Abbeyside Scout Unit Notes 6th August 2007

4th Waterford Unit
St Joseph’s
Abbeyside
Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop & Venture Scout Notes

06/08/2007

21st World Scout Jamboree – 27th July to 8th August 2007
Scouting started in 1907, with an experimental Camp on Brownsea Island in the UK for 20 boys from a wide variety of social backgrounds.

Today, Scouting is a million times bigger than when it first started. It involves girls and boys, men and women from every race, religion and culture, and nearly every country in the world.

In 2007, Scouting celebrates its worldwide Centenary. This is an opportunity to promote the values, benefits and achievements of Scouting to the world, and also for the millions of Scouts around the world to make a real difference to the lives of others through their Centenary activities.

The single theme for all events and activities for the Centenary of Scouting and the 21st World Scout Jamboree is: 2007: One World One Promise.

Scouting rapidly spread around the world after the first experimental camp in 1907 on Brownsea Island. Scouting’s Founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell planned to hold a special event to bring together Scouts of all nationalities, and to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the camp on Brownsea Island.

Due to the First World War, where many Scouts were killed, the first international gathering of Scouts was held in 1920. This, the first Jamboree, was held at London’s Olympia for 8,000 Scouts from 34 Countries.

Baden-Powell chose the name ‘Jamboree’ for this event, based on the common Swahili greeting ‘Jambo’ meaning ‘Hello’. Jamboree is now an international term used to describe a large gathering of Scouts. Since 1920, World Scout Jamborees have been held almost every four years, except during the Second World War, and hosted all over the world. The 21st World Scout Jamboree will help mark the Centenary of Scouting, with over 40,000 Scouts attending from almost every country in the world.

"The Jamboree just goes to show that peace is possible in the world... it goes to show that people can live in harmony if they put their minds to it."

Imagine a place where you can walk around and say "hello" to people from over 150 different countries - where they'll smile and say "hello" back to you.

"A Jamboree is so much more special than a normal camp - you meet so many people from different countries - it's just like the world being in one village"

During a Scouts time away from home Scouts will learn how to be both a team member and a leader, how to make the most of every minute of their day, how to follow your dreams and how to help make others' dreams come true.

Change the World for Good, during the World Scout Jamboree Scouts will find out more about the issues and challenges facing our world today, and how together we can begin to solve them and build a better world.

Every Scout in the world making a contribution towards peace to mark the 100th anniversary of Scouting.

The subject of peace – specifically peace education - has always been a fundamental part of Scouting. Scouting recognises the need for renewed action to combat the problems which we all face; chief amongst these is the need for a more peaceful world achieved through a culture of peace, and not simply the absence of war.

By focusing on the development of the individual and by striving towards an ideal of fraternity and understanding, Scouting already plays a tremendous, although indirect, role in the promotion of peace at all levels. This 100th anniversary is an excellent time to celebrate the work which has been done by Scouting in the cause of peace and to demonstrate publicly our commitment, as a Movement, to creating a more peaceful world and linking with others having similar aims. It was decided by the 36th World Scout Conference in Thessoloniki that during 2007 each National Scout Organization should present a Gift for Peace and that these gifts should be the result of work accomplished by young people since 2005.

It will be an enormous achievement when every single Scout in the worldwide Movement can say what has been done for peace.

Gilwell Park is the home of Scouting in the UK, and participants will each be spending a day at this historic Scouting location.

The ceremonies and celebrations at the World Scout Jamboree will be the major high points of the camp, through amazing spectacles shared between 40,000 people.

Brownsea is an Island of history. This is where Scouting started, one hundred years ago. In the first experimental Scout camp, Robert Baden-Powell mixed together boys from diverse backgrounds. During their eight days together, they learnt to survive in the wild, and how to live by a code of honour. Brownsea is now owned and managed by the National Trust, protecting it forever and offering a memorable experience to every visitor.

Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - The Dawn of a new Century for Scouting around the World.

On 1 August 1907, Scouting’s Founder Robert Baden-Powell blew his kudu horn on Brownsea Island at 08:00 to open the world’s first Scout camp. Soon thereafter, Scouting began to quickly spread around the world and now exists in 216 countries and territories.

2007, the 100th anniversary of Scouting is an opportunity for us to demonstrate the unique value of Scouting to the world and to celebrate the achievements of 100 years of Scouting.

However, the 100th anniversary must provide a platform for the development of Scouting and not only celebrate the past 100 years. 2007 is the dawn of a new century of Scouting. We should celebrate the future of Scouting and look to how we can improve it to meet the needs of even more young people, their families and communities and offer better and bigger Scouting worldwide. We must seize this moment and prepare well in advance to share our successes and achievements.

