Published on behalf of and with the approval of South West Region Scout Council.
Registered as a Charity in Scotland - SCO11643

Dates in the Future

2009

InTouch

The new Communication system has been renamed to InTouch
The Fact Sheet has also been updated to include reference to Data Protection and the addition of a check list for leaders, as an aid.
A further 4 short sessions on InTouch is schedule for late August / early September.

Has anyone fed anything back to Barney? Is it easier to operate - are there any issues with it - he would like to hear from you.

Explorer Belt 2009

There is an Explorer Belt Expedition to Poland this summer, organised by Jenny Stevens, SHQ Commissioner for Explorers. There are 6 Explorer Scouts from Galloway, 2 Explorers and 2 Networkers from Kyle and Carrick and 1 Networker from Ayrshire East. They fly out from Edinburgh on 27th July. Good luck guys.

And further into the future

2010

Blair Atholl Jamborette

The Blair Atholl Jamborette will again take place in the grounds of Blair Castle starting on Monday 19th July until 30th July 2010.
2010 will see a slight change in the organisation in that Districts will be submitting their own Patrols, as there are no Areas. DC's have already received a letter from the Camp Chief asking for an indication of the number of Patrols that each District would like to send to the event. There is no guarantee that all Patrols will be accepted. Historically Ayrshire were allocated 3 places, Dumfriesshire 3 places and Galloway 1 place. There will definitely be a place for 1 Patrol per District and possibly more. This is a great opportunity for our Scouts to experience an International camp. As this will be the first Blair Atholl camp since the Regions are set up, we are not certain how the allocations will work, but certainly in the next three to four months the information will be cascaded out to Groups.

Every Scout Troop and Explorer Unit should consider this activity. Yes, there are limited places and there may have to be a selection. But if your youngsters have the camping skills and are interested, please give them the opportunity to go meet with other Scouts the world o'er

Information on the 2010 camp is available ont he Jamborette web site at http://www.jamborette.org.uk/ and this will be updated as the information becomes available.

2011

22nd World Scout Jamboree - Sweden

The Jamboree is being held outside the town of Kristianstad in the very south of Sweden and the dates are 27th July through to 7th August.

The event is open to young people between the ages of 14 and 17. They must have been born between 25th July 1993 and 27th July 1997.

Region has been allocated 15 places in a joint Unit with West Region. DC's will shortly receive further Information.

Whilst the UK Contingent Team will have been selected by now, there is the opportunity to come for leaders to apply for the IST (International Service Team) - watch Scouting Magazine, www.scouts.org and this newsletter.

Applications from Leaders to the Unit should now have been sent to SHQ.

Note from the Regional Commissioner
"To date ( 21st July ) I am not aware of any Leader from South West Region having made application to attend the Jamboree as a Unit Leader.  There is a very real possibility that unless there is Leader representation from the Region we may lose some or all of our allocation which would be a great disappointment for the Scouts and Explorers. I am sure leaders across the Region would not wish this to be the case.  Application forms are available to download from www.scouts-scotland.org.uk .  Please don't let our young people down. - Duncan"

In this edition

• Coming Events
• Changes within the Region
• Lapwing's High Ropes
• Points of Contact around the Region
• East Ayrshire
• Kyle and Carrick
• Dumfriesshire
• North Ayrshire and Arran
• Congratulations

Changes within the Region

There have been a few changes around the Region in recent months.
Welcome to Anne as the New ARC(Development) who has taken over from Ruth Nichol. Ruth, in turn has taken on the role of the Faiths and Beliefs Adviser for the Region and to Gavin Ferguson as Duke of Edinburgh Adviser for the Region.

Lapwing's High Ropes

Bored of climbing walls? Have you ever seen the programme 'Gladiators'? Fancy testing your wits and team work to the maximum? Then look no more because this is better. Lapwing Lodge Outdoor Centre is proud to present its new and exciting High Ropes Course. The course is a team building developmental course which will challenge everyone from ages 8 to 80.The course is located in our front field adjacent to the Assault course and sits 13 meters high.

The High Ropes Course has been build to provide team building and developmental challenges which can be changed to ensure on subsequent visits your teams are stretched to there full potential. The initial build will accommodate the addition of a climbing and abseiling wall as in the first impression.

The facility can be booked in modules, depending on how adventurous you want to be.

  

  

Each group is supported by fully trained instructors on the course which is available throughout the week,evenings during the summer and week-ends. Enquiries on availability can be made at http://www.lapwinglodge.org.uk/site/contact-us/

Duke of Edinburgh Info

The Region D of E Adviser , Gavin Ferguson, is now in place and keen to provide support at all levels of the award including leader assessment.   You can contact him at dofe@scouts-southwestscotland.org.uk at any time. Please make use of his profesional knowledge of The Award.

