Random Ramblings from our Group Scout Leader – March 2023
Random Ramblings from the Group Scout Leader!
Squirrels Scouting begins on the ‘Hill’.
We are only a month away (22nd April) before our very own Squirrel Drey starts meeting at Shrewsbury House on Saturday mornings under the leadership of Ann-Maria Bienkov, AKA Squirrel Nutkin to the younger members. Initially we will be opening the drey with just 8 4- to 6-year-old new recruits as we only have one leader at present, but we hope to expand numbers as soon as more adults become aware of our new section at the XRE and wish to get involved. If you would like to find out more about squirrel scouting, go to: https://www.scouts.org.uk/
St Georges Day Saturday 22nd April.
All beavers, cubs, scouts, and explorers will be expected to attend the Royal Greenwich St Georges Day Parade on Saturday the 22ndof April held at Avery Hill Activity Centre, New Eltham. St George is the patron saint of scouting and on this day along with millions of other scouts all over the world we renew our scout promises together. The Districts event starts at 11.00am with games and challenges between all our 28 local scout groups followed at 13.00 by the celebration and the renewal of promises. All members should meet at the corner of Avery Hill Road and Forty Foot Way, New Eltham at 10.45 am in full smart uniforms and bring with them a change of clothes, a waterproof coat with hood and a small, packed lunch and drink. The event ends at 13.30 and we will return to our meeting place (as above) for parents to collect their children at 13.45. More info to follow from your section leaders.
Jamboree on the Trail (JOTT) Saturday 13th May.
Jamboree on the Trail is an annual day for the World Scout Movement to hike together. All members, whatever their age and wherever they may be in the world, are invited to participate in whatever way they can and get out and hike together. Squirrels could walk to a local park and build bivouacs, beavers can hike to a local park, have a picnic, and build dens, cubs could go on a local nature trail and hold a wide game, scouts might hike to our district activity centre to learn backwoodsman skills, and explorers might make a service project out of restoring or maintaining footpaths in our local woods. Whatever is decided by our members in their own way, everyone will be hiking in the same direction, culminating with all our 28 Groups in Royal Greenwich District walking to a central point for a mass campfire in the evening. Keep the day free, more info to follow.
New Trustees needed!
It is with regret that I have received the resignations from two of our trustees Chairman Martin Hall and Treasurer Lynne Nazer after 5 years of excellent service for all of us at the XRE. So, the process must begin to find parents who would like to step forward and volunteer so they might be nominated to these important trustee positions at our AGM in June. Our Executive Committee (trustees) is made up of parents and former parents with one simple mission, to support scouting on Shooters Hill for our 100 young members and 12 leaders.
If you feel you would like to help our 85-year-old scout group move forward and develop, please do get in contact with myself.
Group Dates this Summer.
Mon 17th April: Group Executive meeting 19.30 at Shrewsbury House
Sat 22nd April: St Georges Day Parade, Avery Hill Activity Centre
Sat 13th May, Jamboree on the Trail (JOTT), Royal Greenwich District Event
Thurs 29th June, AGM, and Awards Night at Christ Church School Hall
Thurs 13th July, Group Barbeque and Games Night, Shrewsbury House.
Plus, all your sections major dates and activities are now available via Online Scout Manager (OSM)
See you ‘Up the Hut’, Skip.