What’s in this Issue?

1. Bear in the Air

2. Our County

3. Upcoming Events

4. News

5. Items of Interest

6. News from

Gilwell

Bear Grylls, our Chief Scout, recently

visited both Gloucester and the North

Cotswolds on a trip round the South West

of Britain. At both sites, Bear was greeted

by loads of Scouts, despite the poor

weather.

See pages 2 and 3 for more pictures.

Pat has now resumed her duties as

DC. A very successful St George‟s

Day event was held on Easter

Monday. A District Swimming Gala is

due to be held in July. A new

Explorer Unit has opened as a result

of the closure of the Oasis Centre.

Four Leaders are available to run the

Unit. Cheltenham College is

planning to open a Cub Pack in

September. There is a new Scout

Leader in place.

Safeguarding training is taking place

at Fairford on 30th June. Lechlade

Beavers and Cubs are thriving

following support from County to

recruit new leaders. Following the

resignation of the Scout Leader at

South Cerney, two potential

replacements have been identified.

Two Explorer Scout Leaders as well

as a GSL and Scout Leader are

moving out of the District.

Over 100 people attended the

Highgrove Tour. Tickets for the Beer

Festival at Slimbridge are currently

on sale. Plans for building a new HQ

in Dursley have hit planning

problems but alternatives have been

identified. An individual has been

approached to take on the role of

District Media Manager and a new

website is being developed.

St George‟s Day parade was held

at the Cathedral and was the usual

success. Gang Show was terrific

with lots of new talent on display.

Bear in the Air day was a great

event attracting more than 400

Scouts (many of whom camped on

site) and a number of members of

the public in the afternoon. Press

coverage was extensive in the

Citizen and on local Radio.

The district camp coinciding with

the Chief Scout‟s visit was a great

success if rather wet. Good press

coverage was achieved. The first

St. George‟s Day parade and

service for a number of years was

held in Northleach which attracted

a lot of support and interest from

the locals.

190 Beavers attended a 25th Birthday

celebration at Penn Wood. There

was good media coverage of the

Beaver Air Activity Day at

Nympsfield Airfield and was

attended by 175 Beavers. The

District Cub football competition

took place in May. 325 people

attended the Penn Wood Open Day.

The District Beaver trip to the West

Midlands Safari Park and the District

Cub visit to Portsmouth are due to

take place in June. Two new Scout

Troops have opened

What‟s been going on in your district?

Email us at news@gscouts.org.uk and share your event for

everyone to see.

Safeguarding training is taking place

at Fairford on 30th June. Lechlade

Beavers and Cubs are thriving

following support from County to

recruit new leaders. Following the

resignation of the Scout Leader at

South Cerney, two potential

replacements have been identified.

Two Explorer Scout Leaders as well

as a GSL and Scout Leader are

moving out of the District.

Over 100 people attended the

Highgrove Tour. Tickets for the Beer

Festival at Slimbridge are currently

on sale. Plans for building a new HQ

in Dursley have hit planning

problems but alternatives have been

identified. An individual has been

approached to take on the role of

District Media Manager and a new

website is being developed.

Excellent weather was enjoyed by all

those who attended the District Cub

Camp. George Hiscocks was

presented with the Silver Wolf. A

Water Activities Day at Mallards Pike

is being held on 9th July. The District

Explorers need to find a new

meeting place as they are currently

using the Wilderness Centre, which

is due to close. The possibility of

opening a new group in the

Newnham area is being investigated.

24 Beavers and their leaders have

The district camp coinciding with

the Chief Scout‟s visit was a great

success if rather wet. Good press

coverage was achieved. The first

St. George‟s Day parade and

service for a number of years was

held in Northleach which attracted

a lot of support and interest from

the locals.

190 Beavers attended a 25th Birthday

celebration at Penn Wood. There

was good media coverage of the

Beaver Air Activity Day at

Nympsfield Airfield and was

attended by 175 Beavers. The

District Cub football competition

took place in May. 325 people

attended the Penn Wood Open Day.

The District Beaver trip to the West

Midlands Safari Park and the District

Cub visit to Portsmouth are due to

take place in June. Two new Scout

Troops have opened

District events are planned for all

sections. Two new ESUs have

opened with total membership

exceeding 50. At Winchcombe over

100 parents attended a recent

meeting during which Jim Mayer

(GSL) presented Chief Scout‟s

Awards. Promotion of the Group

took place at the Winchcombe Street

Fair. Jean Marshall attended an

assembly in one school with further

visits likely to take place. A belated

St George‟s Day parade run by the

Beaver leaders was held in the

What‟s been going on in your district?

