Gordon Gathering 2014

Its been 7 years since the last Gordon Gathering - but this year will be one to remember!
6-8th June 2014 saw the whole district meet at BA stores, Dunecht for a weekend of activities and adventure. Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Network camped for the whole weekend - with the beavers joining us on Saturday for their annual fun day. That took us to 1200 Scouts on site on Saturday.

Friday was setting up and meeting new friends.
Saturday we opened the event and took part in loads of activities from sailing to pioneering, archery to rabbit skinning, crafts to digger driving!


In the evening we had a wet campfire and a disco.

Sunday was a free for all on activities followed by a fond farewell from the organisers - during which two Scouts were presented with their Gold chief Scout awards.

HUGE congratulations to them!

Scouts survival nights

Bear Grylls has got some competitions on his hands!

The past few weeks the Scouts have been learning some scout survival skills and trying them out at Daviot.

We started by looking at semaphore signalling and water purification, then made Gordon a cup of tea on the trangias while he was outside we were fire lighting!

We were starting fires with flints and then had a go with a car battery - plenty sparks here!

The following week we had a look at the safety and rules around using stoves - to make popcorn! - gas lamps, knives, axes and saws.

To finish off our survival season we went up to Daviot campsite to try out our skills. Mixed results with the firelighting but everyone had a go at chopping wood for our big fire, which the patrol leaders set up earlier. The leaders and PL's came along early to set up and cook dinner on an open fire - a little reward for the hard working PL's.

We also played a few wide games around the site and finished off by roasting some smores.

Harlaw DIY camp

The Harlaw Cub DIY Camp took place form 15th to 16th March in the Inverurie Cub Hall. 19 cubs attended, including some of our new Beavers.

The cubs all successfully completed their DIY badge while at camp, making a bird box and key hanger and learning about tools and their safe use and using a range of saws.

We had the support of 4 parents - 3 assisting with DIY and one excellent chef! Cubs enjoyed an indoor campfire sing along and a great game of rounders in the Academy grounds.

Beavers go around the world!

Leslie Beavers went around the world in a day. After going through passport control and getting our passports stamped we were in Australia, where we played a didgeridoo and made the famous cork hats and learnt about the great barrier reef!

We also had a traditional BBQ for our dinner.

Japan was our next stop where we learnt about the World Jamboree that will be happening there next year. We became sumo wrestlers and did some origami.

We woke up in South Africa, where we had gather water then had a water fight. After flying to Mexico we made ponchos to fit in with the locals and have nachos and wraps for lunch, it was time to go home.

Scouts get adventurous

This week saw Inverurie Scouts get all adventurous at Transition Extreme. As well as having loads of fun this will count towards their adventure challenge badge. 

The Scouts took part in rock climbing on the indoor walls where they learned how to safely climb and belay - even the little one made it all the way to the top!

 They also had a go on the arial assault course towering above them before jumping off the Extreme Drop!
The Aberdeen sea side winds were around to test the Scouts head for heights!











Finally we headed back inside for a go at Skate boarding! A few lessons from the instructors and all the Scouts were zipping around the skate park - the leaders had "mixed results" (and bruises...).

Everyone had a great night and a few are heading back for more adventures!

Harlaw Cubs - update

Had a really busy term!  A camp at Daviot and this last weekend we were at Dalguise.  Well done to the cubs who all found the weekend a challenge and some fears where overcome!  Lots of high activities and  getting wet (more so for some!) and muddy!  Plenty of dirty washing returned home.  Lots of memories to last a lifetime.  Cereal though - Well done to you all.  A huge thanks to Karen, Heather, Gordon and Susan - without you we could not have done it!

We have also had three cubs achieve their Chief scout Silver award.  Well done to you too!

Akela

Harlaw Cubs - Newsletter Feb 2012

Easyfundraising
Reminder - If doing online shopping please consider going through www.easyfundraising.org.uk. This website gives commission to us and is a good way of fundraising without having to do anything. There is a huge range of shops and services available. So please do have a look at the site. If you need any help or information, please contact me.

Good News
New camp equipment has been bought with the help of funds raised and from grants. A total of £7000 has been spent replacing some tents that are 30+ years old, new stoves to cope with our ever growing group as well as lighting for dark nights.
Bingo Night

We will be holding a family prize bingo night in our hut on Saturday 17TH March at 7pm. Any donations of homebakes to sell and raffle prizes will be gratefully received.
Monies raised at this event will go to the group funds.

Friendship Camp – 20th – 22nd April at Templars Park, Mary Culter
Between Huntly and Harlaw Cubs we have a total of 31 cubs interested in attending this camp. Programme planning begins next week for this. Will advise cost and issue forms as soon as possible.

Group Camp – Haddo Campsite
My most sincere apologies, but I sent out the wrong date for this event at the beginning of this term. The date for camp is the 15th – 17th June (not 22nd – 24th). I am aware that this may change some of your intentions to attend. I am aware that the Evolution dance show is the following weekend and participants in this may have to leave camp earlier on the Sunday to attend technical rehearsals. Camp permission forms will be issued for this at the beginning of April.

Dalguise Trip – 19th October – 22nd October 2012
Our deposit has been received by PGL and we will shortly prioritising with the cubs which activities they would like to do. We will be travelling by bus from W & G Coaches leaving Inverurie Swimming pool car park on the Friday at 12.30pm (time to be confirmed).
Second payment of £25 is due by 20th March. Third payment of £40 will be due either by the last meeting before summer holidays (26th June) or through my letterbox during the month of July. I will expect the final payment of £25 by the 25th September. This final figure will be discounted if you help at the bag packing booked for the 8th September at M & S Inverurie. Unfortunately cubs can not help at this event. Please confirm that you are able to help at the bag packing.

Our cub pack is continuing to grow and we welcome a group of beavers from Ury colony into our pack. These beavers are due to swim up at Beavers on Monday 26th March. I will be looking for some sixers to attend that meeting.

As the pack is ever growing I will need to call on the help from parents from time to time. If you are unable to do the rota, please try to swap with another parent or let me know so I can make alternative arrangements.
Water Aid

Well done to the cubs for keeping me right during our water aid performance. Thank you to all the parents for supporting us and for your kind donations. The final figure sent off to water aid was a staggering £170.
Well done cubs!

Our website is WWW.Inveruriescouts.co.uk up and running. Please check out our blog – especially in severe weather as I will update this if cubs are to be cancelled.
Harlaw Cubs