Gosforth Explorer Scouts

Winter Camp - Hawkhirst, Kielder

 

 

 

Seven Gosforth Explorers joined forces with seven Griffon Explorers at the Winter Camp, Hawkhirst, Keilder this weekend, and enjoyed a Chinese themed experience. This  included Chinese Writing, Cooking, a New Year Banquet, Dragon making and other activities all bright if somewhat cold winter sunshine.

Newcastle Scout Network relaunch

The first meeting of the new Newcastle district network will be at the Hancock pub at 730pm Mon 16th of Jan. please could all Explorers in the Upper sixth attend as you will be able to find out about all the activities available to over 18s in Scouts including Gilwell and county camps.

More belated congratulations to..............

Callum and Sophie who combined forces with members of the Ponteland Explorer Unit to compete in the Northumberland County Challenge last July...................

 

 

 

and went on to collect the winners trophy..................Very well done!!

Congratulations also........

Leon receives his Appointment Role Certificate and his Ten Year Service Award...............Well done!

Congratulations...........

Thank you to Peter Nicol for giving out Queen's Scout and DofE Awards at Montagu Scout Centre last night. Thank you also to the contingent of current members of the Unit who attended to support and witness former Explorers who came with their families to receive their Certificates and Badges.

Joe, Ben, Will, Paul, Ben & Andrew proudly dispaly their certificates and badges

 

 

Queen's Scout, D of E Gold & Silver Certificate and Badge Presentations

Gosforth Explorer Scouts are hosting a Presentation Evening at Montagu Scout Centre on Tuesday 3rd January 2012 from 7-8pm. Former members of the Unit will be receiving recognition for the highest awards achievable within the Chief Scout Award and Duke of Edinburgh Award Schemes.

The District Commissioner for The City of Newcastle Scouts, Peter Nicol, will be presenting Queen's Scout Award Certificates and Uniform Badges to Andrew Davies, Ben Dawson, Ben Smith and Paul Lindsey. In addition, Joe Lindsey is to receive his Queen's Scout Uniform Badge. This is the highest Award in the Chief Scout Award Scheme and rewards these former members of the Gosforth Explorer Unit for their considerable achievement in attaining this prestigious award.

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Certificates and Uniform Badges are to be awarded to Andrew Davies, Ben Dawson, Ben Smith, Paul Lindsey and Will Siou.

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Certificate and Unform Badge will also be presented to Bob Drysdale.

Congratulations to each recipient for their commitment to both Awards, for their contribution to, and participation in, the activities of the Gosforth Explorer Unit. All members of the Unit both present and past, together with the Leaders of the Unit, would like to say 'Well Done' and wish them all the best for the future.

Explorers - Chinese Winter Camp - Hawkhirst Keilder

Details have just been received for an County Run Themed Explorer Section Camp to be held at Hawkhirst Camp Site, Keilder, Nortumberland over the weekend 27th/28th & 29th January 2012.

Further details to be advised shortly

 

 

 

 

Skating tonight

Skating Tues 13th Dec

Please could you bring this form along signed by parent/guardian for tomorrows skating session

Download Skating consent form

Fourstones Investiture

Gosforth Explorers welcomes five new members who were invested at Fourstones cairn tonight.

Memorial walk for Ryan

Today members of Gosforth Explorers and Central Gosforth Sea Scouts enjoyed a circular walk around Crag Lough in memory of Ryan.

Greencarts camp

Our Xmas party at Greencarts is off to a good start with a night hike along Hadrians wall and a fry up up afterwards. Tomorrow we will be going on ouremorial walk for Ryan.

Green Carts Camp and Memorial Walk for Ryan

As detailed in the previous post here are the consent forms and route for the forthcoming Camp and Walk - if you are camping you should fill in the "camp and walk" form, if you are only walking you should fill in the "walk" form and hand in to Leon, Ian or Brian.

Download Consent Camp and Walk for Ryan   Download Walk for Ryan consent

 

Download Description Explorer Scouts Walk for Ryan 

Download Route of Ryan's Walk

Ryan's Memory Book

 

Here are some notes for guidance about the Memory Book we are putting together - please bring in to our meetings anything you have ready as soon as possible. Thank you.

We are going to make 2 copies of the book – one for parents and one for us
Take a card home each to write memories of Ryan

Ø Write on blank side

Ø Write as little or as much as you wish

Ø Decorate it if you want to

Ø Personalise it in any way you want

Ø Attach a photo if you want to or use it to write a caption for a photo

If you would like to write a private or personal message use one of the small cards which has an envelope
Bring in actual photos, or digital photos on a memory stick or send to Jack at jacko_moore@hotmail.co.uk

The photos could be arranged into a timeline, also extending to include photos from Beavers/Cubs/Scouts
Decorate book with Scout colours
Add badges/ colourful captions/ Explorer logos etc
Leave space for photos from D of E Silver Award Presentation, Ryans’s Walk and sponsored event

Other ideas
Hold a sponsored event in aid of an Epilepsy Charity/charity of Ryan’s parents’ choice

Hold a memorial “Walk for Ryan” at the Christmas Barn Camp at Greencarts on 10^th December

Put up a plaque in the hut with photos and an inscription

Hold a presentation evening for his parents and family to present his Silver D of E Certificate – Explorers to volunteer to say a few words if they want to

Other commemorative ideas:

