Monday 20 October 2008

4th Waterford Unit, St Joseph's, Abbeyside Scout Group, 20th October 2008

4th Waterford

St Joseph’s

Abbeyside

Scouting Ireland

Cub Scout Pack, Scout Troop & Venture Scout Group Notes

20/10/2008

Sympathy

We extend our sympathy to the Fives Family and all their relatives and friends on the death last week of Greg. Greg did his Scouting with the 4th Waterford in the sixties. The Fives Family have long been associated with Abbeyside Scouting since its very foundation in the thirties and also in recent times when Greg and Marie’s three sons Michael, Declan and Mark all became members of the 4th Waterford.

Calendar Of Events

We have updated our Activities onto an on-line Calendar, you can see these on the Blog Spot or the Abbeyside Scout Group site.

Web Site

Keep up to date with all the happenings of the 4th Waterford through our web pages, on the blog www.abbeyside.blogspot.com and www.abbeysidescoutgroup.com, which we are currently updating. We would be only happy to hear any comments you may have. Check out our Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin to see how things are there too on www.glenshelanescoutcampsite.com E-Mails us any pictures you may have either for the paper or to put on the blog site, if you have a bebo or other page that would be a suitable link forward it on, also to scribe@abbeysidescoutgroup.com

Cub Scout Pack - News & Information

Monday Night Cub Section Meeting

The first meeting of this newly re-formed section took place last Monday night at seven o clock and was a huge success. Almost half of the cubs present on the night are new to Scouting and so a lot of time was devoted to explaining what Cubs are all about. It was pointed out that all Cubs no matter how long they are members they must have a Group Neckerchief and woggle which is to be worn to and at all activities. All Cubs must have Full and Correct Uniform no later than six weeks from the time they have joined the Cub Pack. Scouting Locally, Nationally and Internationally is a Uniformed Organisation and all of its members including the Adult Leaders must and indeed are proud to wear their Uniform, it is after all one of the things that makes Scouting different from other youth organisations! Last week the “Older Cubs” were delighted to show the new Cubs their Uniform and explained to them how they can achieve the Badges on their Uniform by attending the weekly meetings as well as the various activities during the year. Neckerchiefs may be purchased from the Leaders at the regular meetings while the Uniform itself may be purchased from the Scout Shop ‘The Outdoor Adventure Store’ in Cork or Dublin.

Monday Night Cub Section - Hike

Last Saturday morning the first outdoor activity of the section was a hike around Glenshelane woods. This hike began shortly after ten o’ clock and finished shortly after one. The very large turnout was blessed with fine weather and had a great time on the event. The Cubs soon learned the reason they were told to bring extra foot wear and clothing. Some were in need of a change as they had to ford a river and deal with some wet and muddy conditions during the hike. Some of the events during the hike which they all handled without a problem included crossing the river, climbing up steep inclines, walking through mud, finding deer antlers, visiting a haunted castle and hearing of its past, keeping out of the way of a bull. Yes indeed to say a lot was packed into a short time would be an understatement! On arrival at the Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin the last of the packed lunches were eaten before heading off back to the car park where all were to be picked up to be taken home. While on this part of the walk the Cubs learned some marching songs and could be heard singing loudly by all the parents as they approached the car park from quite a distance off. This very successful hike according to the Leaders Sandy, Muller, Joe and Kevin is only the start of things to come, so as the Scout Motto says “Be Prepared”!

Thursday Night Cub Section Meeting

Our meeting this week began with Eoghan saying the Cub Scout prayer after which all the Cubs were lined up at the end of the den so as Gearoid could tell everyone the new Clans for the rest of the year, now that we have two Cub Sections, Monday Night and ourselves on Thursday Night. This meant a few promotions within the Cub Pack so congratulations to Jordan Cliffe, Aidan Rousseau and Evan Hickey as well as the other lads who retained their positions. Gearoid gave the Cub Section a quick talk to dispel some rumours he had heard about what the other Cub Section were doing over the coming weekend and told everyone that the activities that both sections would be doing would balance each other out over the coming year. A few relay games were then played to see how the new Clan’s were getting on together and it must be said that they seem to be pretty well balanced. We were also paid a visit at this stage by our old BUDDY Brendan who had a few questions and words of advice for us. A close game of number soccer was played with everyone being well and truly tired afterwards. We then had Aidan and Conor doing their Book Reports as part of their Book Reader Merit Badge. Both boys gave an excellent account of the books they had read and answered questions from the rest of the Cub Section very well. Another relay game was then played before Gearoid gave out a notice about the Waterford Scout County Cub Hike in Portlaw Woods on November 2nd and also about the next two weekly meetings. On Sunday November 2nd 2008 the Thursday Night Cub Section will be taking part in the first of the Waterford Scout County Cub Activities, this being the Cub Hike in Portlaw Woods. Starting in Portlaw at 11am and finishing at 3pm. For the day each Cub will need to wear old clothes that you do not mind getting dirty or wet, hike boots or wellingtons or old runners for the hike, rain gear, hat/cap, warm fleece or top, packed lunch, warm drink, water to drink, a change of clothes and runners for when the hike is over. And as always, your Abbeyside Group Neckerchief must be worn. Those attending this event will need to organise their own transport. For the next two Thursday Night Meetings, 23rd and 30th will be both ‘Mufti’ Meetings. All Cubs are asked to wear clothes they do not mind getting extremely dirty or that they may even get some paint on. He also presented Sixer and Seconder Badges to Jordan, Aidan and Evan. Eoghan then said the final prayer and everyone was dismissed.

