Archive for the ‘Scouts’ Category
St. Patrick’s Day Mass 2012
March 21st, 2012
As we said in the last news post the group attended the Patrick’s Day mass in Blackrock’s St. John the Baptist Church. The group would love to thank the priests in Blackrock Church for being so welcoming to us. There was a great turn out from our group this year with about 35 people attending the mass — but mostly as we were camping in Blackrock and we frog marched everyone to mass.
At the mass scouts carried the cross and bible up during the procession. Ventures and Shay held the flags: the Irish flag, the group flag and the Scouting Ireland flag. The group presented Shamrock to the parish and distributed it out to the congregation after mass.
Thanks again to everyone who attended the mass and kept the age-old tradition of attending Patrick’s Day mass in Blackrock.
Here are a few photos of the group who attended outside the church in Blackrock.
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Patrick’s Day Weekend Plans
March 14th, 2012
We have a lot of upcoming events this Paddy’s Day weekend. We have our annual group shield competition camp being run by our venture section for our scout section running from the Friday evening to the Sunday. The entire group, from beavers all the way up to the ventures will be attending our traditional Patrick’s Day mass in Blackrock Church, where the group presents shamrock to the parish of Blackrock. This is an annual tradition that stretches back a long time. All the scouts and ventures that are attending the group shield camp-craft competition will be attending the mass despite the competition.
The details for the camp for scouts can be found in this letter to parents.
The group is attending the 10:30am mass in Blackrock Church, but we ask you to be there are 10:15am as there will be jobs, from bringing up the gifts to holding the flags, and distributing shamrock that we need to organise before the mass. It is without saying since the group will be representing the group that all youth members must wear full uniform. That is: black trousers, black shoes/boots, 29th Dublin Blackrock neckerchief, shirt/jumper (depending on your section).
Hope to see you all at the camp or mass this weekend. If you cannot make it have a fun and safe weekend.
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Scouts Cancelled Tonight
October 18th, 2011
Tonight’s Scout meeting has been cancelled because of a lack of leaders to cover the meeting, in particular a female leader. We cannot for child protection and insurance reasons have female scouts attending if there is no female leader present, thus we have cancelled the meeting. In our last letter we warned this might happen and unfortunetly it has.
Scouts Letter 4th October 2011:
The new scout section has 5 leaders currently: Paul O’Loughlin Kennedy, Daragh Moore, Aoife Keogh, Steven Mackie and Kevin Baker.This is a small number of leaders for a section this size and will get smaller as Aoife’s college commitments will preclude her from attending meetings from Mid October. This leaves us in a very difficult situation and could result in us having to suspend meetings until we can find another female leader (ideally 2). So if anyone can make a commitment to assist at weekly meetings, or has a cousin, niece or friend, over the age of 18 we would be very grateful. Scouting experience is not necessary as training will be provided. We will need some assistance for some weekend activities so when you get notification of an activity please do consider if you would be able to come with us on the activity.
If you are available to help out as a leader on the Tuesday night for scouts please don’t hesitate to contact Paul O’Loughlin Kennedy if you are interested. We cannot stress this enough, but scouting experience of any kind is not necessary we have short simple training meetings to help.
Contact information for Paul O’Loughlin Kennedy: paul@oloughlinkennedy.com; 086 243 8556.
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Scouts (& Ventures) are Hiking Sunday
October 12th, 2011
This weekend we are hiking in the the Wicklow mountains. It should be a fun day out for all. We are starting in Crone Wood car park, climbing a hill to get to one of my favourite spots in Wicklow: the top of Powerscourt Waterfall; then we move onto the climb up to the top of Djouce mountain. The venture scouts will be organising activities and challenges along the way, which should be fun and hopefully help all the scouts achieve another part for the skills badges.
For those of you who have forgotten what to bring I have attached the images from the meeting on the end of the news item. We cannot stress these things enough: strong shoes (no wellies); 2 pairs of socks are better than big socks; your bag must have two shoulder straps; and don’t forget rain-gear (that applies to me too – I always forget it). For food be sensible. Be warned that no matter how many times you’re told by the ventures that there is an Eddie Rockets or ice-cream shop at the top of Djouce it doesn’t exist, so bring a good packed lunch and ‘healthy’ snacks.
