Au Revoir

Well, the time has come for me to sign off and pass you over to the leaders and young people. I have had great fun writing this blog and have had many favourable responses. In fact, when I made it known that I was stopping, many of you asked for it to continue and so the Group blog was born! From now on we will be blogging at our new site. Please click the link and visit us there.

Don't forget to follow us, sign up for email updates and add us to your favourites.

Please comment and let the leaders or GSL  know if there is anything particular you would like to see on our new blog and don't forget the group website is still up and running and is full of useful information

Happy New Year 2012

Well, my year of being the 3rd Ware centenary mascot has come to an end and I need to step back and hand over the baton. 

I will still be around but will be selecting activities to go to rather than visiting them all.

I will soon announce the winner of the travel bug race (just allowing the final logs since people do not always do it on the day they go out, but it will still count if it is dated yesterday). I will give it a week or so and then declare the winner.

I will also be signing off from this blog and moving to the new Group one. This will be a joint effort and so I will not be the only one posting.

There are still a few posts outstanding from this blog because I am waiting for people to send their reports across. Once they do I will post them but backdate them to when they actually took place.

I hope 2012 is as much fun as 2011 was.

 

Merry Christmas

I have been to the Crib service (I saw many of our Group there!), have helped hang up the stockings, have left a snack for Father Christmas and the reindeer, lit the candles  and have sprinkled the magic reindeer food outside on the grass (thanks Walkerdine family).

Merry Christmas from Gus and all at 3rd Ware Scout Group.

Trek Cart

Having got the trek cart out to show it off at our Historical afternoon teas a few weeks ago, the Scout leaders challenged the Scouts to take it to camp with them this Friday.

Last night Bobcat and Lynx held a joint overnight camp at the sow and pigs field. This was a fitting end to our centenary year.

The Scouts rose to the challenge, loaded up the Cart, made sure I was with them and off we went. They found it surprisingly easy to pull/push the cart and enjoyed this novel experience.

 

The Scouts enjoyed their night and woke to a frosty field, but a campfire and a good breakfast soon warmed everyone up.

 

It was a great way to end a year of special events, where we have looked back to the past and forwards to the future

 

The Trek cart at a few Group events over the last 100 years

 

Film night

Tonight I went to Herons and  finish the term off with a night at the movies.

The Cubs watched the film Elf and were served home made popcorn made by myself and Bagheera's son who came down to help.

Everyone enjoyed the film and the tasty snack. Those Herons certain love their food.

Afterwards Rama came down and presented some Silver awards and we aid Godd bye to Tom and Greg who are leaving us to live in Scotland. The Herons gave them a copy of The Jungle book as a going away present.

Ware and District Centenary Party

I will tell you more about this in a short while, but for now I will soon publish a taster film of the District party and carol service, held today at Wodson park for all Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers (provided the nativity) and Leaders.

Many thanks to those who organised it and those who ran it today. We all had a great time!

Photos will be on the 3rd Ware website soon (ish) and if anyone who was there would like to write about it for the blog, please email Rama A.S.A.P!

Dinner dance

Gus and his guest

The adults at 3rd Ware enjoy having fun as much as the young people do. The highlight of the centenary year for some was a chance to dress up and act like grown ups!

On Saturday we held a Dinner dance at the Roebuck hotel. A local band provided the music (all have been involved in Scouting in Ware at some point either as Scouts or parents of Scouts, although not all at our Group).

The Guests were past and present members of the Group, parents of members and others asociated with 3rd Ware. They were welcomed by three of our Young Leaders. After being greeted by the GSL, they were invited to have their photograph taken and to then proceed to the bar area where a slide show of photos was taking place. Many took this chance to sip their drink and reminisce.

Once all were present, everyone moved to the formal dining room and enjoyed a delicious meal. The GSL made a speech, the master of ceremonies kept the proceedings going and the lucky ticket winners were announced.  

