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Welcome to Edition 22 of Tails of the New Forest and it’s been quite a first half term for our district. Find out what’s coming up, some opportunities for you and what’s been going on below!
What’s coming up?
Young Leader Rally returns
We are very excited to announce that the Young Leaders’ Rally will be back for a sixth time to provide fun and #SkillsForLife! This is a weekend event organised by the Top Awards Team for Young Leaders across the county to further their training, as well as sharing experiences and making friends.
The event is subsidised by Hampshire Scouts and we hope the cost will be around £35 for Indoor accommodation and £25 for camping for the weekend. Payment will be requested nearer the time along with full information. Payment will be required in full before the event in order to attend.
Activities will include:
- Educational Sessions – educational sessions ran by the Top Awards Team (confirmation closer to the time). Last rally’s included: YouShape/Adapting Activities, Top Awards, Mental Health, Scouting after 18 and Media Training.
- Activity Sessions – opportunity to do some sort of activity. (confirmation closer to the time). Last rally’s included: Climbing, Caving, High Ropes, Low Ropes.
- Social Events – film, quiz, challenges, games, and more.
Watch this video to see what we did at the last YL Rally!
We are limited to 120 spaces for this year’s Young Leader Rally! If you wish to attend, book now to avoid disappointment! Please note that we have limited spaces for indoor accommodation, due to this we will be operating a first come first serve system. Once all the spaces indoors are gone the only available accommodation will be outside (camping)
Signup: https://forms.gle/ocsHucr5XwWeU66y5
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to email [email protected].
Totton Santa Run returns soon
By Steven Osborn, Group Scout Leader, 5th Testwood
Spaces are beginning to fill for Testwood Scouts’ Totton Santa Run on Sunday 10th December from 9am.
Whether you’re taking on our 2.5km jog or the 5km route (or even just coming along to enjoy our Christmas Fayre), we’ve got you covered.
Plus we’re looking right now for volunteers who can help marshal along the route and keep our runners safe. Email [email protected] if you can help.
Find out the details and book at 5thtestwoodscouts.co.uk/santa-run
Scouts Speak Up and Adult Media Workshop is back
Calling all adults and young people! We have some exciting opportunities for you to learn new skills to help promote the brilliant work you’re doing with Scouts in your community.
Taking place at Lyons Copse, Shedfield, the Scouts Speak Up course runs between 2nd and 3rd February and the Adult Media Workshop is on 4th February. Both are free. Find out more and sign up
This is perfect for the confident Explorers and older Scouts in your group or unit so please do recommend it to them.
Reminders, opportunities and notices
There were a lot of notices and details of upcoming events in last weekend’s Hampshire Scouts Update. For those who may not have received it, the last issue can be found through this link.
Trampoline parks
Following some inconsistencies and confusion following the partnership between Flip Out and the Scouts ending, we have had clarification from the Safety team at HQ about Trampoline parks.
Trampolining providers must have one of the accreditations listed on the trampolining page, this is mostly in the form of membership of the IATP (International Association of Trampoline Parks).
HQ are looking through their site to ensure the information is consistent and have raised it with the various different teams who have been responding to volunteer enquiries.
Transformation updates
Kevin recently attended the County conference which included a presentation on the upcoming changes to make volunteering simpler for existing volunteers and more appealing for new volunteers. Most of this information is available on the Scout website, but the slide deck for those interested is here.
Squirrels coming to Fordingbridge!
The fourth drey of the district is opening at 1st Fordingbridge, joining Copythorne, Testwood and Lyndhurst in welcoming 4-6 year olds into the movement. We wish them the very best for after half term and remind you that we’re still looking for someone who can take the lead on Squirrels in our district.
What’s been happening?
It’s been a really active month as lots of fun and exciting things kick off around the district. Plus it was great to see so many of you recently at events like the Chief Scout’s Award day and the All Leaders meeting. So this month:
Robin, one of our Team DC, was surprised with a Silver Wolf award from the Chief Scout!:
Congratulations Robin, details from the citation can be found on our website.
Scouts from nearly everywhere in the district took to the forest in a navigation challenge – the Stag’s Head trophy:
Well done to everyone that took part and well done to this year’s winning team.
To see the full report, scores and to find out who won you’ll have to see this article on our website.
Our Beavers took to Paulton’s Park for the annual county fun days there:
Pictures from our Facebook and Instagram stories. It was great to see a number of our Beavers taking advantage of this and meeting other Beavers from across Hampshire.
Harry, a Scout volunteer, showed off his work wheels to their young people this month:
Eling Sea Scouts got a welcome donation from the Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show. Young people helped clear their site up at this summer’s event:
Sandleheath hosted the county Solent Scout Regatta:
Speaking of Sandleheath, check out this pioneering bridge made by their Cubs:
We also hear their Beavers have been busy exploring the local forest, tying knots and keeping safe; the Cubs have managed to pack in communication, cooking, team games and squeezing in an “end of half-term” party while Scouts and Explorers took part in some Youth Shaped fun – hiking and cycling on the forest, patrol cooking, archery and some wide games in a new forest location.
Fordingbridge Scouts have been diving into nature at Blashford Lakes:
Plus, their Cubs have been picking veggies from the community garden to go in the community fridge and their Beavers and Squirrels will be taking part in the Fordingbridge Lantern Parade too!
That’s all for this month. Hope you’ve all had a good half term and we expect to see much more from the District Expedition and Remembrance next month.
Remember you can stay up to date with what’s going on on our Facebook page (/newforestscouts) or Instagram (@newforestscouts). Plus if you’re a volunteer you can be part of the Facebook group for members too.
Lynn, Robin and Kevin.