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March 2015
Send your articles to [email protected] by 20th January 2015 to be included in the next edition.We would especia lly love to hear from the young people about their Scouting adventures with photos as well.Derek Hagan and Valerie Holman Editors.
District Commissioners Report February 2015
www.southendestuarydistrictscouts.org.uk
Nights Away Notifications (NAN forms). There is a new version 6 of the NAN form obtainable from the scout website. Most importantly please submit these forms to enable ADCs to check ratio of leaders to young people adequate.
DBS (formerly CRB checks). If your clearance is out of date or coming up for renewal in the near future the on-line system is operational as it is separate from COMPASS. Checking of details on forms can be done by any leader or assistant leader in the Group or Unit, who has completed his or her training and is registered on the DBS system.
It is best done with the applicant and checker sitting down together and going through the process in one session. If this is not possible the checker will have to enter the data from information provided and the applicant will have to go onto the system afterwards to validate the data.
If any leaders are not able to perform the first part of this operation, the information and supporting documentation can be taken to Sheila Fenner who will do this part for you. Let me know if you have any questions or issues about this system.
Training. The next District First Response course is planned for Saturday 11 April. Please note that other courses are being run in the County. Details are shown on the Essex training website at http://www.essexscouts.org.uk/training and you will have to register on this system if you wish to attend.
There is a new requirement that all leaders undertake Safety training every 5 years in the same way as safeguarding. An on-line version can be accessed via page 22 of the Adult Personal file on the scout website. The module takes about 30 minutes to complete and a certificate is presented at the end.
Brian Dawbarn
District Commissioner: Brian Dawbarn CBE 55 High Mead, Rayleigh. SS6 7DT Tel: (01268) 770172 [email protected]
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Cub Scout Section Report January 2015Saturday the 14th was the Cub Silly games competition at DHQ.10 teams from 7 Packs took part in various random games which included a beetle drive, chopsticks and tiny balls, wordsearches and trying to land ping pong balls in cups.
The Pack taking top honors were 3rd Thorpe Bay 'B' team with 3rd Thorpe Bay 'A' & Great Wakering 'B' taking 2nd & 3rd places.
Thanks to Carol & team from 3rd Thorpe Bay for organising.
Some news from the Packs:
2nd Southchurch Cubs went to Tesco to complete 'Farm to Fork'. They each received a badge and a certificate after completing a work book that look at areas within the store and sampled some bread and cheese.
Booking is by the Tesco eat happy Project webpage.The your request is then sent to the store.
3rd Thorpe Bay Cubs enjoyed an early pancake day on the 13th Feb. Every cub played pancake team games, created there very own pancake with chocolate and strawberry syrup, lemon, sugar, golden syrup and topped with squirty cream, and goodness know what else. Then came the pancake race, several heats and then champion pancake toss and racer was announced, well done Kieran and it was a fantastic night. The comedy moment of the evening occurred when one Cub tossed a pancake that landed on another's head. 4 investitures finished the night off in perfect style.
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Lucky campers
1st Shoeburyness Scouts celebrated the arrival of new camping equipment for the new season, funded
by Cory Environmental.
We are extremely grateful to Cory Environmental and Mark Chapman for sourcing funds and
assisting our application to provide new tents, marquees, stoves, tables and benches
This amenity and our equipment, along with other District equipment, can be loaned via equipment@southendestuaryscouts.org.ukwww.southendestuarydistrictscouts.org.uk/district-minibus-equipmentNigel Strohm ASL - 1st Shoeburyness Scout Group
5th Prittlewell Cubs Braved the elements as you participate in an exciting and adventurous activity weekend at one of the coldest times of year.
Belchamps Wincam 2015 had Abseiling, Archery, Assault Course, Bungee Trampolines, Bushcraft, Campfire, Caving Simulator, Crate Stacking, Cinema, Climbing indoor and outdoor, JCB Digger, Disco, Fencing, Fire Lighting, Game Preparation with squirrel and fish, Inflatable's, Jacob's Ladder, Laser Guns, Leap of Faith, Pedal Go-Karts, Revolving Climbing Wall, Giant Scalextric, Shooting, Shelter Building, Traversing Wall, Make Twists, Zip Wire, Wobbly Pole.
Event pages for 2016: www.belchamps.org.uk/wincam-2016
Dates for the diary:21st March - District Easter egg hunt @ Belchamps 9.45 - 12.15May - Leaders workshop (TBC)June - Swimming badge. Details still to be confirmed
Ian DobbinADC Cubs [email protected]
A Beautiful Winter Weekend in the Lake District From the 6-8th February, five of us from NORE Explorers spent the weekend trying winter walking in the mountains of the Lake District, at ESMAT’s annual ‘Winter Weekend’ , following in the footsteps of over 3 decades of Nore traditional.
We journeyed up to our accommodation, a Youth Hostel near Ambleside, on the Friday Night , meaning we could start early on Saturday morning, after a good night’s sleep. After breakfast at 8:00am, we were divided up into small groups with other Explorers from across Essex, as well as two ESMAT leaders. With safety covered, route cards completed and layers of clothing piled on, we were good to go, not forgetting the crampons and ice axes strapped to our food filled rucksacks.
A short minibus ride and we were away, trekking up the extremely steep mountains of the Lakes, the ice and snow in places meaning there were many amusing cartoon style falls along the way! All of the puffing, panting and falling was honestly worth it. The views were spectacular, all around was miles upon miles of snow topped mountains, against the deep blue sky. That’s right blue sky, in the Lake District. Shocking! It did not rain once over the course of the weekend, brilliant sunshine persisted throughout, it was unbelievable.
