Author: Editorial Team

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29th Scouts visit Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

The 29th Scouts took part in a Local Knowledge Workshop run by the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. During the workshop, the Scouts learnt about how the dockyard and Royal Navy has changed over the past 100 – 200 years using archive sources such as photos, as well as dressing up in different uniforms that were worn at that time.

A guided walking tour took place where they were allowed to go behind the scenes and access places that are not open to the general public. This included visiting the attics where 100’s of objects not normally on display are kept. They also got to see the marks and graffiti left behind by the dockyard workers and shipwrights from the Georgian store.

During the day, they also had a tour through HMS – Hear My Story Galleries and learnt about Warfare via touch screen, as well as learning about modern day life on board a Navy ship. Along with the extra tours around Highbury College and learning about how pulley systems and ratios work, to viewing both HMS Warrior and Victory, a good day was had by all.

Our thanks goes to Daniel and his team for organising the workshop for us.

Russell Andrews
29th Scout Leader

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St George’s Day 2016

In celebration of Saint George, the Patron Saint of The Scout Association, Southampton City Scouts across the district, joined by those from the Itchen South and Itchen North districts, took part in a parade and service on the afternoon of 17th April, St George’s Day.

The Parade took place in The Guildhall Square and in addition to the Mayor it was attended by over 700 Young People, Leaders, parents and members of the public.

We would like to pass on a big thank you to everyone who attended the St George’s Day parade this year.

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HSX Patagonia 2017 – Recruitment

Since its foundation in 1986, Hampshire Scout Expeditions (HSX) have successfully run over 20 international expeditions for Hampshire Scouts across the globe. In 2017 they’ll be breaking new ground and heading to the Patagonian Andes!

Patagonia is a sparsely populated region located at the southern tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes, characterised by granite pillars, deserts, steppes and grasslands.

The expedition will take place over the course of six weeks, in the winter of 2017, with the expedition team likely to leave in late November 2017, returning in early January 2018. The trip will comprise of three principle elements; a community development project working with the locals; a trek around the Torres del Paine National Park and climbing in the Andean mountains; and to finish, a series of cultural tours and adventurous activities. Participants will experience Chile’s unique culture, incredible sights, stunning scenery and fascinating history.

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H0018: Hampshire’s 2018 Camp for All Sections

With a range of organised activities, a beautiful location and a great change to network, socialise and bring whole groups together, H0018 is one for the diary!

We wish to take the best from the 2007 ‘H007’ and 2014 ‘H0014’ camps and combining this with Dorset Scouts’ fantastic campsite at Buddens near Wareham.

We would like everyone involved in Hampshire and beyond to celebrate Scouting, as a group, section, or unit with a fantastic week of activities and a special day midweek, called “A Monster’s Day out!”, for day visitors to join us.

Find out more on the official website

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District Commissioner Blog – March 2016

This year’s Census tells us that our membership has substantially grown this year. Well done, it is so important to get as many young people and adults to join our adventure. Over the past five years our membership has grown by 25% which is amazing.

I am delighted to welcome Claire Bandy as a District Cub Scout Leader for the Cub Section. I am sure that with her energy and commitment the cub section team consisting of herself, Sarah and Rob will be in good hands. We continue to look for another DCSL to join the team.

A big congratulations to Abi Bacon one of our young leaders who has completed and been awarded her young leader belt. Very well deserved.

Congratulations to Catriona Gibbon of the 25th Beavers on the award of her Queens Scout Award, another one of our young scout leaders off to Windsor for the parade.

We continue to ensure our adult leaders are well trained with Wood badges for Kate Budd of the 1st Cubs and Caroline Bird of the 25th Beavers. Congratulations to them both.

I completed my First Response refresher training recently. It was great to see that we have purchased some new manikins, they were great. A big thank you to Nico and Sarah Milstead for delivering this vital training.

The planning for District camp is in place with lots of on-site activities for the youngsters to enjoy. I can’t wait to get us all together at Broadlands. The Estate have offered us an alternative field which we think will be much more convenient for us. Ian Budd will give you a site plan soon and he will be arranging another site visit so you can all see the arrangements. We were at Broadlands yesterday and it was lovely and dry under foot.

The new district web site is launched please take a look at it. We think it promotes our scouting very well and promotes volunteering in our district. Get your good news stories to Oli Bills by emailing submit@southamptoncityscouts.co.uk who will quickly enter them onto the site. SHOUT LOUD about our Scouting!! I recently attended a County media day at Cricket camp site and it was clear to see that our district web site is very well advanced in comparison with other districts.

Wilverley, our district Camp Site, continues to grow in popularity, with all the information you require on our website. A big thank you to Richard Webster who is doing an excellent job as our campsite booking officer. Thanks too to those that came along to the maintenance day, it was great and we got a lot done. The millennium gate is now replaced which looks wonderful.

