issue 59 inside out
DESCRIPTION
Scouting Ireland Monthly Ezine December 2014TRANSCRIPT
Official online magazine of Scouting Ireland
Venture Scouts have a BallSection Resources Keep Coming
Backwoods SkillsNational News
Chief Scouts Christmas Message
And much more inside
December 2014
Welcome to this the Christmas issue of Inside Out We here on the Inside Out team would like to take this opportunity to wish all Scouting Irelandrsquos members and supporters a very happy Christmas a wonderful new year Christmas time is always a great time for Scouting and we hope you enjoy your break and if you get a chance take part in some outdoor activities this year This monthrsquos issue covers all the great Scouting activities that are taking place around the country We have the latest National News from the National Secretary and some great resources keep coming from the Scout and Venture Scout Teams We look back at the great night had by the Venture Scouts at their Annual Ball and also images from the Mountain Moot Another Great Backwoods feature on the axe
The Chief Scoutrsquos Christmas message is also inside
This month as in every month we feature many articles and Pictures from all around the Country from groups just like yours So why not send us in an image an a few lines about what you were up to and we will feature in next months issue We have made it easier for you to submit your article and pictures We now have a dedicated page set up to enable you to make a submission Just click here and fill in the details
If you have any Queries please contact us at communicationsscoutsie Please forward this monthrsquos issue to all Scouters and Youth Members in your group Donrsquot presume they have got it Deadline for next monthrsquos issue is the 31st December
The Communications Team
Communications Commissioner Intro
3820
3241
Quote of the Month
In this issue
Chiefrsquos MessageCub ScoutsBackwoodsFormer CCAR Gone homeMountain Moot
P 34 Lough Dan
Chief Scoutrsquos Christmas Message
My fellow scouts
This time of year echoes in new excitement it can be felt within us all
it is an occasion to share and to extend the message of love and care
Our friends will always keep an important place in our hearts but let us
remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart a wide open heart that
thinks of others as well as our friends
out a forgotten friend Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust Share some treasure Give a soft answer Encourage youth Show your loyalty in word and deed Keep a promise Find the time Forgive an enemy Listen Apologize if you were wrong Try to understand Examine your demands on others Laugh a little then Laugh a little more Go to church Welcome a stranger Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth Speak your love then speak it again Speak it still once again
You have heard them all before their influence has never been measured but they may yet again help us to grasp the significance of the first Christmas and the times we live in
To all scouts across the island let us always remember those less well off than ourselves keep in mind our elders at this time of year and offer a helping hand to those that need it for whatever reason
Le Gach dea-ghui i gcomhair na Nollaig is na h-athbhlianaWith every good wish for Christmas and the New Year
Michael J Shinnick Chief Scout
Christmas is a celebration but the traditions that cluster sweetly around the day will only have significance if we allow them to follow our heartrsquos intention in expressing faith hope and love These gifts of faith hope and love which cannot be bought or sold but only given away are and should remain firm and deep within us as scouts during the Christmas celebration These are the gifts without price discovered only within oneself and therefore unique They are not always easy to come by but they are in unlimited supply ever in the hearts of one and all Let us as Scouts this Christmas Seek
3
A meeting of the National Management Committee (NMC) took place on
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2014 in National Office Larch
Hill chaired by Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick
Opening Thought
The Chief Scout led the opening thought with a minutes silence in memory
of the late Johnny Brennan former Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources)
Adoption of the Code of Governance for Community amp Charity Organisations
It was resolved the Scouting Ireland would register with The Governance Code itrsquos intention to start the journey to compliance
It was resolved to form a working group comprised of
bull Therese Birminghambull Glenn Websterbull Morgan OrsquoSullivan - Chairbull Ian Davybull Ollie Kehoebull Jimmy Cunninghambull Jake Reidbull Michael John Shinnick
To consider the gaps in compliance and produce a plan to bring SI to compliance
It was noted that external experts will be made available to assist and mentor the working group with itrsquos work
Corporate Governance Committee
An interim report from the Corporate Governance Committee was noted and it was resolved to extend the terms of reference of the Governance Review Group
Code of Conduct for BoardNMC Members
It was resolved to adopt the proposed Code of Conduct for BoardNMC members subject to the noted changes and that the NMC would sign the document at itrsquos January meeting
Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT)
It was noted that Scouting Ireland was one of the pilot organisations of the new initiative from the WOSM The representatives were introduced and they gave an overview of the GSAT
The Global Support Assessment Tool assesses compliance of a National Scout Organisation on the national level towards best practices in good governance and Scouting
4
National Secretary Says
Website Development
The Communications Commissioner presented an update on the current website content creation process
Youth Programme
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) was noted
County Team Neckerchief
It was resolved to accept the proposal regarding Neckerchiefs for Scout County Teams and the uniform policy was updated accordingly
The objectives of GSAT are
bull Provide a common cross-regional assessment toolbull Measure the capacity and progress in NSOs according to NGO best practices and WOSM policies amp standardsbull Support the NSOs to address their capacity issues and set their prioritiesbull Promote synergies between NSOsbull Provide input for further support strategies of WOSM
The individuals were thanked for their work and given best wishes for a successful visit and they left the meeting
Chief Executive Officer
The report of the CEO was noted
Annual Report
The circulated draft annual report text was noted and approved for final layout
Youth Programme Effectiveness Review
It was noted that work is on going with the Youth Programme Effectiveness Review and support is being received from other NSOs There will be a report made to the BoardNMC prior to the meeting of the National Council 2015
Larch Hill
It was agreed to re-advertise for the appointment of Camp Chief (Larch Hill)
Castle Saunderson
It was agreed to reappoint Tony Smith as Camp Chief (Castle Saunderson)
Resolutions
It was resolved to revise NMC resolution 722014 to include members of WAGGS organisations
5
License Agreement with OAS
It was noted that the approved license agreement had been signed with the Outdoor Adventure Store and Scouting Ireland Trust Property Limited
Scouting Ireland App
It was noted that a campfire app had been released and is available for download for Apple and Android devices
The National Secretary has been in touch with the following faiths
bull The Society of Friendsbull Presbyterianbull Methodistbull Jewishbull Muslim
and is hopeful they will nominate a member to NSRAP
Standing Orders
The circulated amendments to SID 0203 ndash Standing Orders were approved
Adult Resources
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) was noted
Management Accounts
The following set of Management Accounts were noted
bull Scouting Ireland bull Scouting Ireland Campsites amp Facilities
Financial Statements
The draft financial statements of Scouting Ireland were approved and can be signed
QSE
A presentation on the development of QSE was noted
Strategy
The importance of the development of strategy was noted and It was agreed to adopt the three proposed strategic aims It was agreed to hold a full day strategy meeting on Saturday 17th January 2014
Please Note
I would request and value comments and concerns anyone of you may have and ask you to share them with myself and the BoardNMC then and only then can we move forward to ensure ownership of the Association is by all and for all
Happy Christmas
I would like take this opportunity to wish all our members and families a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015
Sean Farrell National Secretary
6
International Report
The report of the International Commissioner was noted
Research Presentation
A detailed research presentation was delivered by Dubheasa Kelly (Group Support Facilitator) and it was agreed that research would play a pivotal role in the development of strategies going forward
NSRAP
The National Secretary informed the boardNMC that Bishop Kieran OrsquoReilly had been nominated to NSRAP by the conference of Catholic BishopsThe National Secretary has met with the Secretaries General of the Church of Ireland and is hopeful that a nomination will be forthcoming shortly
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Welcome to this the Christmas issue of Inside Out We here on the Inside Out team would like to take this opportunity to wish all Scouting Irelandrsquos members and supporters a very happy Christmas a wonderful new year Christmas time is always a great time for Scouting and we hope you enjoy your break and if you get a chance take part in some outdoor activities this year This monthrsquos issue covers all the great Scouting activities that are taking place around the country We have the latest National News from the National Secretary and some great resources keep coming from the Scout and Venture Scout Teams We look back at the great night had by the Venture Scouts at their Annual Ball and also images from the Mountain Moot Another Great Backwoods feature on the axe