For any parents out there that are interested in coming along for the hike you are more than welcome. Don’t worry the hike is not hard at all, so you won’t embarrass yourself. If you want to come or need further directions Paul’s (the scout section leader) has his contact information on the October letter. Hope to see you all on Sunday down at the the Crone Wood car park for 10:45.
On another note if you did not get the letter October 4th 2011, that is it there.
Here are Directions to Crone Car Park if you need them.
(I apologise for the blurriness of the photos)
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Neckerchief
September 24th, 2011
Just thought I would put an image of the necker on the site in case anyone wanted it.
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Packing a Rucksack
September 20th, 2011
I promised the Sixers last night I would post this image to help them prepare for next weeks so here it is.
How to pack a Rucksac
Click this link to view the pdf version
Scouting Trail Pg 56 – GuideToPackingRucksack.
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And We’re Back!
September 13th, 2011
All sections that have not already started are starting back this week. We hope to see you all on your respective night. In case you have forgotten the times for your section please check the table below.
| Beavers | Thursday 6.30 -7.45 pm |
|---|---|
| Cubs | Monday & Wednesday 7- 8.30 pm |
| Scouts | Tuesday 7.30 – 9.30 pm |
| Ventures | Thursday 8-10 pm |
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Registration and AGM Evening
August 31st, 2011
A new Scouting year is upon us once again! We will be holding a registration evening and AGM on Monday 5th September at 7:30pm. If you wish your child(ren) to be involved in Scouting again in Blackrock this year they must be registered on that night. Due to the high numbers on our waiting lists for all sections only those Scouts that are registered on that night will have a chance of a place for this year. At least one parent from each family must attend to ensure a spot this year.
Below is the consent from for this year. You only need to fill out one of these for the year. If you like you can print it out and bring it down filled in for the registration and AGM evening Monday 5th September at 7:30pm.
SI Activities Consent Form 2011
If you want a copy of the letter, regarding the registration cost as well as the day and times of each section for this year, please click the link below.
August Registration Letter
Hope to see you all in attendance Monday 5th of September.
Kind Regards,
29th Dublin Scout Group
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Gilwell Annual Camp 2011 – Log Book
July 8th, 2011
Saturday 2nd July
Today is Saturday, we had to meet up at 7:00 am in Dublin Port. We got on the ferry at about 8:00 and it left the harbour at about twenty past. The boat journey was long but lots of fun XD we played card games and some of the group went to the arcade. There was another scout troop from Naas on the ferry. We were the last people off the ferry and there was no room left on the shuttle bus, so we had to wait for a little while and when the next one came we had it all to our selves.
The train we got on was really bad because it was way too full and many people where not able to sit but then when some people got off at the first stop we where able to sit down. We switched lines at Chester. The second train was so much better! We all got to sit together, we played some card games and sat around making scooby-doos! We went to the shop several times and were talking to the lovely staff on the train too 🙂 XD It was deffo the best train of the day.
After we disembarked the train at Euston we had to walk to a different station than we had originally planned as the Victoria line was closed there. 🙁
So off we went trying to find Euston Square but after using our epic navigational skills we soon arrived and took the tube to Liverpool Street and from there got the National Express to Chingford Station which was a 30 min walk by really fancy houses from Gilwell Park.
Luckily when we arrived the marque had already been pitched by the people who run Gilwell. So we pitched our sleeping tents, three for the boys and one for the girls. We also pitched our base tent which is a really warm and comfortable rec tent. Theres benches in there. Then Oisin helped Niamh cook the hot dogs and noodles which where delicious. For desert we had rice pudding which was delectable according to everyone as I didn’t want any. Then everyone went to bed except the pl’s as we went to play switch (which is like Uno) and Stephen, Fionn and I got over excited in our super awesome epic warm brand new exiting tent. 😀
Sunday 3rd July
So today is Sunday and we arose between seven and half eight. My patrol started making breakfast while most people had showers. French toast and cereal were for breakfast it was yummy. We started clean up with special help from honorary patrol leader Ruairi Mc who cleaned most of the equipment.
A golf cart came with our pionering poles and we began building. We didn’t have enough poles so we brought trailor and got more. The leaders built a lift using a pully system. The scouts built a swing(Stephen’s patrol), a see-saw(Emma’s patrol) and an arial assault course(Oisin’s and conors patrol) coolest pioneering gadgets I have ever seen. We have collected fire wood for a campfire its all cut up and into three piles; kindling, small logs and big logs. Ruari and cillian also made a tennis court.