I had a thoroughly great time at the Beaver Panto at The Point in Eastleigh it was a wonderful show and I am sure I recognised one of the cast Chris Thompson!!

Well done to everyone who participated in the Cub Chess, a thoroughly well run and enjoyable event.

A great afternoon at the Beaver Cub Scout and Explorers Cross Country event everything went according to plan apart from Sam a beaver decided to run off in the wrong direction. But even that was fun. Well done to everyone who took part a great day.

We also had a great Cub and Scout football six a side competition which was well represented and superbly run by the Students of Solent University a big thank you to them for the time they gave us. Congratulations to the 1st Swans and the 1st Scout Troop who both one the overall completion. Well done for all the sportsmanship from all the teams. For those that were at the event you would have seen that one of the cubs was injured and taken by ambulance to hospital. I am pleased to tell you he has fully recovered is now well. A big thank you to Jackie Brackley and Sarah Granger for helping him whilst we waited for the ambulance to arrive.

The District are going through the necessary formalities to appoint your new DC. I hope that an appointment will be made as soon as possible to enable me and the new the person to work together to ensure that the handover is very smooth. I officially will step down and hand over at the District AGM on the 7th July. We have lots happening for me to still enjoy!

Colin Floyd
District Comissioner

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Roll of Honour: Young Leader Belt – Abi

Southampton City Scouts have recently honoured the achievements of one of their young people who has been leading the younger sections for nearly four years, working towards the highest award available for ‘Young Leaders’ (14-18 year old Explorer Scouts who as part of their Scouting are volunteer leaders with younger sections) – the Young Leader Belt Buckle.

This dedicated young lady has shown consistent commitment and reliability in helping the younger scouts to reach their potential. She has taken a part in planning events for the 29th Immaculata Beaver Scouts (who meet in Portswood), helped to run the section, running activities and events for the young people. She has completed a training programme to equip herself with the skills to go forward as an adult leader at 18. Through her volunteering in Scouting, and the training programme she has completed, she qualifies for an award from the prestigious Institute of Leadership and Management, which will help Abi prove that her scouting skills are transferable to the workplace.

Abi has now reached the end of her time as a ‘Young Leader’ and his Explorer Scout Leader – Iain Redmill is pleased that she will be continuing to volunteer in an Adult Role now she is 18: “Abi is a very competent new leader who is a credit to the district, helping provide an active programme of opportunities for the local young people.”

‘So much of who we are as an adult is formed when we are kids,’ said Bear Grylls (the current UK Chief Scout). ‘What Scouting says to people is: “it’s okay to go for it in life”‘.

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St George’s Day – 17th April 2016

Baden-Powell chose Saint George to be the Patron Saint of The Scout Association. He felt that the Saint George legend set a good example of faith, courage and perseverance for future generations.

To celebrate St George’s Day in Southampton, we will be having a parade, taking place on Sunday 17th April 2016 at 1:30pm, starting by the Cenotaph in West Park.

The Parade will take place from 2pm, leading up to 3pm at the Guildhall Square, and will be in full uniform.

All families are welcome to come along and enjoy the event!

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Design a crazy golf hole and win a weekend of camping at Ferny!

As part of their 40th birthday celebrations, Ferny Crofts, our county scout activity centre and campsite, are installing Crazy Golf as a new activity and are looking for you to help design the holes!

You could win 2 days worth of camping by designing one of the nine new holes, just design your hole and email or send it to them by Thursday 31st March

In addition, find out about their working day to help clear the site on Saturday 12th March.

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Southampton SSAGO trip to Snowdonia

On a cold February weekend, 19 members of Southampton SSAGO (Student Scout and Guide Organisation), went on an intrepid trip to Snowdonia, climbing both the tallest mountain of Snowdon and the finest mountain of Tryfan that Wales has to offer, along with visiting the Welsh Mountain Zoo.

After a long journey up to north wales, we eventually arrived at the centre at 2AM so we quickly went to sleep. On the Saturday morning, we set out to climb the tallest mountain in Wales, Snowdon. The weather was fantastic if not a bit cold and as we ascended the amount of snow on the ground increased and the amount of slipping increased leading to a combined attack with some members using crampons to guide the other members up.

Eventually we got to the top and with a great sense of achievement took the compulsory group photo. This meant it was time for the next challenge; Getting back down.

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Outdoor Cooking and Forester Day

During half term 45 Scouts from across the district took on a challenge to achieve an activity badge in a single day. Some Scouts opted to light their own fire and then cook 2 meals for their patrol. The rest of the Scouts found out about the different trees of the forest, how to protect them and also how to safely chop wood using an axe and a saw.
It was a hugely successful day.

Well done to all the young people who took part and thanks to everyone who came out to support the Scouts and help them achieve their badges.

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