The Chief Scoutrsquos Christmas message is also inside
This month as in every month we feature many articles and Pictures from all around the Country from groups just like yours So why not send us in an image an a few lines about what you were up to and we will feature in next months issue We have made it easier for you to submit your article and pictures We now have a dedicated page set up to enable you to make a submission Just click here and fill in the details
If you have any Queries please contact us at communicationsscoutsie Please forward this monthrsquos issue to all Scouters and Youth Members in your group Donrsquot presume they have got it Deadline for next monthrsquos issue is the 31st December
The Communications Team
Communications Commissioner Intro
3820
3241
Quote of the Month
In this issue
Chiefrsquos MessageCub ScoutsBackwoodsFormer CCAR Gone homeMountain Moot
P 34 Lough Dan
Chief Scoutrsquos Christmas Message
My fellow scouts
This time of year echoes in new excitement it can be felt within us all
it is an occasion to share and to extend the message of love and care
Our friends will always keep an important place in our hearts but let us
remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart a wide open heart that
thinks of others as well as our friends
out a forgotten friend Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust Share some treasure Give a soft answer Encourage youth Show your loyalty in word and deed Keep a promise Find the time Forgive an enemy Listen Apologize if you were wrong Try to understand Examine your demands on others Laugh a little then Laugh a little more Go to church Welcome a stranger Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth Speak your love then speak it again Speak it still once again
You have heard them all before their influence has never been measured but they may yet again help us to grasp the significance of the first Christmas and the times we live in
To all scouts across the island let us always remember those less well off than ourselves keep in mind our elders at this time of year and offer a helping hand to those that need it for whatever reason
Le Gach dea-ghui i gcomhair na Nollaig is na h-athbhlianaWith every good wish for Christmas and the New Year
Michael J Shinnick Chief Scout
Christmas is a celebration but the traditions that cluster sweetly around the day will only have significance if we allow them to follow our heartrsquos intention in expressing faith hope and love These gifts of faith hope and love which cannot be bought or sold but only given away are and should remain firm and deep within us as scouts during the Christmas celebration These are the gifts without price discovered only within oneself and therefore unique They are not always easy to come by but they are in unlimited supply ever in the hearts of one and all Let us as Scouts this Christmas Seek
3
A meeting of the National Management Committee (NMC) took place on
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2014 in National Office Larch
Hill chaired by Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick
Opening Thought
The Chief Scout led the opening thought with a minutes silence in memory
of the late Johnny Brennan former Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources)
Adoption of the Code of Governance for Community amp Charity Organisations
It was resolved the Scouting Ireland would register with The Governance Code itrsquos intention to start the journey to compliance
It was resolved to form a working group comprised of
bull Therese Birminghambull Glenn Websterbull Morgan OrsquoSullivan - Chairbull Ian Davybull Ollie Kehoebull Jimmy Cunninghambull Jake Reidbull Michael John Shinnick
To consider the gaps in compliance and produce a plan to bring SI to compliance
It was noted that external experts will be made available to assist and mentor the working group with itrsquos work
Corporate Governance Committee
An interim report from the Corporate Governance Committee was noted and it was resolved to extend the terms of reference of the Governance Review Group
Code of Conduct for BoardNMC Members
It was resolved to adopt the proposed Code of Conduct for BoardNMC members subject to the noted changes and that the NMC would sign the document at itrsquos January meeting
Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT)
It was noted that Scouting Ireland was one of the pilot organisations of the new initiative from the WOSM The representatives were introduced and they gave an overview of the GSAT
The Global Support Assessment Tool assesses compliance of a National Scout Organisation on the national level towards best practices in good governance and Scouting
4
National Secretary Says
Website Development
The Communications Commissioner presented an update on the current website content creation process
Youth Programme
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) was noted
County Team Neckerchief
It was resolved to accept the proposal regarding Neckerchiefs for Scout County Teams and the uniform policy was updated accordingly
The objectives of GSAT are
bull Provide a common cross-regional assessment toolbull Measure the capacity and progress in NSOs according to NGO best practices and WOSM policies amp standardsbull Support the NSOs to address their capacity issues and set their prioritiesbull Promote synergies between NSOsbull Provide input for further support strategies of WOSM
The individuals were thanked for their work and given best wishes for a successful visit and they left the meeting
Chief Executive Officer
The report of the CEO was noted
Annual Report
The circulated draft annual report text was noted and approved for final layout
Youth Programme Effectiveness Review
It was noted that work is on going with the Youth Programme Effectiveness Review and support is being received from other NSOs There will be a report made to the BoardNMC prior to the meeting of the National Council 2015
Larch Hill
It was agreed to re-advertise for the appointment of Camp Chief (Larch Hill)
Castle Saunderson
It was agreed to reappoint Tony Smith as Camp Chief (Castle Saunderson)
Resolutions
It was resolved to revise NMC resolution 722014 to include members of WAGGS organisations
5
License Agreement with OAS
It was noted that the approved license agreement had been signed with the Outdoor Adventure Store and Scouting Ireland Trust Property Limited
Scouting Ireland App
It was noted that a campfire app had been released and is available for download for Apple and Android devices
The National Secretary has been in touch with the following faiths
bull The Society of Friendsbull Presbyterianbull Methodistbull Jewishbull Muslim
and is hopeful they will nominate a member to NSRAP
Standing Orders
The circulated amendments to SID 0203 ndash Standing Orders were approved
Adult Resources
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) was noted
Management Accounts
The following set of Management Accounts were noted
bull Scouting Ireland bull Scouting Ireland Campsites amp Facilities
Financial Statements
The draft financial statements of Scouting Ireland were approved and can be signed
QSE
A presentation on the development of QSE was noted
Strategy
The importance of the development of strategy was noted and It was agreed to adopt the three proposed strategic aims It was agreed to hold a full day strategy meeting on Saturday 17th January 2014
Please Note
I would request and value comments and concerns anyone of you may have and ask you to share them with myself and the BoardNMC then and only then can we move forward to ensure ownership of the Association is by all and for all
Happy Christmas
I would like take this opportunity to wish all our members and families a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015
Sean Farrell National Secretary
6
International Report
The report of the International Commissioner was noted
Research Presentation
A detailed research presentation was delivered by Dubheasa Kelly (Group Support Facilitator) and it was agreed that research would play a pivotal role in the development of strategies going forward
NSRAP
The National Secretary informed the boardNMC that Bishop Kieran OrsquoReilly had been nominated to NSRAP by the conference of Catholic BishopsThe National Secretary has met with the Secretaries General of the Church of Ireland and is hopeful that a nomination will be forthcoming shortly
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Chief Scoutrsquos Christmas Message
My fellow scouts
This time of year echoes in new excitement it can be felt within us all
it is an occasion to share and to extend the message of love and care
Our friends will always keep an important place in our hearts but let us
remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart a wide open heart that
thinks of others as well as our friends
out a forgotten friend Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust Share some treasure Give a soft answer Encourage youth Show your loyalty in word and deed Keep a promise Find the time Forgive an enemy Listen Apologize if you were wrong Try to understand Examine your demands on others Laugh a little then Laugh a little more Go to church Welcome a stranger Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth Speak your love then speak it again Speak it still once again
You have heard them all before their influence has never been measured but they may yet again help us to grasp the significance of the first Christmas and the times we live in
To all scouts across the island let us always remember those less well off than ourselves keep in mind our elders at this time of year and offer a helping hand to those that need it for whatever reason
Le Gach dea-ghui i gcomhair na Nollaig is na h-athbhlianaWith every good wish for Christmas and the New Year
Michael J Shinnick Chief Scout
