastle and Kilkeel for a spot of basic bouldering. Again lots of rain and lots of water but tremendous fun. Only ASL Susan had to be rescued. She was afraid.

One of the highlights was the match of the day on Saturday evening between the Scouts and Leaders and the Cubs. The Cubs won. After which it was time to raid the local shop for supplies for a midnight feast. Too bad boys -you fell asleep well before midnight.

Sunday was spent with the Scouts sailing again and the Cubs going to Delamont for Archery and Low Ropes, all done under a cloudless blue sky with the sun shining, quite a change from the previous day.

One of the fondest memories of the weekend has to be around 30 boys suitably clad for water type activities on Saturday morning singing at the top of their voices whilst the rain poured down. ‘I’m just singing in the rain’, complete with all actions, a spectacular sight and sound, keeping up one of the best traditions in Scouting.

Thanks Killyleagh for a wonderful and most enjoyable weekend. Good Fun, Good Food, Good Fellowship and new skills acquired by 7^th.

Anne Jackson, GSL 7^th

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