Travel Bug update 2

For those of you tracking their progress

The Beaver Travel Bug is racing ahead and has over taken over the lead from the Scout one. It is now in Norfolk, not far from Center Parcs at Elveden Forest. I am looking forward to seeing where they get to next month. I wonder if any will make it to 100 miles or even travel abroad.

Half term

Well I am not sure what you did with your half term, but mine was surprisingly quiet. Not so much so for the rest of the Group! One of our travel Bugs has moved on to Norfolk, taken by one of the Beaver Scouts, and a few planning meetings took place.

The Scout Troop Leaders had another social, but I declined my invite this time and stayed home, they tend to keep late hours and a monkey needs his beauty sleep, don't you know?

A cross selection of the Group Leaders met to discuss the plans for going to The Gambia next year. We are want to visit our twin Group and meet face to face.  I hope that they will take me even though it will no longer be the centenary year.

Plans are in place now for Wales, at Easter, with 20 young people signed up. These include our present day Scouts and a handful of Explorers who used to be at 3rd Ware and are accompanying the Group on this joint expedition.

The new newsletter has been written and will be out next week and the new displays are up at the HQ building; I gave a hand with this. I had a quick look at the centenary collage whilst I was there and really hope that next time I visit The HQ more people will have added their own photograph. Is yours on there? It is for adult and young people.

My last job was to water the flowers at the front of the HQ. We are taking part in Ware in Bloom and so it is important that we all lend a hand when we can. This is the beginning of our project, there is plenty more in the pipeline. Shere Khan and Badger did a stirling job tidying up the compound and pruning the trees and hedges.

Poll results

Last month I decided to set a poll to find out if and where readers of this blog had met me. The results were as follows:

My new poll is for those of you who were at Founder's day. (If you did not go you can still vote by choosing the "I did not attend option".) I enjoyed being there and watching those present take part in a variety of activities.

This led me to wonder if anyone had a favourite. I could not list them all so have selected a few which seemed to prove popular on the day.

You have 2 weeks to vote.

Founder's Day - Part 3

Akela, of the Heron Pack, made this short Video about 3rd Ware at Founder's day. Everyone looks as if they are having great fun trying out the various activities, although some of us wish that Lord Baden-Powell was born at a warmer time of year! Can you spot me?

Founder's Day - Part 2

3rd Ware Cubs and Scouts

Founder’s Day is held every year to celebrate the birthday of the founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell. This year it was held at Tolmers and 3rd Ware joined the rest of the District in a variety of activities, ending in a Scouts' Own service.

After registration the Young People are free to choose which activities they want to try and I think members of 3rd Ware, just about, managed to try them all between them.

Elena, a Cub said: It was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favourite thing, surprisingly, was 'rope-a-phobia.' I say surprisingly because I was tremendously terrified, it is extremely high (when you’re up there,) you have to go across (what looks like) unsteady metal, then wood and string and finally after all that, a climbing rope.... When I was down was proud of myself, I really felt I had achieved something. Now I know why it’s called rope-a-phobia.

I think we can safely say she enjoyed herself and I am proud that she conquered her fear of taking part in the Rope-a-phobia activity. She also spent some of the day looking after me; thank you Elena.

William, another Cub emailed me to say: I thought it was an awesome day and enjoyed shooting with a rifle, the archery, the rolling rock and the bouncy castle. The Cub Pub was excellent and I enjoyed holding you “Gus”. I am so pleased Baden-Powell started Scouting as it’s such good fun and we do lots of exciting things.

William seemed to be enjoying the mud whilst he was there and he helped me out several times as well!

It was not just the young people who got to attend this event; it could not have taken place without all the Leaders who helped run the activities along side the service crew. Weasel commented: This was my first Founders Day Celebration and I thoroughly enjoyed the day and the fellowship of fellow leaders. The most important part of these events is seeing the young people trying things they have never done before, having freedom in a safe large environment and making decisions for themselves without too much adult intervention. Through Scouting they truly learn independence.

The highlight of the day for me was seeing a newly invested Beaver (his first external event) climbing up onto Rope-a-phobia attached to secure line and a harness, moving around on his own, through a variety of difficulties. His face was an absolute picture.

This year is going to be a great year for 3rd Ware Scout Group.