The D of E magazine for Leaders is published 3 times a year at the start of each academic term. It's packed full of news, updates and info to help you run your DofE group, it's a must-read for every Leader! Leaders qualify for a free postal copy - sign up here.
Register leaders gets a 20% discount card for Cotswold outdoors.

Remember that there are specialist advisers in place to help you.
Please make use of their expertise.

Ayrshire East

Dalmellington Scouts celebrate

On Sunday 22nd February Scouts, Cubs and Beavers from the Dalmellington Scout Group (33rd Ayrshire) marched from their headquarters to the Kirk of the Covenant in celebration of the birth of Lord Baden-Powell founder of the Scout Movement. During the Service many of the young people were presented with proficiency badges by Rev Yorke and John Paterson (Dalmellington Scout Group Chairman) was presented with the "Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service" from Michael Carruthers, new District Commissioner of the Ayrshire East District.

 

Cubs do their best despite the weather.

60 Cubs with leaders and helpers from Dalmellington, Darvel, Drongan and Kilmarnock spent a day at Dumfries House taking part in various conservation activities as part of their community involvement programme.
In partnership with the Woodlands Trust, RSPB, and Coalfield Environment Initiative, the event organised by Dumfries House, involved litter picking, tree planting and building bat and bird boxes.
Despite the inclement weather (continuous rain), all enjoyed the event.
During the day Prince Charles paid a surprise visit. The Prince is extremely supportive of Dumfries House and was delighted at the effort and enthusiasm shown by everyone. It is hoped that this will be the first in an ongoing involvement by the cubs and other scouts in the Ayrshire East district.
The cubs and leaders wish to express their thanks to all who contributed to the day.

 

Kyle and Carrick

District Scout Cooking Competition

This event had a slightly different twist to it this year, the teams had only just started their preparation when the Fire Alarm went off resulting in the turn out of the Fire Brigade.

District Cub 5-a-side

  
This took place at Tarbolton with a good turnout from across the District. The winners were the 28th Ayrshire.

  
An excellent evening in Alloway where the sixers had a few challenges put in front of them as well as a few games.

Cubs Backwoods Day

Phoenix ESU visit STV

Members of the Phoenix ESU in Prestwick visited the Glasgow STV studios in February.
The visit included the News Room, and the very extensive library of programmes that have been produced by the Company. A visit to the News Studio and then up to the Control Room where the watched the production team rehearse and then transmit the lunch time news. As one of the Explorers said "We certainly won't be watching the news in the same way again!"
The group finished the afternoon with a visit to the Kevingrove Art Gallery and Museum before heading for home to watch the STV News with a far better understanding of how it all happens.

59 Cubs from around the District took part in this Backwoods day - some simple pioneering (a chariot race and an improvised stretcher), lighting a fire and some cooking, tracking, cane pioneering and pitching a tent.

District Athletic Badge

This was held at the David Keswick Centre, Dumfries in May where 100 cubs received their badges.

       

Moffat Spring Clean team

28th and 57th Dumfriesshire Cubs head for Hawkhurst

20 Cubs, 1 Scout and 6 Leaders/helpers spent a May week-end at Hawkhurst in Northumerland. The usual Friday night capers, with some rooms being noisy until the early hours and then raring to go at 5 a.m.

Saturday morning was spent doing archery and an obstacle course. After lunch it was time to get wet in the canoes on Kielder Water.

   

Saturday night saw the traditional Campfire along with other groups spending the week-end at the site.

Sunday morning was somewhat different with the majority of the youngsters having to be wakened for breakfast. The morning was spent doing indoor climbing and crate stacking.

 

After lunch, a half hour walk to the Leaplish Waterside Park to visit the Birds of Prey where they had demonstrations of the birds flying and taking food from people's knees and heads.

Recently the 1st and 6th Ayrshire (Irvine) Sea Scouts visit the Troon Lifeboat station to see how the lifeboat service worked. As a reasult they were invited to go along to their Open Day at the end of July where they manned a couple of stalls.
The Group raised over £160 for the RNLI during the 4 hour Open Day as well as providing some marshalls for the tour of the lifeboat and also provided an entertaining display of canoeing for the visitors.

      

Awards across the Region this year.

David and his family at the Scottish Presentations in Inverness

Margaret Fowler, Deputy DC for North Ayrshire & Arran presents Jack with his Medal at Troon Life Boat Station.