Monday 4th July
Today is Monday. We first did the Leap of Faith which was a high ropes activity where we climbed up a ten meter pole to a small platform at the top and jumped through the air and cought onto a bar that was suspended in front of us. Callum got stuck at the top when he sat down on the platform and couldn’t stand up again but he eventually managed it (Well Done Callum!). The bar was pretty close to us when we jumped but some people got a second jump and the instructors moved the bar farther away from the platform. I was about to get another go but then Fionn had to go and tangle up all the ropes so no one else could go.
Then we walked back to the main square where we met with our instructor for the rifle shooting. We then walked down to the shooting range beside the swimming pool. First our instructor gave us the safety talk and then we started to shoot. Erin was one of the the best shots who got a score of 22 on one of her targets and was only beaten by me (Oisin) with a score of 29. We all got two rounds of five shots and on the second round most people tried the large target but I turned it around to the competition side and I managed to get a bulls eye on a target on target about the size of the bottom of a cup. Fionn also got a bulls eye on the other side of his target.
After that we went into Chingford and spent about two and a half hours there. We all spent alot of time in the sweet shop. They had all the sweets at the back in jars like a traditional sweet shop as well as all the other sweets like Refreshers and Aeros. We also discovered that Mountain Dew was two for one and got a load of that as well. Basically we pigged out on sweets. Then all us PL’s went to a little park and played switch again. Then when we where about to leave Conor followed some girls away from us and took his time coming back. Stephens patrol where on dinner and they cooked pasta bake and custard and banana for dessert.
Tuesday 5th July
Today is Tuesday. Basicially all we did was go on a hike and go swimming both of which was great fun 🙂 On the hike Fionn and Callum lead all of us, some of which were the wrong way… But we got home and went swimming which was extra great because it started raining while we were there.
Wednesday 6th July
Today is Wednesday. We had to get up really early to catch four trains and a bus to Legoland.
Once we got to Legoland we split into groups and went around the park. Us PL’s went around together. We went on most of the rides which were great fun then we went to have lunch.
We went to the Knights kingdom and went on the dragon then me (Stephen), Emma and big Emma went on the spinning spiders which made big Emma feel sick. So obviously I made her come on the big Jolly Rodger with me. The look on her face when we went on it was so funny, she tried to hide underneath the safety bar. We have decided to make a photo album of Emma’s face on roller coasters. We then went to meet up with everyone near the entrance where all the shops are.
We went home on the trains and bus which took about two hours. Once we got into Chingford the leaders said we could get chipper so we walked home from the station as they got our food.
Once we got to our campsite we saw that the mess tent was gone and everything was in a mess.
The half barrel had been flipped over and one of the tents was ripped and broken.
The van that brought all of equipment had been hit by something.
Once we talked to the staff of Gilwell Park they said that the wind was so strong that it blew down that mess tent which broke apart and smashed into the van, the tents, and into another one of the tents. The members of staff gave us another mess tent so we had some where to cook for the remaining days. We went to bed early that night because we were all tired from the long day.
Thursday 7th July
Today is Thursday and because of our long day on Wedensday we didn`t have to get up early. It was a very relaxed morning. After breakfast which was french toast we packed our bag up only leaving out our karri mat, sleeping bag and uniform. We decided to go into Chingford for last few things we wanted.
So we wouldn`t have to do too much on Friday we took down to the boys tents and packed most of the mess tent. We were all playing games then started tea which was soup but little ruairi ran in screaming hotdogs making everyone hungry for hot dogs. That night all the boys slept in the mess tent but the girls got to stay in our tent.
Friday 8th July
Its Friday and currently we are on our third and final train of the day. We set alarms for 5:30 but no one got up till 6 which was still way too early. We packed the last of the gear into the van and got a lift to the train station from the Cork scouts who had a van. Our first train was simple most of us got seats but the tube and the third train are packed with people.
By Griffindork, Blondie, McFly, Magic Tractor and “Bei”ker
(Patrol Leaders 2011)
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Filling a week of the schools holidays
June 22nd, 2011
Hi all
Our Beaver Leader Stephen is running an archaeology camp for children, called Dig It Kids, in the Scout Den for 6-12 year olds. It promises to be a fun week for those involved, I know my 2 enjoyed the day activity that was ran over Easter.
If you want more detail you can visit their website www.digitkids.ie for information and booking details.
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