Ref:  L73/2016  –  National  Activities  Calendar  2017  

03  November  2016  

Dear  Scouter  

I  have  the  pleasure  of  enclosing  two  copies  of  the  Scouting  Ireland  2017  National  Activities  Calendar  for  your  Scout  Group.    Information  relating  to  the  National  Activities  will  be  available  over  the  course  of  the  coming  months  on  the  Scouting  Ireland  Website  available  here.  

If  you  require  information  in  the  meantime  on  National  Activities  or  indeed  anything  to  do  with  Youth  Programme  in  terms  of  support  and  /  or  resources,  please  do  not  hesitate  in  contacting  one  of  the  following:  

• Ian  Feighery,  Programme  Commissioner  (Beaver  Scouts): beaverscouts@scouts.ie      • Rory  Murphy,  Programme  Commissioner  (Cub  Scouts): cubscouts@scouts.ie      • Úna  O’Grady,  Programme  Commissioner  (Scouts): scouts@scouts.ie      • Glenn  Webster,  Programme  Commissioner  (Venture  Scouts): venturescouts@scouts.ie      • Ruairí  Nealon,  Programme  Commissioner  (Rover  Scouts): roverscouts@scouts.ie      • Gearóid  Ó’Riain,  Programme  Commissioner  (Sea  Scouting): seascouting@scouts.ie      • Pauline  Lucas,  Programme  Commissioner  (Support): plucas@scouts.ie        • Richard  Scriven,  Programme  Commissioner  (Development): rscriven@scouts.ie      • General  National  Activities  Enquiries: nationalactivities@scouts.ie    • Chief  Scout  Award  Support: csa.support@scouts.ie    • Youth  Programme  Effectiveness  Review: programmereview@scouts.ie  • Deirdre  Byrne  Adventure  Skills adventureskills@scouts.ie  • Colm  Kavanagh,  Manager  (Programme  Unit) ckavanagh@scouts.ie        • David  Shalloo,  Chief  Commissioner  (Youth  Programme) ccyp@scouts.ie      

You  will  notice  that  on  the  reverse  of  the  Wall  Planner,  I  have  included  a  new  and  vibrant  poster  “Small  Groups  in  Action”  (following  on  from  the  2015  “Hill  Walking,  Hiking,  Climbing,  Expeditions”  poster,  which  I  hope  you  continue  display  into  the  future).    I  would  ask  that  you  display  this  new  poster  in  a  prominent  location  in  your  meeting  space,  to  highlight  the  message  contained  within  to  Adult  Scouters,  Youth  Members  and  their  families.    

The  small  group  system  is  a  key  element  of  the  Scout  Method  and  working  together  as  a  Lodge,  Six,  Patrol,  Watch,  Unit  or  Crew  is  part  of  the  essence  of  the  adventure  of  Scouting.    As  Scouters,  we  must  ensure  that  the  Youth  Members  of  Scouting  Ireland  are  being  empowered  so  that  they  can  be  the  architects  of  their  own  person  development.    Using  the  small  group  system  is  a  branch  of  the  Scout  Method  that  will  help  to  facilitate  this  in  a  safe  and  fun  way.      

Scouting  Ireland  has  a  support  framework  for  Adult  Scouters,  which  extends  beyond  formal  training;  our  National  Office  provides  practical  support  to  Scout  Groups  in  many  ways.    The  National  Youth  Programme  

Committee  and  its  large  and  dedicated  team  of  volunteer  Scouters  supported  by  the  Scouting  Ireland  Staff  in  the  Programme  Unit,  seek  to  share  their  experiences  and  expertise  to  help  optimise  the  delivery  of  the  ONE  Programme  in  every  Scout  Group  across  the  island  of  Ireland.  

I  wish  you  well  in  facilitating  the  Youth  Members  in  your  Scout  Group  in  planning  and  leading  their  programme,  as  always  my  team  and  I  are  available  to  support  you  in  any  way  possible.      

Yours  in  Scouting  

David  Shalloo  

Chief  Commissioner  (Youth  Programme)  

CC:    

Group  Leaders  

County  Commissioners  

Programme  Commissioners  

Training  Commissioner  

Honorary  Vice  Presidents  

National  Youth  Reps  

National  Management  Committee  

Scouting  Ireland  Staff