After multiple pit stops, chocolate breaks and a well-deserved lunch, we made it to the summit. For me, this was a massive accomplishment as winter walking was something I had never done before. Looking down from the summit, to where we started, we realised how much we had pushed ourselves and the immense height we had climbed.
On the way down we had a chance to practice using the ice axes. The aim was to perform an Ice Axe Self Arrest, a mountaineering manoeuvre used to stop a climber who has fallen, sliding further down, a snow or ice covered hill. Some were definitely more successful stoppers than other, admittedly many of my ‘stops’ involved sliding down the icy hill front first- self arrests are definitely not my new found forte!
After navigating our way down the mountain we arrived back at the Youth Hostel for a hearty dinner. With Yorkshire puddings the size of our heads, and chocolate fudge cake for desert, things could not be better. The evening was passed with various card games around the fire, a few competitive table tennis matches and a film to finish the night. We were all shattered.
An eight o’clock wake up on Sunday meant there were a few groggy faces, but a Full English breakfast soon washed them away, and everyone seemed raring to go. Again another day of glorious scenery, the earlier start meaning the dew still coated the mountains, although as the day progressed it did become slightly foggy. A perfect opportunity to brush up on those forgotten navigation skills, taking and walking on a
bearing becomes a whole lot harder when you can only see 150m in front of you! We even got to try out the crampons, and were able to walk and run up icy hills with no trouble. No more aggressive arm flailing falls!
A delicious homemade pizza at the Youth Hostel for lunch, sent us on our way , we passed the journey singing loudly and out of tune all the way back to Southend (much to Wayne’s delight!)
It was a truly amazing weekend. Southend seems incredibly bland in comparison after returning from somewhere as beautiful as the Lakes. Without a doubt, we are all more than eager to return next year!
Millie Little, Leader of Nore’s Team Banter
District International Summer Expedition - SV2015
Southend District Explorers have launched another major European expedition next summer to the Dolomites Mountains, Italy. Activities will include – White Water Rafting, Hydrospeed, Canyoning, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, via Ferrata & Hiking with an overnight mountain hut expedition, plus cultural visits, sun bathing much much more. Swimming pool(s) onsite
Open to all explorers & Young Leaders from any units
Don’t miss this opportunity - More details contact:
Lee 07957 652 926 or your leaders
Next Adventures:
Fund raising is planned to offset the costs
Explorers Report January 2015
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Southend Estuary - Young Leaders Unit
Module A training: Over 10 new YL Explorers attended our latest Module A training – a great start on their journey. Thanks to Valerie Holman for managing the evening.
We are very pleased to welcome on-board Valerie Holman in her new role of Young Leader Coordinator, she has already run several training Modules – please give Valerie your full support in this most important role to help build our leaders of the future.
Training Programme January to December 2015
(in partnership with Crouch Valley Young Leaders Unit)
When? What?
Sunday 22nd March
Tuesday 29th September
Modules E, G, H, I & J. 9.15am to 3.30pm
Module A Training, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Sunday 11th October Modules E, G, H, I & J. 9.15am to 3.30pm
Saturday 7th November Modules B, C, D, & F. 9.30am to 3.15pm
Sunday 22nd November Module K – Emergency First Aid 9am to
4.30pm
To book please contact our new YL-Group email
[email protected] - which will be automatically
forwarded to Sonja Mackenzie, Valerie Holman and Mark Chapman
Sonja Mackenzie, District Young Leader Coordinator
[email protected] MB: 07702458639
All booking requests must be received no later than 3 weeks before the
course date.
Young Leader Training info’ is on the district webpage and will be updated with
more info - http://www.southendestuarydistrictscouts.org.uk/sections/young-
leaders/
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District Scouts & Explorers Mini-Marathon - Sunday 22nd March
Open to every scout, patrol, explorer – all are expected to attend the District event to walk as much or a little as the team wants to around Rochford/Hockley, collecting points en route. Team will collect bonus points at each base for successfully completing simple tasks.
Team categories;
1) Scouts novice (team led by a helper/explorer/YL)2) Scouts proficient (by themselves)3) Explorers
It’s important to support this event, attend and join in the fun. Prizes for winning team (s).
Teams to assemble for registration at Ark Lane Scout HQ, Hall Lane Rochford. Please put date in every Scout and Explorer’s diary. More details & booking forms to follow from Mike and Toby.
The Next Adventure dates:
Date Activity Lead Organiser
Sat 14th March SHINDIGS 2015 http://www.southendgangshow.org/
C Book via Emma
7-8th March - Essex Scout School- leader training – Moulsham, Chelmsford
C Chappo
Mon 16th March Three Districts Ice Skating, 8 to 9.30 @ Chelmsford D Chappo + District reps
Sun 22nd March District Scout & Explorer Incident Hike – Rochford Ark Lane.
P Mike/Toby + ESL’s
Chappo Mon 23rd March First Aid course (Level 3) – District HQ 6-10pm
Mon 20th March First Aid course (Level 4) – District HQ 7-10pm Chappo
2nd - 6th April Easter w/end
Easter ESMAT - winter mountaineering training, Walking, Climbing and assessments Snowdonia
C Wayne, Paul Tanner or ESL’s
Sun 24-26th April
Wake Up camp Belchamps - St George Activity, Renewal of Promise at Southend High School or Belchamps -
D ESL’s
2nd May 2pm Pillow fight? Flash mob – Southend P Amy/leaders
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26/27/28 June SEMAC- Multi Activity Camp – Biblins, River Wye Chappo
24th July -2nd Aug
District Summer Venture – Dolomites Italy Lee/Wayne/Graham
Mark Chapman, DESC,
Inspiring Adventure
Southend Estuary Explorers –
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