clyde connections 10

www.clydescouts.org.uk

Clyde ConnectionsSeptember 2011

Clyde Regional Scout Council21 Elmbank StreetGlasgow G2 4PB


0845 094 4391

Auchengillan Outdoor Centre Blanefield Glasgow G63 9BA

www.auchengillan.com

01360 770256

The Glasgow Scout Shop21 Elmbank Street GlasgowG2 4PB www.glasgowscoutshop.com

0141 248 5941

Avondyke Training Centre100 Sidehead RoadStonehouseML9 3PD

www.clydescouts.org.uk/avondyke

Contact us:

Clyde Connections is the official newsletter of Clyde Regional Scout Council, Registered Scottish Charity SC010415

Our Jamboree adventure!

With only a few weeks to go before departure, the Clyde Jamboree Unit made final preparations for their once in a lifetime trip to Denmark, Sweden and Holland. Our final get together was with all of the Scottish Jamboree Units at Meggernie in Perthshire, where teambuilding and a ceilidh for 300 took place. This was a perfect final event for everyone, especially for the young people as for many, this may have been the biggest camp they had been to before the Jamboree.

After a sleepless night and an extremely busy Facebook page, the Clyde Jamboree Unit congregated at Glasgow Airport on Monday 25th July for the first leg of their Jamboree Experience. It was now 619 days since the unit was selected and it was time to put all of their newly learned skills and talents to the test. Copenhagen here we come!!!

After a couple of in flight nuptial announcements thanks to a few brave members of the unit, we were welcomed at Copenhagen airport by a sea of blue and yellow bags dancing around the luggage carousel, with a hint of orange and black indicating the Contingent Support Team who were directing us towards our transport.

We were able to get straight to our hostel and go out for something to eat. The spirit of the young people and the atmosphere in Copenhagen was immense - almost 4,500 Scouts & Guides in the one place for one big party; brilliant. Everyone was raring to go. The next morning was an early start for us as we made our way to the port for our ‘boat trip.’ The inverted commas say it all - it was a speed boat trip, and not a pleasure cruise as we had first thought. Everyone had a great time and there was a lot of windswept looks when we were back on dry land. From there, it was onto Tivoli Gardens Theme Park which was also well received. It was then a quick change into kilts for the much anticipated UK Contingent Party. Of course, the Scots can’t just make a normal, quiet entrance. We marched on mass to the party venue, lead by pipers and drummers from all over the country. We certainly turned a few hundred heads upon our arrival. It was then time for a quick bite to eat before the party started. The night was filled with music from the Copenhagen Drummers, Kings ov Leon and Alphabeat. The whole unit had an absolute ball and this was a great way to start their Jamboree experience.

Clyde Connections April 2011

The spirit and enthusiasm the next morning was heightened, as we packed our bags, boarded the buses and made our way across the Øresund Bridge into Sweden.

We were met at the bus terminal by a patrol of Swedish Scouts singing and helping us with our bags. A quick carton of juice and piece of fruit later and it was time to lug all the kit to our site, about 1.5km away in Summer town.

With the site set, it was time for the unit to explore their home for the next twelve days; well at least some of it!!!

We got slightly drowned en route to the opening ceremony, but once there, the young people were completely bowled over by the number of people - at this point, they realised how vast and immense the Jamboree was.

After watching BMX stunt riders, a variety of Swedish singers and our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, abseiling on stage, we headed back to the subcamp.

Earth was our first module, with People and Dream the following day. People was the first of the modular

activities that the unit took part in. This base aimed to highlight the importance of the people around you and their respective cultures and religions.

That evening, three out of the four patrols in the unit were sent to different countries for dinner, whilst at the Clyde Unit site, we hosted Belgium, Japan and The Netherlands. We also had the pleasure of hosting Switzerland, who we were not expecting, so two dashes to the supermarket later and everyone was fed.

Dream was the second modular activity that the unit took part in, and this was done between 11pm and 2am. This proved very thought provoking for many members of the unit, as they walked through the forests surrounding the Jamboree site, taking part in an array of activities from death through life.