Christmas is a celebration but the traditions that cluster sweetly around the day will only have significance if we allow them to follow our heartrsquos intention in expressing faith hope and love These gifts of faith hope and love which cannot be bought or sold but only given away are and should remain firm and deep within us as scouts during the Christmas celebration These are the gifts without price discovered only within oneself and therefore unique They are not always easy to come by but they are in unlimited supply ever in the hearts of one and all Let us as Scouts this Christmas Seek
3
A meeting of the National Management Committee (NMC) took place on
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2014 in National Office Larch
Hill chaired by Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick
Opening Thought
The Chief Scout led the opening thought with a minutes silence in memory
of the late Johnny Brennan former Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources)
Adoption of the Code of Governance for Community amp Charity Organisations
It was resolved the Scouting Ireland would register with The Governance Code itrsquos intention to start the journey to compliance
It was resolved to form a working group comprised of
bull Therese Birminghambull Glenn Websterbull Morgan OrsquoSullivan - Chairbull Ian Davybull Ollie Kehoebull Jimmy Cunninghambull Jake Reidbull Michael John Shinnick
To consider the gaps in compliance and produce a plan to bring SI to compliance
It was noted that external experts will be made available to assist and mentor the working group with itrsquos work
Corporate Governance Committee
An interim report from the Corporate Governance Committee was noted and it was resolved to extend the terms of reference of the Governance Review Group
Code of Conduct for BoardNMC Members
It was resolved to adopt the proposed Code of Conduct for BoardNMC members subject to the noted changes and that the NMC would sign the document at itrsquos January meeting
Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT)
It was noted that Scouting Ireland was one of the pilot organisations of the new initiative from the WOSM The representatives were introduced and they gave an overview of the GSAT
The Global Support Assessment Tool assesses compliance of a National Scout Organisation on the national level towards best practices in good governance and Scouting
4
National Secretary Says
Website Development
The Communications Commissioner presented an update on the current website content creation process
Youth Programme
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) was noted
County Team Neckerchief
It was resolved to accept the proposal regarding Neckerchiefs for Scout County Teams and the uniform policy was updated accordingly
The objectives of GSAT are
bull Provide a common cross-regional assessment toolbull Measure the capacity and progress in NSOs according to NGO best practices and WOSM policies amp standardsbull Support the NSOs to address their capacity issues and set their prioritiesbull Promote synergies between NSOsbull Provide input for further support strategies of WOSM
The individuals were thanked for their work and given best wishes for a successful visit and they left the meeting
Chief Executive Officer
The report of the CEO was noted
Annual Report
The circulated draft annual report text was noted and approved for final layout
Youth Programme Effectiveness Review
It was noted that work is on going with the Youth Programme Effectiveness Review and support is being received from other NSOs There will be a report made to the BoardNMC prior to the meeting of the National Council 2015
Larch Hill
It was agreed to re-advertise for the appointment of Camp Chief (Larch Hill)
Castle Saunderson
It was agreed to reappoint Tony Smith as Camp Chief (Castle Saunderson)
Resolutions
It was resolved to revise NMC resolution 722014 to include members of WAGGS organisations
5
License Agreement with OAS
It was noted that the approved license agreement had been signed with the Outdoor Adventure Store and Scouting Ireland Trust Property Limited
Scouting Ireland App
It was noted that a campfire app had been released and is available for download for Apple and Android devices
The National Secretary has been in touch with the following faiths
bull The Society of Friendsbull Presbyterianbull Methodistbull Jewishbull Muslim
and is hopeful they will nominate a member to NSRAP
Standing Orders
The circulated amendments to SID 0203 ndash Standing Orders were approved
Adult Resources
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) was noted
Management Accounts
The following set of Management Accounts were noted
bull Scouting Ireland bull Scouting Ireland Campsites amp Facilities
Financial Statements
The draft financial statements of Scouting Ireland were approved and can be signed
QSE
A presentation on the development of QSE was noted
Strategy
The importance of the development of strategy was noted and It was agreed to adopt the three proposed strategic aims It was agreed to hold a full day strategy meeting on Saturday 17th January 2014
Please Note
I would request and value comments and concerns anyone of you may have and ask you to share them with myself and the BoardNMC then and only then can we move forward to ensure ownership of the Association is by all and for all
Happy Christmas
I would like take this opportunity to wish all our members and families a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015
Sean Farrell National Secretary
6
International Report
The report of the International Commissioner was noted
Research Presentation
A detailed research presentation was delivered by Dubheasa Kelly (Group Support Facilitator) and it was agreed that research would play a pivotal role in the development of strategies going forward
NSRAP
The National Secretary informed the boardNMC that Bishop Kieran OrsquoReilly had been nominated to NSRAP by the conference of Catholic BishopsThe National Secretary has met with the Secretaries General of the Church of Ireland and is hopeful that a nomination will be forthcoming shortly
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
A meeting of the National Management Committee (NMC) took place on
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2014 in National Office Larch
Hill chaired by Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick
Opening Thought
The Chief Scout led the opening thought with a minutes silence in memory
of the late Johnny Brennan former Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources)
Adoption of the Code of Governance for Community amp Charity Organisations
It was resolved the Scouting Ireland would register with The Governance Code itrsquos intention to start the journey to compliance
It was resolved to form a working group comprised of
bull Therese Birminghambull Glenn Websterbull Morgan OrsquoSullivan - Chairbull Ian Davybull Ollie Kehoebull Jimmy Cunninghambull Jake Reidbull Michael John Shinnick
To consider the gaps in compliance and produce a plan to bring SI to compliance
It was noted that external experts will be made available to assist and mentor the working group with itrsquos work
Corporate Governance Committee
An interim report from the Corporate Governance Committee was noted and it was resolved to extend the terms of reference of the Governance Review Group
Code of Conduct for BoardNMC Members
It was resolved to adopt the proposed Code of Conduct for BoardNMC members subject to the noted changes and that the NMC would sign the document at itrsquos January meeting
Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT)
It was noted that Scouting Ireland was one of the pilot organisations of the new initiative from the WOSM The representatives were introduced and they gave an overview of the GSAT
The Global Support Assessment Tool assesses compliance of a National Scout Organisation on the national level towards best practices in good governance and Scouting
4
National Secretary Says
Website Development
The Communications Commissioner presented an update on the current website content creation process
Youth Programme
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) was noted
County Team Neckerchief
It was resolved to accept the proposal regarding Neckerchiefs for Scout County Teams and the uniform policy was updated accordingly
The objectives of GSAT are
bull Provide a common cross-regional assessment toolbull Measure the capacity and progress in NSOs according to NGO best practices and WOSM policies amp standardsbull Support the NSOs to address their capacity issues and set their prioritiesbull Promote synergies between NSOsbull Provide input for further support strategies of WOSM
The individuals were thanked for their work and given best wishes for a successful visit and they left the meeting
Chief Executive Officer
The report of the CEO was noted
Annual Report
The circulated draft annual report text was noted and approved for final layout
Youth Programme Effectiveness Review
It was noted that work is on going with the Youth Programme Effectiveness Review and support is being received from other NSOs There will be a report made to the BoardNMC prior to the meeting of the National Council 2015
Larch Hill
It was agreed to re-advertise for the appointment of Camp Chief (Larch Hill)
Castle Saunderson
It was agreed to reappoint Tony Smith as Camp Chief (Castle Saunderson)
Resolutions
It was resolved to revise NMC resolution 722014 to include members of WAGGS organisations
5
License Agreement with OAS
It was noted that the approved license agreement had been signed with the Outdoor Adventure Store and Scouting Ireland Trust Property Limited
Scouting Ireland App
It was noted that a campfire app had been released and is available for download for Apple and Android devices
The National Secretary has been in touch with the following faiths
bull The Society of Friendsbull Presbyterianbull Methodistbull Jewishbull Muslim
and is hopeful they will nominate a member to NSRAP
Standing Orders
The circulated amendments to SID 0203 ndash Standing Orders were approved
Adult Resources
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) was noted
Management Accounts
The following set of Management Accounts were noted
bull Scouting Ireland bull Scouting Ireland Campsites amp Facilities
