SCOUTING EAST
No.233 The Journal of East Belfast Scouting SEPTEMBER 2002
From The Editor
Many thanks to 99th Scouts, C.Steele and N.Jennings, for news of 99th Group’s summer camp in Holland and to Deputy DC, Alan, for his report on the District Camp at Killyleagh. I hope that you all enjoyed the ‘summer’ break, although at the time of writing, we’re still waiting for any evidence at all that summer has actually arrived in the British Isles!
I was fortunate enough to spend a few weeks in central Europe in early July, basking in temperatures in the high 80s prior to the recent devastating floods, combining a mini-break in historical Vienna and Budapest with a business trip to Szeged and Bratislava. While in Szeged, I had the opportunity for an excursion to the Hungarian equivalent of our Folk Museum, and was treated to an exhibition of Magyar Horsemanship, during which horse-backed riders threw axes at each other and fired arrows into the crowd!! Friendly people, the Hungarians!! Still, we were treated to a traditional banquet later complete with gypsy violinists and the chance for some folk dancing (yes, there ARE embarrassing photos of your editor, but I’m confident that no one in East will track them down!!). In contrast, in early August I spent what is, by tradition always a very wet week, camping in a muddy field at Castlewellan Forest Park where I was helping out again this year on the Youth and Childrens’ Team at Methodist Holiday Week, and managed to flee just before I was unmasked as one of the evil villains who had captured Chadder the Chipmunk puppet,and left a ransom note from pasted letters cut from newspaper! With only a few hours to repack, I was off on my travels again, this time heading south to 30th Pack’s summer camp in Limerick (full report included in this issue).
Well enough of my adventures, it would be greater to hear something of what some of our other Leaders, Troops and Packs got up to during the summer, in time for the October issue. Best wishes to all our Groups for the year ahead, especially as we work together to phase in the new programme and establish the new sections. Please keep in touch during the year,
David
From the District Commissioner
As September arrives around once again and we get ready for another Scouting year in East District I would like to issue a challenge to all Groups in the District for the year 2002-2003 that every Group aims to increase their overall Group membership from last year by 10. This will give 120 youngsters in East Belfast the opportunity to enjoy Scouting in one of our District Groups. I would ask that all GSLs add this challenge to their Group "aims" for the year and that we all make a real effort to achieve this figure in each individual Group. The "Team" will again be putting out a District Year Planner giving details of District and Sectional activities for the coming year. Every Scouter in East will receive this and we hope that all groups and sections will give their support and more importantly take part with enthusiasm in all District events throughout the year.
The Deputy D.C is presently putting together a package for a "Leaders’ Weekend at Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre in October at a request from Leaders who attended our District Camp in May. Places will be limited so first come first served in what promises to be a weekend of fun and adventure. The District St. George’s Day Parade and Service 2003 will be held at St Brendan’s Parish, Sydenham, the home of the 3rd Group who will celebrate their 50th Anniversary. I have met with their Rector and Roy Lamont (GSL) and suffice to say St George’s Day 2003 will be "slightly different" from the norm! We wish all at the 3rd well for their 50th Anniversary year ahead.
September will see the starting of our new District Explorer and Network Units and although these will take time to establish we wish our Explorer Commissioner, Ian McLachlan, and his Administrator, Trevor Dunbar, and our Network Commissioner, John Ashenhurst, well as they start work on establishing their new sections into the life of the District. Please bear with the Commissioners and District as this is a big and new step for all in setting up these new Sections.
I hope that as a District we can continue to progress in all aspects of Scouting during the coming year and I look forward to another successful year in East. I also look forward to meeting and working with you all again during the year and would again encourage ideas, thoughts etc. from everyone in East.
Best wishes for the year ahead,
Ian
30th Pack Summer Camp, County Limerick 2002
This year, 30th Pack travelled to Southwest Ireland for summer camp, with 20 Cubs and 6 Leaders spending a week in August in the Limerick/Clare region. The camp gave us the opportunity to continue work on the Scoutlink project and we were very grateful to Joan Reid for helping us to make contact with Cubs from 5th/22nd Clare CSI and their Leaders, Paul and Brian and to Scoutlink who contributed towards the cost of the visit.
We spent a very enjoyable day with the Clare Cubs at a Water Activity Centre on the shores of Lough Derg, taking part in canoeing and kayaking, as well as windsurfing and a ropes course, before rounding off the day with a visit to the Group’s HQ and a chance to fish from the jetties nearby. Many friendships were forged amongst the Cubs and Leaders of the two Packs and we hope to invite 5th/22nd Clare up North in 2003, perhaps to spend a long weekend at Crawfordsburn.
Other highlights of the week included visits to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and Tarbert Jail; after much hard bargaining all of the Cubs were eventually released! Tralee Aquadome, complete with bubble slides, flumes, helter skelter, wave maker and falling rapids was another major hit with the Cubs, while the weary Leaders were delighted to read the following: ‘adults can unwind in the health suite where there are steam rooms, saunas, sun-beds and a cool water pool to re-vitalise the body and soothe the mind.’