A well deserved long lie followed Dream, as one patrol was the very last to exit the forest at 02.30!!!

This gave the unit members, the opportunity to walk around the site and see as much as they could, including the main square and international food houses.

Shortly after dinner, we were very lucky to be invited to lower the flags that line the main thoroughfare of the Jamboree site. This is done by a different subcamp each day, and we were lucky enough to be chosen to lower 20 of the 160 or so flags.

Once neatly folded and put back in their box, it was free time once again.

The following day, Quest was the modular activity, where there were a variety of team games and individual games that the unit could take part in.

Once back from that, unit member Blair Webster was invited to pipe at the Heads of Contingents Party in the UK Food House. If that was not enough, he was then drafted in to pipe the unit along to the Central Scotland Unit ceilidh at the other end of the site!

Time for a bit of time apart - Camp in Camp. This gave patrols the opportunity to get away from the rest of the Unit and sample what a Swedish Summer Camp is like and how it differs from what we are used to in the UK. It also gave the patrols and leaders time to relax and chill for 24 hours, away from the hustle and bustle of the Jamboree site, where it is never quiet!


All of the four experiences were varied. One patrol feasted on pickled herring; one patrol camped with a Will Ferrell lookalike and another patrol danced around a Christmas tree singing traditional Swedish festive tunes - bizarre but all had a brilliant time.

The unit was reunited after Camp in Camp feeling refreshed and raring to go again.

Cultural Day was the next landmark event, where each country was tasked with showcasing their native food, music and entertainment for their neighbours to sample. Of course, being Scottish, haggis, neeps, tatties, shortbread and Irn Bru were on our menu!!! Each patrol had also invited their hosts from Camp in Camp to come and sample some Scottish cuisine.

Cultural Day was also designated as the Scottish Chief Commissioner handover from Eleanor Lyall to Graham Haddock. Glorious weather, a captive audience of 400 and the sound of the Scottish Units Pipe Band made for a wonderful and well received occasion.

After the last module, Global Development Village, it was time for a final glance round the Jamboree

site and it was time to strike camp, say our final farewells and head to the closing ceremony.

Unit member Blair Webster’s talents were called upon again for the closing ceremony. He was tasked with playing a short piece on top of one of four towers surrounding the main stage. After this, we settled down for what looked like and proved to be an even damper ceremony than the opening one.

Absolutely drenched, the unit members put this to the back of their minds and bounced along to Europe, singing their signature song The Final Countdown.

With farewells said, it was a damp trudge to the awaiting buses to take us 300km (4 hour journey in wet kilts!!) north to Linköping airport. Most of the passengers on board the bus had fallen asleep before the bus had even left the Jamboree site!!!

We arrived at what appeared to be a residential street with a KLM aeroplane on it, so we presumed that this was the airport. Check in and Security was done by no more than three people and a set of Everest Patio doors led us to the plane. Again, once on board, it didn’t take long for certain members of the unit to fall asleep.

We arrived at Amsterdam Schipol airport, where we once again took our luggage and boarded a bus.

This time it took us to a local campsite where our Home Hospitality hosts would be picking

the unit members up from. There were both tears and smiles at this point. 36 very different experiences were about to unfold.

From milking cows, to trips to the Hague, to speed boats and Range Rovers - each and every member of the Clyde Jamboree Unit had a wonderful and memorable Home Hospitality experience. They will never forget their time in Holland with their host families and they will stay in touch for a long time to come and will hopefully return the favour in hosting the Dutch families at some point in the future.

Over the past 18 months, the unit leadership team have had the privilege of working with the 36 young people that make up the Clyde Jamboree Unit for the 22nd World Scout Jamboree. I would put emphasis on the word privilege.

A camp such as a World Scout Jamboree can only be experienced once as a young person and it has been an honour to have been able to offer this opportunity.

There are only so many videos and pictures that you can show young people to try and get them appreciating how big a World Jamboree is, and it is only once you get there, can the full extent of the scale be appreciated. Ten, twenty, thirty years down the line, the the young people will look back on their time in Denmark, Sweden and Holland very fondly and smile.

