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A news letter of Great North Scouting |
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Closing date for next edition Sunday 25th November |
November 2006 Edition 2 Issue 6 |
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From Your Editor
It`s a good job, that many of our leaders and helpers are retired, or otherwise have time on their hands. Having been retired now for some time, I many a time wonder how we did the work we did for Scouting when we had to work for a living.
In the past month I have found difficulty fitting in all my appointments ---and I`m retired.
So it`s a good thing to remember the leaders and helpers who have to go to work, and still go to the groups week after week, without complaint—attending section meetings, business meetings, training, and all the other things that are so important to the movement. They are the backbone of our great Scout movement,for which we should all be thankful.
laugh with Bill.
The Lone Ranger and his Indian pal-(how many of you remember them?) were riding their horses towards the Canadian border, when suddenly the Lone Ranger called out “On to Toronto , Tonto, Pronto”.
Later in a Pub in the far North of Canada, they were amazed when the door crashed open and in walked a huge Polar Bear.It went straight to the counter, and leaned on it and said, “I want 2 pints of beer, a pint of lager, a glass of whisky---------------( there was a long gap here in his order)-------AND a gin and tonic.”
The barman said “ Why the big pause (paws).”
DC`s Report
This month has seen the District continue with a high level of activities within the Groups and Unit. Young people have taken part in The Foresters Badge (organised by Richard Brown at County level), spent time on Scout Expedition Training (organised by Cas), Adults and young people taking part in First Aid Training, to name but a few. Can I remind all Leaders that Group Scout Leaders or Group Contacts MUST have full details of activities, and agree with activities that are planned, which take the young people either away from the Meeting Place on a meeting night, or happen on a different night. Explorer Scout Leaders need to be contacting myself and Cas.
Can I confirm that Glyn Evans is organising a Carol Service for the Monday night before Christmas, please keep this date clear, I know other Groups will be organising their own as usual, please remember to invite all of the Team of District Leaders.
Best wishes for another fun packed and adventurous month.Kath
Congratulations
| Central Gosforth Cubs Cyclist Badge - Fraser Moore,Paul Thompson Hobbies Badge - Edward Langley Nights Away-1 Paul Thompson,Alison Briggs Nights Away-5 Stephen & Christopher Hierons Thomas Moorin.James Myers Nick Partington. Sophie Smith Jonathon McHugh. Outdoor Challenge - Fraser Moore, Thomas Mooorin Stephen & Christopher Hierons. James Myers, Nick Partington, Edward Langley,Paul Thompson Alison Briggs, Arthur Thorpe Stephen Parkin Charlie Moorin Jonathon MacKenzie, Jamie Butcher Tom Jackson,Josh Parker, Sophie Smith
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Brunton Park Cub Scouts New Sixers - David Coulson Matthew Long Daniel Campbell. George Porton New Seconders - Sam O`Neil Alex Robertson Chris Carter Joe Brankston Membeship Award - Ben Byers. Thomas Hunter William Malkin. Matthew Brack. Rick McDonnell, Adam McLeod. Andrew Smith. Dominic Smith Robson Steel Aidan Walker Report by Jackie Morley
Central Middle School Beaver Scout Colony Discovery Challenge:- James Bell. Outdoor Challenge:- Timothy Sung Experiment Badge:- Alexander Dickinson, Michael Collerton, James Elliot Lorcan O’Toole, Findlay Green, William Peacock Timothy Sung, Ben Craig Kieran Watson Matthew Collerton James Bell Hilton Sewell Fenwick Sewell We say a fond farewell from the Colony to the following : Alexander Dickinson, Michael Collerton, James Elliott, Hilton Sewell, Fenwick Sewell. All moving up to Cub Scouts. Report from Veronica Mackell BSL.
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Hold on to your stomachs- and read this exciting bit of Sea Scouting,by the Central Gosforth Sea Scouts
At noon on Friday 6th October at Royal Quays Marina 12 excited sea scouts and explorer scouts boarded Faramir, a 72' Bermudan Rig Wood Ketch which is owned and run by the Cirdan-Faramir Sailing Trust
After initial domestic and safety briefings we set off for our first sail in the North sea . It was the first time in nearly 4yrs as leader that our 'sea' scouts had actually been on the sea, and as we sailed out of Tynemouth Harbour it was a very emotional moment for Bob and myself. The wind was strong and there was a good swell in the water and it wasn't long before there were a group of scouts at the bow being soaked with every wave we crashed into, I think they thought is was a fairground roller coaster ride! After about 4 hrs at sea we returned to port and moored up for the night.
The following day we had hoped for a long voyage along the coast but the wind was a lot stronger and as we hoisted the mainsail still within the harbour walls a force 8 gust ripped the mainsail in two! The skipper decided that it would thus be unsafe to go out to sea that day and instead we motored up the river to the Millennium Bridge and the sailed back down on the jib.
On Sunday the wind had dropped and we again went sailing on the sea, and had our first case of sea sickness. He soon perked up with a pill !
The scouts were split into watches so everyone had a turn of steering, being lookout, hoisting sails, putting fenders out, cooking, washing, cleaning and sitting at the bow getting soaked! The skipper and mate also used idle moments to instruct the scouts in all things nautical, and at the end of each day there was a de-briefing session. All those who attended achieved the RYA Start Yachting Certificate, but most of all they all enjoyed themselves and they all want to do it again next year!