Ø Put a bench at the Scout Centre in memory of Ryan

Ø Plant a tree – Scout Centre/Dilston

Ø Adopt a red kite

December Programme

1. Tuesday 29^th November - Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Presentations, Montagu Scout Centre

2. Tuesday 6^th December – Derdia Challenge – A Meeting of Two Cultures, Montagu Scout Centre

3. Fri 9^th, Sat 10^th & Sun 11^th December - Greencarts Christmas Barn Camp, Humshaugh, N’land

We are planning to celebrate Christmas and the end of another Explorer Year with a barn camp weekend at Greencarts, Humshaugh, Northumberland. This year the plan is to stay for two nights - Friday 9^th and Saturday 10^th December - and we will be joined by Explorers from the House on the Hill Unit. The cost will be approximately £10.00 per Explorer for accommodation and food, excluding meat for Friday’s and Saturday’s BBQ which you will need to provide yourself. You will need a change of clothes, outdoor clothing for all weathers, a sleeping bag, head torch and compass, eating utensils and a clean tea towel. There is a limited amount of accommodation available so places will be allocated on a first come/ first served basis, with those who pay first having priority. Permission forms will be on the website and need to be completed and returned with your payment.

We will meet at the Scout Centre at 7pm on Friday, returning at approximately midday Sunday. We will need help from parents with transport so please let us know if you can take or bring back or both. The programme will include:-

· Camp Fire and BBQ – Friday 9^th 10pm – Midnight

· Walk for Ryan - Steel Rigg Circular - Saturday 10th December - 11am-2pm

We are organising a circular walk along Hadrian's Wall in memory of Ryan on 10th December which will also involve the Sea Scouts from All Saints, of which he was a member. If people would like to they can make a donation in aid of an epilepsy charity nominated by Ryan's parents, but we will also undertake a sponsored event early next year. We would like as many as possible to take part and would like to extend a warm welcome (depending on weather) to all friends and family who wish to participate.

4. Sunday 11^th December 2011 at 4.30pm - District Carol Service, St. Andrew’s Church, Newgate St

The annual District Christmas Carol Service will take place on Sunday 11^th December 2011 at 4.30pm in the Parish Church of St Andrews, Newgate Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. The organisers have asked each section to take in a box of small, unwrapped stocking fillers to be placed under the Christmas tree. These gifts will be passed on to needy and disadvantaged children in our own city and community. They stress that they just mean small stocking fillers as they do not wish to cause embarrassment to those who cannot provide larger gifts. Please bring your donation/gift to our meeting by Tuesday 6^th December.

They are also looking for volunteers from our unit to act as ushers etc during the service. If anyone would like to take part please let me know asap. You are asked to come in full uniform and your families and friends are welcome to join us.

5. Tuesday 13^th December 6.00 – 8.00pm, Centre for Life Christmas Ice Skate

This is our final meeting of the year and has proved to be good fun in the past. Please meet there at 6.00pm, wearing suitable warm outdoor clothing. The cost is still to be confirmed - approximately £6 for skating, extra for chips!

If you have any questions, please email Ian Morley at ian_morley46@tiscali.co.uk or ring on 0191 236 2292. or email Leon Lindsey on l.lindsey@virgin.net or telephone 0191 213 5017

Regards

Ian Morley

ESL Gosforth Explorers www.gosforthexplorers.blogs.com

 

Spaghetti Mechanics

This evening we had a session where spaghetti towers were constructed as part of a competition to see who could lift a cup of water the highest distance off the table. We've also planned our camp for Greencarts as well as Ryan's Memorial walk which will be on 10th December, details to follow.

D of E Expeditions 26-28 Oct consent form

Please bring the signed consent form with you to tonights meeting if possible or on the day of departure at the latest.  Download Consentform

Operation Twilight

When is it?

On Saturday 15th October 2011, over 350 Scouts, Explorers, Network and Leaders will participate in the biggest Scouting manhunt in Northumberland and we need to get involved!

What is it?

Back by popular demand, Operation Twilight is back, and better than ever before! In its third year, Blyth Valley & Whitley Bay Scouts present the biggest scouting manhunt in Northumberland.

Twilight is basically a massive game of hide and seek! Scouts and Explorers are in groups between 4 and 6, and are dropped off at a mystery location in the Northumberland countryside and then briefed. They’ll then be briefed on where they are, and were they need to get to. The aim of the game is to get to the base point, within a twenty minute gap during the 'Twilight Hours' without getting caught!

The catchers are made up of Scout Leaders, who also act as marshals for the event. The team who make it back to the base with the least amount of catches are the winners, simple!

As always, the location is a secret, and will be announced just before the event.

How much is it going to cost?

The cost is £5 per Scout/Explorer taking part.

Registration to participate has to be submitted by 30th September so all interested Gosforth Explorers need to let me know at the next meeting and bring their £5.00 entry fee.

Futher information can be obtained on the Operation Twilight web site:- http://www.operationtwilight.org.uk/

Consent Form Silver DofE 2nd -4th Sept

Here is the consent form for the expedition, please bring a signed copy with you - meet Fri AM outside Montagu Scout Centre 7.45 AM  Download Consentform

Dilston Camp - Friday Saturday 27th/28th May 2011

We are holding a lightweight camp at Dilston on the first weekend of the half term holiday.   We shall camp overnight on Friday 27th May, spend Saturday on an interesting and challenging activity, leaving the site at 3pm that afternoon. We will meet at Montagu Scout Hut at 6pm on the Friday.  Explorer Scouts will need to provide their own food, cooking, tents and sleeping equipment and make their own arrangements for transport to and from the site.  Please complete the permission form below and bring it, together with £3 cash as payment for overnight camp fees, to this week's meeting, 17th May, so that we can confirm numbers and book the site.

Download Dilston Camp 27th-28th May 2011 - Permission Form