Author: Editorial Team

Summit is held in a hostel in the Snowdonia range of mountains that is so well placed that many of the mountain routes can start off straight from the door. Called “Hafod”, the hostel is run by the Welsh Scout Council and has been our home for a glorious weekend over many years. As a base it has introduced many of our older scouts, explorers and before that, ventures to the thrill of standing on some of Britain’s highest mountains and given some the skill and experience to become Mountain leaders themselves.

This year Summit is from 9^th to 11^th November – the forms are out. Places are restricted by the number of bunks in the hut so you’d better get booking.

For those interested Harold Webb, for many years our Mountain Activity Advisor, is compiling a book on the History of Mountaineering in the District including the start of the Summit weekend. It started in the old West District when a small group of Senior Scouts set of to do the newly created Pennine Way. The book will soon be available so if you are interested or just wish to renew a few of your old memories look out – Fly will keep you posted.

All of these scouting opportunities would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the leader’s.  On behalf of all the young people “a big thank you.”

District Development Day

Most of you would have received from me a personal invite to the District development day which is being held at Fernycroft on Saturday 3^rd November. This is a good opportunity for us all to get together and work together to develop and expand our scouting here in Southampton.

You would have read in my notes last month the substantial increase in the amount of children of scouting age and how we need to prepare for meeting that demand. That can only be done if we can get more adults to join us and enable us to expand our operation.

At the moment we have three scout troops who do not have a scout leader so we are hardly starting from a good point.

I really hope you will all come and together I am sure we can find a way to kick start that expansion. If you have not already done so please send me an email confirming you can come for the day.

The District section meetings are taking place soon so please do your best to go along and help plan the forhcoming events. The distrixct has a lot happening over the next few months such as Scouts Solent Regatta, Scouts Maddison Hunt, Cubs Totem pole, Cubs Scrapheap Challenge, Scouts Walkabout, Beavers Paulton Park, District Swimming Gala, Network Kudo competition, Explorers Christmas Camp.

I look forward to seeing you all at these great events.

Al of these activities are in the district diary in the members area of the district website. Please take a look, it has been greatly improved and you can now download the calendar onto your mobile phones if you are that way inclined.

We are holding another Wilverley Maintenance Day on the 29^th September. I would ask each and every group to come along and help us keep the site to a good standard.

Wilverley has a new camp blanket badge which was designed by Lewis Yourdi Read of the 1^st Scouts I would highly recommend that you puchase them for the youngsters if your going to Wilverley they are available at £1.00 each from Richard Cook.

That is about it I hope you are all raring to go again for scouting we should have a load of fun and adventure!!

Please don’t forget if you need to speak to me with anything your concerned about just give me a call and I am sure I can help you.

Mob Tel 07770364711 or colin.floyd@ntlworld.com

Yours in Scouting

Colin Floyd

• In early July the Explorers went to Gilwell Park for a national event “Gilwell 24” this is such a great opportunity to enjoy the wide range of activities on offer but to also meet Scouts from all over the UK.
• The 7^th Scouts went to Blackwell Adventure Bromsgrove for Brum Jam 2012 and had eleven scouts go to this national event.
• The 29^th Scouts went to Lyons Copse for a week with twelve scouts and had a thoroughly great time.
• The 25^th Scouts went also went to Lyons Copse for the County organised scout camp which was great.
• The 11^th Scouts went to Thornton Park North Yorkshire for a nationwide event which was a huge success
• The 14^th Scouts went to Collard Bridge in Barnstaple in North Devon for their summer camp and had a great time.
• The 1^st Cubs and Scouts have just returned from a weekend at Wilverley which I now they all thoroughly enjoyed.

A meeting for Leaders and instructors and those persons Running a Base will be held on Wednesday 3rd October at the HQ of the 1st Southampton @ 7.30pm Lordswood Southampton. Team joining instructions will be issued at this meeting.

For Teams of Four, Within “Fort Purbrook” Portsmouth

sleeping the rest of the night there.

The day consisted of instructional sessions which provided theoretical and practical training, these included launch of rescue RIB; communication, flags, radio, weather reports, radar, etc; chart work, the international buoyage system, etc; berthing hawsers, heaving a line, coiling ropes a few knots; reeving blocks and tackle to advantage, use of ships derrick(s) to lift heavy loads; fire fighting; Instructional tour of the ship’s machinery spaces incl., boiler and engine rooms.
 
A further training day is being run on 29 September 2012 as the July one was over subscribed. Cost is £15 per head, no charge for accompanying leaders.

We request that leaders/helpers sit in or get involved in the various training sessions. Ideally, we ask for a ratio of one leader / helper to every six scouts. Participants need to bring their own lunch.

It is recommended that bookings should be made as early as possible to :-
Richard Walker, Ticket Manager (also 14th Eastleigh) Tel.0844 357 2329 or e.mail at e.tickets@ss-shieldhall.co.uk

Pictures taken by Mr Ian Bowman.