The meal consisted of soup, a chicken dinner and apple crumble and ice cream. Red and white wine was drunk, the commemorative scrolls were read and the formal meal came to an end. The GSL made a toast to Scouting.

Despite saying that he would keep the speeches and thanks you kept short, the GSL (and his first lady - she was unaware that she held this title!) were delighted, surprised and humbled to be thanked and then presented with a gift each. An engraved tankard for Gavin and an engraved wine glass for Jacqui.  They both expressed their thanks and said it was totally unexpected and totally unwarranted. 

Two present day leaders and their wives.

The evening finished with more dancing, more chatting, more photos in the bar and a chance to talk to many people and celebrate a special year for 3rd Ware. Everyone seemed to have a great time and even the band said it had been fun playing at this particular event.

Lost in Stanstead Abbotts

Just thought I would let you know about my adventures this evening.

I went on a night hike with those crazy bunch the Heron Cub pack. As well as YL James, Shere Khan, Bagheera, Ballo. YL's Adam and Will, Weasel and Scout Leaders Barney and Claire (I like Claire she's pretty) not forgetting my friend Ruby the dog joined us too.

It was real fun and I bounced along on the back of Shere Khan's bag. All was going really well. We had to cross a busy road but the Cubs were very careful.

It was just then when we stopped for a quick break that I thought I would stretch my own legs. Opps, I got separated from the Cubs. But I new what to do. I waited exactly where they had left me and did not wander of. And sure enough Shere Khan's Hero Barney arrived in his Land Rover to find me.

Poor old Shere Khan was very upset when she found out I was missing.

Wow we had a great ride in the Landy that' what us Scouts call a land rover. What an adventure. Will send pictures soon.

Love Gus the adventurer.

District Day

Today the members of Ware and District met at Christ Church School in Ware, to discuss the future of the District. We have had 100 years of very successful Scouting and so do we continue as we are or do we make changes?

Members of every Group in the district met and spent the day in numerous workshops outlining the future.

Rikki, the County Commissioner also attended and put forward his views. It was a long day, but a productive day.

We also learnt about Lochearnhead 2013. Will I be allowed to go?

I wonder what the next 100 years will bring?

Peak Assault

One Friday evening a week or so ago I boarded a coach and set off for an unknown destination. No, it was not a mystery tour, but the Peak assault Competition!

Every year coach loads of Hertfordshire Scouting members, of Explorer age and above, get taken to “destination unknown”, set up camp and then spend the next couple of days yomping round "peaks" to gain as many points as possible in an orienteering event.

I joined them this year because we had two adult teams taking part and also an explorer team which was made up of six Scouts, three of which were 3rd Ware young leaders. There was also many other past and present members there as support teams or organisers.

Some of our Young leaders and Leaders

When we arrived we found out that, this year, we were in the Peak district. The teams camped in two different places with the adults returning to base on the first night and the young people staying at "high camp" overnight.

Which way next?

A great weekend was had by all, the weather held and the sun even came out. The two leader teams did well coming 5th and 6th in their class, and the Explorers exceptionally well coming 8th out of 24 in their class.

It is very popular event and I am glad I got a chance to experience it this year.

Science with the Herons

Following on from my night away with the Herons and the trip to the museum, I was invited to participate in their Science evening.

We had fun with Gloop (cornflour and water). When you kneed it, it goes into a solid. When you let it rest it starts to go into liquid but is soon stopped by pulling it back together. They also made volcanoes! Those mad Herons certainly know how to have an explosive evening and get every ounce of fun out of simple things. I look forward to the next time I meet them.

WaGAwood 2011

Last weekend I attended WaGAwood. This is the annual Beaver camp that is run by 3rd Ware and 1st Great Amwell. Four years ago the camp was started and ever since has proved to be a popular event.

