Friday, 26 August 2011

Photo competition categories are up

Hello all,

Tonight was a roaring success - huge thanks to Ross and Rachel for testing the kids' ingenuity while I spent some quality time with Windows.

The photo competition categories are up on our Picasa website.  Please have a browse through each album, there are terrific photos to be seen!

https://picasaweb.google.com/ngatitoa.seascouts/PhotoCompetition2011Landscape
https://picasaweb.google.com/ngatitoa.seascouts/PhotoCompetition2011Sport
https://picasaweb.google.com/ngatitoa.seascouts/PhotoCompetition2011Creative
https://picasaweb.google.com/ngatitoa.seascouts/PhotoCompetition2011PeopleAndAnimals

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A reminder that next week is the fabled NTSS MasterChef event.  Start time is 6:30pm, not 7, and the menu will be top-secret until then.  We will, however, ask for parents to bring in electric fry pans and mixers.  Another email will go out early next week.

R

Monday, 15 August 2011

Photo competition information

Hi all,

This week we are going to give you a bit more guidance to composing and making photographs, so please bring your cameras.

The categories for next week's competition are as follows:
  • People/Animals
  • Landscape
  • Sports
  • Creative

The requirements are as follows:
  • Each scout must submit at least one photograph to the competition.  You can enter more than one if you like, but everyone has to contribute at least one.
  • This is a photography competition, not a Photoshop competition.  Just the photos, please; excessive digital manipulation will not score extra points.
  • We will be viewing the photos on-screen, so I need photos to be provided on a memory stick or USB stick.

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And just to prove that "Be Prepared" can mean "Come Out Alive," here is a link to a story about a 12-year-old Scout in Utah who got separated from his troop and spent the night under a lean-to he built.  The temperature got down to 31 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just a bit below zero.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/13/jared-ropelato-boy-scout-utah_n_926335.html

R

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Key dates updated on the website

Hello all,

I have updated the page on our website that describes major events and activities that involve our troop.  Please have a look at it when you get a chance:
http://ngatitoaseascouts.blogspot.com/p/key-dates.html

Cheers,
R

Monday, 8 August 2011

Opening notes and spring cleaning this Sunday

Hello all,

We had a fantastic start to the term last night with the kids going through a number of fun teambuilding activities indoors and out.  The watches have been thoroughly shuffled plus we have six new kids moving up from Cubs which meant that it was the perfect time to help the new watches bond.

Congratulations to Nicky, Jessica and Will for coming up to assistant coxswain roles.
And congratulations to Dain, Liam and Rowan for moving up to become coxswains. 

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We will be running a Photo Competition in week 4, as part of the work needed for their Photography badge.  We will be giving the kids some basic lessons in colour, composition, lighting and other useful skills over the next couple of weeks leading up to the competition.  So we will be expecting each Scout to submit one or more photos electronically by the closing date.  If you do not own or have access to a digital camera, please let me know so that we can make some arrangements.

Cheers,
Randall

Thursday, 4 August 2011

ready for first night of term

Hello all,

I hope everyone's looking forward to tonight - we are going to hit the ground running.

Just a reminder that in Terms 2 and 3 we start at 7pm unless notified otherwise, and we go until 9pm.

Please bring a warm jacket each evening as many of our activities may have an outdoor component. Please do not suffer for the sake of fashion.

Also, please bring a working torch with your name on it.  Again, we will likely spend some time outdoors and a torch will be very handy.

Cheers,
R

Monday, 1 August 2011

Back on board for Term 3

Hello all,

Trusting everyone had a good break (never long enough in my opinion) we are back at it this coming Thursday evening, starting at 7pm.

It's a full-on programme this term, with field trips, new activities, new watches, and a couple of new cutters to play with.

More information will be popping out over the next few days, so check your email and/or the website often.

See you then!

Randall