Official online magazine of Scouting Ireland

Camp One Patrols Took Control!Explorer Belt 2013 in the Sunshine in Spain!Venture Scout Challenge in the Sunshine In Ireland!And lots lots more!

August 2013

Lough Dan Page 29.

Communications Commissioner Intro

Welcome to this month’s issue of Inside Out. This month Ireland experienced one of

the best July’s weather wise on record. Our Photographers were out and about at all the Scout

Events which took place in beautiful Weather. We Feature all the goings on at Camp One –

Patrols in control. This was a camp to rembember ran by the Patrol Leaders. We also travel

to Northern Spain to follow the explorer Belt teams as they completed their challenge.. Also at

the end of the month the Venture scouts took to the roads and lakes around the Midlands to

participate in the Venture Scout Challenge 2013. Also our Rover Scouts had the official launch

of the World Scout Moot contigent which are all set to head to Canada to attend this event. So it

was avery active an busy month in Scouting Ireland.This month as in every month we

feature many articles and Pictures from all around the Country as groups get out and

about. So what are you waiting for get your group or county event featured. We are

making 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 communications@scouts.ie.

Please forward this month’s issue to all Scouters and Youth Members in your group. Don’t

presume they have got it. Deadline for next month’s issue is 31st August.

See you next month! - The Communications Team

“The open-air is the real objective of Scouting and the key to its success”

Baden Powell

Quote of the Month

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In this issue...

Camp OneExplorer Belt Challenge 2013New Beaver CommissionerMountain Moot II

This Zone challenged all the Patrols in both Skill and Teamwork. Really Fun Zone in fact it was a total Wipe Out.

Camp One took place in Larch hill Inernational Campsite over 5 Days and is the first of 5 camps that will take place over the next five years. These camps are aimed at giving the patrols the control with the Patrol Leaders leading the way. This camp proved to be a big success with a very interesting and challenging Programme. The Programme Zones were run over 3 days and had 3 very well thought out Zones. We will have a more detailed report next month but for now here is some images of the zones and details of what went on in each.

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Camp One WipeOut Zone

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The Jeopardy Zone included various challenges including the Hunger Games & Crash a mock Helicopter Crash.

The Jeopardy ZoneTech maze was a very well enjoyed zone with loads of Challenging Activities, which really got the Patrols working as teams. This Zone included activities called Vertigo, Test Tunnel, Makeover & Camp Lab.

Tech Maze Zone

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 link Below 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 communications@scouts.ie and I will endeavour to help.

Now wouldn’t 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

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to others that you were successful. What the Explorer Belt is truly about...is the experience you take from those 10 days on the road that you originally dreaded so much. And believe me, there is no possible way you will come off that road without an experience...whether it’s good, bad or ugly, it’s going to be the experience of a life time. Before I had done the belt, I had heard all the stories... a 100 times (after all how do you know someone has done the explorer belt? They’ll tell you) I thought I had it all sussed out, I mean what’s so complicated...walk 200km, complete a series of project, don’t die. Simple right? God I have never been so wrong! I walked onto this belt with a stubborn mind frame...I had convinced myself that every day was going to be hell, but hey, I just had to survive the next 10 days and I’d have that stupid belt that I wanted so badly. I was completely missing the entire concept of what I was doing! It wasn’t until after Day 1 that all those stories I’d been told really started to make sense to me, that I was suppose to embrace each day, not wish them away, that before no time I’d be sad to be off that road.

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The Explorer Belt Experience

God, this has to be at least my 8th or 9th attempt at trying to write this.

Where the hell do I even begin, how do I explain both the greatest and

worst experience of my life in a few paragraphs? I mean my log book is

over 500 pages and I still feel like I have more to tell! To be honest I don’t

think it’s possible to sum up the Explorer Belt into a few words...because

it’s so much more than anything you can put to paper. Its so many different

things, but essentially when you get down to it, what belt really is...is an

experience. The belt itself is nothing more than a token or a trophy, proof

Whenever you talk to a belter about their experience, there’s this light in their eye and bubbling excitement in their voice...no matter how long ago it was. This all makes sense as soon as you have literally walked 200km in their shoe’s (well maybe not their shoes, but you get the picture!), there’s like this mutual bond especially between the belters who did it with you. You instantly have something in common and because of this you make some of the best friends in such a short space of

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time. For me that was one of the hardest parts about readjusting to normality, those 22 idiots I had to leave behind. From waking up to two of them bickering away every morning back on base camp to everyone sitting in the middle of the campsite, quiet as mice, after lights out, in the cold just so we could have the banter for that little bit longer! After all these are the only people who really understand what you’ve been through, unlike your friends at home that refer to it as “that walk” or your parents who called it “your holiday”. God trying to explain what the explorer belt is to these people is as painful as sticking pins underneath your fingernails; they just can’t wrap their head around it! Or if I’m really being honest they don’t care enough to try, they think it’s pretty sweet that you walked the 200km, like that’s a lot right? But you see walking is the easy part (when I was first told this my reaction was the exact same as yours...200km...Easy...yeah good one) and by no means am

I belittling the physical challenge, but after a few days on the road, your mind is taken a far worse battering than your body! The walking is almost therapeutic, all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other, for a brief moment there is no worries of where you’re going to sleep tonight, do you have enough information for your projects, is there enough food to keep you going until the next shop and have you already done anything to jeopardise that belt that justifies this ridiculous task you have undertaken! Although it was by

far one of the most difficult challenges I have ever had to face, it was worth every minute! One thing my partner and I had said to each other before we took that final descend to base camp was that if we were not willing to change one minute of our experience it doesn’t matter whether we got the belt or not! And thankfully that was our attitude going into each assessment. We were lucky enough to be awarded the belt and god damn did it feel good, but my point still stands. Don’t go into the Explorer Belt looking for a mere belt, go in looking for an experience and you can’t go wrong. To anybody reading this that still has the option to partake in the Explorer Belt, my advice to you would be DO IT! Before I went, those who hadn’t done the belt told me I’d be an idiot if I went, but now I’d have to agree with that list of growing belters, you’d be an idiot to miss hands down the greatest experience of your life.

-Orla Mulligan

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The 2013 Venture Challenge

The 2013 Venture Challenge took place in the midlands this year. Venture

Challenge is a physical, mental and personal challenge. This year’s event

took place in the midlands. Our 12 Venture teams spent 5 days on the road

exploring their own and other cultures. They also had the opportunity to

complete some of their adventure skills in sailing and kayaking.

The challenge this year asked the participants to:

• Complete a number of prescribed projects

• Complete a personal challenge

• Walk 100 K in total on foot • Carry all your belongings and survive on a limited budget

Participants were awarded at three levels, the badge, the certificate and the infamous expedition award “The Challenge Woggle”

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Here are quotes from some of the participants:

“The Venture Challenge 2013 a great voyage

on the sailing ship of life.”

Mark Hoare“It takes a lot of effort but at the end it’s all

worth it, best venture activities in Ireland”

Mark P Lingwood

“Life a little bit simpler means things get

a whole lot funnier, amazing experience

recommend it and all that”

David Horan

For further details and photos why not go to Venture page on Facebook.

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A formal launch cermony was at Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation with guest speaker Colin Murphy, CEO of the Glencree Centre. Colin spoke about the historical surroundings and about Glencree’s role in conflict mediation and inter-community dialogue in Ireland and overseas. His messages were particularly relevant considering that peace education and intercultural learning are central to the Moot’s programe. Indeed Ireland will have a representative at the event, Máire Fitzgerald

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Formal Launch Of Irish Contingent

to 14th World Scout Moot

This weekend the Irish contingent to the 14th World Scout Moot in Canada

met at Glendale Lodge in Co. Wicklow to recieve final information and to

formally launch the contingent. Rover Scouts and young Scouters from

across the provinces spent a glorious weekend making final plans for the

Irish presence at the event.

(109th Cork - Ballinora), who will work delivering the Messengers of Peace programme. At the end of the ceremony neckerchiefs were formally presented to particpants by Claire McAroe (National Management Committee) on behalf of Scouting Ireland and Maureen Dillion (President, Irish Girl Guides) on behalf of Irish Girl Guides.

The participants have moved from counting the weeks to counting the days and are now counting the hours to departure! Historically, this is the first full national contingent to a World Scout Moot since the foundation of Scouting Ireland in 2004, with 20 people in total travelling from Ireland.

Hello my name is Joe and I work in a button factory……

isn’t it funny how something can just stick in your head??

I just learnt this song with my own beaver colony and no

– my name is not Joe – its Karen, Karen Free your new

Program Commissioner for Beavers.

