Message
from the County Commissioner February 2010
I
AROUND
THE COUNTY
GILWELL
WINTER CAMP - SNOW ADVENTURE, 8-10 JAN 2010 While the rest
of the UK ground to a halt and hardly anyone was venturing
outdoors Scouts from Stroud and Tetbury District, Cheltenham
District and Royal Forest of Dean District joined around 2,500
other scouts braving the sub-zero temperatures at Gilwell Park.
After hammered their tent pegs into the frozen ground at Gilwell
Park they were all set to slept under canvas, as night time
temperatures plummeted to minus six - but all the Scouts were
well equipped to cope! During the day they were kept warm with
nearly 200 activities to choose from including rock climbing,
abseiling, trampolining, rope climbing, laser tag, zorbing, go
karts, shooting, archery and many more. In the evenings there
was still lots to choose from including a traditional camp fire
sing-song, three cinemas, a huge wide game and a disco.
Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: "Every young person deserves
an adventure. It's great to see that so many young people get
stuck into adventurous activities like climbing, abseiling, quad
biking and having a go on the high ropes, all in the coldest
month of the year." While the campsite boasts modern
features such as simulated snowboarding, the traditional scouts'
motto "be prepared" is still observed. One young scout
came to the rescue of a BBC reporter when the freezing
temperatures drained the batteries of his recording equipment,
providing replacements from his kit bag.
NEW
SCOUT TROOP OPENS AT ST ROSE'S SCHOOL.
St
Roses School in Stroud, has just opened a new Scout Troop to
offer Scouting to some of its pupils. St Rose's School is a
non-maintained Catholic specialist school for children aged 2
– 18 years with physical disabilities and associated
difficulties, including speech and language, epilepsy, visual
impairment and/or learning difficulties. Anna King,
District Commissioner for Stroud and Tetbury Scout District,
welcomed the first twelve members of the new group into Scouting
and presented them with their Scout Scarf. After the ceremony
the new Scouts, their parents and guests all shared a cake baked
specially for the event. After the ceremony Anna said,
"This has been a wonderful and memorable afternoon.
Although the members of the new Scout Troop at St Rose’s are
confined to a wheelchair for much of the time, they are
never-the-less looking forward to taking part in a wide range of
Scouting activities. There are already plans for them to take
part in some District activities where they will integrate with
Scouts from our other troops from around the district. Just like
more able bodied Scouts, they will be enjoying the challenge
that Scouting offers all young people to try new things, enjoy
being outdoors, while also having a great time with their
friends. The Roses school offers a wide range of facilities and
access to a broad and relevant curriculum, therapy, medical
care, sensory experience, varied extra curricular activities and
outings. Scouting aims to help all young people develop to reach
their full mental, spiritual and physical potential and to be
part of their local, national and international communities,
while also offering opportunities so that they can really get
the most out of life. They aims of Scouting and St Roses School
fit well together and we wish the new Scout Troop at the School
every success in the future."
SCOUT
RAISES OVER £1500 FOR AIR AMBULANCE
During
2009 Scout Tom Davies (who is only just 13 years old), from
Nailsworth and Forest Green Scout Group, has raised over £1500
for the work of the Air Ambulances. Tom's fund-raising
activities have included a sponsored walk of sixty kilometers
(36 miles) across Gloucestershire in twelve hours and climbing
some of the highest mountains in North Wales. Tom was inspired
to start fund-raising for the Air Ambulance back in February
2009 when, while playing in the snow his younger brother,
suffered a back injury. Because of the snow it was difficult for
an ambulance to reach him quickly, but the County Air Ambulance
was soon on the scene and the paramedics were able to assess
James’ injuries and take him by helicopter to Gloucester
Hospital. Fortunately there is a happy ending, and James’
injuries were not as bad as they could have been, and he made a
full recovery. Tom was amazed to discover that the Air Ambulance
Service costs over £1.2 million a year to run, yet it is a
registered charity, it receives no government funding, no money
from the NHS and relies entirely on donations. For many people
the air ambulance has literally meant the difference between
life and death, saving precious time in getting to locations
where access may be difficult and in getting the critically ill
to the best possible medical services available to treat them.
Tom explained: "The air ambulance was there to help my
brother when he needed it, and wanted to raise as much money as
possible to support the work it does, and help ensure it remains
flying to help others. I decided to try to walk 60Km across
Gloucestershire in a day and invite people to sponsor me. I
enjoy hiking and back-packing with the Scouts, and I enjoy a
challenge, so I decided to undertake some really challenging
walks to help others."
SPRINGBANK
CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST YEAR OF ADVENTURE At the end of 2009
Cub Scouts from Springbank in Cheltenham celebrated the Cub
Scout Pack’s first birthday and looked back on a year of
Scouting adventures.The Cub Scouts high lighted cooking,
athletics, fishing, camping, information technology, games,
learning about other countries, visiting ‘Cattle Country’
and the adventure of riding a zip wire as among their favourite
activities during their first year. At the Pack’s first
birthday party the boys and girls tried their hand at balloon
modelling, played some of their favourite games and enjoyed a
spread of party food and a large cake. Local Development
Officer, Anna King, said ‘It has been fantastic to see
young people from Springbank enjoying the fun, friendship and
huge range of activities that Scouting offers, but Scouting is
very rewarding for adult volunteers as well. It would be great
to welcome some more helpers to the group and ensure the future
of Scouting in Springbank.’ For more information
about Scouting in Springbank contact Anna.
OVER
100 YOUNGER PEOPLE TRAINED TO SAVE A LIFE
On
Saturday 23 January Stroud and Tetbury District ran a first aid
day. During the day over 100 Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and
Scouts attended courses of various lengths leading to the
Emergency Aid stage 1, 2 or 3 badge.
EVENTS
UPDATES
Updated
information for all county events and activities for both young
people and adults can be found at http://www.gloucestershire-scouts.org.uk/events.htm