Report by Brian Smith- Sea Scouts
Feeling Queasy after the Faramir report? Then put your climbing gear on, and follow the Gosforth explorers up to Napes Needle
The last time I wrote in Lookwide I told you that we were planning to climb Napes Needle and to complete our Silver and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions for all of the participants in the group
part of the Duke of Edinburgh award for the Scouts and was a genuine challenge which we were by no means certain to complete. It took two hours to get to the base of the climb which involved going across a difficult traverse followed by a steep ascent to the base of the cliff. It was a beautiful sunny day and all 9 explorers made it to the top. There are lots of pictures with lovely views down the valley,which can be seen on our Website. The trip was presented to Scouts from other groups in Northumberland at the Explorer Council meeting last week. We have also had a successful Duke of Edinburgh expedition season with trips
down Hadrians wall, part of the Pennine Way up to Bellingham and Kielder Forest In total four Bronze and five silver participants completed both their practice and actual expeditions.
Report by Leon Lindsay- Gosforth Explorers
| Good News from 27 th
Ian Weightman has emailed me to advise that the 27 th St.Johns Cub Pack is now back on the road again with Cath Futers as Akela. Cath is still in need of an assistant to help take the pack forward. Anyone interested should get in touch with Ian. His email address is- |
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27 of Gosforth Central Cubs from All Saints and Middle School have been on a joint adventure camp at Hawkhirst We had a hectic time: bell boating and raft building on Saturday, several cubs in the water, some intentionally so and some from lapses in concentration. Our rafts even survived being zapped by the wash from the safety boat and all those soggy knots took some undoing at the end of the afternoon. It was great to see so many cubs working together. Some of the cubs were fascinated by how dark it gets at Kielder and how many stars can be seen. On Sunday we packed in archery, crate stacking, an obstacle course and the indoor climbing wall. Some of the cubs managed the obstacle course three legged with a friend, even the aerial runway! Others put their faith in their best mates and completed the course blindfolded. Finally we finished up at the Bird of Prey centre at Leaplish A big thank you to the staff up at Hawkhirst, and all who helped. Report by Helen Langley and Geoff Craig |
| Brunton Park Cub Scouts We have been busy over the last half term embarking on our GlobalChallenge. We have had excellent support for this from Alistair Wilson from Enviro Schools who came in initially with a colleague to talk about the dangers litter poses to wildlife.He lent us some litter pickers and we had great fun cleaning up communal areas in the vicinity of our Hut. Litter picking has now become a regular part of our weekly meetings.The Cubs were concerned to see how much litter was being left in the grassed playing area behind the hut and, as a result of their concerns, Darren Penaluna, manager of our local area Rapid Response Team, came in to talk to the Cubs and agreed to put up two litter bins there. This has already been done and the Cubs are monitoring the impact this is having in terms of decreasing the amount of litter dropped. We have also learned a lot about recycling and started our own recycling charts at home. Steve, from the local council, came in to talk to us about starting our own composting bin which has now been set up.With the help of some enthusiastic parents, the Cubs helped to clear the garden area, where the compost bin has now been put, and a fence has been erected to make this a secure area.Over the autumn and winter we shall be erecting a shed and planning further developments in the garden. We were invited to attend the Church service in St Aidan's to celebrate the opening by the Lord Mayor of new facilities.The Cubs presented the colours at the start of the service and were excellent representatives of Brunton Park Scout Group. (Report by Jackie Morley) |
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Web Sites
Two very good web sites are run by the two groups who have news in this months
issue. They are as follows;-
www.centralgosforthscoutgroup.co.uk
www.gosforthexplorers.blogs.com.
(photos in this issue come from these websites-with permission).
The County website also has much interest and their web site is—
A brief update on GN Explorer Scouting.
The GN Explorer Scout Expedition Training event was a great success held over weekend 7/8 Oct. 12 Explorer Scouts took part, representing 3 of the District’s Units.The venue was Kidlandlee Forest, north of Alwinton, Northumberland.The walk to the campsite seemed to be uphill for 7km which certainly proved why rucksack weight is all important when doing expeditions. Camping skills, camp catering and various expedition activities were undertaken along with a good old campfire to round off Saturday night. Sunday started misty and damp but that soon changed to another bright and breezy day. Navigation skills were put to the test as we walked back out of the forest to Alwinton. “When is it going to happen again?”Well, 21/22 April 2007 so make a note in the diary.
The County Explorer Scout Council was extremely well supported with Explorer Scouts from all across Northumberland in attendance. Gosforth Explorers did an excellent presentation on their ascent of Napes Needle on Great Gable.Well done guys! Your achievement was fantastic and I will certainly remember the day for years to come.
A list of activities is being put together for the coming year, e.g:
17 Feb 2007 Founders Day St Nicholas Cathedral
23/25 Feb 2007 - Caud Marra with a dedicated Explorer Sub camp
21/22 April 2007 - D of E Expedition Training
7/8 Jul 2007 – Septathlon. An Explorer Scout Challenge Event which is taking place across Northumberland from Kielder to Tynemouth
- to name but a few.
Young Leader Training is kicking off week commencing 13 Nov. I have arranged for the First Module to be held for Newcastle West area on 17 th November 19:00 – 21:00 at 82 nd HQ (St James and St Basil), Ravenside Rd, Newcastle . Another evening for Gosforth area is being set up. Hopefully this keeps travelling to a minimum. I’ll be contacting leaders with details, but if you wish to contact me directly please do so.
Cas.