Now that we have that sorted, I would like to thank the

outgoing beaver commissioner Stephen Halpin or Halpo

camp – for two nights now and in the UK too!!!

For those of you who have concerns about the latest changes in the guidelines, please let me reassure you – they are there to encourage and support those colonies that are ready to take the next step and camp for longer or further afield.

There is no “have to” – if your colony is not ready then it is not ready. As their leaders you will know your beavers, their capabilities, their strengths.

But as Leaders of our youngest scouts, I ask you to consider the possibilities of camping for one night if you have never camped before. Two nights if you have done some camping with your colony before or how about going to the UK – consider the excitement, the experiences, and the life skills.

I can hear you say consider the grey hair of the leaders!! I understand that taking your beavers away for the first time, or for two nights or indeed abroad will be an event that will be planned and prepared for so let the office of the Beaver

as he is affectionately known. I am going to attempt to fill the very large hiking boots he left behind – beavers have progressed under his careful watch taking their rightful place in our Scouting Family.

I have many hopes and aspirations for my 3 year term as Commissioner but at the heart of those hopes is my commitment to ensure the continued progression beaver scouting. We are scouts – young scouts, smaller scouts but we are scouts. We can hike, we can hostel and we can

Commissioner help your group and your County.

Why not have a County night where all beaver leaders can get together to discuss the potential of longer and UK camps. Take it one step at a time. Seek the support and assistance of other groups within your County who have camped for 2 nights. Go on a camp with them as an observer, without your beavers, to see how it is done.

We are totally dependent on our Adult leadership to host any type of beaver activity – that is why I would like to see groups within

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Say hello to the new Beaver

Commissioner

friendly facebook page – they are called Camp Donoghnuts and I will be making them for the first time at our last den meeting. We are having a shorts and shades theme to the evening with some prizes being given for best uniform, best attendance etc.

http://magazine.scouts.org.uk/skills/cooking/camp-doughnuts-camp-recipe/

Why not write to the Inside Out team and let us know how you finish off your scouting year with your beavers? Are you like my group –

each County support each other in achieving new goals – be it your first camp or a trip to Wales – lets work together to get our Beavers camping.

Be prepared …… then you can consider taking your own colony. I know there are colonies that are happy with den based activities and day trips – I am just asking you to consider taking your beavers camping – you won’t regret it.

On that camping note, I would like to share a resource I found on my

finished until September? Do you meet over the summer holidays – have you any trips planned? Photos would be great too.

Well folks until next time I will leave you with this reaction from my own beaver who is 7 ¾ (very

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important that ¾ !!) when I told him we (beavers) could now camp in England (his big brother is a scout so he has very high expectations of what scouting means!!).

He looked at me very seriously as if he was considering the ramifications of what I had just said and responded as follows:“Why can’t we go to New Zealand? I thought you said you were meeting the man with the beard (Chief Scout) and you said he was the head scout – can he not bring us to New Zealand???”

So on that note, Michael J – the ball is in your court – New Zealand here we come – just let me know when you have a gap in your diary!!

Beaver Commissioner over and out!!

The Adventure Skills Camping Team

The Adventure Skills Camping Team held its first conference on the

29th of June in Applewood Swords. Although the attendance was small

the conference achieved its aims of restarting the process of building a

team and to define clarity on some of the more ambiguous competency

statements.

Three areas already identified for these workshops are ‘Equipment’ and ‘Menu Planning’ and ‘leave no trace’

• A document outlining clarifications on both assessments and the competency statements has being drawn up and available at the link below

The major outcomes were• The team will concentrate on working with the stage 8’s and 9’s who intern will work with the stage 6’s and 7’s at county and group level, who will intern assist in the delivery of stages 1 to 5 locally.• A log book simular to the hillwalking will be produced to allow youth and adult member to record their process.• A number of workshops on skills development will be arranged along with a conference weekend in 2014.

• A more formal certificate for the expert panel stages will also be issued, in additional to the basic certificate books.

• Anybody wanting to become involved in the team please contact adskills.camping@scouts.ie, the team will hold its first full meeting in September 2013

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World Scout Jamboree Japan 2015

The World Scout Jamboree 2015 is taking place in Kirara-hama Yamaguchi

City Japan

The Event will run from Tuesday 28th July to Saturday 8th August 2015

The GOOD NEWS is Scouting Ireland are Organising a Contingent to

attend.

We have now a Dedicated page of the Public page of scouts.ie for

Jamboree Information and Booking forms etc. Check it out at the link Below

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Headline

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ImagineOn Monday evening’s from 7pm to 9pm you can lift your phone and talk to a friendly helpful person

from the Adult Resource Team on all adult related manners.....

Well, it’s true and they are awaiting your calls with keen

interest and a willingness to help. 01 4956300

Crisis Management Major

Incident Exercise

The Crisis management Team for Scouting Ireland underwent a Mock

Exercise recently to check out that our systems and procedures are up to

scratch in relation to how we react to a Incident involving Scouting Ireland

Members.

Such an exercise is carried out in controlled circumstances, so that those

participating in the exercise can do so in the knowledge that no one is in

danger or at risk. Such a process is essential both from the perspective of

learning and experience, as well being best practice in testing the existing

to make them, in respect of the aforementioned policy, procedure or processes.

The Exercise was initiated when a phone call was received by the Nat Secretary during a routine NTPIC meeting recently. From the moment the call came the Crisis Management team were convened and the various elements of the crisis management plan were evoked

crisis management policy, procedure and processes within Scouting Ireland. In training and in testing such existing policy, procedure and processes we are building resilience and experience so that if such a situation arises where such is required to be used, that resilience, that experience can be used to serve members of Scouting Ireland, equally too we are afforded the opportunity where changes are required

The Crisis management team is Made up of the Chief Scout, National Secretary, Communications Commissioner, CEO and 2 Co Opted members currently Charlie Mc Guinness and Brendan Mc Nicholas. For this Exercise as all members of the NTPIC were present they all were Drafted into the situation to help with various aspects.

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The exercise lasted about 1 1/2 hrs and a report will now be forwarded by the conveners of the exercise to the NTPIC. It was felt on the day from the initial feedback that the situation was well handled by the team and we can be happy in the knowledge that our Procedures are robust. Let’s hope that we never have to evoke this team in a real life situation.

Scouting Ireland representatives meet with Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald

-discussions include the important role of non-formal education for young people

Representatives from Scouting Ireland recently met with Minster for Children Frances Fitzgerald to discuss the important role Scouting Ireland has to play as the country’s largest non-formal co-education movement for young people.

Many of the activities of Scouting Ireland help to equip its 45,000 members with important life skills, instil leadership skills and increase their employment prospects, as well as helping them to achieve their full potential and become active members of their communities.

Pictured from L-r: Annette Byrne, National Treasurer, Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick, Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Claire McAroe, National Management Committee, John Lawlor, CEO and Noel O’Connor, Operations Manager.

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Leave No Trace Summer Message

Summer has arrived and as many thousands of people venture into the

outdoors to enjoy our beautiful beaches, forests, parks, mountains and

lakes, Leave No Trace Ireland is encouraging everyone to enjoy the

outdoors responsibly.

Maura Lyons, Programme Manager with Leave No Trace Ireland, a charity

promoting responsible outdoor recreation in Ireland says “This is a great

time to enjoy and celebrate our scenic countryside and the many activities

we can do in the outdoors, but we should also try to minimise any negative

environmental impacts we may cause by planning our trips a little better

and adhering to a few simple messages”

With good weather, people love to picnic, barbecue and party in the outdoors. To avoid the damage that can be caused when fires get out of control, people are encouraged to use established campsites and existing fire rings, or the tidal zone on beaches, and to avoid lighting fires outside designated sites.. Disposable barbecues are good, but should be used with care. They should be placed on sand or rock, as disposable barbecues will burn surfaces such as grass and picnic tables. People are also urged to take all their rubbish home as nobody wants to see litter in scenic areas.

Many people love to take their pet dogs into the outdoors and while this may be fun for the dog, it can create problems for other recreational users or local farmers. If you are planning to take your dog into the outdoors, you are required to keep your pet under effective control at all times. The presence of a dog causes stress to farm animals, so it is best not to take dogs onto farmland or mountain areas, especially where sheep or cattle are grazing.

You’ll have a more enjoyable experience if you do a bit of research beforehand. Choose a location with facilities to suit your group. Bring plenty of fluids and foods that are easy to prepare. If you’re thinking of doing an outdoor activity like walking, canoeing or swimming, plan this in advance and make sure you have the necessary skills and equipment.

