January 2011 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

JOIN THE ADVENTURE THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION CHESTER AND DISTRICT SCOUT COUNCIL District Centre:

adjacent Westlea County Primary School Weston Grove Chester CH2 1QJ

E: enquiries@chesterscouts.org.uk T: 01244 398635

W: www.chesterscouts.org.uk/ Facebook: http://groups.to/chesterscouts2011/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/@ChesterScouts

Registered charity no. 511406

GREETINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR As we start 2011, we all I know wish all the best to all in

Chester Scouting; may the coming year be active, fulfilling

and full of service to others. And may you all enjoy what

you do in Scouting and still remember to find time for your

friends and families.

Thanks for all your involvement in our centenary

celebrations – now enjoy 2011!

District Commissioner

CAROL SERVICE The carol service in the Cathedral in December was great.

Thanks to all who helped organise and run the service and

to the Groups who were represented:

5th Blacon

Cestrian

8th Chester

18th Chester

40th Chester

42nd Chester

Dewa ESU

1st Guilden Sutton

1st Malpas

1st Saltney

1st Saughall

FIRST RESPONSE First Response course will be held on the following dates:

• 19 March

• 11 June

• 17 September

• 3 December

We will also be providing at least two refresher evenings

for those who have already done First Response and need

to renew.

CHESHIRE SCOUTS ACTIVITY DIRECTORY

The first edition of the Cheshire Scouts Activities Directory

has just been published, the result of several months' effort

by the Strategic Adventurous Activities Team. Please use

this very valuable resource and make sure that everyone

knows about it.

The aim of the document is to provide Groups and their

Leaders with an easy reference guide to the wide range of

activities that are available in Cheshire and ultimately

increase the variety of activities that are made available to

young people in Scouting. Many of the activities listed are

already well-known and well-used. Others may not be so

well-known and this guide will help to point Leaders in the

right direction for help and advice should they wish to add

these activities to their programme. All of the named

contacts in this document are aware of its publication

(many have been hands-on in its creation) and everyone is

happy to receive your enquiries if you wish to try

something new.

NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING PAGE 2

This Activities Directory is (and will continue to be) a work

in progress. Your feedback is welcome and will help to

shape future issues of this document. If possible, please

use the form at http://tinyurl.com/AZ-Feedback for

feedback. Alternatively, you may e-mail feedback to me

graham.shaw@cheshirescouts.org.uk or to

admin@cheshirescouts.org.uk. Please put [Activities A-Z]

at the start of your subject line.

The Activities Directory can be downloaded from

http://tinyurl.com/Activities-AZ and there is also a link in

the Activities section of the Members' Area of

www.chesterscouts.org.uk

WOOD BADGES

Congratulations to Leaders who have completed their

Wood Badge:

Chris Arner, Assistant Beaver Scout Leader, 1st Upton

David Broady, Scout Leader, Cestrian

Alan Reay, Group Scout Leader, 1st Ashton and Manley

DISTRICT DIARY 2011

6 January – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 12 January - Young Leaders Module A, Weston Grove 15/16 January – Beaver Scout IT Activity Badge Stage 1, Weston Grove 21/23 January - Explorer Canal Boat weekend, Preston Brook 22 January - District Cub Scout Craft Competition January/February - District Cheshire Hike Practices 3 February – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 5 February - GSLs and DCs Day, Ribby Hall 20 February - Media Development Workshop, Weston Grove 22-26 February - Gang Show, Catholic High School 3 March – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 5 March – Beaver trip to Science Museum, Manchester 12 March - County Cub Scout Craft Competition 13 March – District Award Presentations 16 March - Young Leaders Module A, Weston Grove 19 March – First Response 17 March - Scouts District Bowling Competition 24 March – Validation sessions for GSLs/District Team,

Weston Grove

7 April – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 9/10 April – Cheshire Hike 16 April – St George’s Day celebration 16 April - County Dinner

30 April/2 May - Elysium: Explorer Challenge Camp, with Hollyoaks Network 30 April/1 May - Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition training 5 May – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 7 May - Beaver Barbie Bash, Huntington 14 May – Jamboree on the Trail 21 May - District Cub Scout Totem Pole Competition 2 June – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 7 June – County AGM, Chester 9 June – District AGM 11 June – First Response 16 June - Validation sessions for GSLs/District Team, Weston Grove 17/19 June - Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition assessment 25 June - Beeston Hike for Beavers 7 July – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 30 July/12 August - KISC 2011, Kandersteg International Scout Centre 1 September – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 17 September – First Response 22 September - Validation sessions for GSLs/District Team, Weston Grove 6 October – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 14/16 October – Jamboree on the Air/Jamboree on the Internet 3 November – District Leaders’ Meeting (General) 13 November – Remembrance Day 1 December – District Leaders’ Meeting (Sectional and GSLs) 3 December – First Response

District Leaders’ Meetings:District Leaders’ Meetings:District Leaders’ Meetings:District Leaders’ Meetings: first Thursday in each month

(except August) 8 pm (Section meetings alternate with

general meetings)

District Core Team (DC, District Chair, ADCs, DESC and District Core Team (DC, District Chair, ADCs, DESC and District Core Team (DC, District Chair, ADCs, DESC and District Core Team (DC, District Chair, ADCs, DESC and

