Swimming Gala

Ware and District Cub Scout Swimming Gala is an annual event which is always busy and exciting. This year I got to go, not to swim, but to support the Falcons and the Herons, our two 3rd Ware Cub Packs.


With The Falcon Cubs

I went to the Cub Swimming Gala on Saturday and had a great time, as did the Cubs and Leaders. All the Cubs tried really hard. There were 13 Cub Packs there from Ware and District, including 3rd Ware Herons and Falcons, so lots of Cubs ready to swim and lots of parents there supporting them. Lisa B and Eleanor S from the Falcon Pack have helped me write this Blog entry.

Lisa says “At the start of the gala we had to get together so that Akela could tick us off the list, then she told us what race we were doing. After that we had to wait a few minutes then the races started. All the Cub Packs had races for 8, 9 and 10 year olds. I swam in the 9 year old front crawl and came second”

Eleanor says” When the Falcons were swimming we were all shouting and cheering them on. The other Packs were supporting their swimmers so it got really noisy. 3rd Ware Falcons were really unlucky to come 5th out of a possible 13 as they swam well winning several races” Well done to them and the Herons who came 7th overall.

Eleanor and Lisa also said “There were 43 races altogether, back stroke, front crawl, breast stroke, relay, novelty race (where you have a ball and push it along in the water) and 1 race for non swimmers. And then it was the Leader’s race. The Cubs all voted to make the Leaders do 2 lengths, 1 with the ball (novelty) and then back again free style. The Falcon Leaders were not tempted to join the race, maybe they wanted to let the male leaders win! The Falcon Pack did however help persuade Rama (our GSL) to take part. It was great to watch."

Lisa was especially kind during the event because she gave up her place in her second race (even though she wanted a second swim) to another Cub who was upset that she had only got to swim once; because of this Rama decided that I could go home with Lisa for the night. He said she showed a true Scouting spirit by putting others before herself.

Maybe Lisa will help me write about what I did whilst staying with her.

Attending a swimming gala is part of the 100 challenge and so don't forget to get an adult to sign it if you were there and Lisa and Eleanor can sign off writing for my blog! Well done everyone.

Travel Bugs

For those of you who are tracking their progress.

As we near the end of the first month the Scouts are in the lead, followed by the Beavers and then the Cubs. There is still plenty of time for this to change though, why not give your section a helping hand?

Meeting the Leaders

Tonight I got to attend my first Group Leaders meeting. The events of the next year were discussed and I was able to say hello to any 3rd Ware Leaders who have not met me yet. I wont go into details but I enjoyed sharing tea and biscuits and listening to all the exciting events planned for this year.

100 Challenge



Challenge booklet



Have you started your 100 Challenge yet?

I was reminded about mine today, after being told that one of the adults in the Group had seen a few of the drawstring party bags being used at the swimming pool.

I had a quick look through my own booklet and have already been able to get 2 things signed off, the museum visit is one of them.

Make sure you check yours and get an adult to sign and date it for you. When you have done 100 of the activities post it/deliver it back to Rama's house and you may get a reward, as well as the satisfaction of having challenged yourself to do something new, hopefully having had a lot of fun in the process!

I wonder how many people will complete it? If you have not got a copy of the challenge or have lost it (it does happen!) you can print one from the members section of the Group website or you may be able to pick up a paper copy at the HQ Building if there are any left.

VIP visitor

Great Bananas, guess who just dropped by my blog? No, you can't guess? Well then I will tell you, it was  Wayne Bulpitt, Chief Commissioner UK, and he sent a message to our Group, I felt very honoured that he had taken notice of me, a lowly monkey, and had taken the time to contact us.

In reference to my blog, and what I have been up to, he thinks I will need a holiday if I keep this pace up! He is looking forward to catching up with me via the Blog and he thinks it is fab! He wished 3rd Ware well for our centenary year and hoped our events go well.

Thank you Wayne for your kind thoughts and I will make sure I keep up to date with your Blog as well. Maybe, one day,  I will get my photo taken with you  to add to my album!

My own website



My website

This week has been a quiet one. After the excitement of last weekend, I have stayed home and out of the way. I even turned down an invitation to join the Scouts and Explorers, who are visiting Denmark this summer, at their information evening. However, just because I have been taking it easy that does not mean 3rd Ware has! The Leaders and young people have been as busy as ever with their weekly section meetings, the Group Scout Leader has met with other GSLs (I chose not go to that meeting either!) and the team planning our expedition, to Wales during Easter, met to get the ball rolling.

For me though the best news is one of the Young Leaders decided that I need a website of my own and so he has set one up. Why not take a look at it or visit our Group one?

Party Video

A brief snap shot of our Centenary party.

How many times can you spot me in the video?

Party, Party, Party!

Well, what a fab afternoon we had.

Those dudes at 3rd Ware really know how to party!

First of all we registered to say that we had arrived and were given a sticker with our name on it and then had to negotiate the slalom that was the registration tables. Young Leaders (and Bethany) took us from our parents and escorted us in to the hall where we put on party hats and found our first activity.

slowly does it.

Then the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts went around the room to do lots of different things. There was Giant Jenga, Giant Snakes & Ladders, Limbo, Hopscotch, Pick - a - stick, a Big Bouncy Castle, Pass the Parcel, Musical Chairs, a Giant Parachute and so much more. Yianni (Beaver) said: “I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game on the parachute and the bouncy castle.” and Elena (Cub) “I really enjoyed playing the limbo, hopscotch and snakes and ladder games.” She also liked the pass the parcel and musical chairs. Cameron (Cub) enjoyed the party, especially the bouncy castle because he was wrestling with his friends!  When we did Pass the Parcel he did the Macarena as a forfeit, which was really embarrassing - especially because it was his Mum that chose the forfiets!

Getting Dizzy

 Badger was a bit concerned about my safety, because some of the dudes thought I would enjoy being thrown up in the air on the parachute. I haven't mentioned it yet but I'm a bit afraid of heights. It was quite amazing though, getting a view of all those smiling faces as I whizzed through the air, I did, however, need a little rest before I moved on to my next activity.

That clever lady Dormouse baked a cake in the shape of 100; it got very hot when the candles were lit. I was a little worried that my fur would get scorched. Elena said she loved the candles and especially liked the sparklers and she and her friend Abigail said that the cake was yummy.

Rama presented Tiegan with a special framed badge. It was the one that she designed to celebrate the Groups 100 years. I wonder if I will get one sewn onto my scarf – when I get one!

Wow!

Dormouse and Shere Khan had prepared party food along with Kate and Jim; my bag included a drink, crisps, sausage rolls and jammy dodgers, yummy. I know the Young People enjoyed the food they got in their bags because there was very little left at the end and they were Very quiet whilst eating and drinking!

Our party bags

Then it was time to go home, and we got to take a special drawstring party bag with us which had some cake, sweets, a badge which can go the green and black scarf, a glo stick and lots of information about what's going on in 3rd Ware in 2011, including the 100 year challenge which will keep us all busy. The bag was an absolutely fantastic idea. I will have to put my name on mine so that it doesn't get mixed up with everyone else’s.  Several of them were spotted at schools around Ware today. Elena said the party bag was great, she loved all the things inside it and Yianni agreed that it was great along with the food and the scrummy cake.

 



Hanging with the girls.

I had an amazing afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed playing all the games and seeing the adults and young people enjoying each others company and mixing together to celebrate the start of our 100 years. All in all it was a fantastic 100 year party!!!!!! (to quote Elena)

 I can't wait to see what the Group is doing in February and thanks to Cameron, Shere Khan and Elana who helped me write this blog entry.

Let's Party!

100 Scouting years!

Party time! Do you like bouncy castles, pass the parcel, food and Jenga? Then you would have loved this party. We had a really fun afternoon at the Drill Hall celebrating the beginning of our centenary year. Have a look at my blog over the next couple of days and I will tell you more about it. I have had a busy weekend and need to catch up on my sleep and have also asked some of the young people to email and tell me what they really thought of the party, bags and the cake. Watch this space!

Museum opening

With the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire

Today I got to go and visit the local museum. This was because our Scout Group have an exhibition there detailing the 100 years of Scouting that has taken place since the formation of the Troop. I had a great afternoon spending a lot of time with Shere Khan (remember her from Monday?) meeting lots of past and present members of the Group.



