Abbeyside Unit Scout Notes 20th August 2007

4th Waterford Unit
St Joseph’s
Abbeyside
Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop & Venture Scout Notes

20/08/2007

Annual Camp 2008 – Spain
Ola! Yes it is true we are getting ready for Annual Camp 2008 and after a Leaders Meeting last Thursday Night where everyone talked at length it was decided that Spain was going to be our destination. There will be a Parents meeting on the 14th of September and all parents are asked to attend. As is the case always when Abbeyside have Camped outside of Ireland only those Scouts who have Camped in Ireland are eligible to attend this Camp. More details as we go throughout the year. We will be travelling with JEKA as we did to Switzerland. There will be a rep from Jeka at the parents meeting on the 14th September. Also as has been the practice in the past we will be doing a few fundraisers to enable Scouts to bring down the cost of their Camp.

Annual Camp 2007 – Larch Hill

Continued from last week

Wednesday – it was up early this morning for flag up, after breakfast it was into full uniform for our visit to the Air Corps Base at Baldonnell just outside Tallaght. Here the Scouts, Ventures and Leaders were given a guided tour of the base. The Group was first shown the variety of weapons used by the Irish Armed Forces, everything from the James Bond ‘Walter PPK’ handgun to Rocket Propelled Grenade. Along the tour route the Group were shown helicopters, including the Garda ‘Squirrel’, the Allouette 3, and the newer Helicopters. Other aircraft seen were the new training airplane, PC9, where the Pilot in training sits in the front seat and their instructor sits in the second seat, there is a vast display system which includes video of the Pilot and his actions during flight for assessment later. We also got a chance to see up close the Government ‘Gulf Stream’ jet and the Government ‘Lear’ jet, which fly from the base.
It is rumoured that some of the Group were given sweets from Bertie’s private stash, only rumoured I may add, sources close to those Scouts will not confirm if this is true or not.
We then paid a visit to the new Air Corps museum, where a history of the Irish Air Corps can be viewed. It was then time for something to eat, the Group were lead to the mess hall where everyone was feed. There was just time for a group photo, where Eamonn made a presentation of Ring Crystal with an engraving of an Irish Air Corps plane in flight, to Sgt Hugh who guided us around the base. This plate is to be put in the Air Corps museum along with an Abbeyside neckerchief as a memento of our visit.
Back on the bus and Frank our driver for the day, who was ex Air Corps, drove to the National Aquatic Centre, where everyone went for a swim, and used many of the fun slides and other activities available.
It was then all the way back to Larch Hill, one from each Patrol went with Brendan to get Pizzas for the rest. The trip back took a bit longer than planned, Jack wanted to stop and eat the Pizzas as the smell of them was making him even more hungry, but thanks to Joes great amp reading and navigation skills Brendan was able to get on the right road back to the site.
After eating everyone said their goodbyes to Ben, who was feeling unwell. He was meeting up with his mother in Naas, Brendan and Gearoid brought him there.
Kieran and David organised a Campfire, which was greatly enjoyed by both our own Scouts and Ventures and Cubs from Rush, and some Scouts from Germany.
Everyone welcomed bed, after such a very busy day.

Thursday – Today was to be a lot more relaxed but still full of activities. The Scouts were on the Indoor Climbing Wall, while the Ventures went on a Hike. In the Afternoon there was to be Visitors so the Scouts were on site. The Venture Scout headed to Dundrum Shopping Centre for some retail therapy.
The Scouts played games before getting stuck into some knots. Everyone revised their ‘Reef Knot’, ‘Figure Of Eight’ ‘Thumb Knot’, ‘Bowline’, ‘Sheet Bend’ and ‘Clove Hitch’. This was all done in good time and in between some rain showers, before moving on to some lashings, and a bit of Pioneering. The scouts made a new Flag Pole for the site.
Archery was on the cards for six thirty and everyone got to test out if they would have made a good Robin Hood or not.
Dinner was cooked and all to soon the day had slipped away and night had fallen on the Campsite.

Friday – the Venture Scouts were up early today as Sandy had Sailing and Kayaking organise for them in Clondalkin. It was off to catch the Dart, which required a car trip to the station. Rhys wanted to know why we were up so early as the traffic was not to busy, that all changed when we hit the M50 south bound where the traffic was bumper to bumper and not going anywhere near the 100km/hr allowed on this section. Once at the Dart station Sandy and Ciaran lead the Venture Scouts to the train and on to the Adventure Centre where the Ventures had a great time but for some reason some of them ended up swimming a lot more than they should do when sailing, it appears there were Pirates on the seas also……….
Back on site and the Scouts rose at a somewhat more reasonable hour of eight, reasonable to some. It was into Dundrum where the Scouts would be given time to do shopping. But before that it was to the Cinema to see the ‘Simpson’s Movie’, there are unconfirmed reports that someone could be heard snoring during this fun packed film. When everyone had done there shopping, it was time to catch the bus back to Larch Hill where dinner would be cooked.

More next week

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 until the start of 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 are taking a break after Annual Camp, until the start of 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.

Well Done
Congratulations and well done to St Paul’s Scout Troop, Waterford who won the National Phoenix Challenge. This National competition covers all aspects of Scouting at the highest standard. Well done to Pat O’Connor Scout Leader and all involved.

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
We have added some more photos from the past Annual Camp in Larch Hill, and will add in time some of the Patrol Log Book extracts along with photo’s 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. 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. www.abbeysidescoutgroup.com
Check out the Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin web site on www.glenshelanescoutcampsite.com and leave us a message in the guest book, tell us what you think.

Scribe.