A party of 40 Cubs and Leaders from the District joined 450 + Cubs from across Scotland, to celebrate the 90th

birthday of Cub Scouts. The event was held at the Scottish Scout National Activity Centre at Fordell Firs, near

Dunfermline, this year celebrated its 60th birthday. As 2006 also marks 50 years of scouting in East Kilbride it is

just one big party time for Cubs.

The hugely successful Cub 90th Big Birthday Bash, one of the biggest Scottish Scouting events in 2006, saw the 800

Cubs and Leaders camp out during the weekend and take part in a host of off and on-site activities - ranging from

Archery and Climbing to Sailing, Swimming and Canoeing.
 

Camping under canvas, 1500 activity sessions, a helicopter photographing a large 90 made from Cubs, a stunning

Opening Ceremony, Cake Cutting and huge Fancy Dress Party and lots of Inflatables. What did you do at the

weekend, was a question Cubs could hardly wait to be asked as they got off the bus on arriving home.  The answer

boring their parents, teachers and palls to death with the telling and re-telling - just likely to go on for at least the next

few weeks!'

                          For BBB Pics. - 'click the link'                 (Use your browser 'back arrow' to return) 

Nearly 100 Cubs and Leaders took part in the adventure to celebrate the 50th birthday of E.K. District.    

With ten bases to visit Cubs had a great time, finishing the day off with a camp-fire.

    For pictures of the event '- click the link'  

Over 60 Scouts and Explorers from EK and Strathaven took part in an Activity Weekend Camp at Fordell in glorious weather.  A great time was had by all as can be seen from some of the photographs.  Congratulations to Fraser Watson from the 14th EK who was presented with his Chief Scouts Gold Award, (the highest award available in the Scout Section), on Sunday morning, at the Scouts Own.

                    For photographs from the weekend 'click the link'         

The Skills Weekend went well. Saturday was sunny and very warm, but Sunday was a good bit colder but dry.  24 Cubs from 4 Packs took part visiting a range of bases and Camping out over night.  In addition to basic camping skills the Cubs worked to get their Artists Badge.

Some - could have also qualified for their 'Actors' Badge!  >

                                                                                                                                                   'Click' for event photographs    

Some 100 East Kilbride Beavers enjoyed a party marking 50 years of Scouting in East Kilbride.
 
Beavers, from all over the District had great fun at the party, which was based on a Circus theme. They enjoyed a range of events and activities - from crafts to circus skills. As can be seen from the photographs ‘face painting’ proved popular.

 

                                        Click the link for Fun Day pictures                                                            

Some 240 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Leaders and Helpers from East Kilbride took part in a day out at Loudoun Castle as part of our local Centenary Year celebrations. Cubs and Scouts then went on to camp-out on Saturday night.

                                For some more Loudoun pics. click  here     

Scouts and Leaders from East Kilbride held a week long Summer Camp under canvas at St Anne's, near Dumfries. During the week Scouts took part in many activities including climbing, abseiling, swimming, raft building, hiking and mountain biking, as well as a day out to a local Farm Park, where Border TV proved an attraction to some budding ‘News Reporters’.

For additional' pics' from the Camp click the link.

East Kilbride Scouts have returned from a successful trip to Denmark.

A group of 28 Scouts and 6 leaders set out on a 30 hour journey to join up with 20,000 other Scouts at the Blue Summer Camp.

All the Scottish Scouts arrived on the site at the same time, with many of the Danish commenting on it being like a scene from 'Braveheart' when almost 500 kilted Scottish Scouts walked onto the site.

This was the largest Scottish Contingent to travel abroad, and the Scottish scouts made up the 2^nd largest contingent of people at the camp, some way behind the 17,000 Danish Scouts!

The scouts camped out under canvas for the entire period that they were there, and had to cook all their food over open fires.  To make life a little more comfortable the Scouts constructed a dining shelter from poles, rope and a sheet of tarpaulin.

A busy schedule for the 7 days included geo caching, rice paper lanterns, a day of learning about climate change, cooking pheasant, spotting Sea Eagles, building wormeries, dissecting worms, learning about the country Bhutan, a water fight for 2000 people and woodwork.

All foreign groups where paired up with a Danish Scout group, with most of the East Kilbride Scouts being paired with Scouts from Ballerup.   A trip to Scotland by the Ballerup Senior Scouts is now being planned following the visit.  Also on the same area of the camp were a group from Herlev (Denmark) and a Swedish group

The East Kilbride Scouts showed off some Scottish Cuisine to the other groups on the site when a lunch was held to try foods from other countries.  The haggis got a mixed reaction from the other groups, but the East Kilbride scouts gave a big thumbs up to the Swedish meatballs.  For afters the East Kilbride Scouts gave out drinks of Irn Bru and a selection of Tunnocks biscuits.