Ribbon cutting

The afternoon started off with Paul Brenham MBE, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire  cutting the ribbon to open the exhibition. He made an speech and emphasised to the young people present that they were the future of Scouting. Gavin Matthews, our GSL thanked Paul and welcomed everyone to the museum and then we were free to look around are partake in the refreshments. Everyone was very interested in the exhibits, especially the photographs. Lots of people were trying to find themselves on the various display boards.



Above the old well

I was able to meet with quite a few past members of the Group and have my photograph taken with them. The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts enjoyed looking around the whole museum especially standing on the glass above the well and dressing up. The slide show of old photographs, in the Bunker, went down well with all ages.

Quite a few members of Ware and District came along to help us celebrate and I had my photo taken with some of them who are past members of 3rd Ware. They all seemed pleased to meet me!

With Steve, Sue, Martin, Keith (all past members) and Frank the County archivist

When we had tidied up and arrived back home I was delighted to receive an email and photograph from Fred. He was one of the Beavers who attended today's event. This is what he wrote:

 

Hi Gus

Today I saw you by the ribbon at Ware museum .
I had a great time at the 3rd Ware Scout Group exhibition ,

I ate popcorn and Mini Cheddars.
I spotted a picture of me on a Beaver trip to London.

There were lots of Beavers , Cubs and Scouts from Third Ware.
I'll see you next time,

from Fred.

Well time for bed, socialising is very tiring and I have a party to attend tomorrow with lots more Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and the Leaders.

Display

Standing on the well

Over the last 2 nights I have been a busy Gorilla, down at Ware Museum. A small group of us, Akela (Falcons), Otter (River Lea), Emily, Felicity and a member of our committee aka Mrs Rama or Raksha, depending on who you talk to, have been putting together the exhibition to celebrate our centenary.

I was very excited to be shown around the museum by Emily. She may be a Rainbow but she is also an honorary member of 3rd Ware (Her Polo shirt is in the display cabinet!) and we had a good time together discovering new nooks and crannies in the Museum.

With Otter and Akela

All the items on show have been selected and written about and will be on display at Ware Museum from 15-1-2011 until 17-3-2011, why not come and visit?

Tomorrow is our grand opening when selected people will be able to view the exhibition. These photos give you a sneak preview. Tomorrow I will write more about the content and the ribbon cutting and the people who attend.

Fun with the Herons

On Monday evening I visited the Heron Cub Pack. What a lovely bunch of Cubs, almost a nice as a bunch of bananas. The Cubs were very excited to be back. Once Shere Khan had welcomed everyone back and introduced me to the Cubs the evening began. A dude called Ian came to meet five Cubs who are moving up to Scouts at the end of the month. I've met Ian before when I visited the Scout section and again the other day at the planning meeting.

 

Ready to enter the tunnel

Whilst the five Cubs had their chat the rest of the pack played dodge ball, a very fast game, lots of cheering and running around. Then Akela spilt the pack up into five groups. The leaders had set up five different bases, I stayed with Shere Khan who took me around to watch and join in with each activity.

Firstly we visited the Pot Hole base set up by Akela, it was very dark. But Louis was kind enough to lend me a head torch so I could see where I was going. It seem it went on forever but was great fun. Just like the real thing.


Wow, what a bridge!

Next was over to Bridge Building with Baloo. The Cubs had to build a bridge, as long as they could, with Lego bricks. I was with the Cubs who built one 23 inches long. Then off to see what Kaa was doing in the Kitchen. The Cubs had to find 12 hazards that Kaa had set up. They were really good at it, they even found more than Kaa had set up.

Time to move on!

I hung around on the Pioneering base next. Cubs were building a catapult with sticks and elastic bands. Then they had to make sure it worked by putting a ball in the sling. Time to move on when I was put in the sling!!



Can you spot the hazards behind me?



Finally it was over to "Mind Games" with James and Stuart. What nice boys they are! They used to be Cubs once, but now they are Explorers and come and help out every Monday. The Cubs had to do a puzzle moving a pattern of different size bricks from one side to the next in the least amount of moves. At first the Cubs thought it was impossible, even Stuart had trouble with it. Mason and Oliver got it figured out.

Can't wait to meet them again, maybe at the Party on Sunday.

