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Welcome to Edition 45 of Tails of the New Forest. As Christmas draws closer to the horizon, and the end of the year beckons, we have details of festive events for you, reminders of fantastic opportunities and a bumper round up of all the events that happened in this packed month. Check them all out below:
What’s coming up?
As we round out the year, enjoy a couple of fantastic festive events and don’t forget your district diary for next year’s dates.
Totton Santa Run
Organised by 5th Testwood, the Totton Santa Run has been running for close to a decade and is Totton’s last festive event standing! Take to the streets around the circuit of the streets for a gently 2.5km jog, or a more energetic 5km trek. Or for the more entertainment minded, we have choirs, stalls and games at our Christmas Fayre – this year at the Three Score Club in Totton.
A thank you to those who have already volunteered to marshal on the day, or who are joining us on the day. It is one of our main fundraisers, and with changes this year, we need your help to make it a success. There is still time to sign up to run, or spread the word and challenge others to do it!
Stanley’s Own Band Concert
Get into the Festive spirit and join Stanley’s Own Scout and Guide Band for a fantastic festive concert of carols and modern classics, the result of all their hard work.
Join them on Thursday 18th December at 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm) at Lyndhurst Baptist Church. Tickets are available on the door at £4, and the interval includes both a raffle and refreshments.
Reminders, opportunities and notices
Jamboree and Project 27
A fantastic 22 young people from the District have been selected to join an international adventure of a lifetime at the World Scout Jamboree or at Project 27. Explorer leaders and Group Lead Volunteers should have a list of those attending from their groups/units and a list of provisional training dates to help plan their programmes avoiding these obligations.
Due to a handful of spaces on coaches, Project 27 will be opening to direct entries in the near future, keep an eye out for details when they are released.
Reminder: Founder’s Day Tea
Pop the date in your diaries now, and invite your volunteers and young people too. To celebrate Founders Day, the birthday of Robert Baden-Powell who founded the global Scout movement, you are all invited to afternoon tea on Sunday 22nd February, 2pm – 4.30pm at Sandleheath Scout HQ.
As we’ve had some confusion, we want to reassure it is open to all adults, young people and parents in every group within New Forest district. We are looking at boosting our activities so they are enjoyable for everyone. Ideas to Kevin please – [email protected].
Suisse Adventure 2027 is go!
Hampshire Scouts have launched their trip abroad to Switzerland and the Kanderstag International Scout Centre in August 2027. Find out more about the trip, the activities on offer and the details on the flyer below. Plus you can express an interest at this link.
What’s been happening?
Cubs Sleep with Sharks!
Eight years after their last visit, the Cubs of New Forest District once again plunged into adventure with a fantastic “Sleep with the Sharks” trip at the incredible Plymouth Aquarium. The Cubs discovered both the most fascinating and the most delightfully gross creatures of the deep, from those lurking beneath our own coastline to the vibrant marine life of the Great Barrier Reef on the other side of the world.
Read the full story, and see all the pictures, here.
Adventure abound for Sandleheath
A couple of updates from 1st Sandleheath Sea Scouts, being outdoors despite the weather and the nights drawing in. First, their Beaver Scouts enjoying dough twists and sparklers earlier in November:
Then some night time navigating and cycling with the Scout troop:
Squirrels on the Snow!
1st Lyndhurst Squirrel Scouts recently took to the slopes at Calshot Activity Centre for a taster ski session! For many of the squirrels, this was their very first time on skis, making it an exciting new experience.
The squirrels did amazingly well — from listening carefully to instructions, to putting on their equipment, and bravely giving skiing a go down the slopes! There were happy smiles all around as each squirrel conquered the challenge and enjoyed their moment on the slopes – with their hard work earning them their Stage 1 Snowsports Activity Badge!
First of many festive band performances
Remembrance Sunday
At this time of year, many of our Scouts of all ages have been taking part in Remembrance events across the District in our local communities. We will remember them.
Ringing a bell at Fordingbridge
Fordingbridge have been getting stuck in once more, with everything from sleeping with sharks, remembering the fallen at Remembrance Sunday and ringing bells!?
Yes, the Cubs went to St Mary’s Church in Fordingbridge to learn about bell ringing. They split into two groups and whilst one did an observation quiz around the Church, the other group went into the tower where they learnt about the bells. All the Cubs and leaders had the opportunity to try ringing one of the bells and we hope the nearby residents weren’t disturbed too much!
Space(ships) calling
Making food spaceships for the Space badge and learning about the planets. Starting early at 3rd Ringwood Squirrels.
Fixing up the hall
The 5th Testwood Scouts worked hard together a couple of Saturdays ago to fix up their hall with loads of parents, leaders, young people and neighbours getting involved:
Today they cut the hedges inside and outside of the compound, cleaned out the guttering and down pipes, repaired and refilled the wood store, emptied out ash bins, cleaned windows, sorted out the tops of the cupboards and rehoming anything that shouldn’t be there, checked all the chairs to ensure they were in good condition and repaired and cleaned as necessary, replaced the broken Accessible WC, cleaned out the compound near the garage and began replacing the fencing, removed two broken floodlights, repaired emergency exit light, light in girls toilet, and some more electrical wizardry by Andy, deep cleaned the kitchen including the fridge, stove and oven, power clean/scrub/polish floor, power wash front ramp, back ramp and front patio, cleared the balcony and loft area of stuff we haven’t used for years, decobwebbed the hall, removed an old sound system AND in the process filled one 6yd skip and a huge amount of scrap metal collected.
Phew! It’s exhausting just reading it all! A fantastic effort by all and a huge amount done.
Gone Home: Kyle Williamson
Sad news out of 4th Eling Sea Scouts, the sudden loss of their Group Chairperson Kyle Williamson. Kyle gave so much of his time, heart, and energy to the Scout Group, and his sudden loss has deeply affected everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
And finally…
Volunteering takes many forms. It all helps, thank you to everyone who contributes, no matter how small!
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. Do remember to share your stories with us throughout the month so we can share them directly and keep having great Scouting adventures.
Robin and Kevin.
Send your news and items for the next edition of Tails at the end of December before the 24th to [email protected].