With so many people driving into the countryside to visit scenic spots, car parking can be a real issue. This can cause problems, not only for visitors but for local residents. To prevent parking problems, people are encouraged to use public transport where possible, or to car-pool and use car parks. Avoid blocking gateways as farmers may need access to their fields, and on narrow roads remember to leave enough space for large farm vehicles or the emergency services to pass by.

Finally, summer time is a busy time in nature, with lots of breeding birds and active animals, our wildflowers are also in full bloom. We hope you get out and enjoy Ireland’s wonderful natural environment this weekend. Do your best to Leave No Trace of your visit by taking care of the environment and being considerate of other people and wildlife.

More information on responsible outdoor recreation and the Leave No Trace Ireland education programme is available on www.leavenotraceireland.org

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Lyme and Tick Disease Advise

We are in that the period of the year, the Summer when Scout/Scouters

of all ages will be hiking and camping more than ever. Equally too at this

time given the current and predicted forecast, with the heat, people are

understandably wearing less clothing especially when rambling, hiking,

exploring, etc….. It is also the time of year when ticks are at their most

active and by taking a few simple precautions, the incidence of bites by

ticks can be reduced.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is spread by the bite of a tick. This bacterium can cause the person who is bitten to develop a rash. It is important to state and realise that not all bites by a tick will result in the person bitten contracting Lyme Disease.

Lyme disease can be treated using antibiotics. Treatment lasts generally for up to three weeks to ensure that the bacteria have been killed. It is important that the full course of antibiotics is taken to prevent wider spread of the bacteria.

Ticks

Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures with three life-cycle stages, the smallest of which is about the size of a pinhead. They are frequently found in woodland, moorland and other grassy areas, where they feed on the blood of mammals (e.g. cows, deer, etc…) and birds. They are usually found close to the ground, especially in moist, shaded areas. Ticks contain the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which they can spread to humans through their bite

Precautions against being bitten by a tick include:

• Walking in the middle of paths/trails.• Where possible avoid overgrown vegetation• Wearing a hat• Wearing a long sleeved shirt, tucked in at the waist and wrists• Wear trousers rather than shorts particularly in areas of dense vegetation equally too in such areas wear boots/shoes, rather than sandals or bare feet• Consider using an insect repellent containing DEET. Follow the manufacturers’ application guidelines• At the end of your day out, ensure that all Scouts and Scouters self check themselves for ticks. Ensure that both skin and hair are checked, and particularly warm moist areas such as the groin, backs of knees, armpits and neck. • If you find a tick, remove it as described below, and if symptoms develop consult your local Medical Practitioner (Doctor) symptoms develop.

What to do if a Scout/Scouter is bitten by a tick:

• Firstly don’t panic. Only a small minority of ticks carry the bacteria. The risk of developing Lyme disease increases

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the longer the tick is attached to the skin. However, if the tick is removed within the first few hours after a bite, the person concerned is very unlikely to develop Lyme disease• Remove the tick (ideally with tweezers) by gripping it close to the skin of the Scout/Scouter concerned. Wash the area as soon as possible afterwards with soap and water• If any of the mouthparts of the tick are left behind in the skin of the Scout/Scouter, then remove as much as possible with tweezers• Ensure the Scout/Scouter (and where appropriate their parent/guardian) check the skin area concerned over the next few weeks for a rash. Initial redness and swelling on the same day as the bite itself is normal and does not indicate infection• If a rash or other symptoms develop, the Scout/Scouter concerned should like any best practice see their either their own Medical Practitioner (Doctor) if at home, or the Medical Practitioner (Doctor) local to the Camp or Hostel and report being bitten by a tick• The Medical Practitioner (Doctor) will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment if necessary

Further Information

Chance Encounter with Scottish

Explorer Belt Team

Driving between Jobs yesterday I spotted what looked like 6 Scouts or

Venture Scouts hiking along a country Road about halfway between

Carrickmacross in County Monaghan (Ulster Champions just though

I would drop that in) and Shercock in (County Cavan) So with my

Communications hat on I whipped out my Neckerchief and got out to

investigate.

Carrickmacross and actually got a free stay in the 3rd Monaghan Scout Den for the Night. They were now hiking to Bailieborough on the 2nd leg of their challenge.

I asked them a bit about their challenge and they explained they had 10 days to hike around the North East taking in Carrickmacross, Bailieborough, Virgina, Kells, Navan, Trim, Maynooth finishing in Dublin.

The cost of their trip was 240 Pounds and they were given 10 pounds each to spend each day. They had to complete various tasks on the way and had other optional ones that they could pick two from a list of 8. One of the challenges was to feature in the Media so I said that I would help them by putting an Article on our Website about their trip . They were a very friendly bunch and after our chat and a quick photo they headed off with the music booming out If I could walk 10,000 miles by The Proclaimers.

Since then I have got a couple of text from them updating me on their progress. So always be prepared as you never know when or where you

I knew it couldn’t be a Scouting Ireland Venture Scout Challenge team as if it was they were really lost. So I introduced myself and proceeded to find out who they were and what they were up to.

It turned out the 6 Explorer Scouts were from Scotland a place called Paisley just outside Glasgow and they were on the 2nd day of their Explorer belt which was taking place in the North East of the Country. The guys had been dropped off in Dundalk and had hiked to

will see brother Scouts during your working Day. These Scottish Scouts are only a small number of Scouts from overseas that land in Ireland each year and enjoy our hospitality and beautiful scenery.

To keep up to date with their adventure check out their Facebook page

or their Website

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52nd Shankill Venture Road Trip

By Ellen Doyle & Katie Kiely

When we decided to go on a road trip, we had no idea what to expect. We decided to hire a van! The Happy Van.We started off all of us in our matching Venture Hoodies towards the spiritual Clonmacnoise. To say that some of us were educated in Clonmacnoise would be an understatement. Not mentioning any names, but one of us found out the hard way that Monks were not a different species and that there are still monks alive today, they are not extinct!

Our first campsite was in Lahinch in County Clare. Our tents had an Ocean view and we got to camp in crazy winds. We also went surfing with Ocean View Surf School. We got lung full’s of salty water but we got to cleanse and relax in the Jacuzzi afterwards.

For Independents day of the 4th of July, we had a delicious BBQ with everything from fish to couscous. The cliffs of Moher was definitely one of our highlights. We got to lie down at the edge of the cliff. We were really living life on the edge!

Towards the end of the trip we went to the University of Limerick Adventure Centre. We had a fun filled day of activities which included kayaking, canoeing, high ropes and adventure trails. As a team we all showed our

strengths. It was a great team building day. We would definitely go again. We also got to visit the Killaloe Scout Centre and got and amazing trip on a speedboat. The lads running the centre showed us their plans for the future and they look really good.

To round up our trip we had a delicious meal in Killaloe. Afterwards some of us went fishing with self made rods. We didn’t catch anything, luckily we had dinner beforehand. Overall we had a great week and we will miss our Happy Van terribly ...

7th Meath Dunshaughlin have been having a busy busy year so far! They’ve been surfing, wall climbing and team building including the night line up in Donegal Adventure Centre. They’ve gone on a few hikes like Kilbride and Newcastle. They headed off rafting along the Boyne earlier this year and they got a super turn out and some camped the night, even though exams were lurking around the corner. They had their group camp recently and had a ball of a time. They are such hard working Rovers, whilst having their own lives they fit Rovering in to their

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14th World Scout Moot - Canada 2013

We’d like to wish the Irish Contingent travelling to the World RoverMoot in

Canada in August the best of luck and well done for all your hard work so

far. We look forward to hearing about the trip of a lifetime when you guys

return! Stay safe and enjoy every minute.

Rovering in the Country

busy schedules doing a balancing act with college, work and even helping in other sections. They’re heading off as Staff to Kent for a week and lets just say excited isn’t the word!!We want to know what you’re doing. We don’t just want to read it though, we want to see it hear it. We want you the Rovers of Ireland to send us in videos of what you and your rovers are getting up to, whether its meeting up for food or drinks or going away or doing whatever. Send them to niamhcdonnelly@gmail.com.

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RoverChill 2013 -National Event

It’s fast approaching. The peak of the scouting year for Rovers. After the very successful launch of RoverChill last year it’s happening again this year. It’s all happening from the 27th to the 29th of September. It’s hopefully going to be a little bit warmer than last year. It’s the exact same cost as last year at a heap and cheerful €35 which includes everything except for your food which you sort out yourself.

This year we have it themed a very interesting and thrilling one. We’ll be giving you clues over on our Facebook over the next two months but to get your thinking caps on here’s a taster.

“I’m very hard to catch. And if they can’t catch me, they can’t kill me. So don’t count me out.”