Contact

If there are any questions about the Meetings, Event, Hikes, or Activities of the Thursday Night Abbeyside Cub Scout Section then you should contact Gearoid Fraher, Thursday Night Cub Scout Section Leader.

If there are any questions about the Meetings, Event, Hikes, or Activities of the Monday Night Abbeyside Cub Scout Section then you should contact Brian Mulvihill, Monday Night Cub Scout Section Leader.

If a Cub is unable to attend any Activity, Event or Meeting, you are asked to please let the Cub Scout Section Leader know in advance, this can be done by text or phone on their mobile number. Parents are asked to ensure that their son is on time for meetings and other activities as organised by the Leaders, as late arrival delays or disrupts the running of the meetings for everyone else, thank you.

New Members

Our books are presently closed to new members. If there is anyone who may be interested in joining the Cubs have a Parent/Guardian call to one of the Cub Scout Pack Meetings and talk to Brian on Monday Night and Gearoid on Thursday Night or talk to any one of the Leaders to have their name put on a waiting list. The Cub age is from 8 years to 10½ /11 years. The Monday Night Cub Pack Meeting starts at seven and finishes at eight. The Thursday Night Cub Pack Meeting Starts at seven fifteen and finishes at eight forty five.

Scout Troop – News & Information

Saturday Scout Troop Meeting

This week our weekly meeting was taking a very different format, firstly it was from four to ten, secondly it was in Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin, and the biggest difference was that it would be a joint activity with Ferrybank Scout Troop who were staying in Glenshelane Scout Campsite & Cabin for the weekend. We arrived for four o’clock and set up the tables and checked the gas cookers to be used for cooking dinners. Roll call was quickly done and the Patrols checked to be sure they had enough food for those whom had attended. The Scout Troop then split into two groups and joined the Ferrybank Scout Troop for the building of some bridges on the site using their pioneering skills, ‘square’ and ‘sheer’ lashings were employed to make a ‘monkey bridge’ while a ‘friction bridge’ was put together also. With the light starting to fade the Abbeyside Scouts started cooking their meals and fires were light by the Ferrybank Scouts, these were used to cook rice and potatoes while the meat was cooked on the cooker in the Cabin. Some free time was enjoyed before the job of gathering timber for the Campfire was started. SPL Joe and Pl’s Kevin and Aaron got down to the business of lighting the fire with the help of Brian from Ferrybank. With the fire lighting everyone gathered to sing a few songs. Before the Campfire finished a presentation was made to Group Leader of Ferrybank Mick McGrath of a Badge for his Campfire Blanket. A few more songs and yells were blasted out before the Scouts from Abbeyside headed home. It was a day to remember. The Scouts from Abbeyside were told there would be no meeting next week due to the Bank Holiday and the next meeting was in two weeks time in the Scout Den Abbeyside and Yes it is Full Uniform. A special thanks to Ferrybank Scout Troop and their Leaders, Martina Scout Troop Leader, Mick Group Leader, Brian and Decky for their hospitality on the day. Also to all our Scouts Parents who provided transport. And our own Leaders Brendan, Claire and Gearoid for their time.

New Members

New members are always welcome so 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. Scout Meetings are on a Saturday night from seven to nine. You can E-Mail the Abbeyside Scout Troop on scouttroop@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Brendan will get in contact with you.

Venture Scout Group – Information

The Venture Scout Group are currently on a break due to other commitments by the Ventures. You can contact the Abbeyside Venture Scout Group by E-Mail on venturegroup@abbeysidescoutgroup.com and Sandy/Brian will get in contact with you.

Scribe.

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