Financial Statements
The draft financial statements of Scouting Ireland were approved and can be signed
QSE
A presentation on the development of QSE was noted
Strategy
The importance of the development of strategy was noted and It was agreed to adopt the three proposed strategic aims It was agreed to hold a full day strategy meeting on Saturday 17th January 2014
Please Note
I would request and value comments and concerns anyone of you may have and ask you to share them with myself and the BoardNMC then and only then can we move forward to ensure ownership of the Association is by all and for all
Happy Christmas
I would like take this opportunity to wish all our members and families a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015
Sean Farrell National Secretary
6
International Report
The report of the International Commissioner was noted
Research Presentation
A detailed research presentation was delivered by Dubheasa Kelly (Group Support Facilitator) and it was agreed that research would play a pivotal role in the development of strategies going forward
NSRAP
The National Secretary informed the boardNMC that Bishop Kieran OrsquoReilly had been nominated to NSRAP by the conference of Catholic BishopsThe National Secretary has met with the Secretaries General of the Church of Ireland and is hopeful that a nomination will be forthcoming shortly
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Website Development
The Communications Commissioner presented an update on the current website content creation process
Youth Programme
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) was noted
County Team Neckerchief
It was resolved to accept the proposal regarding Neckerchiefs for Scout County Teams and the uniform policy was updated accordingly
The objectives of GSAT are
bull Provide a common cross-regional assessment toolbull Measure the capacity and progress in NSOs according to NGO best practices and WOSM policies amp standardsbull Support the NSOs to address their capacity issues and set their prioritiesbull Promote synergies between NSOsbull Provide input for further support strategies of WOSM
The individuals were thanked for their work and given best wishes for a successful visit and they left the meeting
Chief Executive Officer
The report of the CEO was noted
Annual Report
The circulated draft annual report text was noted and approved for final layout
Youth Programme Effectiveness Review
It was noted that work is on going with the Youth Programme Effectiveness Review and support is being received from other NSOs There will be a report made to the BoardNMC prior to the meeting of the National Council 2015
Larch Hill
It was agreed to re-advertise for the appointment of Camp Chief (Larch Hill)
Castle Saunderson
It was agreed to reappoint Tony Smith as Camp Chief (Castle Saunderson)
Resolutions
It was resolved to revise NMC resolution 722014 to include members of WAGGS organisations
5
License Agreement with OAS
It was noted that the approved license agreement had been signed with the Outdoor Adventure Store and Scouting Ireland Trust Property Limited
Scouting Ireland App
It was noted that a campfire app had been released and is available for download for Apple and Android devices
The National Secretary has been in touch with the following faiths
bull The Society of Friendsbull Presbyterianbull Methodistbull Jewishbull Muslim
and is hopeful they will nominate a member to NSRAP
Standing Orders
The circulated amendments to SID 0203 ndash Standing Orders were approved
Adult Resources
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) was noted
Management Accounts
The following set of Management Accounts were noted
bull Scouting Ireland bull Scouting Ireland Campsites amp Facilities
Financial Statements
The draft financial statements of Scouting Ireland were approved and can be signed
QSE
A presentation on the development of QSE was noted
Strategy
The importance of the development of strategy was noted and It was agreed to adopt the three proposed strategic aims It was agreed to hold a full day strategy meeting on Saturday 17th January 2014
Please Note
I would request and value comments and concerns anyone of you may have and ask you to share them with myself and the BoardNMC then and only then can we move forward to ensure ownership of the Association is by all and for all
Happy Christmas
I would like take this opportunity to wish all our members and families a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015
Sean Farrell National Secretary
6
International Report
The report of the International Commissioner was noted
Research Presentation
A detailed research presentation was delivered by Dubheasa Kelly (Group Support Facilitator) and it was agreed that research would play a pivotal role in the development of strategies going forward
NSRAP
The National Secretary informed the boardNMC that Bishop Kieran OrsquoReilly had been nominated to NSRAP by the conference of Catholic BishopsThe National Secretary has met with the Secretaries General of the Church of Ireland and is hopeful that a nomination will be forthcoming shortly
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
The National Secretary has been in touch with the following faiths
bull The Society of Friendsbull Presbyterianbull Methodistbull Jewishbull Muslim
and is hopeful they will nominate a member to NSRAP
Standing Orders
The circulated amendments to SID 0203 ndash Standing Orders were approved
Adult Resources
The report of the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) was noted
Management Accounts
The following set of Management Accounts were noted
bull Scouting Ireland bull Scouting Ireland Campsites amp Facilities
Financial Statements
The draft financial statements of Scouting Ireland were approved and can be signed
QSE
A presentation on the development of QSE was noted
Strategy
The importance of the development of strategy was noted and It was agreed to adopt the three proposed strategic aims It was agreed to hold a full day strategy meeting on Saturday 17th January 2014
Please Note
I would request and value comments and concerns anyone of you may have and ask you to share them with myself and the BoardNMC then and only then can we move forward to ensure ownership of the Association is by all and for all
Happy Christmas
I would like take this opportunity to wish all our members and families a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015
Sean Farrell National Secretary
6
International Report
The report of the International Commissioner was noted
Research Presentation
A detailed research presentation was delivered by Dubheasa Kelly (Group Support Facilitator) and it was agreed that research would play a pivotal role in the development of strategies going forward
NSRAP
The National Secretary informed the boardNMC that Bishop Kieran OrsquoReilly had been nominated to NSRAP by the conference of Catholic BishopsThe National Secretary has met with the Secretaries General of the Church of Ireland and is hopeful that a nomination will be forthcoming shortly
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
I hope the above analysis and commentary is useful
Annette Byrne National Treasurer
7
Dear Scouter
In This tough economic environment maintaining openness and transparency over the finances of our association is of the upmost importance Everyone has a right to know how their monies are spent The Breakdown below provides an analysis of the 20142015 membership fee
Breakdown of Membership Fee
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
pound 2800 per team (min 6 Cub Scouts max 8) Participants must be Cub Scouts and 12 years and under before 31st August 2015 To register for the National Cub Scout Challenge please click this link - httpsadobeformscentralcomf=OaQl0ytxssefgLOx0Qtrcw The full fee per team along with the booking forms must to forwarded to National Office by 28th February 2015 (all cheques postal orders drafts to be made out to ldquoScouting Irelandrdquo) Please note If your county has not at the time of the closing date held a pre-qualifier event the county must still register the number of
The National Cub Scout team have been working hard to finalise the details
of the National Cub Scout Challenge This year the activity will be on the
28th amp 29th March and will be held at Castle Saunderson International
Scout Campsite
The 2015 National Cub Scouts Challenge is an overnight activity based
on Scouting Skills The Cub Scouts will get an opportunity to show their
Scouting skills such as Camping Backwoods First Aid Map Reading
and Pioneering The County Cub Scout challenge needs to be designed
8
National Cub Scouts Challenge
around these skills to ensure the Cub Scouts are prepared for the National Activity Please click on this link - to download a resource that gives guidance on what should be in a County Cub Scout Challenge Two teams from each county may qualify for the National event There will be a waiting list for Cub Scout Packs who donrsquot qualify Places will be offered on a first
teams it wishes to send to the event the details of the teams may be forwarded at a later date Also this year we will be running the Cub Scout Expedition This activity will be held in the Northern Province on the weekend of the 23rd24th May Further details will be circulated when they have been finalised As always if you have any questions about any matters relating to Cub Scouting you can contact me at cubscoutsscoutsie Yours in ScoutingJoe Boland Programme Commissioner (Cub Scouts)
come first served basis to the Packs when spaces come availableThe fee for the activity is euro 3500
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Diversity
This Monthrsquos Scout Resources just click on the images to view the
Resource
Scout Resources
9
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Trading Game
10
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Menu Planning
11
Food Storage
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson
The European Regionrsquos Young Spokesperson event in Prague has come
to an end A fantastic event wersquore looking forward to hearing all about it