If you still haven’t been persuaded check out these photos from last years event:

You can book with form below and code (13-NE-278):

Lough Dan Scout Centre

- Base Camp and Gateway to adventure

directions, activites, photo gallery or should you just have queries email enquiries@loughdan.

• Regular hostel Weekends; The newly refurbished hostel with full cooking facilities, showers, toilets etc. can accommodated groups of 32 with the option to use the upstairs hostel for larger groups.

Situated at the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park and yet only 30km from Dublin, Lough Dan is the perfect base camp and gateway to all that the area has to offer. Over the past year we have continued to make more changes to the centre and can now offer a range of stay options and activities to help you create a fun challenging and adventurous programme for you members.

In that great tradition of Scouting Lough Dan is a volunteer run centre with a mission of supporting local scout groups implement a great scout programme for their members. It is best to go to www.loughdan.com for on line bookings and reservations as well as all other site information such as

In the common room we have installed a wood burning stove. Hostel overnights are still at only €11 per person per night for those staying a minimum of 2 nights with no less than 20 members.

• Bank holiday hostel weekends; Same deal as above but you get the third night at half price

• Up-stairs hostel. The upstairs hostel has two 8 person dorms and a leader’s common room with one bunk bed. It is ideal for small groups doing Gaisce expeditions who want to travel light or who are doing it in the winter months and don’t want to camp. Cooking is al-

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www.loughdan.com

• Activities; Many groups that come to Lough Dan do their own thing such as hillwalking, navigation practice, camp-craft and pioneering but we also have other activities on site both self-led or staff supported such as crate climbing, rafting, archery, and dragon boating, and we are continually adding to the list. See our website www.loughdan.com for details.

fresco in the camp kitchen or in the barn kitchenette. It can be booked on a one night basis and costs only €8 per person with no restriction on minimum numbers.• Hostel “Summer Camp”; Why not use the hostel for your summer camp? You still have the use of the rest of the site’s facilities and can camp out if you wish. 4 nights midweek during the summer cost only @ €11 per person per night with a minimum group size of 20. The site has plenty of activities both self-led or staff supported to help you make the most of your stay.

• Camping. With over 60 acres of varied camping pitches and bivvy sites it is still only €4.50 per person per night. This includes use of the wet weather shelter, fire wood and altar fires, the toilet / shower block as well as a variety of onsite activities. Fridge freezer facilities are also available

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• Gaisce Groups; Lough Dan is ideally situated on the Wicklow Way almost half way between Crone Wood and Glendalough. Why not use it as your overnight location either camping or in the hostel for your Gaisce expeditions. No minimum group size is required mid-week during term time. Camping costs €4.50, the upstairs hostel is €8 per person using the barn kitchenette or stay in the main hostel with fill catering facilities for €11 per person.

For on line bookings and all other information go to www.loughdan.comYou can Emails your queries to enquiries@loughdan.com

I look forward to seeing you in LOUGH DAN the Base Camp and Gateway to adventure.Zef Klinkenbergh Camp Chief Lough Dan083 1267170 (texts preferred)

Mountain Moot II

- 15th to 17th November 2013

The adventure skills Hillwalking are pleased to anounce Mountain Moot II.

This year it will be held in the Glendalough Hotel in Co Wicklow on the 15th to the

17th of November

The cost is €100 and is also open to youth members once there are supervising

scouters present. Participants can choose from a range of workshop and

assessemnent options

Booking forms will be available in late august, all queries to adskills.hillwalking@

scouts.ieDraft Programme Outline

Venue: Glendalough An Oige Youth Hostel and the Royal Hotel Glendalough

Friday 15th November7pm Onwards Registration 8:30 pm (sharp) to 10pm – Explanation of the hillwalking stages (Hostel Conference Room10pm Onwards – Social aspect in Royal Hotel

Saturday 16th November8:00am Breakfast – & Make Pack Lunch 9:00am Workshops startStream 1 – aimed at stages 1 to 4• Basics of Navigation • Menu Choices for Outdoor activities• Gear Choice• Emergency Procedures

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Stream 2 aimed at stages 5 - 7• Gear and Equipment for mountain Camping tents / stoves etc• Menu Choices for Outdoor Camping activities• Mountain Weather

Stream 3 Basic Out door first aid 3 hour

Stream 4 Leave no Trace (3 hour Basic Session)

12:00pm Hiking Groups Depart

Group 1 Hike - Stages 1 to 4 Basic navigation legs (1:6)Group 2 Hike Stages 5 to 7 improving navigation including night nav (1:4)Group 3 Hikes Level 8 training (1:4) ML Refresher (1:4)Group 4 Hike Environmental awareness hike

7:00pm Hiking Groups Return8:00pm Dinner in Royal Hotel – Followed by after Dinner speaker TBC introduction of expedition 2015 and social evening

Sunday 17th November8:00am Breakfast 9:00am Workshops start • Rock Climbing - upper lake• Leave no Trace - TV room and outside• Teaching Navigation – Games and other tactics• River Crossings - outside

• Steep Ground – Assessment & Security MS Standard – upper lake• Emergency Skills Assessments - Niamh has confirmed – Conference Room / Garden • Camping Skills Assessments - Logs in advance and by appointment – reception area15:00pm Closing of Moot – Garden area – reception if wet

Separate Programme for Assessment 7:00pm Friday Meet at Hostel and depart for night navigation, camp out return 7pm Saturday for dinner and Sunday Programme as above

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Assessing the Impact of the World

Scout Youth Forum and the Youth

Advisor System

56th Jamboree-On-The-Air - 17th Jamboree-On-The-Internet, 19-20 October 2013

The World Scout Youth Forum (WSYF) and the Youth Advisor (YA) system

have been long

perceived as interim measures for achieving a higher level of youth

participation in decision making at world level in Scouting. However, their

impact has rarely been assessed in the previous years.

As a response to Resolution 8/11 (Youth Involvement in Decision-Making in

National Scout

Organizations and within WOSM), the Youth for Change Priority Area

The 56th Jamboree-On-The-Air (JOTA) and the 17th Jamboree-On-The- Internet (JOTI) will be held over the weekend of 19 and 20 October 2013.The JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world make contacts with each other by means of amateur radio.

Similarly to the JOTA, the Jamboree-On-The-Internet connects Scouts using Internet techniques. The JOTI is held on the same

Working Group of the World Scout Committee has, as one of its tasks during the current triennium, carried out an impact assessment of the World Scout Youth Forum and Youth Advisor system.

To read the Report click here

weekend as the Jamboree-On-the-Air. Groups can choose to take part in either event but are warmly encouraged, where possible, to give both a try!

To view all the information in relation to these events Click on the link Below

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International News

Camp Ailigh

Cub Scouts from all over Donegal, Derry and Tyrone descended on Lifford

for the annual weekend Camp “Camp Ailigh” which was part funded by the

Peace Through the Riverine” project and supported by Lifford Celtic FC,

Lifford Athletic Club, Naomh Padraig GAC, East Donegal Coursing Club

and Eclipse Cinema’s. . Despite the wet weather the Cub Scouts spirits

were never dampened and they enjoyed the many activities provided by

the organising committee. The Cub Scouts participated in a wide and

varied programme of activities such as Kayaking down the River Foyle,

cooking in the forest, building shelters from their surroundings as well as

Theme award which was presented by guest of honour, Mayor of Donegal, Colr. Frank McBrearty at the closing ceremony. 15th Donegal (Quigley’s Point)won the Best Group at Camp and a special prize of “Spirit of Camp” award went to the 20th Donegal (Bocan) group for their unselfish and helping Cub Scouts who offered to help others during the camp. Camp organiser Joe Boland, said that the camp was a great success and despite the inclement weather everyone had a great time. He also paid tribute the local clubs who gave of their facilities freely and worked with him throughout the lead up to camp.

Joe would like to acknowledge the support from the Peace Through the Riverine Project who part funded some of the activities and thank all of the organising team for their contribution over the past 6 months.

building structures just using wood and rope. They also participated in a fun zone where they learned to etch glass’s played games including a large hurley game. On the Friday night they all completed a orienteering hike and after that they were treated to a midnight showing of the new Superman movie courtesy of Eclipse Cinemas. The on-going theme of the camp this year was the Land of the Celts and 12th Donegal (Manorcunningham) won the Best Interpretation of the

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Lough Keel summer camp Poland 2013

Ballinamore, longford,carrick on shannon,

12th roscommon ballyboro and 87th dublin polish troop all took part in 8

day camp in krzeczkow poland

Province News

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9th Wicklow (Arklow) Sea Scouts

Tiller Troop First Summer CampTiller Troop

Tiller Troop started in 2012 and this year was our first Summer Camp.

