Invites will be going out shortly to DCs, District Chairs, GSLs, Group Chairs, DESCs, DSNLs, County Team and County Executive – plus also to Network Chairs and Youth Council members.
More details to follow – we’re planning that a day of informative, inspiring and challenging workshops and presentations, along with the opportunity to meet lots of new people and to hear from Wayne Bulpitt, UK Chief Commissioner.
Plus we’ll be launching H0014 – the successor to H007.
David had been a member of the Seahawk Venture Unit of the 13th Group when they were in the old West District. They were an unruly bunch, a bit wayward at times but did some really good things. Above all they had a real friendship and loyalty to one-another and loved their Scouting. 6 members of the old Unit were there, two ex-leaders and some who were in the Unit before or after David and his friends. Naomi, Jason and “Bob” were around at the changeover to Explorer Scouting.
Keiron, now leader of Network, was Best Man and Harris and James were ushers. James and Gemma, who now live in Australia, had come all this way just
for the Wedding. The old friends from the Unit stood solidly together and worked hard, determined to make the occasion a success for David and his Bride.
This Picture includes 9 Queen’s Scouts
If anyone doubts the good things that Scouting brings about they should have witnessed this happy reunion of a group of old friends from 15 to 20 years ago.
David met Lynda on a Cycling Meet and it wasn’t that long before he moved his Tree Surgeon business down to Plymouth where Lynda is a teacher. After the Wedding they mounted a tandem and cycled off to the wild blue yonder.
I am sure that we all wish David and Lynda every happiness in their lives together on their Bicycle built for two.
Saturday morning 0900 hrs and the start of the 24 hours of activities. On offer was a wide variety of activities – zorbing, shooting, mountain boarding, AA driving school, scuba diving, trapeze, bushcraft, wood work, fun fair, power kites, internet café, radio station, disco, climbing, cinema, information tents to name some. Being the ten year anniversary of Explorers, chocolate cake was on offer at the opening ceremony where the latest Scout ambassador was revealed – Ed Stafford. For those who don’t know who this is, this is the chap who walked the length of the Amazon http://www.walkingtheamazon.com/
This year the weather was not really in our favour. The Gilwell site was already a bit of a mud bath on arrival. This steadily got worse as the weekend went on. The rain came and went and then really started in the early hours of Sunday morning resulting in a flooded campsite with many tents under water. 0500 hrs found the leaders up and serving bacon and sausage rolls to not only our own Explorers but also a group from Reigate whose site was completely flooded out and under a couple of feet of water. The benefits of networking and establishing links around the Scout family. Their leader, Tom, was a former leader in Southampton during his University days. Draw parallels with Glastonbury and IOW.
So 0900 hrs Sunday morning the event closed and we all headed home, very wet, very muddy and very tired. Certainly a weekend to be remembered and, despite the rain and the mud, one that the Explorers really enjoyed. Next year is already in the diary.
Dave McKeeman
ESL Enterprise
There will be a prize for each age group of entrants:
A. Beavers or Cubs
B. Scouts or Explorers
C. Network or Adults
We have been donated 3 prizes (photo vouchers) to the value of £100 each by London Camera Exchange, Southampton – so what are you waiting for?
When submitting your photo’s please ensure that they:
Are adventurous and fun – we’re not after the posed certificate & uniform shot
Conform with POR, ie. All required safety equipment is worn in the photo
You have permission of any people in your photos to use them.
Are of a good quality
Submit your pictures on a CD/DVD/memory stick before 30th September 2012 for your chance to be in it to win it. Send your photos (marked Photo Comp 2012) to us at the County Office, Ferny Croft Scout Centre, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7QY.
Here are some technical tips for taking better, sharper pictures.
The opportunity for the perfect photograph happens when you least expect it. Keep the camera within easy reach. You may not have time to fiddle about with the settings so keep the camera set on its standard automatic mode. If using a special feature like macro, switch back to automatic before putting away.
If the camera moves while the picture is being taken the photograph will appear blurry due to camera shake. This is not usually a problem on a bright day, but when the light dims the camera takes longer to capture enough light and this is when holding the camera steady becomes very important. The best way to hold a camera is with both hands with your elbows tucked in to your body for further support. If you have something to rest against, such as a tree, then use that for extra support.
The camera analyses the image automatically to bring the subject of the photograph into sharp focus on the camera sensor. If the subject is not focused sharply then the image will be blurry. In bright conditions automatic focus works quickly and accurately. In poor light it will take longer to find focus and can make mistakes, resulting in an out-of-focus picture. To help avoid this, ensure the camera has a good focus before taking the picture. On a phone, take extra time and look at the screen to make sure before shooting. On a camera, press the shutter button part way to focus. The camera will beep when it thinks it’s ready. Keep the camera steady and framed on your subject, look at the rear screen and it will usually indicate what area of the image it has in focus. Check the correct part of the image looks sharp and take the picture, otherwise restart the process.
If you are taking a picture of somebody against a bright background your subject may appear dark. Switch the flash on manually to provide extra light on your subject.
Check List:
Have you included your name, scout group and age group? Please specify which category you belong to A, B or C.
Please include an e-mail address so that we can acknowledge receipt of your entry.
The images are of a manageable size – large enough to be of good quality but not so large they take hours to open! Recommended size no larger than 6-8MB
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of the royal family, are attending the Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving on Tuesday morning. The service is being broadcast on BBC One.
Caitlin, a top Scouting achiever, was recently awarded the highest award possible by the movement – the Queen’s Scout award – at a ceremony in Windsor.
She helped out in her community and went on a three-week expedition across north Wales to walk, sail, camp and climb with young people from around the world.
Caitlin said: “I’ve been in Scouting for nearly seven years now, starting off in Hoosiders Explorer Scout unit in Penrith.
“I’d always been jealous of my brother going off to do fun and exciting camps and once or twice I’d been able to tag along as my parents were both occasional helpers.
“Scouting has given me the opportunity to climb mountains, canoe rivers and walk many miles with a huge smile on my face for the whole journey. Scouting has given me that optimism and energy.”
Caitlin is a member of the Scout Network as well as an assistant Scout leader at home. She is also an assistant Explorer Scout leader in Southampton, where she is at university studying French and Spanish.
She said: “It seems bizarre now to think that I’d barely speak up in meetings when I first joined Scouting. Yet when I went to Windsor to collect the Queen’s Scout award, there I was speaking in front of hundreds.
“I went from being shy and quiet to being the loud one bringing all the others out of their shells. I’ve been pushed to be a better person than I thought I could be and I appreciate all the support I’ve had.
“To have been invited to be part of the jubilee thanksgiving service is just beyond my wildest dreams – and all thanks to Scouting.”
First published at 14:11, Friday, 01 June 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk