Abbeyside Scout Unit Notes 1st October 2007

4th Waterford Unit
St Joseph’s
Abbeyside
Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop & Venture Scout Notes

01/10/2007

Annual Camp 2008 – Montseny, Spain
All Scouts and Ventures that are interested in going to Annual Camp 2008 must have a €20-00 deposit paid by this Saturday 6th October 2007 to secure their place. The total cost of this Camp will be in the region of €700-00, this is the upper end estimate and we are working on bringing that figure down. This figure includes Food, Accommodation, Activities, Transfers by Coach to and from Airports, (in Ireland and Spain), all local Transport costs, and Local Taxes etc. Each Scout/Venture will be able to also reduce this figure by participating in any of the Fund Raising Events that will be organised before Camp.

Cub Scout Pack - News & Information
The meeting this week started with Clan leader Ruari saying the Cub Scout Prayer. Then Gearoid collected subs while Brendan, Michael and Seanie made sure that everyone stayed at alert. Then to release some energy we played a game of North, South, East and West. With so many cubs on the night the leaders decided to make it a game of elimination. The last two cubs left were Clan leader Ruari and Darragh with Darragh coming out on top at the end. It was then on to another favourite relay game, the "card relay" which always proves very popular and competitive between the clans and although the Tiger clan seemed to have this won easily the decision was given to the Wolf clan on a technicality. Then Eoghan Burke did his book report as part of his book reader badge, here each cub reads a section from one of three books they have read and also give a quick overview of the other two to the cub pack and then answer any questions. Well done Eoghan. We then did some badge work in the form of ropework doing three knots, the thumb knot, reef knot and figure of eight knot. Brendan took the cubs familiar with these knots while Gearoid and Seanie took the cubs that had not done the knots before and made sure they were familiar with them. Then Brendan did some more drill work with the clans, as the leaders have to repeat themselves on an ongoing basis. The Cub Scout Pack was told how important Cub behaviour throughout the entire meeting is. The cubs were then given a notice regarding a hike in Colligan wood on Sunday October 7th. All cubs are to be at the wooden bridge at 10a.m and can be collected at 1p.m. If anyone has any questions regarding the hike or what to bring they can ask Gearoid or any of the leaders at the meeting Thursday night or else give Gearoid a ring. The meeting was then finished with Ruari saying the prayer. Cubs are reminded to return their Activity Consent Forms if they have not done so already.

New members are always welcome so 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. Their meeting night will be on a Thursday night from seven fifteen to eight forty five. 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 – News & Information
It was on Saturday Morning that we all gathered in Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin, Cappoquin, lets just say around eleven o’clock, so as not to embarrass anyone. The main function of today was to get everyone out in the fresh air and teach them some new skills and check on some skills they should have already.
When everyone had arrived it was straight down to some ropework and tying the ‘Square Lashing’ the scouts broke into smaller groups of twos and threes to practice tying the lashing, this was done very well by all. This lashing also includes the tying of two other knots, ‘Figure of Eight’ and the ‘Clove Hitch’.
The Patrols then went about collecting some wood for making a fire to cook the foods they had brought with them ‘Backwoods’ style. Once each Patrol had gathered enough wood to cook the foods it was into the Cabin where the Patrols sat around at two tables getting their foods ready. Foods like Sausages, Rashers were just covered in tin foil, while the Potatoes were scored with a knife down the centre and again across. The apples were cored and filled with dried fruit and brown sugar before being wrapped in the tin foil, the pineapple was simple also just being wrapped in the tin foil. The interesting one was the Egg, for this a small hole was made in the top of the egg before being wrapped in the tin foil. The Scouts were shown how to best wrap the foods before it for themselves. For ‘Backwoods Cooking’ the fire must be down to hot embers and the tin foil parcels are left in the embers to cook, starting with what will take longest to cook, in this case the potatoes, and so on. The eggs being the last put in as they only take a few minutes to cook.
While Joe, Kevin and Brendan looked after the cooking, Muller organised a short walk for the rest of the Scouts. So Tony, Chris, Declan, Ben, Owen, Dylan, Conor, James, Conor, Sean & Ben headed off with Muller, Gearoid and Ciaran up to the tower. On the way back down to the Glen talk went to the various wildlife that can be found around the Glen Area. When Sean found a deer antler on the ground, which was brought back to be put on display in the Cabin.
Back in the Glen the food was ready to be tried. Everyone was pleasantly surprised by what they ate and how good it all tasted, as always when cooking with fire you can often get a kind of burnt taste from some of the foods especially those left to long in the heat. Your first clue that it may taste this way is by the fact that your food may be black and burnt looking!
After eating their packed lunch a quick tidy up was done, before a few games were played. ‘Hide N’ Seek’ followed by a few games of ‘Bull Dog’. These were enjoyed by everyone. All too soon it was time to head home.