Fun, friendship, memories.

Gordon Jack.


We hope that you had a great summer holiday and for those lucky enough to get to summer camp, hope you managed to choose some of the few sunny days we had! We had groups from many parts of Scotland, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, England and even a few from Clyde Region who recognised that they can get everything they want on their own doorstep! We’ve also got an American student with us doing an Internship until October, so come and say ‘Hi’ to Mary from Michigan!

New developments

Work is almost complete on the new store at the climbing tower, which will make it easier to run the sessions down there and keep all climbing related activity in one place.

The Allander Chalet is undergoing a repaint outside so our flagship building will be clean and fresh again.

Repairs to the main driveway will be completed by the time you get this, so no more pot holes up to the car park and as far as Auchenberg House!

Projects in the pipeline include electric hook ups to a few selected campsites, additional potwashes at Kiwi Hollow and Happy Valley toilets, additional altar fires and water boilers, which should all be starting once the tower store and improved games/day room are finished.

Anybody with joinery, painting or building skills on offer will be gratefully received!

Upcoming Events

• Campsie Challenge 23rd -25th September

• AJ13 27th July – 3rd August 2013– seems a long way off, but at least you’re getting plenty of notice!

Project Scotland

We are hoping to get the go ahead for another placement starting in January 2012 through until November 2012, so if training to become an outdoor instructor is something that appeals to you and you are between the ages of 18-25, please get in touch for more details.

Applicants will be expected to live and work at Auchengillan, have a keen interest and involvement in ‘the outdoors’, will get an opportunity to gain loads of qualifications in outdoor activities, develop skills in a wide range of interests, will be given free food and accommodation, meet lots of new people, have great fun and will even get some pocket money!

Calling teachers, trainers, youth workers

Auchengillan can offer a whole range of opportunities midweek for school residentials, corporate training (courses in Assertiveness, Goal setting, Confidence Building, Motivation, Stress Management to name a few) and team building/challenges with youth and community groups. All trainers and instructors are fully qualified. Catering can also be provided from buffets to three course meals. If you are connected with any of these organisations or can put in a good word for us & pass on our details?

Resources for Beaver leaders

Did you know just how many of the activities and facilities at Auchengillan can count towards Beaver Badges? See our website ‘Documents’ section for details of the new ‘Badges for Beavers’ booklet that can be downloaded free of charge.

Building availability

We have the following vacancies in the buildings:

• Allander Chalet 14th – 16th, 21st – 23rd October; 11th – 13th November; 16th – 18th December

• Kyle Cabin 25th – 27th November; 9th – 11th, 16th – 18th December

• Providore 23rd -25th September; 14th – 16th, 21st – 23rd October; 4th – 6th, 11th – 13th November; 9th – 11th, 16th – 18th December

There are vacancies throughout January, February and March in all buildings – please contact the Centre.

Don’t know how to get started or need help in booking?

Please get in touch by email – [email protected] ……. Phone 01360 770256 ……..

Or come out and see us and we will steer you in the right direction and design a programme to match your requirements exactly.

Don’t forget booking forms, self supervised activity sheets, risk assessments and all forms can be downloaded from our website at www.auchengillan.com

Andy Wilson. Centre Manager.


Ron Alexander, our Regional Adviser for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gives us his regular update on the Award.

Just a reminder that for DofE expeditions at Bronze, Silver or Gold, you require an Accredited Assessor.

That is a person holding a DofE certificate for the correct level.

All expeditions in Wild Country require Green forms to be submitted to the Panel Co-ordinator, at least four weeks in advance for unaccompanied practice (no assessor required), or final if you have your own Assessor. This is at least six weeks if you require an Assessor from the panel and a charge will be levied.

Copies of your Green Form should come to me, with the panel reference number. Without this the expedition will be void.

The Expedition season runs during the British Summer time period. The Award Manager needs to approve any expedition out with this period, owing to the short days and weather.

Completed Awards should be sent to me if using the book system. If you are on eDofE I will see them on line.

For Bronze and Silver, I will issue certificates and pin badges. For Gold I will process it and send it on to the Award Manager who then sends it on to the DofE Office.