Leaders and Cubs alike were also impressed with our afternoon tour of the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, the latter being particularly interested in the fact that Foynes Airport was where Irish Coffee was first invented in 1940’s to cheer weary trans-Atlantic passengers arriving in Ireland on cold winter nights!
We also ventured down a cold and damp Crag Cave in County Kerry, to view an impressive collection of stalagmites and stalactites deep underground. We ended the week with a trip to Curragh Chase Country Park before travelling on to Adare on a spying mission/treasure hunt, during which the Cubs raided the local shops for presents which were deposited with Leaders for safekeeping. Looking at the assorted collection, the Leaders whiled away the afternoon with a new game: match the parent to the present. Just which Mum was destined to become the proud owner of a leather pension book wallet, a ceramic sheep, a half-eaten box of toffees, a plastic chicken, a woollie Leprauchan, or a penny whistle we wondered?
Well done to the Cubs who gained camper and explorer badges during the camp. We also made a start on the new Water Activities and Air Activities badges from the new programme and hope to complete these in the autumn. Congratulations to Stuart McGilton who was awarded the Cub of the Camp Shield. Special thanks to Ian McGilton and David Thompson who both joined us for part of the week and to Donna’s nephew Adam, a Venture Scout from Newtownards; Adam’s help was invaluable not least for his ability to converse in fluent French with our fellow campers, but also in providing valuable backup when Donna and Karen decided to ambush Akela and launch a water and angel delight ambush in the middle of the night!!
David, CSL 30th
99th Group's 50th Anniversary Camp, Holland 2002
Sunday 4 August: We started our day travelling by train to Amsterdam Central Station. We toured the Damrak and then had lunch in a department store. After lunch we explored the back-streets of Amsterdam accidentally stumbling onto the explicit "red-light" district. Later we split into groups and went hunting for souvenirs. We all met back at Dam Square where we saw some mimics performing. Later that afternoon all thirty of us had an interesting trip around the canals. We went back to the centre where we got pizza slices in the pouring rain. During this time some rebellious scouts took shelter in the arms of some teaser babes unknown to the Leaders. Half an hour into the rain we decided to head back to the station to catch our train home.
Wednesday 7 August: A day at the Amsterdam Arena
Thursday 8 August : Our trip to Scheveningen: We left on Thursday morning to travel to The Hague. Our group were going to hire bicycles but unfortunately they were all out. So we got the tram to the seaside and had lunch. We spent most of the day on the pier as there were amusements etc. all there. 5 of us went on the "Sky-ride" which was a ball cage which was flying in the air. Our leader Alex went twice and got a free t- shirt! We split into two groups and half went to a pizza place and the others had a Chinese banquet. We got home quite late, had supper and went to bed.
Alex, CSL 99th Pack
The "Big camp" in May or The "Big wind" in May
Over 100 Cubs and Scouts arrived at Delmont to camp for the weekend. But the weather had different plans for us. There was not going to be any tent pitched this weekend expect for the brave scouts from the 99th who had Force Tens with them. The rest off us landed down at Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre to stay the weekend. The Centre sleeps 35 people there was 105 Cubs, Scouts and Leaders-it was cosy! Saturday started off slowly but soon got going with sailing,canoeing, bouldering, archery, low ropes. K.O.E.C. supplied our lunch. The afternoon got going with Cubs and Scouts heading to their adventures. The Leaders spent their time with the transport or getting ready for the BBQ: 136 chicken breasts, 20lbs of rice and 10 large catering tins of baked beans -what a job! Sunday was more of the same, with what the Cubs and Scouts could not do on Saturday they did on Sunday. But the big job for the Leaders was cleaning the Centre, so well done to all of our Leaders who helped thought out the weekend and hopefully all the Cubs and Scouts had a great time, I know my own Scouts did.
Alan A. Campbell, Deputy DC
All Leaders are invited to the District BIG Laugh at K.O.E.C. on 15th 16th 17th October 2002. After the Big Camp in May some Leaders expressed an interest in having an Adults only camp at K.O.E.C. so: -
Come and enjoy the fun and adventure of: -Sailing, Canoeing, Bouldering, Power Boating Plus ???
All specialized equipment and tuition plus all food will be supplied by Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre.
COST of the camp is £30 per person cheques to be made out to EAST BELFAST DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL
Completed application formed should be returned by 2nd October 2002 to Alan, Deputy DC. Numbers are limited to 14 so get your application form in quickly if interested!News in Brief
Best wishes from all in East District to Jamie and Pamela, both ACSLs at 10th Pack, on their forthcoming wedding on 31st August.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to 9th BSL, Pat Gordon. Pat has been poorly since returning from holiday at the end of July with a mystery bug.
Congratulations to Stuart McGilton who was awarded the Cub of the Year Cup at the 30th Group BBQ at Streamvale in June and to Philip Hawthorne and Rob Bennett who were jointly awarded the prize for Best Junior.
Events in September
17th: District Executive Meeting, 10th HQ
Contact: Harry Davison, District Secretary
28th: District Fun Day
Contact: Deidre or Harry Kissock, ADCs
News & Views, Letters & Comments, Reports & Announcements to the Editor:
e.mail: d.bell@qub.ac.uk or eastbelfast@yahoo.com
not later than 6th September for the October Issue please!
