Out with the old - in with the new!          New Badge

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.

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

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.

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. 

Come along and do some sponsored laps for charity.  Leaders are welcome to stay the night and 'party and walk'.  Scouts will set up their own marquee and will be providing catering (particularly for breakfast).

Andrew Brown (SL at 3rd EK is our Team Captain) - see details below.

Mr Andrew Brown -  andrewgbrown@blueyonder.co.uk 

• We are offering a Breakfast service for the other teams  (Flyers and final details still to be arranged)
• The Scout Leaders team is to organise/ run an “It’s a knockout” type of event on the Saturday.  If anyone has any ideas for games, please let him know
• Campfire – we can run this, but there is not space to put it officially on the program for the Friday night – We can decide on the night whether we should run a campfire, and can verbally invite people along (Allan Reddick – you might want to pack your camp blanket and singing stick!!)
• I have produced a quiz sheets and this has been e-mailed to all Leaders
• Sponsor sheets have also been circulated
• Donation Stations - We can collect bags of unwanted items for Cancer Research Shops, and for every bag our team collect, we are credited with £23 towards our teams Relay Total.  More info about doing this can be found at http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/relay/fundraising/donationstation/?a=0
• Andrew will be putting a letter out to the Scouts at the 3^rd next week explaining how the kids can be involved (as per below and discussions at the meeting). A copy will be sent out - should anyone else want to put out a similar letter.

Registration - one person from each Group should register.  To do so, you will need this link:-https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/team/welcome?team=49277&relay=eastkilbride

If you have any problems with this link, please copy and paste it directly into your browser.

If your team members do not have access to the internet, they can register by calling 0871 6412602 (Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm).

The registration fee per team members is £15 aged 18 or over, £10 for those aged 60 or over, and £5 for under 18s. Members pay this fee when they register online.

• Team Numbers -  We need to know more definite numbers to begin putting a rota together for actually walking around the track, once we know who will be there and when.  Can you please confirm if you will be in the team, and when you will be there.  Can you also speak to your group
• Programs - There are programs produced for the event, which are sold in advance (£1).  We have agreed to take some of these to ask Scouts, Cubs, Explorers and Beavers to sell them to raise funds
• Quiz Sheet - Quiz sheets to be sold for £1 a go.  These can be sold in advance (by kids/ by Leaders in their work etc.) and will be sold by us at the event to raise more funds towards our team's total
• Scouts/ Explorers -  it would be good for the kids to be involved.  The Scouts can join our team in walking around the track on the Friday night until 9pm, Explorers until 10pm. 
• Anyone is welcome to come along on the Saturday to take part in all the activities and stalls.  All kids are welcome to come along with their parents, but leaders will not be taking responsibility for them, with the exception of the Friday night.  
• It  it would be good to have some Scouts/ Explorers along from around 4pm on the Friday to help all the other teams to move equipment, put up tents etc.

Click for Event Programme

Click for Sponsorship/Donation Form

Click for draft 'Parents Letter'