The summer has been very quiet for me with all the camps etc. but I expect a lot of completed awards soon.

It would be helpful if people holding Accredited Assessor certificates for expeditions could let me know. I have some but I am sure there are others I don’t have.

Preparations are already underway for the fourth Auchengillan International Jamboree, AJ13, that will take place from 27th July until 3rd August 2013. The event is open to Scouts and Explorer Scouts between the ages of 11 and 18 years, together with members of Girlguiding within the same age range. We hope to attract significant interest from overseas participants and hence bring a truly international experience to the young people of Clyde Region.

The cost of the event cannot be finally confirmed until September 2012, given the current economic climate, but it has been agreed that the fee for youth members will not exceed £175, to include all camp fees and activities. The fee for Leaders will not exceed £125 and any accompanying children will be charged no more than £85. Groups will camp at Auchengillan throughout the week, using their own equipment, and will be self-catering.

We intend offering a wide range of activities and evening entertainment, including water activities, day trips, climbing, crafts, hillwalking, IT, discos, a ceilidh and an international campfire, to name but a few. There will also be a number of more challenging activities open only to the 14+ age range.

To run an event on the scale of AJ13, we also require a large staff team. If you will be over 18 years of age by the start of the Jamboree, then you are invited to apply to join the staff. There are many departments with roles to fill, including activities, administration, campsite and catering.

Booking forms and staff application forms will be available for download from the Clyde Region website, by January 2012. In the meantime, however, you are invited to put the dates in your diary and register an interest for the camp, without obligation, by emailing [email protected] . We will then ensure that you receive all updates about AJ13. The Regional website already contains some information and updates will also appear there – so please keep an eye on the AJ13 page at www.clydescouts.org.uk/aj13 .

I look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to the Auchengillan International Jamboree in 2013, for what promises to be a memorable week of fun and international friendship.

Gillian Caldwell. Camp Chief.


Glasgow Gang Show 2011

The 75th Anniversary Glasgow Gang Show takes to the stage at The Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow from November 18th - 25th.

Always bright, colourful and full of fun and comedy Glasgow Gang Show is a much-loved institution.

Performed by nearly 100 young people from Scouting and Girlguiding, words can’t fully explain the everlasting appeal of Gang Show, so come along and be part of the experience. There’s no show like the Gang Show!

Glasgow Gang Show is an ideal night out for all sections or for your family and tickets start from £7. For more information visit www.clydescouts.org.uk/gangshow

Pandemonium

Not yet booked your places for what will be the best Explorer Scout Camp of 2011? Don’t worry! Just visit http://clyd.de/pand for full details.

Safeguarding Training

All adults in Scouting who are coming up for their 5 year review are required to complete Safeguarding Awareness Training as part of their review. Courses are on offer in all Districts during the year and you can attend a course in any District.

If you can’t make it along to one of the courses, you can also complete the training online at a cost of £5.

For details of courses during 2011/12 visit http://clyd.de/diary and for details about the online safeguarding training visit http://clyd.de/nspcc

Training Courses

Full details of all training courses being offered by Clyde Region during 2011/12 are now available online at http://clyd.de/diary

Annual Review

The 2011 Annual Review & Presentation of Awards will take place on Monday 7 November in The Banqueting Hall of the City Chambers. Our guest speaker this year will be the new Chief Commissioner of Scotland, Graham Haddock.

More information is available online at clydescouts.org.uk and will be posted to Scout Leaders and Explorer Scout Leaders shortly.

clyd.de

Clyde Regional Scout Council operate the web address (URL) shortening service clyd.de.

The shorter URL is designed to make longer web addresses more memorable and presentable. With things like Twitter and text messaging, it makes best use of the characters available.

You will find clyd.de web addresses used in various places, including this newsletter.

AGM

Clyde Region’s AGM will take place on Wednesday 14 September, at 7.30pm in Community Central Halls, Maryhill.

Blair Atholl

Information about selection for the 2012 Blair Atholl Patrol Jamborette will shortly be sent out to all Scout Leaders & Explorer Scout Leaders. Those over 18 who wish to apply for staff can access the online application form at www.jamborette.org.uk

What’s coming up?

