Welcome back!

With the Spring Bank break out of the way we enter the summer part of our Scouting programme. Typically a period where we try to get out and about as much as possible. We also have a number of events where we’re a partner, supporter or organiser – in many cases, we will only succeed with your support. If you’ve ever thought you might be able to support the group but haven’t followed up on it, now would be a fabulous time to do so; we don’t need a weekly commitment, but we do need more adults involved so we can continue to provide fabulous and exciting opportunities to the young people.

The week ahead (3rd June 2019 onwards)

Group (All sections)

Penistone Gala and Mayor’s Parade

We partner with Penistone Round Table, Penistone Ladies Circle with support from Penistone Town Council to organise and run the three-day event that makes up Penistone Gala and Mayor’s Parade. As usual, we will be running a refreshment stand over the weekend. Hot and cold snacks will be available to purchase, along with a selection of cakes and sweet treats. The homemade variety always sells so much better than shop bought produce – we welcome baked contributions to be sold both Saturday and Sunday. To keep things fresh, if you could please drop off any donations directly to the stall on either Saturday or Sunday we would be very grateful. We do ask that you please label any cake carriers or boxes for easy return!

Thank you to those who have already volunteered to bake and/or help out with the logistics, set-up, running of the stand and gates over the weekend. If you can spare a couple of hours to help out, please drop Shauna an email to let her know here. Sunday is where we’ll specifically need more support between 10 am and 5 pm. Shauna will be in direct contact with people regarding the rota for the weekend.

In case you’ve missed the line up for the weekend:

Friday

Comedy in a tent: £12pp in advance only (Tickets)

Saturday

Jack & Paul’s Fun Run: £6.50pp (Tickets)
Music Festival: Pay what you want (Midday to 17:30)
Penistone Rocks: £6 in advance, £8 on the gate (Tickets)

Sunday

Mayor’s Parade: FREE (Noon on the High Street)
Gala: £3 per adult after the parade (Tickets)

Group Camp

Our group camp is booked in for the weekend of 12-14th July. This year, we’re heading just outside Yorkshire to Walesby Scout Campsite. Friday will be focused on setting up and some simple activities. Saturday, our main event day will incorporate a number of site-based activities; however, rather than try to pack in masses to a short period of time, we’re going to focus on fewer activities and more social elements – the young people love challenges, but they also love getting to just spend time with one another. Sunday afternoon includes a picnic – we’d like to invite parents and family to attend this. Whilst you eat, we’ll host the group’s Annual General Meeting (20 mins ish) and then enjoy some sports day style challenges before heading home.

Either this week or the week after the Gala, an email will go out via the Online Scout Manager system offering places to book for this camp. Given that it’s six weeks away, we’ll be looking to process the majority of our camp related paperwork and monies electronically. We will also be quite firm on deadlines; the team are all volunteers and for a sizeable event, the last thing we need to focus on in the ten days prior to the camp is chasing monies and/or paperwork. In addition, due to the size of our group, we will need the support of non-leaders to make the camp a success. Many of you will have received an email from Shauna regarding this. If you can help out on one of the days, we’d love to hear from you, please.

Beavers

Section meetings

Castors  – will be meeting at St John’s Church in Penistone at 18:15. We will be doing some work in the grounds as part of our badge work to help in the community. Please come in outer clothing appropriate to the weather. We will then go into the church at about 19:15 when we will be investing our new members as Beavers. Please be in uniform, with a necker. If your child joined us just after Easter then we will be investing them, you are welcome to come along to see them make their promise and take photos if you so wish. Please arrive at 19:15 for when we go in.

Boomers  – will be meeting at St John’s Church in Penistone at 18:30. We will be doing some work in the grounds as part of our badge work to help in the community. Please come in outer clothing appropriate to the weather. We will then return to the Scout Hut at about 19:30 when we will be investing our new members as Beavers. Please be in uniform, with a necker. If your child joined us just after Easter then we will be investing them, you are welcome to come along to see them make their promise and take photos if you so wish.

