Great Start for New Young Leaders
By Steven Osborn, Assistant Explorer Scout Leader for Young Leaders
Young Leaders get stuck into their local community, helping out our younger Scouts with learning skills for life. On Monday 17th January it was great to see 20 young people from Avon Valley Explorer Scouts in Sandleheath get stuck into the scheme. They learnt about what Young Leaders are, discovered why it’s so rewarding and completed Module A to boot so they were ready to get going straight away.
Feedback was really positive with many appreciating the chance to get involved and earn their top awards too from DofE to the Queen’s Scout Award. I look forward to hearing more of their exploits in the future and being able to present some mission badges and belt buckles!
If any other young people aged 14-18 want to get involved as a Young Leader, more Module A courses will follow and we’re happy to visit Explorer units to tell them more about how they can get involved. Plus, the other modules are now available this term on Zoom and as eLearning – the link you need is youngleaders.hampshirescouts.org.uk
Fancy taking the lead on Young Leaders?
By Kevin Harmer, Team DC
Having taken on the DC role Kevin is looking to stand down from the Explorer Scout Leader (Young Leader) role as soon as possible. This is a rewarding role supporting the Young Leaders with their training and guiding them towards the Young Leader Buckle.
There is excellent County support from Mike Baxter and our own Steven Osborn to deliver the module training. If you would like more information please get in contact with Kevin Harmer, Steven Osborn or Lynn Tatavossian.
Census
A reminder that Census information needs to be uploaded and ready for checking by Wednesday 9th February please.
Adult Training Opportunities
By Julie Mair, Local Training Manager
Residential Modules weekend
Runways End Activity Centre, Blackwater Valley. 9.00am Saturday 5th February to approx 4.00pm Sunday 6th February.
A great chance to cover the learning for modules 11,13,14,15,16,17,18. Fully catered and incurs no charge
Residential Modules weekend
Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, New Forest. 9.00am Saturday 13th March to approx 4.00pm Sunday 14th March.
A great chance to cover the learning for modules 5,7,8,9, 12a,12b,16. Fully catered and incurs no charge.
While the above 2 courses are residential and participants will gain most by being residential, due to the current Covid situation there is the possibility to not stay overnight.
Module 36 Adjustments to Scouting
7.00pm to 9.30pm Thursday 17th March via Zoom.
Find out more about how we can ensure that every young person has an amazing experience in Scouting. If you have any young people in your section who need that little bit of additional support this is the module for you. Join and discover how to make your programme more accessible and find out about the help and support that is available.
Module 38 Skills for Residential Experiences
Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, New Forest. 9.00am Saturday 7th May to approx 4.00pm Sunday 8th May.
Face to face. Interactive course covering both practical skills: – stoves, lamps, tents, fires etc and the admin stuff. The course is residential, camping, and fully catered and incurs no charge. Do you have adults in your District looking to gain their Nights Away Permit or learn more about running Nights Away experiences? Then this is the ideal course for them.
Booking for all of the above is via: Adult Training Application Form (google.com)
For further information contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Explorer Scouts are 20 in February
By Andy Chatwin, District Explorer Scout Commissioner
Who would believe it? It has been 20 years this February since Venture Scouts held their last meeting and a brand new section, Explorer Scouts, was begun.
It has been an eventful 20 years for Explorers in both New Forest North and New Forest West, with the section being a great success right from the start. We have had many International Experiences together, any many closer to home.
Many top awards have been gained, Chiefs Scouts Platinum, Diamond Queen Scouts Awards along with Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke in Edinburgh Awards. Our District is regularly in the top 3 each year for awards gained.
We are looking forward to even greater successes and experiences as our new District enters as one into the next 20 years of Explorer Scouting. To celebrate we are attending the Hampshire Explorers 20th Birthday party camp at Ferny Crofts in February half term as our first integrated Explorer event in the New Forest District.
More information here Ferny Fest – Explorer 20
Quiz Night
An opportunity to support our World Scout Jamboree and Project 23 participants, plus a quiz and fish & chip supper.
Totton Santa Run
By Craig Challis, Cub Scout Leader 5th Testwood
This was the 5th Testwood Scout Group’s fifth Santa Run and Christmas Fayre, we were unsure if this was going to be possible this year and had to tentatively make arrangements in the back ground so if we could do it, we could hit the ground running.
Fortunately for us we got the green light, so on the 12th December it went ahead seeing 230+ runners take part, a smaller number than usual but this was to be expected. Once again, a big Thank You to all those across the district who helped us make this happen, by coming out to marshal give out medals and more.
We were also fortunate to gain some fantastic support from the Ferny Crofts team and Itchen North and South’s amazing Roverang Alumni choir who kept everyone at the Christmas Fayre entertained. Hopefully this year’s run will be even bigger and better as life seemingly returns to something akin to that before the global pandemic.
Why not check out the Facebook page. Totton Santa Run
Founder’s Day Tea
By Joy Sellwood, Scout Active Support Manager
We had a very good meeting with the Active Support Members on Friday 28th January and we would like to do a cream tea at Copythorne on 20 February to celebrate Founders Day.
We know that it is short notice but we thought it was worth a go. If you could distribute the invite to your teams. We are limiting the number to 50 so it will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, and I will need to know by 12 February please. Email [email protected]
Lynn, Ian, Kevin, Robin & Ryan
Team DC – New Forest