Email us at news@gscouts.org.uk and share your event for

everyone to see.

24th-26th June Malvern Challenge

1st-3rd July Sun Run

9th July Try Dives 2011

28th July Snorkelling

18th August Snorkelling

16th-18th

September

PADI Advanced Open

Water Scuba Diver

Qualification

23rd-25th

September

“Beast of the Lake”

County Explorer Camp

30th

September-

2nd October

PADI Open Water Scuba

Diver Qualification

8th October Try Dives 2011

14th-16th

October

PADI Open Water Scuba

Diver Qualification

12th November Try Dives 2011

27TH DECEMBER TO 5TH JANUARY

This trip is organised by Stroud & Tetbury District. Skiing around Lake Lu-

cerne. Open to Explorers, Network, leaders, wives and husbands. 40 maxi-

mum. Cost £400.

Want to find

out more?

Visit:

gscouts.org.uk

Want to find

out more?

Visit:

gscouts.org.uk

15TH TO 17TH APRIL

The second weekend of this course saw patrols of Scouts out completing their

Expedition Challenge hike and carrying just day kit. Explorers completed a longer

hike for their DofE Bronze and CS Platinum awards with full kit. After spending the

night at Shurdington they all hiked on different routes into Cranham where they

cooked their evening meal and camped the night. Sunday saw them hiking to Upton St.

Leonards. All patrols arrived in good time. If you want to see what the Explorers got up

to go to You Tube: „Six Idiots and an electric fence‟ & „How to make DofE hot chocolate‟.

Recently, Highbury Cub Scouts raised £37.03 for the New Zealand Blanket Appeal for

the Christchurch Earthquake. The Cubs brought in 2p coins to cover a blanket and

then had fun counting and bagging all of the money. The sister of one of one of

Highbury‟s former Cubs, Jordan Oliver, was caught up in the earthquake whilst

working in Christchurch. She has now, however, been relocated to Wellington.

Felicity Cleaves

1st Cheltenham (Highbury) Scout Group.

John Dover, DSL, Stroud and Tetbury, has

calculated that Gloucestershire has had the

highest percentage increase in

membership from 2001 to 2011 in England

and the second highest numerical increase

after Cambridgeshire.

Gloucestershire!

29TH APRIL TO 2ND MAY

A spell of beautiful, settled weather ensured a truly memorable weekend for Leaders and

seventeen Gloucestershire Scouts and guests from Troops and Units from London and

Eastleigh.

On the Saturday, after a short drive from our base including a crossing of Windermere via

the fascinating Hawkshead chain-ferry, all the groups completed one of several routes on

and around The Old Man of Coniston. An excellent day out was enjoyed by all.

On Sunday all groups walked from scenic Langdale, one group on the Langdale Pikes,

one on Pike Of Blisco and two groups on Crinkle Crags. The strong, blustery winds

prevented the two groups from completing the exposed skyline ridge of Crinkle Crags

but both were able to complete a thrilling circuit by traversing the leeward side of the

crest. On Sunday evening we all enjoyed an hour or so in Bowness for a take-away supper

before returning to base for the traditional indoor games and challenges.

We stayed for the weekend in the Kirkstone Chalet at Great Tower Scout Camp, recently

taken on once more as a national campsite.

A very big thank you to all the Leaders and particularly to Darren, Alan, Stu and Donna

who worked so hard to look after us all with their usual kitchen magic.

David L'Oste-Brown

At the end of May, 150 Scouts, Explorers and Leaders converged on a field in Miserden

for the start Survival Skills and Bushcraft weekend.

Saturday was spent doing training in fire lighting and cooking, use of knives and bivvi

building before the participants were sent into the warmer and drier woods to set up

tarpaulin bivvis. Sunday dawned too early for many, and the training continued with

edible plants and direction finding. At lunchtime, the participants were sent into the

woods to survive - cooking on wood, and building bivvis from natural materials. Food

preparation included gutting fish and skinning rabbits, before cooking them on the

wood fires. Monday started with an early trumpet reveille - which still didn't seem to

waken everyone. The 24 hour exercise was successfully completed just after lunch on

Monday when 60 Survival Skill badges were presented. Congratulations to everyone.

Continued...

