Wishing you all a happy, healthy and most importantly fun 2008
All the best
Peter Edge
ASL 24th Middlesbrough

So as I sit here alone (Wife asleep, eldest boy playing World or Warcraft,
Middle son out on piss, daughter asleep) I find myself looking back on 2007
and thinking... not bad.

Around about this time last year I knocked up some PDF badge books with the
new Activity Badge requirements included.

I've now started to update them with the latest round of changes - the
Beaver one is done and available for download at:

http://www.adminiscout.co.uk/beaver-badges.pdf

I do plan to do the other three sections, but they're for another day! I'll
post when they are ready.

Pete

Hello.

Can anyone here scan and email a copy of the current PC Form (Abroad)?

Cheers,
Steve

The following hike report was dug out of our archives recently. The
lad who wrote it died young. He was one of the 'lively' scouts in the
troop. John (who went on to be my leader as well) talks of him with a
big grin. If there was trouble to be had... Paul would find it.
Anyway... I've copied it out and i think it deserves reading... it
makes me laugh every time. (I'm guessing early 80's for when it was
written but i'll check) I have kept original spelling and punctuation:

A fifteen mile hike between Chelsfield, Downe and Keston

Paul Stephens
APL

I arrived up at the hut at about 11.45am, after a while my two hike
partners Philip M and John T arrived, we met at the hut for two
reasons, the first was to sort out all our kit and the second was to
get a lift to Chelsfield which was supplied by John Potter

The kit consisted of:

Members of the Order of the British Empire

Cynthia Anne, Mrs BLAKE For services to the Scouts in
Watford,Hertfordshire.
(Watford, Hertfordshire)

Norman BLAKE For services to the Scouts in Watford, Hertfordshire.
(Watford, Hertfordshire)

Peter CHAMBERS For services to the Scouts in Sheffield.
(Sheffield, South Yorkshire)

George MAWHINNEY For services to the Scouts in Northern Ireland.
(Newtownards, Down)

Ronald Herbert MOBBS Project Manager, Eaton Vale Scout and Guide
Activity Centre, Norfolk. For services to Young People.
(Norwich, Norfolk)

Roslyn Marise, Mrs WHITE For services to 1st Sandleheath Sea Scout
Group and Hampshire Scout Caving Club.
(Fordingbridge, Hampshire)

Hi all,

I posted a while back about looking for a Cub camp near a beach. We've
spotted Torbay Scout Campsite, http://www.torbay-scout-campsite.co.uk/
, online and it looks good. Would be interested to hear comments from
people who've been there before deciding whether to go and visit since
it's quite a trek.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year,

Because of the increasing problem we are having with regards to troop
activity attendance (which I have reported in past postings) I have though
about making a requirement that on paying subs next term that their child
agrees to participate in at least 75%% of the activities that we plan.

It will also now be a requirement (although It always has been) to let us
know if they wont be attending an activity

I would be naive to think that this would solely solve the problem and have
other ideas to try to sort the problem out next term but wanted to know if
anyone else had the following rule or similar within their section or what
you do to stop this from happening.

I haven't though yet how or if I will police it strictly.

Or am I just creating a Local rule?

We are starting a new Beaver Colony in January and I wondered if
anyonehasany ideas for opening and closing Ceremonies please?
Don't tell me about the ones which involve shouting because I already
know about those LOL
The only other idea I know about is for Beavers to stand in a Circle
with Leaders and just say welcome Leaders and Welcome Beavers.
I just wondered if anyone had any other ideas which don't involve
shouing and are a bit more interesting .

Betty (Wakefield)

With my son about to move on from Cubs to Scouts, I was wondering where is
the best place to buy rucksacks, boots etc for his age. By best place, I
mean where the gear will be properly fitted to his age and size needs.

Living near Chester, I reckon there are plenty of good boot retailers
between Manchester and Wales but I don't recall anyone particularly
displaying 50-60L rucksacks particularly aimed at 11 year old body frames.

I find that Decathlon in Stockport are good for clothing - walking trousers,
coats, wicking layers etc. Other than that most retailers appear to be short
on clothing for this age range.