The Cubs were not the only ones having fun and Ethan (who officially starts Beavers after half term) attended the day and emailed to say: I went on the bouncy castle. I cooked a twist on the bonfire. I didn't want to go on the high climbing frame. I went on the slippery pole; we had pillows and had to fight with them. The one who stays on is the winner, and I fell off twice. Thanks Ethan for letting me know what you did and I really hope you enjoy Beavers once you start and I look forward to meeting you again.

Don't forget to look on the Group website where you will be able to see a larger selection of photographs taken at the event and once again thank you to Ware and District for organising a great day.

Founder's day - Part 1

Today I went to Tolmers Scout Camp and Activity Centre to join in the District Founder's Day celebrations. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts joined together with their Leaders for a joint event. We gathered together to have fun and  to celebrate, not only the Birthday of Baden - Powell, but also 100 years of Ware and District!

During the day several people approached me and asked if I was The Gus, the monkey who had been in Headlines and The Mercury. Great bananas I am famous, that is enough to make a monkey blush!

Come back over the next couple of days and find out what some of the members of the Group say about the day. Don't forget if you are taking part in the 100 challenge and were at Tolmers today you can tick off number 3 in your booklet.

Local News

It seems I am in the news again, this time in the Local Newspaper The Hertfordshire Mercury.

Every month they dedicate a page to Scouting and Guiding news from the area and our Group usually feature in it somewhere. This month several of our centenary events were in the round up, as well as a few of our usual activities.

Look carefully at the picture and you will just be able spot me.

3rd Ware Scout Group also featured in the Mercury Memories page this week detailing part of our history including a few photographs.

Headlines

I have just been browsing through the latest copy of Headlines and guess what? I am in it! I am very excited that my Monkey business is featured and hope that some of the people who have read the short item will say "Hello" to me if they spot me at a future event.

Cooking up a storm

Every year Ware and District Scouts hold a cooking competition and the winning team get to go though to the County competition. This year I was able to accompany our team of four as they cooked and presented their meal. It was a busy evening but they coped well with the timings.

The Menu

Payne's Patties with chili lime mayonnaise

Mathews' Medallions in cider sauce with Broccoli & carrots

Honeyed Pear Pancake with crème fraiche

I am very proud to say that our Fab Four managed to put in such a good performance, that they came second in the competition, being pipped to the post by 2nd Ware Scout troop.  A big well done to our own team and we also wish the winners well as they represent Ware and District in the County competition this weekend.

Football crazy!

On Saturday, I went straight from the Beaver Sleepover to a Football match. It was the first I had ever been too. Every year Watford FC hold a special Scout and Guide match and members of 3rd Ware go to support them. It is usually a great day.

Adam wrote "I took Gus to the Scouts and Guides day at Watford football club. We were one of the first in the ground. Our seats were four rows back from the pitch in the Lower Rous stand. Watford was playing Burnley FC. The game ended up as a 3-1 win to Burnley.

There were a lot of football songs and loads of banging on a big drum during game  from the fans and the mascot.  Gus was lucky he was able to have his own seat because  nobody was in the rows in front of us. My dad took a few photo of me, Gus and Jack who is also a 3rd Ware Cub . It was disappointing that Watford lost but it was a good afternoon out!
 

Thank you to Adam, Jack and the others for letting me go with them to the match and, even if the final score was not in our favour, I would still recommend you go next year and soak up the atmosphere, get your face painted and even watch a bit of football!

25th Anniversary Beaver Sleepover

Ware and District  Beavers

2011 is full of special birthdays. As you well know 3rd Ware is 100 years old, Ware and District is 100 years old and nationally Beaver Scouts are celebrating 25 years. Here at 3rd Ware, our Beavers are not actually 25, but we are embracing the celebrations for the inception of the Beaver section.

The cake

To mark this event we joined in with the sleepover weekend. Ware and District held theirs last night at The Chauncy School in Ware. The Beavers had a packed event, making candles, party hats, a cake, decorating fairy cakes, cake mixing, colouring in, playing party games, banner making and generally having fun.

Aleaxander wrote "It was lots of fun thank you. I played loads of games and my best bit was eating 4 biscuits! I had a really good nights sleep, thank you (!) PS I forgot my sleeping bag!"

