2019 Term 1 Roundup and look ahead

Hi all And welcome to our 2019 first term news.  Term 1 roundup Its been a pretty exciting term 1 culminating in a brilliant Cutty Sark Regatta for the small contingent that made it up their this year. Sunday Sailing Practice Many of you made an attempt at some time during the term to attend a sailing practice, some of you on a regular basis and this showed at regattas and at Thursday evening programme events when we went sailing.  Confidence grew and many scouts who had never sailed much before this summer were helming cutters and sunbursts with skill. Founders Day Mud Slide Mud and slide should be synonymous with children of scouting age.  A short write up and a few photos are on the blog site here. Great Onepoto Raft Race 2019 This one had a fair bit of build up with Thursday evenings of lashings and practice rafts being built.  There was also an unprepared lesson on when it is good to review if it is safe to go out. A short blog with lots of pictures is available here. Land Rafts Following the raft race it was decided to try making land rafts.  The results were mixed but lots of fun.  A short video of one of the Land Rafts is on Facebook here Plimmerton Regatta (by Kate) Sunday dawned bright and very very calm… after Ciara, Lauree, Adam and Hamish and their families with Grant's help got sorted bright and early, there was a looong delay on glassy water waiting for enough wind to start the first race. After a slow first race in the very light winds, which had its real challenges for both starting and finishing, Ciara and Lauree were happy to call it a day. Adam and Hamish had a fabulous start for race 2 and sailed the now-shortened course before also retiring. No places were achieved but plenty of good experience, including how to navigate into the ramp when the wind is both light and right on the nose. Well done to the scouts for signing up for this extra regatta and taking on these challenges. A huge thanks to Grant for getting the boats and gear sorted in the morning, and all parents for their help over the day and to pack up boats and gear and get it back to the den. We hope you all enjoyed the rest of the lovely last summer afternoon after the exertions! Individual achievements Investitures This term we invested a few new scouts.  The following scouts all took the promise and received our scarf and woggle to wear with pride, whenever in the company of other scouts: Daniel Woodside Calvin Dunnett Marcus Chapman-Walsh Bronze Silver and Gold Awards Some of you scouts have completed Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards over the last term.  They are: Gabriella Clements - Bronze Max Calvert - Bronze Alfie Gater - Bronze Will Scott - Bronze The Bronze award is a requirement to attend Jamboree and the leaders will make every attempt to help scouts achieve this, but you need to be aware and motivated to achieve it to. Sandford "Young Leaders" and Cossgrove "Practical Skills" courses The Cossgrove course in March was for our group a personal triumph.  When the course opened up our scouts responded so quickly that we took nearly a third of the spaces on the course.  The following scouts have successfully achieved their Cossgrove Basic Award: Alfie Gater Max Calvert Rosie Bell Calvin Dunnett Bronson Martin Will Scott Seth McGregor Daniel Woodside Xavier Braga Ohara Mundell I will send out invites to the next Sandford course as soon as I know the dates. Chief Scout Awards Congratulations to Ellen for achieving her Cheif Scout award.  We all look forward to the presentation so that we can congratulate her in person. Well done to you all. Looking ahead Swim Sports - 18th May This is the last event in the regatta season and we should give it a go to get as much from it as we can.  The event will be at Canons Creek pool on the Saturday afternoon.  Invitations will go out soon. Scout Camp - 25 & 26th May Invitations for this have already gone out and you should know that this is going to be a short but action packed weekend. Prize giving - 5th June This year the prize giving for the years events will take place in our own den.  It would be really good if as many as possible could attend to cheer and accept any prizes we may get this year. 3rd Term planned events Hike to Atiwhakatu This was the hike that was cancelled in term 1 and it will go ahead either early in Term 3 (or if we get our act together late in term 2) Group Camp - 27 to 29th September This years theme is planned to be "Wild Wild West" and will be held at Brookfield again. Contact If you have any questions of queries, feel free to contact me on 021 0292 8345, or at derrickbell@gmail.com. Yours in scouting Derrick