We had 23 Sea Scouts and 9 leaders.

All had a fantastic time as for most it was their first summer camp as

scouts. We travelled from Arklow to The Share Centre in Co Fermanagh

on Lough Erne for a packed week of activities both on the water and off.

The scouts took part in Sailing, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Combat Corps,

Banana Boating, Jetty Jumping and Bivvying. We also had a Camp Challenge Badge for all scouts to earn while participating in activities and working in their watches. These challenges also helped each scout to work on their Adventure Skill levels.

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Province News

Aughrim Street

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Province News

Blarney Venture Scouts at Gilwell

Eleven Venture Scouts from the 45th Cork (Blarney) are also camping at Gilwell Park International scout campsite. In speaking to their leader Cian Sheehy, he said the camp was super and relaxing and they were having a smashing time. He went on to say “The best activity we enjoyed on site was the Fan Descender and the best off site activity was going the Warner Brothers Studio where we saw how the Harry Potter Movie was made with all the trills and spills. This was our first time coming to Gilwell Park and the place is really cool and we have made many new scouting friends”

Balbriggan Cub Scouts Visit the

RNLI in Skerries

02-Jul-13: The Balbriggan Cub Scouts visited the RNLI in Skerries this

evening to learn about the work that the RNLI do and check out the lifeboat

station. The RNLI crew David Knight, Emma Wilson, Eoin Kelly, David

Courtney, Mary Courtney and Geraldine Beggs gave the cub scouts a great

welcome and an an insight into what it’s like to be a crew member. From

trying on the helmets to lifting the dead man and getting a chance to climb

into the lifeboat and check out the onboard equipment great excitement

was had by all . The cub scouts presented the RNLI with a cheque for €329 and received their community badge in recognition. A great and insightful visit for all...

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Province News

Balbriggan Cubs Build a Chariot

& Push it 5km for Charity

Eddie and Evan Darcy Attend Scouting Remembrance Day in Larch Hill

29-Jun-13: The Balbriggan Cubs love nothing more than a challenge and

this was evident yesterday evening as they hit the open road for a 5km trip

with the chariot which they had built while singing camp songs. The cubs

had recently learned about tying different types of knots and they got to test

their skills on the chariot which they called the Bat Mobile. The cubs would

like to thank Charlie Curtis for all his help in the building process. The

chariot was decorated with bunting and a monkey mascot dressed in cubs

uniform and the cubs raised over €300 for the Balbriggan Cancer Support

Group in the process. Well done to all involved!

Eddie and Evan Darcy Attend Scouting Remembrance Day in Larchill30-Jun-13: Scouting has been around now for more than 100 years, and in that time, thousands of young people have become Scouts and experienced the many aspects of Scouting. Many people have laid the trail for present Scouts to discover and enjoy.As the life of Scouting progresses, many Scouts have also ‘Gone Home’ and it is in recognition and memory of those you have gone before that the The Scouting Trail 2013 - Remembrance Day was established.

Eddie Darcy and his grandson Evan headed off to Larchill today for the ceremony. They took with them their group Stave which had a number of ribbons, one ribbon for each member who has ‘Gone Home’ and provided a list of the names so that they could be placed on an official ‘Roll of Honour and Remembrance’… once a Scout always a Scout...

What a wonderful day for Grandad and Grandson to spend together...

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Province News

Carlingford Camp for

Ballincollig Scouts

The Wednesday night section of Ballincollig Scouts had a home camp this

year. They travelled to Carlingford Lough Activity Centre. It was non-stop

activity from the minute they arrived in the Centre. Every day was jam

packed with activities which started at 8.30am each morning and went on

until 9.30pm each evening with down time until 11pm.

Each morning the boys were out on the water, either sailing rafting,

canoeing, Kayaking or wind surfing. The afternoons were land based and

included a 3D maze, Zorbing, High ropes, Low Robes, Abseiling, rock

Everybody had their favourite activity, but when asked what activity they would never again do, nobody could pick one! The leaders suggested that the low point of every day was, actually having to finish the activities.

climbing and laser guns. In the evenings the activities were centred on team building and personal achievements. The boys also spent a full day sailing. There was also an afternoon shopping in Newry.While the centre is not a Scout Centre, the staff there took on board the requirements of the badge work to be completed by the boys to achieve level two in both rowing and sailing. Congratulations to all the boys for working so hard on the badges.

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Province News

The Leaders Caroline O’Keeffe and John Walsh would like to extend their warmest thanks to the staff and management of the centre who made this the best camp ever! No request was too much trouble and the boys had a fantastic activity filled week and brought home loads of happy memories. They would also like to extend thanks to the boys who made life on camp so easy for them, and also to wish them every success in their future, both within Scouting and their personal lives..

Birmingham Delight for

Ballincollig Scouts

The Thursday night Scouts are just back from what can only be described

as one of our best and Scout like camps that we ever had, said Scout

Leader Ronan Mahony. We left the Scout hall in Ballincollig and travelled

to Blackwell Adventure Scout camp site in Birmingham. The Scouts set

about putting up the tents and later helped each other with the erecting of

the Marquee and mess tents.

tank, Cadbury’s world and sea life. We also went to Alton towers where there was something for everyone.

This year’s summer camp has given the Scouts a fantastic opportunity to do lots of activities and things that youths who are not in scouts don’t get a chance or opportunity to do. All who were on the camp came back having had lots of fun, hard work, learnt a lot and grew both physically and mentally. They made friends, put into practice their leadership skills and learnt cooperation. Long after the Scouts leave the Thursday night Scouts they will still remember their summer camps.

The site activities were very good including a heated pool (not like the old days) all the modern high team building activities like high all aboard, multi scramble, 3 g swing and zip line. They also had old favourites like grass sledges and a lake where the Scouts had to build a raft and race against each other.

Birmingham City had lots to offer, when we travel abroad, we like the scouts to experience things which they cannot do at home. We went to the Think

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Province News

Ballinora Scouts Adventure in

Carlingford

The Leaders of the 109th Cork (Ballinora) Scouts and Venture Scouts,

Carmel Drinan, Dave Waldock, Brendan Mulcahy and Catherine Waldock

have just returned from their annual summer camp and filed the following

report.

This year the scouts had a joint camp with our venture scouts and went to

one of the most idyllic places in Ireland. Carlingford Adventure Centre was

a well run centre with activities of the highest standards.

Situated in the village centre it had beautiful pier front walks, cobble streetand plenty of local history to keep the group occupied. The scouts participated in activities including kayaking, canoeing, pier jumping, high ropes, team challenges, archery, body zorbing, laser tagging, night lines and much more.

Going off site the group visited Newgrange and finished the camp with a trip to Tayto Park, which included a tour of the factory and the animal park.

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Province News

Blackrock Beavers around the HarbourSheila Power Receives Cu Chullainn Award

Recently, the Beaver Group from Blackrock had two fantastic days out

in Cork Harbour. The first saw the group visit Spike Island. The beavers

assembled at the train station and travelled to Cobh. It was the first

time some of the beavers had been on a train!! On reaching Cobh, they

walked the short distance to the pier where they caught the ferry to Spike.

Fortunately the sun was shining which aided the enjoyable tour of the fort,

the guns, the parade ground and the old prison. Three was also some time

for a few games in front of the fort. On returning to Cobh, fun was also had

in the playground before returning to Cork tired after a great day out.

On the 19th of June in the Carrick on Suir Scout Hall a large gathering of Scouters and family and friends from the Tipperary Cuis Suire Scout County gathered for what Group Leader Sheila Power believed was a night to thank leaders for their service to the Scout group in Carrick on Suire. What Sheila did not know was that the night was to honour her for her incredible service to Scouting not only in her group but also in the County and the Southern Province. Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick was on hand to present to Sheila the highest award in Scouting it Sheila with her family and friends in attendance as well as the County Commissioner Michael Dempsey and the Provincial Commissioner Morgan O’Sullivan. It was all the better for the Chief Scout as he had worked with Sheila when he was Provincial Commissioner and was delighted that she was caught totally by surprise on the night,.Also present was the mayor of Carrick on Suir who praised her service to the wider community of Carrick on Suire and Scouting

In June the beavers also had the opportunity to visit the Naval Base. They had a fantastic guided tour of the base which included a delicious Lunch and a spin on a launch around Cork Harbour. The beavers also saw the naval ships that were berthed at the base and the resident seals who were basking in the sunshine on the slip. A fantastic day was had by all, and a huge thank you to all at the base who made it possible.

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Province News

in General. The Night ended with refreshments being served to all present and a large cake which Sheila cut with her granddaughter who will be joining the Beaver Section in September when she will continue the family tradition of scouting.