100 years to the day, on 1 August 2007, every Scout, from every WOSM country, will mark the Centenary and look to the past, present and, most importantly, the future of Scouting.


Annual Camp 2007 – Larch Hill – The Venture Scouts Group Report
The Ventures joined the Scouts for this year’s Annual Camp in Larch Hill. After settling in on site, one venture in particular felt it was time for a change and after a trip to the local shopping centre in Nut Grove, returned with a “stylish” new image with the help of his fellow ventures! The Venture Leader wishes to disassociate herself from this ‘activity’.

Over the next few days the ventures were kept going with a variety of activities. Tuesday began with climbing on the site rock wall followed by a trip to the Zoo.

Wednesday brought us on a surprise visit to Baldonnell Air Corps Base organised by Eammon. The highlight for the ventures was handling the weapons used by the Air Corps. Next stop was the National Aquatic Centre where our ventures new found style didn’t go unnoticed by some other visitors to the pool, but you will have to ask the lads all about that!

Thursday morning started with a short hike along part of the Wicklow Way route (after we found it). Once at the top of the hill we had a fantastic view over Dublin City as far as Howth Head. We also caught a glimpse of some wildlife in the forest. It was definitely a deer Patrick. After lunch the ventures made their way to Dundrum shopping centre.

Friday morning was a shock to the system with a 6.30am wake up call to catch the Dart across the city. East Wall Water Sports Centre in Clontarf was our destination for an action packed morning. After kitting us out in wetsuits and pfd’s, our instructor, Mairead, took the lads through a recap of the basics of sailing as each of the had sailed before. With a nice breeze and some strong gusts it wasn’t long before the sailors were reminded where the ‘boom’ is located on the boat. However, they could have been distracted by the ‘pirates’ chasing them around the estuary. All the excitement just got the better of some of us, what do you reckon Ciaran? We then recovered the boats and took sit-on-top kayaks onto the water. This was a bit more extreme as not only were you capsized but your boat was stolen, cheers guys! We all thoroughly enjoyed our morning on the water.

Our last full day was Saturday. After the cinema we took a Viking Splash Tour which was hilarious thanks to our Viking guide and gave us the opportunity to scare the life out of random strangers. A great laugh was had by all. Camp ’07 came to a close with a Camp Fire back on site.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each Venture for a great week and lots of laughs. Hope to see you all in September.

Sandy.

Cub Scout Pack - Information
If there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Cubs have a Parent/Guardian call along with you to the meeting and talk to one of the Leaders. The Cub age is from 8 years to 10½ /11 years. Cubs are taking a break now for the rest of the summer until September. In September their meeting night will be on a Thursday night from seven to half eight. If you have any questions before then you can E-Mail the Cubs on cubpack@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Gearoid will get back in contact with you.

Scout Troop - Information
If there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Scouts have an adult call along with you to the meeting and talk to one of the Leaders. The Scout age is from 10½ years to 15/16 years. Scouts will be taking a break after Annual Camp, until September. Scout Meetings will still be on a Saturday night from seven to nine. If you have any questions about Scouts before we return in September you can E-Mail us at scouttroop@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Brendan will get back in contact with you.

Full Uniform
Full Uniform is Black Polished Shoes/Boots, Navy/Black Socks, Uniform Trousers, Uniform Belt, Uniform Jumper (Cubs), Uniform Shirt (Scouts), Group Neckerchief, Woggle (Plus Spare), Lanyard (Scouts), Whistle (Scouts), Badges, Group Cap, Uniform Jacket (Scouts). Any Scout or Cub in the Unit longer than six weeks should have this Uniform. Scouting Ireland is a Uniformed Organisation. The Scout and Cub Scout Uniform are available from the Outdoor Adventure Store, Mc Curtain Street, Cork. We carry some items such as Group Badge €3-50, Group Neckerchief €5-50, Woggle €1-50, and Group Baseball Cap €15-00. As well, as some other small items. Just ask the Leaders and they will help you out.


Web Site
Over the next month we hope to add some more photos from the past Annual Camp in Larch Hill, along with those from further back. Please leave us a comment and tell us what you think, if you have a picture that you would like to have added to the blog get in touch with Brendan. http://www.abbeyside.blogspot.com/ .You can keep up to date with any events down at the Scout Den as well as other pictures. We are also hoping to get our Troop Web Site up to speed with information on each of the sections and the leaders involved. http://www.abbeysidescoutgroup.com/
Check out the Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin web site on http://www.glenshelanescoutcampsite.com/ and leave us a message in the guest book tell us what you think.

Scribe.