and hopefully seeing some ideas from it brought back and implemented
here Scouting Ireland was well represented in all aspects of the event
Sineacutead and Eoghan participated on our behalf Stevie was involved in
the organising and delivery of the event and Seaacuten who is a member of
Kandersteg International Scout Centre permanent staff was attending on
their behalf Thank you and well done to all involved SpeakUpScouts
Below are Some images from the Event
16
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Explorer Belt 2015
This yearrsquos Explorer belt expedition will be in Germany The expedition will
be leaving Ireland on Thursday 25th June and returning on Friday 10th
July This event is open to all Registered Rover scouts 18 ndash 25 years and
364 days from the ending date
For more information head to the calendar or Click on link
The cost of this event will be 850 euros Any questions email explorerbeltscoutsie Otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the Belt
18
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
The National Youth Forum
In January 2015 youth representatives from across Ireland will take over
Dublin City The National Youth Forum will take place across Dublin on 17
amp 18 January 2014
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) and Venture
Scouts (6 per province elected at the Provincial Youth Forum) will get a
chance to listen to and learn from a guest speaker collaborate and share
with one another plan for the future and vote on resolutions and then rant
and rave long into the night with a social event on Saturday They will then
participate in a takeover wide-game on Sunday
bull National Rover Advisor Workshop open to all who advise or who encourage Rover Scouts) The venue for Roverfocus is still to be confirmed but much of it will take place in Dublin City at the den of 1st Port Sea Scouts (Ringsend) More info to come in the December issue All queries can go to nyrteamleadscoutsie
The Rover Scout part of the National Youth Forum will be part of a broader event Roverfocus Roverfocus is one event with three parts whose programmes crossover at various times
bull National Rover Scout Forum (open to all Rover Scouts) bull National Rover Intervarsity (open to all Rovers who participate in third level Rover initiatives like Rover Clubs and Rover Societies) and
19
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Not just any PL a world Scout
Jamboree PL
To be a Patrol leader or an assistant patrol leader for any troop let alone
a troop travelling to a world Jamboree is a great honour and a great
responsibility For some strange reason I put my name forward as being
interested in being an APL As with everything in scouts being a good PL or
APL is not simply left to chance
The role of Pl and APL can be challenging You must look after the physical
and emotional needs of your patrol for the duration of the camp and asides
in Balbriggan and as I was chosen to be an APL I was lucky enough to attend this fantastic weekend In my opinion the weekend was a thoroughly enjoyable one filled with seminars on cultural differences conflict management and the differences between the role of a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader the key difference being APLs see the fine details that the Plrsquos overlook in the big picture After the serious sessions in the morning
from being a stand in Mum or Dad you must also make sure everyone and everything is in the right place at the right time You then have to make sure everything including stuff like wash-up is done correctly and to the expected scouting standard
Because of the huge responsibility that the patrol leaders travelling to Japan will have to undertake the contingent management team organised a training weekend for all the potential patrol leaders This was held in Sunshine House
and a delicious lunch we began a series of team bonding exercises including pitching a tent blindfolded and making our way across a sandpit while not touching the sand As you can guess we werenrsquot very successful and itrsquos amazing the places sand can reachCommunication was one of the buzz words for the weekend PLs are the official line of communication between the other scouts and the leaders A Patrol leaders counsel was set up and it rules were agreed Then it was time to relax for the evening A small sing song started up and all the usual favourites got an airing with the fields of Athenry being a personal favouriteAll too soon Sunday came and after we had simulated by dressing in plastic bags and doing some fairly strenuous physical exercise what half the temperature we could expect to experience in Japan would feel like it was time to go home In dribs and drabs we reluctantly headed for our respective forms of transport darts trains cars etc Smell What smell
Amelia Mc GuinnessYoung correspondent
25
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Upcoming National Activities
Peace Light Celebration
18122014 - 21122014
To check out the event Facebook for
more details click on the link left
take part must be comfortable in carrying their own gear for an overnight camp in the hills The cost of the event is 20 euro If you are unsure whether you should apply to be assessed please contact the adskillshillwalkingscoutsie
Hills Skills Assessment (Level 7 - 9) 30122014 - 31122014
Glenmalure Co WicklowThis is a stage 7-9 Hill Skills Assessment It will be based out of Glenmalure in Co Wicklow Anybody who is already a stage 5+ can apply to be assessed but must be able to log the appropriate number of quality day hikes and supporting experience (snow amp ice expeditions altitude REC3 etc) Anyone who wants to
For More Info on all upcoming Activities check out the National Events Calendar at the Link right
Camp Three15th072015 ndash 19th072015
KillaloeSee separate advert in this issue
29
National Youth Forum (incorporating Roverfocus)17012015 - 18012015
Dublin City CentreCheck Out article elsewhere in Inside Out
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
To download the full size version of Next yearrsquos calendar click the image
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
To download a full version of the Hillwalking Poster Click the image
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Death Of Former CCAR John Brennan
It is with a very heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness and loss
that we must inform you of the death of former Training Commissioner and
Chief Commissioner Adult Resources John (Johnny) Brennan which took
place on the 13th November 2014
John began his scouting in the late 1950rsquos in the 25thCork (Cobh) Scout
Group John was very keen on the outdoor life and has camped all over
the Country indeed he has also camped in the UK and Europe He was
John could be heard telling stories about Scouting or the lsquoDockyardrsquo where he spent most of his working life He will always be associated with campfires and singing having compiled the definitive campfire song-book John Brennan was considered to be a brilliant trainer having led many training courses participants talk of leaving his courses enthused and rejuvenated and ready to change the world after being infected with his enthusiasm and his joy of Scouting John loved working with both Young People and Adults and his real passion was for the education and development of those Adults He held many positions in Scouting including National Commissioner for Training and Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources He spent a large part of his life working in the dockyard in Cork starting life as an apprentice fitter and then moving into the HR Department As a mature student John attended College and completed a Masterrsquos degree in Human Resource Management He became a lecturer in National
heavily involved in CBSIrsquos jamboree lsquoJamborora 77rsquo in 1977 heading up the Programme Team for what is considered by those who were there as the Countryrsquos most successful jamboree Such was his belief in the concept of a single Scout Organisation John returned to Scouting in 2004 when Scouting Ireland was formed taking up the role of the Provincial Training Coordinator in the Southern Province He was a natural raconteur and many evenings and early mornings
College of Ireland and once again enthused and motivated many more mature students John was always concerned about doing the lsquoright thingrsquo even when it wasnrsquot popular or easy
32
He was never afraid to deal with difficult issues and while Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources introduced many initiatives that helped support Adults in Scouting John was fully committed to the Scout Law and Promise it was his moral compass and he always did his best to live his life in accordance with the lsquoLaw and the Promisersquo Those people who met and worked with John were often moved by his plain honest decency
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
John was a devoted family man he was supported on his journey by the love of his life Veronica He was immensely proud of his children John Joanne and Veronica Sarah Ar dheis Deacute go raibh a anam diliacutes Deep and wide deep and wide therersquos a fountain flowing deep and wide
33
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Lough Dan Native woodland project What are we scOUTs or scINs
Since Lough Dan National Scout Centre opened in 1981 thousands of
scouts and leaders have stayed and enjoyed what the site has to offer
Right at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park it is the ideal
base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer
At Lough Dan we kick start the camping season each year by enhancing
our Native Woodland It is an opportunity for individuals or units to take part
in a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and at the same time help the centre
reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to nature
2015 special offer
10 trees for only euro120 amp free camping for 10 scouts for one night