Gilwell Park has Lasting Memories

Gilwell Park Scout Campsite at Chingford Essex has proved quite

a popular spot this year for Cork Scout Groups with the 57th Cork

(Farranree) and the 45th Cork (Blarney) Venture scouts choosing the

venue for their annual summer camp. The 7th Cork (St. Finbarr’s Doyle

Road) are going there later in the month.

The Farranree Scout Troop took in a visit to London Bridge and the Towers

and were quite fortunate that as they were there a sailing ship came along

and the bridge was opened which was quite a sight for all the scouts. They

also went to Buckingham Palace and part of the usual tourist trail. They had such a great time at Thorpe Park that they decided to go back for a second day. On a scouting front all was not forgotten either with many on site activities and with the weather so good they went on a bevy out one night and slept in shelters or surprisingly enough most had fair nights sleep.

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Province News

Rathcormac Summer Camp

Rathcormac Scout enjoying their recent Summer Camp to Glenshelane

Scout Campsite Cappoquin and surfing at Tramore beach.

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Province News

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Province News

From Navan Road to Norway!July 4th saw the departure of 15 scouts and 5 leaders from the Navan Road Scout Group on an adventure to the Norwegian Jamboree in Stavanger in Norway. The trip started out with an overnight stay in a scout house in Oslo which turned out to be an old church! From there the scouts travelled on an 8 hour train journey through Norway to Stavanger with amazing views of the Norwegian countryside. On arrival at site they were greeted not only by a host of welcoming Norwegian neighbours but by an amazing view of the North Sea! The jamboree was back to basics with ample excuses for pioneering and with no shortage of Norwegian spars the scouts were

while Seamus provided cookery lessons on how to make Irish potato cakes (which went down a treat)! Yet in true Navan Road style there was also plenty of time to make new friends with visitors to the Navan Road site from around the globe and there was even time to catch up with old friends with the 3rd and 4TH Louth Scout group also on site. The trip was wrapped up with some head spinning experiences in the tea cups of the local theme park and some souvenir shopping in Stavanger! The jamboree was an amazing experience for all involved but with 22 hours of sunlight in Norway and reports of temperatures hitting 28 degrees in Ireland it wasn’t too hard to return home!

kept occupied constructing their site for the first day or two.Swimming in the North Sea, 24 hour patrol hike and a trip to Pulpit rock were all part of the programme laid on by the Norwegians. However some of the best laughs were had when the neighbourhood day came around and the two Navan Road patrols were replaced by two Norwegian patrols and the leaders had to provide a programme with an Irish flavour! Needless to say Anne got into the swing of things by providing Irish culture classes

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Province News

Source to Sea – Report

Source to Sea – It’s what exactly it was ,for the members of the Malahide Sea Scout group who took up the challenge recently to raise funds towards the renovation of their den and Pieta House. The present premises was built in 1983 and opened in the following year. A two storey building that now needs up dating both inside and outside to cater for the present 600 strong membership. The overall project will cost approx. €600,000 but will put the group in a far better position to

was to take on a part of the journey either by hiking, sailing, cycling, kayaking, and rowing. Each team carried the baton to pass onto the next team, until the whole journey was completed.

The scouts commenced the Friday morning and followed the rivers journey from its source to crossing the Blessington lakes, onto Newbridge, Naas, Clane, Leixlip, Lucan, Palmerstown, Chapelizod, Islandbridge, through the city and finally finishing Sunday afternoon in Dublin Port.

cater for its present numbers and to deal with the ever increasing waiting list.

The idea was routed back in November and officially launched earlier this year by the Bosun Dave Clarke. Around him he built a team of leaders that would plan and supervise the adventure trek from the source of the River Liffey in County Wicklow to the mouth of the river at Dublin Port. The journey took 3 days over the 125 km route. Team leads were established whose responsibility

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Province News

By journeys end each of the programme sections had completed the challenge and had the best of fun and raised to-date over €7000. You can still support the scouts and Pieta House online by following the link.

The group is ever grateful to all who participated from Beavers. Cubs, Scouts, Ventures, and Leaders and to our supporters and sponsors Europcar, Fun Galaxy.

18th Dublin Santry Recent

Leaders Awards

Over the last few months Several Leaders in the group received following

awards

Gordon Brown Silver Merit

Terry Curran 10 years service and Bronze Merit

Mary McGrath 15 years Service and silver merit

Chris McGrath Silver Merit

Joann Kelly 10years service and Bronze Merit

All Awards presented by County Commissioner Paul Ring and all

thoroughly deserved

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Province News

De La Salle Scout Pipe Band

13th International Folklore Avalanche Festival

Spree-Neisse and Oberspreewald-Lausitz Districts

Germany

27th June to July 1st 2013

by its twinned band from North Berwick in Scotland. After becoming acquainted with its surroundings the band settled down for the night and got some sleep.On Friday morning the band were out of their beds early and had their first views of Germany in day light. It was a beautiful, warm sunny morning and everyone was in good spirits even if they would have preferred to have had more sleep. After breakfast preparations began for the day and acts from various countries began to prepare. Indonesian group practicing their act in the car park.

On Thursday evening June 27th 2013 twenty-eight members of the De La Salle Scout Pipe Band boarded the Waterford City Youth Committee bus and headed to Dublin for an onward flight to Berlin to take part in a very entertaining and enjoyable weekend in East Germany. On arrival in Berlin the band was met by Diana and Katja who were to be the band’s guides for the weekend. From Berlin the band travelled on to Cottbus where it was to be accommodated during its stay. On arrival we were met

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Province News

After tuning, the band boarded a bus and was taken to Luebbenau the first of its performances of the weekend. This is a beautiful location with some natural waterways which has been turned into a major tourist attraction. The activities of the day began with a parade through the village and this was followed a boat parade of the nations through the natural waterways. This was a very pleasant and enjoyable experience which was enhanced by some impromptus performance by various pipers along the way to entertain the crowds that had gathered on the banks of the waterway at many locations.

Indonesian group practicing their act in the car park

received very well by the crowd. The performance also included Irish pieces being played by John Stone on the whistle and Chris McAuliffe on the fiddle. On completion of all of the acts the Festival concluded for that day and the band returned to its accommodation for some well deserved rest and recreation.

On Saturday morning the band had a bit of a lie in and after breakfast there was a little time to explore the immediate locality.

Then after tuning it was time to hop on the bus to be transported to Burg for the second day of the festival.

On returning from the boat parade and having been fed the Festival was opened and the separate performances of each of the fifteen countries participating commenced. Our turn came just after six o clock and we put on a fifteen minute performance of all Irish pieces and this commenced with James and Elaine doing a lovely rendition of Raglan Road which was followed by the full band playing The Dawning of the day. The band then played a variety of other Irish tunes, some of which had been especially learned for this festival and these were

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Province News

On arrival the proceedings began with a parade which was followed by each participant releasing a balloon into the sky to commemorate their presence at the festival. It was a great spectacle to see over five hundred balloons rise into the sky and fly away with the wind.

This was then followed with each country performing and again just after six o clock the De La Salle Scout Pipe Band representing

Ireland made there way onto the stage. The performance time was longer than the previous day so the band added a number of additional Irish pieces to its programme.

Given that the band’s performances had been so well received by the audiences the organisers decided add an additional act and invited the De La Salle Scout and the North Berwick Pipe bands to join forces and play a number of popular piping pieces including Amazing Grace and Highland cathedral to close the day’s public proceedings.When the audience had left it was time for the participants to party and despite the heavy rain that commenced just as the group struck up, everyone had a very enjoyable time. The day’s proceedings then concluded with a fantastic fire works display.

Sunday morning was sunny but a good bit cooler than the previous two days and proceeding commenced with an Ecumenical Worship Service which was attended by a large number of participants and visitors to the rose gardens in Forst.

Band pictured at the Bismarck monument in Burg

breakfast everyone packed and got ready for a day’s sight seeing in Berlin. Diana and Katja played a vital role guiding us through the various historical sites in the city and we saw the Brandenburg Gates, the German Government’s building, the Holocaust Monument, parts of the demolished Berlin Wall and some even went on to see Check Point Charlie while the rest took the opportunity to do some shopping and to eat.

Then a 1 o clock the Festival was opened and the De La sale scout Pipe band were first to perform. Its performance was for twenty minutes and was very similar to the previous day. Again the band was well received by the audience and there was great applause at the conclusion of the performance. There were many activities going on in the festival location for the day and the members of the band had the opportunity to wind down and relax. To conclude the day’s proceedings and the full festival the two pipe bands were again invited to join forces and do a final performance.