Scouts are reminded to return their Activity Consent Forms if they have not done so already. Normal 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.

Venture Scout Group – Information
The Venture Scout Section were joined this week by the Girl Guide Rangers. This Venture activity was hiking in the Comeragh Mountains. Ventures Marco Hanrahan and Cormac O’Mahony and leader Sandy along with Senior Girls Guides Gillian, Eilish and Aislinn and their leaders Jenny Power and Patti Brazel from St. Augustine’s Girl Guide troop in Abbeyside.
We all met at the den at 10am for a gear check to ensure everyone was prepared for a day on the mountain. It seemed to be a case of ‘beg, borrow or steal’ for hiking boots. After all checks were made we set off for the Mahon Falls car park. All geared up, with only a light drizzle falling, we followed the track to the base of the waterfall. With Sandy leading the way we began our climb up beside the waterfall. Over halfway up we crossed the waterfall to an easier route to ensure the safety of each climber. Visibility was poor but as we climbed we had a lovely view of the waterfall below. Once the steep climb was behind us, and the mountain levelled out we stopped beside the river for lunch. With energy levels restored and the ‘uphill’ leg of the walk guaranteed to be over we headed off again into the mist.
The mountain felt kind of eerie as we were wrapped in mist and fog. And then we saw the sheep. They looked like three floating heads coming out of the fog in front of us frightening the life out of Sandy. Fun times!
With visibility being so bad, we slightly over shot our target point but with Sandy’s mountain skills we were soon back on track and began our descent from the mountain. As we got below the mist and fog the valley all around us came into view. Tired legs resulted in a few slips and tumbles as we walked down the spur so the walking poles were shared around and thankfully everyone made it down in one piece.
Back at the cars it was off with the walking boots and into dry runners and talks of pyjamas and hot chocolate (and that was from one of the leaders!). Although the weather wasn’t favourable, everyone said they enjoyed the hike and would be interested in more hiking, a good sign after a day on the mountain.
Thanks to Jenny and the Guides for taking part in the Venture hike, hope you all had a good day.
Ventures are reminded to return their Activity Consent Forms if they have not done so already. For further information contact Sandy. You can E-Mail the Venture Group on venturegroup@abbeysidescoutgroup.com.

Travelling Scout Shop
The Travelling Scout Shop is coming to Waterford on October 13th, at Ballygunner Scout Den, Waterford City, from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm.

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.

If there is anyone who has been in the Cubs or Scouts and wishes to pass on their Uniform in part or full contact one of the Leaders. Thank You.

Last Weeks Photo’s
The ‘Scouts Undercover’ last week were, Scout far left unknown, Liam Moore, Alan Beaty, Michael Sheehan, Kieran Veale, and Joe ‘Poco’ Organ Scout Leader. This was taken in the late 1980’s, but I am not sure where it was taken.

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.

Leaders News
The Leaders will be attending Skills Training in Mount Melleray Scout Centre later this month, this is all part of their ongoing Woodbadge Training. A new directive from Scouting Ireland will see all Adults involved in Scouting Ireland undergo a new Child Protection Course.

Scribe.