...The Advanced Survival course now runs parallel to the Bushcraft course so that

participants can attend either course in either order once they have completed

the Scouts Survival Badge course. This year 16 Scouts and a leader completed the

course in unusual circumstances. The inability to have fires at the bivvi site meant

that the teams had a lot more walking to do before they could practice their fire

lighting skills and cooking. Building upon skills learnt previously the course de-

veloped their knife awareness and safety, cutting techniques, making natural

cordage, preparing game, plant identification and wild food, traps and snares, wa-

ter purification and the priorities of survival and shelter building. For those look-

ing at attending the "Nabbo" course in the future the ability to construct a warm,

dry shelter efficiently and quickly is a prime concern. Despite a wet finish all fin-

ished in fine spirits, if a little hungry. Food may be the last of our survival priori-

ties... try telling a group of teenage boys that when they are cold and

tired!!! However in our game points mean prizes. By completing tasks each patrol

earned more food. Some exciting meals were cooked including pasta with duck,

nettles, wild garlic and other wild plants. Well done to everyone... a great course

spirit and some good skills learnt.

14TH MAY

This saw another 10 Scouts and Guides embark on this exciting fun-filled sport

spending an hour swimming around on and under the water at Lydney White

cross Swimming Pool. I wonder how many of them will be fully qualified Open Wa-

ter Scuba Divers before the end of the year (next course in October)?

Cranham is currently buzzing with activity. Not only that, but it is buzzing with peo-

ple from Gloucestershire Scouts and Guides – there is an active group of Brownies

in the main building, over a hundred Scouts who are preparing to attend the Haar-

lem Jamborette on the camping field and a hundred and fifty Beavers from

Gloucester enjoying an activity day in the Grove. All we need to do now is make

sure that every weekend is as busy and exciting!

Since my official start after Ken‟s retirement at the end of March, I have been of-

fered a range of opportunities. Firstly there has been the opportunity to meet so

many wonderful and interesting people from around the county and beyond. Get-

ting to know the Scouting „locals‟ has confirmed the fact that I have done the right

thing by taking on the role at Cranham.

I have also been offered the opportunity to see how the centre can be further de-

veloped. So far we have:

Introduced a new activity – Sumo Wrestling which can be hired for an hour by

groups on site and can be taken off site for events such as the recent camp in

Gloucester (Bear Grylls was wearing one apparently!)

Completed construction of a new bridge in the Grove by the toilet block

Made improvements to the Managers house and garden, including felling trees

in the garden, selective planting, repainting downstairs in the house and we are

currently in the process of insulating and plastering upstairs

Plans over the next twelve months include finishing jobs that were started before I

arrived and work on the infrastructure of the site some of which will ultimately

save the centre money and time. This includes:

Replacing signage and putting a new sign on the road

Redoing the website, flyer and brochure – website done

Finishing the Challenge Course (hanging tube)

Replacing heating in dining room

Reinstating the shop

Investigating solar panels

If anyone knows anyone who may have a business or skill that can help to improve

the centre please let me know (please note the new email address below).

I am also trying to develop the Service Team on site. This is being done with

Gloucestershire Active Support. We already have a small number of extremely

hard workers whose work I greatly appreciate, but I am keen to expand this team.

Opportunities are available for:

Activity Instructors

Maintenance

Cleaning

Supporting administration

I have pencilled in a number of dates where we can get a few jobs done. Some of

these weekends are busier so may be more orientated at working with groups.

The dates are:

18th - 19th June – Himalayan Balsam eradication, fencing and strimming

16th - 17th July – Fencing and benches

27th - 29th August – Bank holiday weekend

8th - 9th October – Planting and fencing

26th - 27th November – Decorating inside crew cabin

7th - 8th January – Main building and social

11th - 12th February – To be confirmed

3rd - 4th March – To be confirmed

Please contact the centre for further information.

Pete Richardson

Centre Manager

Cranham Scout Centre

Cranham, Gloucestershire, GL4 8HP

Tel: 01452 812309

Email: info@scoutcentre.org.uk

Website: www.scoutcentre.org.uk

The ticket agency “Youth Fun Days” is offering Scouts and Guides

discounts on many popular theme parks including Legoland, Alton Towers

and Thorpe Park. It is run by Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire Scout

Counties and raises money for Scouting AND lets you get tickets at

cheaper prices.