On returning to the accommodation block the members of the band had an opportunity to meet and mix with members of some of the other acts and to renew old acquaintances with the members of the North Berwick Pipe band who have been to Ireland on a number of occasions to play with DLS in St Patrick’s day parades and at other events.

Monday morning presented the opportunity for a little lie in and after

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Province News

Then it was time for the band to make our way to the Airport where unfortunately, due to a major thunder storm, it had to stay for a good few hours more than expected as the flight to take it home had to be diverted.

Eventually its flight took to the sky and all had a very comfortable flight with most people trying to catch up on their sleep. Paul’s van was then loaded with the band’s gear and the bus was boarded and the band arrived home happy but tired in Waterford after four in the morning.

Togher Scouts Camp at Gilwell Park

The 37th Cork Scout Troop (Togher) are just finished the first week of their

annual summer camp. This year the location of their camp is Gilwell Park

Scout Campsite located at Chingford, London just on the edge of Epping

Forrest. The travel went very smooth with the scouts travelling by the

group Mini Bus, Jeep and trailer with camp gear. The group availed of the

Irish Ferry Service from Rosslare to Pembroke.

Gilwell Park is a campsite and activity centre for Scouting Groups, as well

as a training and conference centre for Scout leaders. It was purchased in

1919 directly after the first world war and the site which covers 109 acres

Gilwell is famous for its training and Scout Leaders from all countries of the world have come to Gilwell Park for their Woodbadge training. It is one of the landmarks of the world scout movement.

For the Togher Scouts it has been all go from the moment

is in an ideal location so close to the centre of London. It is only a half hour by train from Chingford Station to Liverpool Street Station. The site is extremely well laid out with some of the tree plantations going back hundreds of years. The site contains camp fields for small groups or can cater for larger groups up to 1,200. There is also indoor accommodation available and there is a whole range of activities all staffed by trained personnel along with life guards for the swimming pool.

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Province News

they arrived and there was also a change of camp chief after six years. Ian Twohig handed over the reigns and responsibility to Eoghan O’Donoghue with a suitable presentation to mark the occasion. The group were also pleased to welcome Seán O’Regan one of the leaders who is now based and

working in London and again Ian Twohig presented him with a new scout shirt and neckerchief. Three days of last week were spent to London visiting all the historical sights. For most it was their first trip to London, so it was all new. Speaking to the scouts their most enjoyable and memorable parts were the visit to the London Dungeon, a two hour guided tour and the exploits and mystery of ‘Jack the Ripper’ and of course the hours spent in the Natural History and Science Museums. Today the scouts are spending the full day at Thorp Park Amusement Park

Tony Smith’s buzz from making a

difference to many young lives

Outside children are ‘zorbing’ on the green lawns (rolling downhill inside

a transparent plastic orb) and their laughs and cries can be heard far and

wide.

And that’s just his day job.

Tony has been a scout all his life. He was eight years old when he snuck

off from his Enniskillen cub scout leader Pat Lunny and caught his first

fish in the Cladagh River using a bamboo pole. It was at that moment

that he “caught the scouting bug”. Tony has now moved up the ranks

Tony has worked at Roscor Youth Village, outside Belleek, for eleven years and recently took up the post of co-ordinator on the site. Employed by Extern, Tony organises and sometimes instructs the ‘Time Out’ programme, where emergency respite is given to young people who are in crisis e.g. struggling in their home environment, their parents not being able to cope, or an emergency foster placement. Children are often referred by the HSE or the Western Trust for a four day residential that entails a lot of one-to-one work.“We try to put them on the right

of Scouting Ireland to become County Commissioner for Scouting Ireland (he’s responsible for the co-ordination and management of all the groups in Erne Scout County). Tony is also Camp Chief at Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre and will soon be travelling to Japan on a reconnaissance trip to prepare for the 2015 World Scout Jamboree in Yamaguchi City.The ethos of scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell is Tony’s mantra in life: “The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.”

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track and be a positive role model e.g. help with budgeting, making meals, cleaning up their chalet,” Tony explains. “Our ethos is to try to make a difference in a child’s life.”That morning he had brought a group of eight-to-ten year olds to the beach where they fished for crabs in the rock pools. Afterwards, one young boy who had never been to the beach before said: “Tony that was awesome.” This meant the world to Tony, who says: “That wee comment and the way his wee eye’s looked at me means that everything I’ve done this week has been worthwhile.”Tony is grateful to Extern Manager Mark Rogers who allows him to have “the best of both worlds”. “He allows me to work hand-in-hand with my scouting work because he sees the benefits of it in giving back to the community.”Passionate about making a difference in children’s lives, Tony believes that it’s time for more integration in society. Scout groups and most schools already take children from all religions, he says, but he predicts that “it will take a few generations to ‘sort out’ Northern Ireland”.The fact that there are two scouting

groups on the island of ireland is “crazy” he believes.“My dream, and it’s a vision that I’ve had for many years, is that there would only be one group in all of Ireland. You only need one. Both associations take all religions, all cultures, all nationalities and yet we still have two; it doesn’t make any sense. If it is going to be for the good of the youth or of this country, my vision would be to have one group.”He adds: “We recently held a few joint camps which was great but you put a scout neckerchief around a child’s neck and send them into the forest; they’re all the same: that’s what we need to keep drumming home. We are on the right tracks and we are getting there. It’s slow but steady, the mindsets among the youth are changing.”Children should be taught to focus on the simple things, Tony believes. “Get the kids away from the X-Box,” he states. “We don’t have anything like that in our house. I came home the other evening and my eight-year-old son Adam had built a shelter in the front garden and had all his gear, saying: ‘I think I’m going to sleep in this.’ That’s what we live for. My whole family are scouts.”

made a world peace centre by the World Scout Foundation (there are only five of them in the world). Over the next five years, money will be made available so that kids from conflict zones around the world (e.g. Israel and Lebanon) can come to Castle Saunderson where they can have discussions about how they can help bring peace through the scout movement.“Therefore I was sent to to Saudi Arabia, where scout leaders from across the world had been invited by the Saudi Royal family to participate in a peace and dialogue event,” Tony explains. On 26 July, he will travel to Japan, representing Scouting Ireland in the Irish contingent reconnaissance for the 23rd World Scouting Jamboree in Yamaguchi Japan.Tony explains: “Before a country is allowed to host a world scout jamboree, two years prior they have to host a very large jamboree, in order to organise the food, programme, the logistics.”He will spend one week at the jamboree site and one week travelling from Yamaguchi to Japan, looking at potential hospitality sites. The attendees will spend 10 days

Married to Debbie (who has been a scout leader for over 20 years and was recently awarded her Woodbadge Beads for completing her Leader Training), the couple have three children; Megan 17, Rebecca 13 and Adam 8. Because scouting takes up most of his spare time, Tony is grateful for his wife’s patience and that, since he has become ‘boss’ at Castle Saunderson, he can take his family along with him too!“I’m almost living my dream through my kids because I have always lived for scouting,” he reflects.After working as a manager in Dunnes Stores for eight years, Tony decided it was time for a change and applied for a position in a Children’s Home through the Western Trust. This led to his role with Extern. As his professional career “snowballed”, so too did his scouting career.Scouting has brought Tony around the world, from Saudi Arabia, to Australia, Thailand and soon, Japan.“Castle Saunderson has been

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at the Jamboree and 10 days travelling along a route Tony and his colleagues will have mapped out. Tony is adamant that this will include climbing Mount Fuji.Asked for his favourite campsite, Tony replies: “I have always had it in my heart that if anything happened to me that I’d be cremated and that my ashes be spread in Claddagh Glen because it is very close to my heart: the massive fir trees when you go in, the rushing of the river. It was my first campsite as a cub scout when I was eight years of age.”He adds: “Castle Saunderson is my baby now as such and I’ve fallen in love with everything about it.”Every campsite (including Australia, Thailand, America, all over Europe and the UK) has its own memories, Tony states. One of his favourite parts of camp is sitting down around the fire with the camp blanket and singing and story-telling; “giving the kids that ‘down-time’ making hot chocolate, marshmallows and chocolate biscuits” (or one of Tony’s favourites: bananas stuffed with chocolate buttons wrapped with tinfoil!)