Join us on the 7th amp 8th of March 2015 in Lough Dan to plant trees as part of our Native Woodland project The process is simple just sponsor a tree for euro15 and we will have it ready for you on either day along with a stake and protective tube The Lough Dan staff will be there to assist Why not camp overnight or just come along and go on a hike and have a barbecue after planting your trees
I am at present writing up an application for Lough Dan to be accredited as a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environment (SCENES) Itrsquos a green flag type of programme for scout centres run by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) Being at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and in an area of outstanding natural beauty Lough Dan has a lot to offer scouts in terms of connecting with nature and environmental education Besides the traditional on-site activities such as orienteering camp craft pioneering the lake also allows us to offer rafting and kayaking and our location along the Wicklow Way makes it possible to do all sorts of hill walking and overnight expeditions straight from the campsite In Lough Dan we feel that if you ldquoExperience nature you will often be inspired to take action in favour of the environmentrdquo and while it is true that contact with nature is only one component in forming a young personrsquos eco-strategy ldquoat
34
The best time to plant a tree was years ago The next best time is now
I hope to see you thereZef Klinkenbergh
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
needs to address with more training opportunities and supports for the less experienced leader Thatrsquos where Lough Dan can helpOn the campsite we are developing the philosophy of ldquopitch and get outrdquo encouraging as many groups as possible to get out and enjoy Wild Wicklow instead of running bases with contrived activites for yet another version of the crystal maze We are currently reviewing our support material adding new activities like night hikes and Geo-caching treasure hunts to make sure we can help all age groups capitalise on the great opportunities our location has to offer everything from simple nature trails to serious expeditions
Lough Dan we believe there is a fundamental relationship between being close to nature and having respect and care for nature and becoming environmentally activerdquo We believe this because we have seen it happen over the years both here at the centre and also on National events such as PEAK The Sionnach Adventure the MPCs and Explorer Belt to name but a few Surprisingly recent research by the Scout association of Sweden found that despite its great outdoor credentials scouting is lagging well behind many youth organisations in terms of environmental education and environmental awareness Many of the leaders when
We are also looking at our infrastructure and removing any clutter that takes away from the feeling of being in the middle of the great outdoors We have removed some outdoor lighting so as to minimise light pollution and hope to turn the centre into a Dark Sky Reserve allowing kids to see the stars the way their forebears did If you are one of the old type scouts who likes to get out into the wild once in a while or a new leader not so experienced we might be able to help you put that ldquoOUTrdquo into your scouting Just contact us through our website wwwloughdancom or phone us on 01-2818205
See you at Lough DanZef
35
interviewed felt that Scouting was still possible even without nature and without the use of the out of doors If it is true it is a worrying trend and a major divergence from Baden Powellrsquos original idea The indoor meeting was a place to practice and make ready your outdoor skills (first aid knotting menu planning and packing a rucksack learning how to use a stove and planning route cards or do a few team building games) but it was never intended to be a replacement for the out of doorsAs the age profile of the organisation decreases and we have proportionally more beavers and cubs compared to scouts and ventures there is the possibility that we might become a more indoor focused organisation than in the past In researching for our SCENES application I noted that when you Google images of scout activities you are as likely to get kids playing indoor games and pioneering with bamboo canes in the scout hall as you are of young people camping or hiking Getting the younger age ranges to participate in the traditional outdoor scouting activities is a challenge especially when many leaders are just roped in parents with little or no outdoor experience Itrsquos a challenge that the organisation
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
10th Tipp live update from woods
22uacute Duacuten na nGall Gaoth Dobhair ag deacuteanamh caacutecaiacute
Rice Krispies anocht
Rathcormac Venture Scouts who attended the Venture
Ball 2014
Out and About with Scouting
36
Eoghan and Jagz
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Kilcock Scouts climbing Slieve Donard
st pauls Scouts on Comeragh Mountain
Roverway 2016
St michaels Belfast Sack Race
Out and About with Scouting
37
4th Louth hiking in the Mournes
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
We are an Association of Scout Groups and this is the vehicle which will continue to make that a sustainable reality
It is in every Scout Groups best interest (regardless of size or current competency) to participate in QSE as the plan resulting from it will be the tailor made blueprint through which the adults in scouting will be enabled to facilitate the youth members to achieve our aim responsible citizenship The Scout Method and Plan-do-Review ethos will help to deliver a quality programme of exciting and adventurous activities whilst keeping the good governance requirements in check by ensuring the group has efficient systems and the right people in the right places to make it so Yes itrsquos mandatory but we would hope you will want to rather than have to do it
QSE is sponsored by the Chief Scout managed by Joe Marken (Manager Support Functions) implemented by the Scouting Ireland Research Unit Dubheasa Kelly (GSF West) and Mike Randall (GSF Dublin) directed by CEO John Lawlor Volunteer Team Lead and QSE concept designer John Watmore Provincial Commissioner South East Province
Please contact your Provincial Support Officer to book your QSE workshop day Thank you
38
QSE
Time to bring everyone up to date on this initiative
With the lsquoPilotrdquo phase complete and many lessons learnt through it
we are now engaged in rolling out phase 2 Presentations have been
made recently in Castle Saunderson at the Recharge event the Scouter
Conference in the Green Isle the Provincial Staff induction workshop and
last weekend the NMC was brought up to date on progress and we hope
to put them through the workshop early in the New Year Now that will be
interesting
It might be opportune to remind everyone that QSE is not a replacement for the SQS that still exists on the Scouting Ireland database alongside and as part of the Annual Census as a statistical exercise
QSE by contrast is a qualitative analysis workshop process resulting in a Strategic Group Development Plan This is a genuine from the ground up process involving the entire Scout Group through itrsquos representatives youth and adult in an engaging and inclusive workshop over one
day This is delivered and led by experienced Volunteer Scouter Advocates and driven by Provincial Staff implementation expertise in a combined team providing the consistency of message but with a flexibility to suit each scout Groups particular environment and demographic
It will be your plan to your needs made by you for delivery by you whilst identifying any assistance you may need and where to obtain that
The QSE workshop is the journey towards providing a Quality Scouting Experience for everyone
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
39
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Singing round the campfire
Singing round a campfire is a much loved scouting tradition and one that
is shared by all sections from the very young Beavers Scouts to the more
mature Rovers Scouts Songs are passed from older sections down with
each troop having their favourites which range from all action Bananas of
the world unite to the identifying Irish Scout Yell
Yet at each campfire it is the same faces seen singing with others using a
variety of excuses such as
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs offers a collection of traditional songs with favourite songs among scouts along with favourite Irish songs like Rathlin Bog and An tAmhraacuten Naacuteisiuacutenta Scouts of all ages can help their Lodge Pack Patrol amp Crew strengthen and broaden their songs repertoire with the Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs App
ldquoI donrsquot remember all the wordsrdquoldquoI only know the chorusrdquoldquoI donrsquot know how to startrdquo
Scouting Ireland Campfire Songs endeavours to banish the excuses with a collection of songs with an Irish flavour loved by scouts of all ages Having over 150 songs available on your smartphone will allow you to plan learn and practice a new song for your next campfire and when you step forward to sing at the next campfire you will have the confidence that the words are only a swipe away
40
(Available click links below)
Android
Iphone
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
41
Mountain Moot 2014
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
42
Mountain Moot 2014
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Minister invested into New Scout
Group in Bremore
On Sunday 30th the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James
Reilly TD was invested into a new Scout Group in Bremore in North County
Dublin Along with over eighty other new members the new Group 89th
Dublin Bremore is set to go from Strength to Strength
Investiture is when a young person formally becomes a Scout by taking
the Scout Promise along with their friends The Minister was invested
by Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole and was presented with his
neckerchief by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The New Scout