Follow the link HERE

to get to their website

www.youthfundays.co.uk

Ordnance Survey are starting to run a series of map reading workshops to

brush up your skills or learn from scratch. They are running them across

the UK and will take you through the basics of map reading and compass

navigation.

Find out more HERE.

Also, Ordnance Survey have produced a series of videos on their YouTube

channel with the TV naturalist, Simon King, to help you with any bits of

map reading you get stuck on.

These can be found HERE.

Now, you can get 20% off all your purchases at Cotswold Outdoor just by

showing your Scout membership card. You can also visit Cotswold

Outdoor‟s “Tent Roadshows” to test some tents that your Scouts could be

sleeping in.

Sainsbury‟s are looking for places to host team building events for their

staff. If you can lend them your Scout HQ for a day or can arrange for them

to train in the place that you meet they will give you one day of bag

packing. This is a great opportunity to raise funds for your Group .

You can fill out the form HERE.

The Scout Association has now released an

iPhone/iPod Touch App that can be a very helpful little bit of information.

On my badges you have a list of all the badge requirements plus badge

position diagrams, the ability to track personal progress and even

reminders of you promises and laws.

More information can be found HERE

You can download the app HERE for £1.19

Gilwell Reunion

On 2-4 September the 85th Gilwell

Reunion will excite, exhilarate and

entertain adult volunteers. And it’s

not too late to book your place.

Media workshops A series of national one-day media

workshops have been arranged to

provide media skills to any adult

interested in doing positive Scouting

media work at Group, District or

County level. The following courses

are coming up soon,

Saturday 24 September 2011 at

Leicestershire Scout County Centre

Saturday 21 January 2012 in Leeds.

To book yourself and others from your

area to attend of these courses, please

email Wendy Cook including

your name, contact phone number,

email, Scouting appointment and

which event you want to attend.

Scouts Speak Up

Six nationally co-ordinated

communications courses are

being run for young people in

Scouting. These courses are

designed to give young people

the skills needed to talk about

their experiences in Scouting to a

wide variety of audiences, and

learn how to plan and carry out

campaigns. There are also

opportunities to lobby politicians

at this year‟s party conferences.

Click here if you are interested.

The Pride of Scouting

For the third consecutive year, The Scout

Association will be represented at London

Pride – the annual celebration of lesbian,

gay, bisexual and transgender life. The

parade through the heart of London will take

place on Saturday 2 July and we hope you

can join us.

Chairman, County

Finance Sub-committee

- to support County

Treasurer and advise

on budgeting and

investments.

Assistant County

Commissioners for:

Beaver Scouts

Cub Scouts

Scouts

Explorer Scouts

Director of Adult

Training

Please contact the County

Commissioner if you would

be interested in any of these

roles at cc@gscouts.org.uk.

Scouts Speak Up

Six nationally co-ordinated

communications courses are

being run for young people in

Scouting. These courses are

designed to give young people

the skills needed to talk about

their experiences in Scouting to a

wide variety of audiences, and

learn how to plan and carry out

campaigns. There are also

opportunities to lobby politicians

at this year‟s party conferences.

Click here if you are interested.

The Pride of Scouting

For the third consecutive year, The Scout

Association will be represented at London

Pride – the annual celebration of lesbian,

gay, bisexual and transgender life. The

parade through the heart of London will take

place on Saturday 2 July and we hope you

can join us.

5th July County

Leadership Team

Meeting

9th July County Exec.

Meeting

6th

September

County

Leadership Team

Meeting

29th

September

DCs Meeting

For more information visit:

gscouts.org.uk

or phone the County Office

on: 01452 812309

The year ended with a deficit of £23,546. This was largely attrib-

uted to a drop in income from

Cranham. The accounts were ap-

proved unanimously by the Execu-

tive with thanks to Bill Bowen,

County Treasurer.

The annual contribution to the sup-port fund will be increased to

£4,000 to reflect the increasing

call on the fund .

A Service Team at Cranham is to be set up and will be open to Ex-

plorers, Network members and

other adults.

The provisional date for the Beaver and Cub Fun Day at the Race-

course is 16th June 2012.

Paul Trott proposed that changes to the County Constitution were re-

quired to bring it in line with POR.

As a result it was agreed that the AGM be postponed to September

and that a further meeting to dis-

cuss the Constitution be held on

Saturday 9th July at 2:30pm,

Eastcombe Scout HQ.

The next edition of

i.SCOUT-GLOS will be

published in September.

Please submit all

contributions by 31st August

2011.