The Regional Commissioner...

Welcome back to another session of Scouting. For many, the summer was not so much a holiday from Scouting but a change of scene. In this edition you can share in the Jamboree adventure that was enjoyed by the Clyde Unit who attended the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. Here they

shared a campsite with 40,000 other Scouts from around the world, a community with a population not far short of that living in Coatbridge.

The Regional team is a resource that is here to help you deliver ‘better Scouting to more young people.’ Whether it is growing & developing your section or Group, advice on a young person with special needs, training towards your Woodbadge, going abroad for the first time or simply communicating to others what you do in your local community, we are here to help. You can access advice and practical support by emailing the Regional

Team member directly. Just visit http://clyd.de/team for everyone’s contact details or call the Regional Office 0845 094 4391.

Scouting is built on change, moving forward & trying new things. In the coming year I will be asking other members of the Regional Team to write short pieces for Clyde Connections, to give you some ideas on how they can help, or on issues you may be interested in. Clyde Connections is your newsletter as well, so let us know if there is anything you would like to see in it or if there is anything you want to tell others about, a new idea you have tried successfully, just get in touch.

The new session brings a fresh start, new challenges & tremendous opportunities for everyone. In case the young people forget to say it, ‘thank you’ for giving them your time and making a difference!


Development Update...Our Local Development Officer, Marie Clare joined us in August 2010 and here she tells us about her first year of supporting the growth of Scouting in Clyde Region and what she can do to help you.

I have been in post for a year now and I have been working with Groups and Districts across the Region to grow Scouting in their area. I am keen to be out working with as many Groups as possible and one of the main ways I have been assisting Groups is with recruitment, both of adult volunteers and youth members.

I have been working to recruit adult support by advertising on volunteer websites and some Groups have benefited from new volunteers who have applied.

Whilst these new resources are good, most adults are recruited locally, so I have also been working with individual Groups who are in need of new volunteers and if your Group needs volunteers I can help! I am able to work with you to find adult support from the community and assist you to get more parents involved in your Group.

I have already worked with schools to meet with Parent Councils and advertise at parent’s nights, and I have successfully recruited volunteers for new Sections. I have also supported Groups with getting rotas started in some of their sections and have held meetings with or delivered presentations to Parents about what is involved in volunteering with the Scouts which has enabled them to help out in some way with the Group.

It’s not just adults I have been supporting Groups to recruit, and if you’re looking for new youth members in one or more of the sections in your Group I am able to assist with that too. I have already been working with other Groups to recruit youth members and I have helped one to open up a Beaver section to feed their Cubs.

I worked with the current leaders to visit the local schools to speak to the pupils about the Scouts. We met in the classes and showed them pictures of Beavers, explained what happened at the weekly meeting’s and then completed part of a badge. It was around the time of the Chinese New Year so we talked about the Creative and Global Challenge Badges and made Chinese

lanterns. We also played games with the children from another school and made Beaver Pictures as part of the Imagination Badge. The Group seen a steady increase of young people to the section and now have a full Beaver Colony and some new adult support.

I have visited school assemblies and talked to them about the Scouts and Cubs and I discussed what activities they will be getting up to when they join, by talking about fun, challenge and adventure and played some Scout games within smaller schools. Many of the young people I have spoken to were enthusiastic and keen to get involved so I always make up or hand out flyers about the section and they often use the information on the go along and join the Group. For one Scout section increasing the numbers in the Scout section which meant more fun and adventurous activities could be delivered to even more young people.

If you would like some support with recruitment please get in touch, you can follow the link or complete the enclosed Expression of Interest form detailing what you would like to be assisted with. You can also call or email me to discuss recruitment or development assistance for your Group.

I am always keen to come out and visit Groups to meet leaders and young people in Groups across the Region so I look forward to meeting you soon.

Our new Beaver Colony at Plains


Are you ready for your next Adventure!

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The Glasgow scout Shop is owned & operated by Clyde Regional Scout Council, a Registered Scottish Charity SC010415

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