The Group has drawn its leaders from the local community and is lucky to have a number of leaders with scouting experience from other Dublin Scout Groups who now live in the area The assembled members were addressed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly TD as well as the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick The event was be hosted by Fingal Scout County Chairman Dave Clarke from Rush As part of the proceedings the Chief Scout presented members of the Group with their certificate of Registration and their new Flag
Leaders were also invested by the Provincial Commissioner and they then invested the Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts and Scouts in turn The Scout Group which was formed in response to the growing need in the area for more Scout places has established itself on the northern side of Balbriggan hence the name ldquoBremorerdquo The Group is affiliated to Scouting Ireland and the members have been on numerous activities since its inauguration in September of this year
Presentations were also made to numerous leaders including a Chief Scouts Commendation for services to Scouting to Mary Harford and Fifteen Year and ten Year Service award to Fiona Fitzgerald and Sinead Roach respectively Bouquets of Flowers were presented to Fingal Co Commissioner Bernie Reddy and from Lisa Reilly from Tesco who have helped in the Groups establishment Also in attendance was Fingal Scout County Commissioner Bernie Reddy from Skerries North Eastern Provincial Commissioner James OrsquoToole as well as representatives of other Scout Groups in the Fingal Area Also in attendance were members of Fingal County Council Local Community Groups and businesses
43
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
44
New Group in Bremore
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
HQ Scouts Cub leader receives CDYSB Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
Elaine Cashin Senior Cub leader who has been with HQ Dartry Scouts for the past 20 years was recently presented with a City of Dublin Youth Services (CDYSB) Award for Outstanding Volunteer Achievement
As she couldnrsquot attend the award ceremony in a plush Dublin Hotel due to a cub hostel weekend away the award was presented to her by our Group Leader Michael Campion at our outdoor investiture ceremony in the den on Sunday 16th November
Both Cub Scout Sections took part in the Pinewood Derby finals recently What is the Pinewood Derby you ask Each Cub Scout is given a piece of wood measuring 7 inches long by 1 frac34 inches wide by 1 frac12 inches deep along with 4 nails and 4 plastic wheels They must design a gravity powered car then carve or cut out their model paint and decorate it and all the while making sure that it comes in under the required 5 oz weight limit Trial runs are done on the purpose built Pinewood Derby Racetrack This enables the Cub Scout to finely tune their cars weight and design This work is carried out at home while the trials are carried out at a Cub meeting and finals are held in public with parents and friends invited along to witness the spectacular designs and the serious racers
Pictured with their winning cars from this yearrsquos race are Max Huddlestan (1st prize) Eacuteanna Coleman (2nd prize) and Eoin Gilmartin (3rd prize) Nathan Miller scooped the prize for best overall car design Well done to all the participants who produced some very impressive cars
45
5th22nd Killaloe Pinewood Derby
Group News
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Clare County Cub Scout HikeFoxford Scouts amp Scouting Ireland ndash Community Celebration Recognition Awards
Recently 145 Cub Scouts from the Scout Groups of Cratloe Sixmilebridge
Ennis Mountshannon Tulla and Clonlara hiked the newly opened ldquo12 Orsquo
Clock Hillsrdquo hiking trail in Kilkishen County Clare
At the end of the 85km hike made difficult by the driving rain and heavy
going the 145 Cub Scouts made a presentation of 145 Euro to the
Kilkishen Development Committee for the future development of the trail
The 7th Mayo Foxford Scouts contributed to their community by volunteering to help out at the annual 10k and 5k charity run in our town of Foxford Martin Boyle was a very popular and energetic 26 year old who tragically lost his life in a car accident a short distance from his home in 2009
His family and friends organise a 10k and 5k run in his memory each year with all proceeds going to local charities The lsquoRun for Boylorsquo as it is known was held on Sunday April 27th 2014 and Foxford Scouts were on hand to help out in a variety of ways
Firstly we met with the family a few days before to see in what way we could be of most help The Beavers were really eager to help out at the water stations while some of the Beavers and Cubs wanted to actually run in the 2km Childrenrsquos race so it was all planned in advance with the Scouts themselves having an input into what they would most like to do
pledge4community
The day of the run was a really lovely sunny and warm day so our Scouts and their leaders met up at the various water stations along the route it was great fun to run alongside the athletes It proved more strenuous than we thought with the weather being really warm and at the end of the day the Scouts themselves were almost as exhausted as the athletes
Six of our Scouts took part in the 2km childrens race this was a great fun challenge for them all They completed the race and made
46
Group News
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
us the opportunity to partake and help out with the run the Boyle family are doing us as a Scout group a huge honour to be part of their personal experience in remembering Martin but also to be able to give something back and to have our small efforts appreciated in such a meaningful way
We very kindly received a donation from the Boyle family which we are putting towards buying a new dining tent for the group which we will proudly call ldquoThe Boylo Tentrdquo All scouts and their leaders are aware of and appreciate the kindness of the Boyle family the concept of giving something back and the
it back in record time to cheers from the crowd and bottles of well-deserved water from their fellow Scouts
We had all our Scouts doing a litter pick around the areas of the water stations and along the route so the principles of lsquoLeave no Tracersquo were firmly adhered to much to the appreciation of the run organisers
The Boyle family also kindly had refreshments afterwards for all participants of the run with some of our parents also contributing with sandwiches and cakes We were all invited to refreshments afterwards and the Boyle family made sure all scouts were looked after Each and every Scout even received a medal on the day for their efforts which meant so much to everyone
All in all it was a fantastic day The weather was lovely so many people turned out to partake in the run and to cheer on the athletes It was a huge success for the Boyle family and the local community and our scouts experienced a great sense of achievement and fun By giving
We are already looking forward to next year now where are my runners
pledge4communityleavenotracescoutingireland
Coverage of pledge4community and Foxford Scouts Community Recognition Award
Mayo Coverage
Scoutsorg Messenger of Peace
sense of community spirit especially when we will be sheltering from the rain and wind on our next campout
And finally we could not think of anyone more fitting to award our Special Interest Community Badges than members of the Boyle family who attended our Investiture and badge awarding night on the Thursday last 20th November in the Den Our Scouts proudly accepted their badges from a family who have made an outstanding difference to the local community and who in every sense of the word deserve the recognition that this very award personifies ldquoThe Run for Boylordquo and ldquoCommunity Spiritrdquo go hand in hand
47
Group News
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
On Sunday November 16th HQ Dartry Invested 3 Scouts and 8
Cubs 143 adventure skill badges were also awarded to the groups
scouts
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
48
Group News
Dodder County
HQ Dartry Investiture
Dartry HQ Investiture 2014
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein gives the scout promise as she is invested into HQ Dartry Scouts
Muireann Niacute Bhraonaacutein receives her neckerchief as a new scout at HQ Dartry Investiture
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
St Maryrsquos Limerick
If you went down to the park that day our Beavers and their Bears you
would have seen as they all went exploring That Sunday morning the
weather was excellent for the time of year a treasure trail and plenty of fun
filled their time along with the Bear challenge which all completed without
fuss Well done everyone bet the bears went to bed early when they got
home from all the walking and exploring as for the beavers well it was the
week end they were not tired so they all stay up
Shoe box wrapping and filling was the challenge the cubs set themselves to help those less fortunate at this special time of year Cubs began by collecting unwanted toys and gifts that they each had at home these were added to other very welcome donations received from other family members and friends The work put in wrapping and filling then we dropped them off for collection to begin their journey where we hope they give plenty of joy to someone
49
Group News
Joti
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Keeping the OUT in Scouting
The Venture Groups in North Cork County are certainly keeping the lsquoOutrsquo
in Scouting to the fore Not dependant on weather the Venture scouts
plan their programme and carry it out hail rain or storm Last week end
they organised a Backwoods day with plenty of fun and adventure along
the way In the backwoods they did away with the usual pots and pans
and tried to improvise and used their fingers as opposed to knife fork and
spoon
what was put in front of them nearly to the stage of licking the plate
A Great day was had by all and was attended by Ventures in Rathcormac Fermoy amp Kilworth The common phrase seemed to be lsquothe craic was mightyrsquo