One of the Heron Cubs wrote to me after meeting me on Monday

Heres a puzzle for you.

How can you get a chicken, a fox and a bag of grain across a river, on a boat, only taking one at a time without the grain and chicken being eaten.

On monday night at cubs we took part in an activity evening, which was great fun, we took part in pioneering, making catapults out of bamboo sticks, elastic bands and a colander. It was tough but my pack managed to do it. We also crawled through a Danasauras cave and made bridges out of lego, my six managed to build a bridge 17 inches long, unfortunately we didnt win, the longest bridge being 22 inches , which was built by the sixers of each pack.We also learnt about health and safety in the kitchen.

So, have you thought about the puzzle. Im not telling you the answer. Think about it carefully, and im sure you will work it out.

Jack B. Herons.

Thanks Jack, I hope you like seeing your words on my Blog!

Scout Leaders

Last night I spent a very pleasant evening socialising with the Scout Troop Leaders. They had met for their termly planning meeting and the GSL and I joined them for the end of it and afterwards for their social.

I had an evening of good company, laughter and friendship and was pleased to meet one of the Leaders who was not there last time I visited the Scout Section. The Young People start back soon and I hope to go down to the HQ and meet some of them. Hopefully I will make even more new friends.

*Stop press* -Travel Bugs

Very excitingly all 3 travel bugs have already been picked up and two of them have been moved on, admittly not far, but still very exciting!

Admin

Well nothing quite as exciting for me as meeting the Scouts or going geocaching! A couple of days ago I was "useful" and went down to our HQ building and updated some of the noticeboards and put up a "blank canvas" that will hopefully be filled over the year.

All current members of the Group are invited to add their photo to the collage and hopefully, by December, we will have everyone on there. If you belong to 3rd Ware then please bring a photo along with you and stick it on the collage, place it where ever you want to, but do try not to cover up anyone else! I am looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces on here showing what a diverse bunch 3rd Ware are.

I also helped update the What's on board and take down the photographs of last year. There is so much going on in 2011, mainly because of our own celebration, but also because the District are holding extra events as well to celebrate their own centenary. To make sure you do not miss out be sure to look here each week to get dates of future events.

Treasure hunting





Yesterday one of the Young Leaders from 3^rd Ware took me on my first Geocaching trip! The idea was to use a GPS device to find hidden treasure (a cache). We did not go too far because we were only looking for the cache that was nearest to our HQ building.

We found it, placed inside it 3 special items, re-hid it and went home.

The three items we placed were travel bugs. These wait in the cache until another Geocacher comes along. Hopefully this new person will collect a 3rd Ware bug and move it to a new cache. If this Geocacher then logs their find on the online site we will be able to follow the progress of these bugs.

Quite a few of our Leaders and young people are Geocachers and so this seemed like another interesting way to celebrate our 100 years.

Today we dropped off one Travel Bug for each age group in our Scout Group. They are attached to the badge that a Cub designed to celebrate our centenary. (I will tell you more about that another time.) I named them:

• 100 Scouting years - 3rd Ware Beavers
• 100 Scouting years - 3rd Ware Cubs
• 100 Scouting years - 3rd Ware Scouts

These travellers want to travel far and wide and meet as many other members of Scouting and Guiding as possible. Who will travel the most and meet the most people in this special centenary year for our Group?

If you are a Geocacher, why not look them up and follow their progress or even try to meet them and help them on their journey. If you are not but, are a member of 3^rd Ware, then you will be able to track their journey at out HQ building.

Why 1911?



Ware and District is officially formed and registered



So….. If we have evidence of the troop being active in 1910, why are we celebrating in 2011?

The answer is simply because we have been told that a troop was not “official” until it had been registered with its own district, and because Ware and District was not formed until 1911, 3^rd Ware Scout Troop could not be registered as part of that district until then! Incidentally, my namesake, Augustus Payne, was present at that first meeting of Ware and District and was instrumental in setting it up and splitting from Hertford to form the new district.

To mark the first mention of the troop I did go down to Scouts on Friday June 11^th 2010 and took part in the evening meeting with the young people and then went out with the Leaders for a celebration meal and drink.



Visiting present day troop on 11th June 2010 -  100 years from first recorded mention of 3rd Ware Scout troop