ActiveActiveActiveActive Support Manager; also attended by the Local Support Manager; also attended by the Local Support Manager; also attended by the Local Support Manager; also attended by the Local

Training Manager): Training Manager): Training Manager): Training Manager): second Thursday in each month

(except August)

District Executive Committee: District Executive Committee: District Executive Committee: District Executive Committee: third Thursday in each

month (except August)

District Appointments Approval Meeting:District Appointments Approval Meeting:District Appointments Approval Meeting:District Appointments Approval Meeting: last Thursday in

each month (except August and December)

Chester Scout Fellowship Active Support Unit: Chester Scout Fellowship Active Support Unit: Chester Scout Fellowship Active Support Unit: Chester Scout Fellowship Active Support Unit: first

Tuesday of each month (for further details email

activesupport@chesterscouts.org.uk)

Adult Training Modules:Adult Training Modules:Adult Training Modules:Adult Training Modules: check the separate listing and

registration form

NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING PAGE 3

FOUNDER’S DAY AND THINKING DAY

Girl Guiding UK have confirmed that from 2011, the

arrangements will be changed in the light of increasing

local opportunities to celebrate these special occasions, in

Guiding for Thinking Day and in Scouting for Promise

Renewal around St George’s Day. Going forward, we are

grateful to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for

offering two occasions annually for us to be at the Abbey

in the future.

On the evening of 22nd February (which falls on a

Tuesday in 2011), the lives of Robert and Olave Baden-

Powell will be recognised by a short ceremony of special

prayers and the laying of flowers at their Memorial in

Westminster Abbey. This will immediately follow the

public service of Evensong, which commences at 1645hrs.

During the Service, there will be public prayer for

Scouting and Guiding. Immediately after the Service,

there will be a small ceremony at the Memorial, during

which the Scout and Guide Promises will be renewed and

the flowers will be laid as a mark of respect. The service is

open to all, without ticketing.

Later in the year, there will be a special Saturday-morning

Service of Thanksgiving for Scouting and Guiding. This

will focus on giving thanks to, and for the service of, adult

volunteers. The Dean and Chapter are very supportive

that whilst the Abbey is a Christian venue, they wish to

ensure that the Service will be ecumenical and inclusive

for leaders and adult volunteers from all faiths. In the first

instance, invitations to this service will be for volunteer

leaders and supporters who in the previous year had been

recognised with significant Good Service Awards or who

had achieved significant Long Service Awards. In 2011,

this will be held on the morning of Saturday 5th

November. For The Scout Association, this will also be the

date for an invitation Luncheon for those awarded the

Silver Wolf in the 2010 and the 2011 St George’s Day

Awards.

NEW YEARS HONOURS 2011

Congratulations on the award of the MBE to:

Paul BoskettPaul BoskettPaul BoskettPaul Boskett - for services to Cheshire Youth Service (Paul

has been a Scouter in South West Cheshire and a member

of the County Team – he led the Scout’s Own at

Chamboree last summer)

Martyn BracegirdleMartyn BracegirdleMartyn BracegirdleMartyn Bracegirdle - formerly chairman, Cheshire and

Warrington Connexions Partnership

GEOCACHING IN SCOUTING

What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a high-tech version of hide-and-seek where

you explore the outdoors in search of hidden treasure and

adventure. To get started, all you need is a compatible

GPS unit and cache coordinates that can be found online.

Cache locations – maintained by a worldwide community

of geocachers – are hidden high and low around the

globe. Once found, a cache may offer small rewards for

you. In keeping with caching etiquette, if you take

something from the cache, you should leave something in

return. For some, the biggest reward is the thrill of the

search and the discovery of a place that they have never

been – sometimes in your own neighbourhoods.

There is a wide variety of lightweight, rugged, waterproof

(or water-resistant) GPS handheld units that are perfect

for geocaching. These units have long battery lives and

space to hold coordinates for many geocache locations.

How can Geocaching fit into Scouting?How can Geocaching fit into Scouting?How can Geocaching fit into Scouting?How can Geocaching fit into Scouting?

It is a good reason to get out and do a hike.

It can be used for Alternative D of the Scout Navigator

Badge

Geocaching can also be used as part of the Cub Scout

Navigator badge as part of a treasure hunt.

Geocaching with Chester ScoutsGeocaching with Chester ScoutsGeocaching with Chester ScoutsGeocaching with Chester Scouts

There are a large number of Geocaches in and around the

Chester area.

The District has six Garmin 60 GPS units, which are

available for use.

A training day for leaders can be arranged to make you

aware of the equipment and how to do geocaching.

Contact Alan Reay for further information:

chilealan@btinternet.com or telephone 07810 303490

NEWS FOR CHESTER SCOUTING

To make our communications quicker and to reduce paper

use, we only send our monthly News for Chester Scouting

electronically. Please pass on the information to those

who do not have Internet access. You can always

download the latest (and some earlier) versions from:

the News and Events pages of www.chesterscouts.org.uk

or from:

http://issuu.com/chesterscouts

Information is also available from:

• http://groups.to/chesterscouts2011/http://groups.to/chesterscouts2011/http://groups.to/chesterscouts2011/http://groups.to/chesterscouts2011/

• http://twitter.com/@ChesterScoutshttp://twitter.com/@ChesterScoutshttp://twitter.com/@ChesterScoutshttp://twitter.com/@ChesterScouts