The Venture scouts were split in two groups and each had to build as robust a fort as they could from available materials that they could find in the woods Each group were also given a flag which they had to place and guard in the fort Once the forts were build they then had to try and capture each others flag after a tiring and challenging game of capture the flag in the woods It was then time to cook backwoods style on an open fire and it is fair to say some faired better than others There is no doubt that when they got home had not difficulty in eating
50
Group News
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Cubs Christmas Good Deed
A Group of Cubs from Malahide Tonnta Pack assisted other local
volunteers in packing the shoeboxes for operation Christmas Child The
Cubs had to Check the boxes to ensure they were full and that all of the
items contained therein were suitable for the children they were destined
for The task took place in a warehouse in Malahide Marina where the
boxes from all over North County Dublin were assembled The cubs put
in a Trojan nights work and can rest happily knowing that the made a
difference in another Childrsquos Christmas
51
Group News
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
41st Cork Passage West Scout Troop Cub
and Beaver Day at Elisabeth Fort Cork City
The 41st Passage West Scout Troop were considering a combined event
for their Beaver and Cub sections when the idea of using the recently
opened Elisabeth Fort for the event was suggested Elizabeth Fort is
a 17th-century star fort off Barrack Street in Cork City Originally built
as a defensive fortification on high-ground outside the city walls the
city eventually grew around the fort and it took on various other roles
ndash including use as a military barracks prison and police station As of
January 2014 the fort is under development as a tourism heritage site
Cub and Beaver teams had to find letter clues and solve an anagram related to the Fort
Despite the event being targeted at Cubs and Beavers we had participation from the 41s Passage West Venture and Scouts in setting up the various games making it a truly inclusive event Neither group hesitated in offering their support and were up bright and early to assemble the various structures The list of games included an Orange Shy (coconuts proved to be in short supply in October) pillow jousting boules and sack racing The skills of the group in both ldquocombatrdquo and building were tested by the pillow jousting event in particular but the orange shy was also to prove very popular on the day
The day at Elisabeth Fort was made fully complete however by the attendance of representatives from Legion Ireland the Roman Military Society of Ireland They are a living history and re-enactment society dedicated to portraying the Roman Army in the first and second centuryrsquos AD Portraying all aspects of military life including
Following kind permission from Cork City Council to use the Fort it was decided to create a mini Olympic-style event based on games with Medieval and Elizabethan tradition Beavers and Cubs were invited to wear costumes appropriate with the chosen time periods The event kicked off early morning on Sunday the 05th of October and not even a yellow weather warning for later that day dampening anyonersquos spirits Spirits were high as the day kicked off with an orieentering event within the confines of the Fort Combined
the Legionaries Auxiliaries Allies of Rome and even the civilians who were part of the Army and its entourage The 41st troop were kept enthralled by a detailed explanation of roman weaponry and turned green by the explanation of field medical tools and procedures carried out on campaigns
The Group was also treated to a tour around the Fort that was ably conducted by Peter Looney of Cork City Council Heritage Peter was the main facilitator in terms of use of the Fort and we acknowledge his assistance both prior to and during the event Beavers and Cubs had a multitude of questions for Peter
52
Group News
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
130th Priorswood Investituretest case in terms of deciding
which games worked and how to accommodate them within the Fort As the heavens broke at the end of the day and an early call for collection was made to parents some thoughts were given towards staging the event earlier in the year were considered I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the leaders scouts and ventures who provided their support on the day
following a concise walking history tour of the Fort The parade area of the Fort also proved an ideal location for a number of mock battles between Cubs and Beavers with thankfully all disputes resolved before it was time to close the event and head for home
It is the ambition of the 41st Passage West Scout Troop is to open the event to other Cub and Beavers groups within the Cork in 2015 This first event was a
Thirteen Scouts from 130th Priorswood made their investiture on Saturday 15th November The Scouts wanted to something a little bit different for their investiture and so with the help of the Dive Inn Scuba centre in Donameade they were invested underwater Well done to all The video of the investiture can be viewed on 130th Priorswood facebook page
53
Group News
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
9th Meath RathoathGroup Water Day 2014
2014 has been a busy year in out group for backwoods skills Leaders from all sections attended the backwoods skills weekend in Castle Saunderson early in the year On the back of this weekend the leaders worked on their skills and did a further weekend back in Castle Saunderson to put those new skills into practice This enthusiasm has spread through all of the sections As part of gaining these new skills we bought some backwoods equipment we got great support from the CDYSB to help us New knives good quality backwoods axes new saws tarps fire steels and of course hammocks were bought Such was the interest that some leaders bought their own hammocks and
on annual camp spent the entire week sleeping in themOur initial small purchase of hammocks proved a hit and we bought some more so that an entire section could sleep out on any given night In total we now have 32 and already our Ventures were in Lough Dan camping out in them Our Scouts also wanted to use them but we were unable to get to a campsite Undeterred we setup the hammocks in the den for a nights indoor hammocking It was a great introduction to the world of hammocking and in total we had 33 setup and used on the night We had so many down from our Monday and Tuesday night Scout sections that we had to borrow a leaders hammock to make sure everyone had a bed and the leaders were confined to sleeping on the floorThe new year will be new adventures for all the sections and all of the sections are especially anxious to speed a night in a hammock
54
Group News
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
Lusk Beavers Sponsored hike
for the Robynrsquos Life Trust
Aghadoe Weekend for Ballinora Scouts
The 153rd Lusk Beaver Section organised a sponsored hike to Turvey
Nature Reserve in Donabate to raise money for Robynrsquos Life Trust
Robyn is a Beaver in the Whitehall Beaver Section who suffers from
Neuroblastoma and needs to raise money for specialized treatment
in the USA The Beavers did very well by raising euro750 and a cheque
was presented to Ms Maria Burrowes from the Robynrsquos Life Fund For
their efforts the beavers were awarded the special interest badge for
ldquoCommunityrdquo The 153rd Lusk scout group would like to wish Robyn a big
ldquoget well soonrdquo
Last weekend 19 scouts and their leaders from the 109th Cork (Ballinora) set off to Aghadoe Hostel outside Killarney for what has now become an annual trip for the scout troop The weather was dry good and crisp and the weekend programme got off to a great start with a night hike through the local forest You can just visualise the imaginations with some thinking that they might be attached by wild boars and the ghosts of the night
Saturday saw the group off hiking again going from Fossa through the National Park with a packed lunch at Ross Castle On the return journey the troop went into Killarney to view the festive lights and do a little early Christmas shopping Back at the Hostel each patrol put their culinary skills to the fore with each of them preparing and serving a five star meal Later each patrol prepared a sketch for some after dinner entertainment
The weekend ended with the awarding of the Patrol award which went to the Wold Patrol led by patrol leader Cian Murphy and assistant patrol leader Erin OrsquoShea The leaders for the weekend were Carmel Drinan Dave Waldock Norma Barrow and Simon Murphy
55
Group News
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
A New Way to Submit Your
Articles for Inside out
Because of the Volume of Articles we are getting from Groups and
Counties each month we have decided to make it easier for Groups and
Counties to submit their Articles and Photos each month And we love to
get them all
We now have designed a dedicated page where you can upload your
Article and your Photos with no hassle and get a message back straight
away to let you know that your article has been received
If you just Click on this image to the right it will take you to a form where you enter your details and then attach your article and photos Then when you have all done press submit If your article is received you will get an automatic reply to say we have received your article and a thank you
See right a screen Shot of the Form
If you need any help at all with this contact me at communicationsscoutsie and I will endeavour to help
Now wouldnrsquot it be great if we got a small article from every group in the country just to let everyone know that you are there
Communications Team
56
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland
December 2014
ContactsPublic Website- wwwscoutsie
Members- myscoutsie
Email- communicationsscoutsie
Facebook- httpwwwfacebookcomscoutingireland
Twitter- scoutingireland