Some of the Scouts managed to feature in the sites daily newspaper, and when asked about the weather in Scotland they responded “we only have two seasons, winter and July”

Spectacular shows were put on for the opening and closing ceremony.  At the closing ceremony was a popular Danish group Hej Matematik – the lead singer is better known to us in Scotland as a member of the band Aqua, the group that gave us 'Barbie Girl'

Over the last 3 years  the Group have been undertaking a revamp of the Churches walled garden.  The Group report they have now successfully transformed a small area of weeds, rubble and broken things into a fantastic area for wildlife and for the whole church community to enjoy. This was achieved in many small bursts of activity.  The Group were helped by Stuart Bence, (Explore from St Johns - Hamilton ), who assisted with plant choice and ideas.

The Rev Ian  Barcroft utilises his church areas for community wellbeing and incorporating a child and family resource, AA, and other inclusion needs. The garden will accordingly be much used and appreciated by the Church.

The Group report that of course they left a wee area for the 'troops' to practice fire lighting.  This effort has played a large part in the all the Sections Community Challenge Badges.

Scouts from the 6th East Kilbride and Bothwell recently spent a weekend at Lochearnhead Scout Station.

 

On the Saturday the Scouts hiked from Lochearnhead to Killen, and on the Sunday they tested their first aid skills with a mock incident.  Once the patient was made comfortable the Scouts then had to manoeuvre the patient on a stretcher to a suitable place for a helicopter pick up.

 

A cold but fantastic weekend was had by all.

                      

By John Anderson SL 6th EK Scouts from the 6th East Kilbride found out when they spent an evening on the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course. Whilst not an actual scuba certification; during the Discover Scuba Diving experience the Scouts learnt how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world. The evening saw everyone complete their Scout Water Sports Activity Badge. One of the Scouts to take part, Scott said 'There is nothing like breathing underwater for the very first time. It takes a little getting used to; after all, human beings weren't designed to do that - but very shortly I found it really easy.' The biggest challenge the 'Aquatron' instructors had with the Scouts was not coaxing them into the water, but coaxing them out when the course was over. 'Aquatron' are currently offering a two for one price for Scout Groups. This gives a cost of £12.50 for each Scout/Explorer and Leader and it's a great way to spend an evening. What's more, you can complete an Activity badge. For more information, visit the Aquatron website at www.aquatron.co.uk     Relay For Life is an inspirational overnight event a 24 hour walk that honours cancer survivors and celebrates life. It brings you and your town together to help beat cancer. This is a major fun event to support the work of Cancer Research UK. East Kilbride Scouts have collectively entered a team in this event and invite all Sections and Leaders to help either by turning out and walking or fund-raising to help the Scout effort.  With 'gift aid' included - Scouts raised a magnificent £2,321. Thanks to all who helped.

Ruth Stannage The extensive grounds of David Livingston Centre - Blantyre are the proposed setting for a one day activity event,  on 11th September 2010.    Each District Scout Troop are invited to run a stall/base - with a African theme.  (Ideas to Ruth).  Leaders are invited to come up with a few choices in case we all come up with the same one!!!   This is not a camp, it’s a day event for families run by Leaders, Scouts and Explorers.  Once Ruth receives your feed back she will decide if it’s a goe’r and we can start to put together an small 'event committee'   Ruth can be contacted on e-mail: stannage@blueyonder.co.uk or through the Leaders Directory.

by Christopher McCrory   Cubs from 78th Lanarkshire (3rd Blantyre) completed a day of activities on 14th November. The day started early with the whole group participating in a service of remembrance in St Joseph's church. Cubs then got changed at the hall and went out for the day.   Starting with a hike to the recently regenerated Redlees Quarry some hungry cubs were glad on arrival to have lunch!  Thereafter a day of activities beckoned and Cubs enjoyed exploring and mapping the area of the quarry. Then they started a "round robin" of activities which included 'geocaching', tree planting and fire-lighting  (no matches allowed). They then played some different wide games in the fast approaching darkness.   Several badge requirements were met throughout the day. The Cubs are also working towards the John Muir Discovery Award - which they hope to complete by Easter 2011.

by Christopher McCrory At a well attended presentation night four Cubs from the 78th Lanarkshire (3rd Blantyre) were awarded their Chief Scout Silver Award.  After a short presentation on all the Cubs had achieved the badges and certificates were presented by DC Graeme Dodds.  The four pictured are the first Cubs in the Pack to achieve this award under the new badge system.