The Beaver Scouts had a great time and joined in all the activities with their usual enthusiasm and I thoroughly enjoyed joining them for this special event. we all enjoyed the cooked breakfast which included bacon sarnies - yum yum!

My New Friend

One of our Beavers also brought along his class mascot and so I was not alone. I know I had the company of the Beavers and the Leaders, but it was nice to have someone else with me who understood how hectic life can be when one has to travel from place to place and meet new people all the time!

Holly sent me an email saying "I had a brilliant time at my last Beaver sleepover. The fun bits were making cakes and a party hat, but my favourite game was pin the tail on the Beaver because I always got it in the right place. I did not get much sleep because I was too warm. Most of the Beavers were up early on Saturday morning, I liked the breakfast and then we had some photos done. I think its sad that it is my last Beaver sleepover."

I am looking forward to joining in the other activities that celebrate 25 years of Beaver Scouting, as well as our very own centenary and thank you to Ware and District for letting me join in the sleepover adventure!

Busy weekend ahead

I have had a quiet week in preparation for my busy weekend, I decided not to go to the planning meeting for our centenary camp, because I thought it would be nicer to be surprised at the event, rather than know in advance what I could join in with.

I am going to be attending a cooking competition with a team from the Scout troop, attending a Football match and I will be “sleeping” (in the loosest possible terms!!) at the District Beaver sleepover.

Come back later this week to find out how these events went.

Visiting the Falcons

Funny The Guinea Pig

Last Tuesday I went to visit the Falcon Cubs at the HQ. They had a busy evening session looking at The Ware Coat of Arms, some maps and there was even a Guinea Pig visitor. 

I was a little uncertain about being in such close proximity to "Funny", but after I was assured that even though she was an omnivore she did not eat "Monkey", I decided to risk it and was ready to duck out of the way if she attempted to nibble on me!

Ben has written about my visit: "Gus came to visit Falcon Cubs! I brought in my Guinea Pig, Funny, and as you can see she is good friends with Gus! I did my animal carer badge and got it, it will look great on my jumper! Funny had good fun as well and so did Gus! Funny was shattered after her visit! I am looking forward to meeting Gus again!"

Thanks Ben for writing this for me and I hope to visit you at Cubs again very soon or maybe I will see you at Founder's Day later on this month. 

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Last night I spent the evening with the River Lea Beavers. They are a very lively bunch of young people aged 6 to 8 years old, who really know how to enjoy themselves, I had a great time and can not wait to go back!

We were celebrating Chinese New Year and I found out all sorts of interesting information, got the chance to make a mask and tasted a Prawn cracker. MMMMMMmmmm. Did you know it is the year of the rabbit?

I also got to watch the Beavers play two games, one was a tag style game where they had to capture each others tails. I decided it was safer to watch this than risk them trying to join in. Well a monkey has to keep his dignity you know (and his hoodie clean)! I think it was almost better watching than playing. It made me smile a lot and the Beavers seemed to be having a good time.

Badger, Dormouse, Otter and the Young Leaders did a great job in providing fun and an exciting evening for the Beavers and I was delighted to have been invited down to the HQ to spend time with them.

I am looking forward to catching up with my new friends at the District Beaver sleepover on the 11th February. (I  hope to meet River Ash there as well and visit them soon.) Will you be there? I hope so because I am told it is a great event.

My mini break

I am now back at my own home having had a few exciting days. I went to stay with Lisa, went to Falcon Cubs and the visited River Lea Beavers. Look out details of what I got up to over the next few days.

Whilst I was staying with Lisa she very kindly took me to a few places and I got to go and see her at her gymnastic class and then on Monday morning she took me to her school and introduced me to her class. I was pleased to see quite a few familiar faces there.

Thank you Lisa for my mini break!

Message from a Beaver

I love getting, mail, well, who does not like someone writing to them with exciting news? I was head over bananas to get an email today from one of our Beaver Scouts:

Hi Gus,

I've been working on my 100 Challenge. Here are my photos of the Lego tower and smoothie challenge, the smoothie was great.

from Fred

Thank you Fred for letting me know. I have been told by several other parents this week that their children are busy with the challenge but you are the first to send me an email and photos.

I think your tower is great it shows lots of thought and has a great pattern and the smoothie looks really yummy.

I am coming to visit you at Beavers tomorrow and so please make sure you come and say hello to me and help me join in.