Millstones – will be meeting at Thurlstone School where we’ll be having a visit from Rob the Fireman.

Future Beaver events

None to highlight at this time

Cubs

Section meetings

Alegre – will be meeting at their usual times, in their usual place. The plan is for them to get themselves tied up in knots!

Bella Vista – will be meeting at their usual times, in their usual place. The plan is for them to get themselves tied up in knots!

Raptors – will also be pioneering, but outside. As such we will meet at St.Saviours church in Thurlstone, at 6:30, and walk to the open space land at the back of the church. It’s essential you provide your cub with suitable clothing for the weather and an opportunity to have a drink. PLEASE ensure your cub uses your toilet before coming to us as we will have no facilities.

If any parents wish to stay and help. please email me your section leader to indicate your interest.

Future Cub events

Sailing – Bella Vista and Raptors, as per Shauna’s email last week, all outstanding monies are overdue and the consents need returning to either Shauna or Rob in advance of the evening. Alegre, your turn will be towards the end of the month (24th June) – details to be shared soon.

Crocky Trail – All three Cub packs have the opportunity to book a place to take part on the Crocky Trail day-trip on the 23rd June. Details were recently shared via OSM; we’ll have them on the website shortly.

Scouts

Section meetings

Enigma – will be at Winscar Reservoir this week with the Pennine Sailing Club for an evening learning how to sail. Please see the dedicated event page here and don’t forget your completed consents and any outstanding payments to be made by BACS today, please.

Wibbles – will be going to Langsett for a walk. If this changes, we will email to advise.

Viernes – please look out for an email later this week with any specifics you might need to be aware of.

Future Scout events

Brunts Barn – The expedition is less than two weeks away. If your young person is one of the nine scouts on this trip can you please check your inbox and complete the actions and return any outstanding monies this week. Also, note the date of the planning meeting contained in the event briefing pack.

Alton Towers – The second instalment (£30) is now due. Shauna emailed earlier this week with a reminder of the correct bank to please make payments to. If you missed out booking a place, there is a chance of adding a couple more places, if you are interested please check out the event here and contact Shauna

Explorers

Section meetings

Explorers will be at Hesley wood trying raft building and other water activities.

Future Explorer events

Armed Forces Day – Shauna is looking for volunteers from Scorpions to help and assist in the upcoming Armed Forces Day please keep an eye out for an email this week containing details.

Previously:

Wheeee!

Boomers and Castors took advantage of the good weather and walked from the Scout hut to Oxspring Park where we enjoyed the amenities until collected.

Sports evening!

Cubs from all three packs met at the Scout Hut before making their way to Waterton Park for an evening of “Sports Day” style challenges.

Painting

Enigma Scouts finished off painting the models from the two weeks at Games Workshop followed by cooking something tasty for supper on fires.

Mental Health

Our cub packs looked at mental health, what it means, how we can help one another as well as ourselves. Raptors also did a combination of fire safety, cooking on fires, mental health and wellbeing for the themed mental health awareness week.

Jamboree Quiz night

Contingent members from our group held a Quiz night with curry at the Scout Hut. A great time was had by all and monies raised will make all the difference. Thank you to everyone who took part.

Random snacks

Explorers enjoyed a feast when Nigel brought in some maggots and crickets to sample with some mixed reviews as you can imagine!

Youth-Led

Wibbles headed off to the park for some wide games and a troop game of rounders. Well done to the new patrol leaders who ran the evening and thanks to Sharon for supporting them all too.

School of rock

Friday scouts brought instruments and held their own School of Rock evening. Pictures are expected soon!

Bug hotels

Beavers built bug hotels and then looked around for mini-beasts in the scout hut grounds. We found spiders, ladybirds, worms and a millipede. They took them home to put in their garden to see what moves in.

And finally:

Our CentrePoint big sleepout page will close in the next few days. We are delighted that the young people raised nearly £1400 (plus gift aid) for the youth homeless charity. A superb achievement. A massive well done to all involved.