Each Beaver Scout is invited to bring one adult with them and the ethos of the camp is about enriching and enhancing the adult/child relationship. How often does a parent/carer get a whole 24 hours alone with one child, to take part in the same activities and not only experience first hand what their child is doing but also to be there as encouragement? Well at WaGAwood that is exactly what they get! (As well as good food, laughter and adventure!)



Ready for the CrestaRun



making camp

Flag break

Backwoods cooking

Pedal cars

The leaders and older children stay for the whole weekend at Thriftwood and ensure that everything is ready for when the Beavers arrive. They assist the Beaver and adult in pitching their tent, and then a whirlwind of activity takes place. This year included pedal cars, inflate-Bull, a photo trail, pond dipping, backwoods cooking, a wide game, a campfire, scouts own, a scavenger hunt, a soft toy competition, time to play in the woods, a trip to the provi and more.

camp fire

Breakfast

Cuddly toys

Beavers

The meals are catered for centrally, so well done to the team who cooked for 155 people! However the Beavers (and adults!) learn about plate bags, washing up, wet pits and pig bins ready for when they are in Cubs.

Pond dipping

Dampers

Inflata-Bull

everyone needs a cuddle

Whilst this is taking place a sub camp runs for the leader’s children, who have to be there because their parents are, but who are Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides or Explorers. The older ones do assist with the Beavers but as a group they do their own cooking, camp on a different field and have their own activities all over seen by a leader, who is there to supervise but also to step back and let them work as a “large” patrol. This year these included the Cresta run, surfing and bouldering in addition to some of the previously mention activities.

Bouldering

Surfing

Once the Beavers are in bed the adults can congregate around the campfire and socialise and it is here that leader/parent relationships are made and stories swapped. WaGAwood has, in the past, resulted in adults asking to join the leadership team. If this is you please do contact the GSL of Great Amwell or 3rd Ware.

This was my first WaGAwood and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was even awarded a certificate at the cuddly toy competition for being the “centenaryist toy”!!

As the Beavers and parents left, they were full of praise for the camp and many a thank you was heard – the leaders then packed up the kit, cleaned the site drove home unloaded the trailers and went home feeling it was a job well done!

Goodbye

Video will be coming soon.

One of our Dinosaurs is missing!

A trip to the shop

I am sure you have guessed by now that the destination of the Heron Cub Pack trip was the Natural History Museum in London and, as far as we know, all dinosaurs were still there when we left!

Blue whale and mammals

I had the privilege of travelling by train and tube with the Cubs to the Museum. Once there we looked in the Dinosaur section, visited the Blue Whale area, went to see human biology area and loved the investigation centre. Some of the Cubs claimed to have spotted Terry Wogan in the dinosaur section, which I saw made a few leaders give a wry smile!



Dinosaur Walkway


We travelled back the HQ where we had an evening meal from the local fish and chip shop before gathering outside for a roaring campfire and making s’mores.

In the investigation centre



The Cubs then got into their sleeping bags and we all watched “One of our Dinosaurs is missing” before dropping off to sleep.



In the investigation centre


This morning we ate a breakfast of bacon rolls and watched some Looney tunes before the Cubs were collected and we locked up and came home.

Human Biology area

meeting an ancestor

 It was another successful trip to London. Well done Herons!

Goodnight

Messing around on the water

Last Sunday a group of past and present 3rd Ware members took to the water. This was actually the August centenary event (alongside a window display) however booking restrictions saw it take place in September. So what did they do….?

They went white water rafting at the new Olympic competition course!

The two rafts of our members thoroughly enjoyed the evening and thought the instruction was second to none. A training session on the lake and then several runs down the course saw an exhilarated bunch get very wet and happily tired. The rapids were amazing and no one wanted the evening to end.

The evening was judged to be a fantastic success and the most heard word was “Brilliant!”

The evening was rounded off with food and drink and everyone who participated declared they would do it again because it was “brilliant” and those who were still under 14 and so could only spectate can not wait until after the Olympics when they will be old enough to take part!