Outside children are ‘zorbing’ on the green lawns (rolling downhill inside a transparent plastic orb) and their laughs and cries can be heard far and wide.And that’s just his day job.Tony has been a scout all his life. He was eight years old when he snuck off from his Enniskillen cub scout leader Pat Lunny and caught his first fish in the Cladagh River using a bamboo pole. It was at that moment that he “caught the scouting bug”. Tony has now moved up the ranks of Scouting Ireland to become County Commissioner for Scouting Ireland (he’s responsible for the co-ordination and management of all the groups in Erne Scout County). Tony is also Camp Chief at Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre and will soon be travelling to Japan on a reconnaissance trip to prepare for the 2015 World Scout Jamboree in Yamaguchi City.The ethos of scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell is Tony’s mantra in life: “The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.”Tony has worked at Roscor Youth Village, outside Belleek, for eleven

years and recently took up the post of co-ordinator on the site. Employed by Extern, Tony organises and sometimes instructs the ‘Time Out’ programme, where emergency respite is given to young people who are in crisis e.g. struggling in their home environment, their parents not being able to cope, or an emergency foster placement. Children are often referred by the HSE or the Western Trust for a four day residential that entails a lot of one-to-one work.“We try to put them on the right track and be a positive role model e.g. help with budgeting, making meals, cleaning up their chalet,” Tony explains. “Our ethos is to try to make a difference in a child’s life.”That morning he had brought a group of eight-to-ten year olds to the beach where they fished for crabs in the rock pools. Afterwards, one young boy who had never been to the beach before said: “Tony that was awesome.” This meant the world to Tony, who says: “That wee comment and the way his wee eye’s looked at me means that everything I’ve done this week has been worthwhile.”

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Tony is grateful to Extern Manager Mark Rogers who allows him to have “the best of both worlds”. “He allows me to work hand-in-hand with my scouting work because he sees the benefits of it in giving back to the community.”Passionate about making a difference in children’s lives, Tony believes that it’s time for more integration in society. Scout groups and most schools already take children from all religions, he says, but he predicts that “it will take a few generations to ‘sort out’ Northern Ireland”.The fact that there are two scouting groups on the island of ireland is “crazy” he believes.“My dream, and it’s a vision that I’ve had for many years, is that there would only be one group in all of Ireland. You only need one. Both associations take all religions, all cultures, all nationalities and yet we still have two; it doesn’t make any sense. If it is going to be for the good of the youth or of this country, my vision would be to have one group.”He adds: “We recently held a few joint camps which was great but you

put a scout neckerchief around a child’s neck and send them into the forest; they’re all the same: that’s what we need to keep drumming home. We are on the right tracks and we are getting there. It’s slow but steady, the mindsets among the youth are changing.”Children should be taught to focus on the simple things, Tony believes. “Get the kids away from the X-Box,” he states. “We don’t have anything like that in our house. I came home the other evening and my eight-year-old son Adam had built a shelter in the front garden and had all his gear, saying: ‘I think I’m going to sleep in this.’ That’s what we live for. My whole family are scouts.”Married to Debbie (who has been a scout leader for over 20 years and was recently awarded her Woodbadge Beads for completing her Leader Training), the couple have three children; Megan 17, Rebecca 13 and Adam 8. Because scouting takes up most of his spare time, Tony is grateful for his wife’s patience and that, since he has become ‘boss’ at Castle Saunderson, he can take his family along with him too!“I’m almost living my dream through

my kids because I have always lived for scouting,” he reflects.After working as a manager in Dunnes Stores for eight years, Tony decided it was time for a change and applied for a position in a Children’s Home through the Western Trust. This led to his role with Extern. As his professional career “snowballed”, so too did his scouting career.Scouting has brought Tony around the world, from Saudi Arabia, to Australia, Thailand and soon, Japan.“Castle Saunderson has been made a world peace centre by the World Scout Foundation (there are only five of them in the world). Over the next five years, money will be made available so that kids from conflict zones around the world (e.g. Israel and Lebanon) can come to Castle Saunderson where they can have discussions about how they can help bring peace through the scout movement.“Therefore I was sent to to Saudi Arabia, where scout leaders from across the world had been invited by the Saudi Royal family to participate in a peace and dialogue event,” Tony explains. On 26 July, he will travel to Japan, representing Scouting Ireland in the

baby now as such and I’ve fallen in love with everything about it.”Every campsite (including Australia, Thailand, America, all over Europe and the UK) has its own memories, Tony states. One of his favourite parts of camp is sitting down around the fire with the camp blanket and singing and story-telling; “giving the kids that ‘down-time’ making hot chocolate, marshmallows and chocolate biscuits” (or one of Tony’s favourites: bananas stuffed with

Irish contingent reconnaissance for the 23rd World Scouting Jamboree in Yamaguchi Japan.Tony explains: “Before a country is allowed to host a world scout jamboree, two years prior they have to host a very large jamboree, in order to organise the food, programme, the logistics.”He will spend one week at the jamboree site and one week travelling from Yamaguchi to Japan, looking at potential hospitality sites. The attendees will spend 10 days at the Jamboree and 10 days travelling along a route Tony and his colleagues will have mapped out. Tony is adamant that this will include climbing Mount Fuji.Asked for his favourite campsite, Tony replies: “I have always had it in my heart that if anything happened to me that I’d be cremated and that my ashes be spread in Claddagh Glen because it is very close to my heart: the massive fir trees when you go in, the rushing of the river. It was my first campsite as a cub scout when I was eight years of age.”He adds: “Castle Saunderson is my

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chocolate buttons wrapped with tinfoil!)“Any camp where you have to the chance to sit with the kids and let them camp under the canvas, in the woods and is special to them, is special to me.”Tony says that he values his role as Enniskillen Cub Scout’s leader above all the others. Every Friday night is kept free for “his cubs”, whom he is taking away over the

twelfth weekend for a ‘Hunger Games’ themed adventure.He concludes: “I have eight cubs moving up to scouts who came to me on Sunday morning saying: ‘We’re not happy we are moving up, we’ll only go if you come with us.’ For young kids of eleven to say that means everything to me.”

Tony Smith is “living the dream”. Under the shadow of the stunning Magho cliffs, his office at Roscor Youth Village looks over shimmering Lough Erne.

Carlow Cub Scouts succeed in Challenge

Cub Scouts from Castle Pack 5th Carlow Town successfully completed the

Larch Hill 75th Anniversity challenge over the weekend of 28th – 30th June.

These challenges are open to all Scout Groups to commemorate the 75th

anniversary of the campsite.

The Cubs and Scouters had to do a series of challenges comprising of:

1. Good deeds for the site. These were picked with the help of the

Meitheal staff from Larch Hill.

Tuesday Beavers from 5th Carlow Town. A great night was had by all. Two of the songs sung on the night have gone into a Larch Hill song book.

As well as doing the challenge the Cubs upgraded their camping, pioneering and backwoods skills over the weekend. They also managed to do tie dyeing and many different and amazing shapes were created. A suprise visit by a member of the Garda Mounted Unit went down great with the Cubs. Even though all were very tired on Saturday night they went on the Larch Hill ghost walk and heard many interesting stories about characters you could meet if lucky in Larch Hill. None were met on the walk but they may meet some of them when back again.

This was one of the many events and camps the Pack attended this year. Other events were Portlick camp in June. Many Scout County events as well as hikes and camps with the Sixes within the Pack. Four Cubs are putting the final touches to their Chief Scout Award

2. Activities with another Pack. Here they had to organise games / activities with another Pack and run them. They joined up with 11th Louth in this. One was a circle painting, and the other an orienteering event. 3. Run a camp fire. Again they had to organise the campfire from lighting fire to inviting Groups to attend. Each Six in the Pack picked different songs to use and along with Marie Therese and Kevin used them during the event. They were joined by Cub Packs from Dublin, Wicklow and Louth along with

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The New “Scout” Range

The New range of “Scout” branded apparel designed by Communications team in Association with the Scout is available for sale online at the link below. It is also for sale from all the Scout Shop outlets and from Road shows. Order your Road show today with the Scout Shop.

Volunteer Short Term Staff Vacancies September 2nd – December 6th 2013

Basic requirements

You must be registered to a Scout or Guide Association recognized by WOSM or WAGGGS You must be 18+ years old You must have good communication skills in English.

Are you willing to Learn new skills, Run an excting programme of activities, Work as part of a Team in Europe’s newest International Scout Centre, Meet new Scouts/Guides that will be friends for life?

Check us out on www.facebook.com/castlesaunderson

For more information and to get a copy of our Staff Booklet please

Email: fgethins@scouts.ie or siobhainnkelly1@eircom.net

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Public Website:- www.scouts.ie

Members:- my.scouts.ie

Email:- communications@scouts.ie

Facebook:- http://www.facebook.com/scoutingireland

Twitter:- @scoutingireland

August 2013

Contacts Coming next month

The Phoenix Challenge all the actionWorld Scout Moot to CanadaAnnual Camps from all over EuropeAnd Lots more!