News from Kotemark Explorer Scouts

Following the visit of the Belgian Scouts to Beacon Hill the Scout Leader, Mathias, has been in touch to let us know how the rest of the trip went;
See first article

Mathias writes;

The rest of the trip went very well. 

We only were in a thunderstorm in Canterbury where we needed to leave our tents for 2 hours due to the risk of falling trees. Luckily we didn't have any damage. 

We returned on the 21st of July. We left the UK with good weather, but when we crossed the channel the wind came up and we had a very hard way back to Belgium.

Horsham will be for always in our minds. When I came home, I watched the photo's from our trip and when I saw the campsite I immediately searched the twitter account and found the news item about our visit. I shared it with my scouting group and it was a huge success. Everybody loved the story about our trip.

 Yours in Scouting is a phrase that is probably the same like our Dutch saying: Een stevige scoutslinker (also known as: A firm Scouting left hand shake)

Mathias Pauwelyn

Scouting Leader Givers (Explorers) from Scouts Kortemark

Kortemark is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Handzame, Kortemark Werken and Zarren. On January 1, 2006 Kortemark had a total population of 11,976. It is located between Bruges and Ypres with easy reach from the channel ports of Dunkirk and Ostend.

Here is the link to Givers website - Kortemark Givers Scouts

 

Horsham Weald Scouts Jamboree Pedal

Members of the West Sussex 23rd World Scout Jamboree contingent from Horsham Weald District pedaled with support from friends and parents part way to Japan today.
They set up 7 turbo trainers and together clocked up more 600 miles.
Each member of the contingent had sponsors for the distance covered.

Megan and Scott are part of the team - they explained what they have been doing to the Distroct Commissioner for Scouts in Horsham Weald.

If you would like to make a contribution to help Horsham Weald Scouts attend the World Jamboree in Japan next year or would like to find out more about volunteering for Scouts please contact Peter Scofield District Commissioner Horsham Weald Scouts by e-mail to dcweald@gmail.com or click this link Horsham Weald Scouts Want To Join page

Bag packing at Sainsburys to raise funds for Jamboree 2015

Scouts and Explorer Scouts attending the World Jamboree in Japan next year were bag packing at Sainsburys in Horsham today supported by leaders, parents and freinds from their Scout Groups.

Nick Bird who has been selected to attend the Jamboree explains what they were doing;

Horsham Weald Scouts say why they are bag packing in Sainsnburys;

If you would like to make a contribution to help Horsham Weald Scouts attend the World Jamboree in Japan next year or would like to find out more about volunteering for Scouts please contact Peter Scofield District Commissioner Horsham Weald Scouts by e-mail to dcweald@gmail.com or click this link Horsham Weald Scouts Want To Join page

3 Peaks Jamboree Challenge - WSJ 2015 5Th10th Horsham Scouts

 The Challenge

Megan Longdon (15) an Explorer Scout with Europa Explorer Scout Unit, Horsham Weald Scout District will be taking on the tough challenge of scaling the three highest peaks of the UK: Ben Nevis 1344m (29th July) Scotland, Scafell Pike 978m (30th July) England, Snowdon 1085m (31st July) Wales,.

The climbs will be completed over 3 days and may have the occasional surprise thrown in. 

Megan will be supported by a team consisting of Julia (15) another member of Europa ESU, and brother Dylan (13) from 5th /10th Horsham Scouts. 

Dad Simon, mum Mandy and sister Holly also from 5th/10th Horsham Weald Scouts plan to join for some of the treks

The Charity

Megan has been selected to attend the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan in 2015 as part of the UK contingent fees fund individual costs and help youths from LDC's to attend. In Japan, cross-cultural learning,looking at the environment, development, human rights, health, science and technology. A peace programme culminating in a trip to Hiroshima. Working closely with the local community. It is an extraordinary experience for everyone involved, providing them with something that will stay with them for life, as well as building strong ties with Scouts from other countries.

The Training

If only....... Hikes and cycle rides have been completed to prepare. Box Hill in Surrey was a good place to get used to the gradients. 

How can you help?

The following link to Mountain Warehouse is a Three Peaks Challenge competition to receive votes. The majority voted link will receive £5000 which Megan would put straight in to the Jamboree and give back the money donated by 5/10. It’s easy to vote but we need a few hundred votes to win.

Mountain Warehouse 3 Peaks Challenge - vote for Megan

The link below is to the 5/10 Virgin Just Giving site where Megan has a page for people to donate money for her climbing the Three Peaks.

To sponsor Megan click here 

Surprise visit from Belgian Scouts at Beacon Hill Campsite

On Monday afternoon (14th July 2014) a phone call from a group of Belgian Scouts was made to the Beacon Hill campsite chairman asking if an overnight stay could be arranged at very short notice.
The group were en-route from Bognor Regis to the planned over night stay at Dorking but due to unforeseen circumstances had to arrange alternative accommodation.
The group of 12 Belgian Scouts and Senior Scouts and 2 leaders started their journey in their home of Kortemark, a town 30 Km south of Bruges, have ridden their bicycles to Dunkirk, France and then from Folkestone along the English south coast to Bognor Regis and then inland to Horsham. Their journey continues today (15 July) towards Dover via Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Canterbury, Margate and Deal before returning home.
They all remarked that how much more hilly Kent and Sussex are than their own country!

Despite their long journey the group was in good spirits as they off this morning. They very much enjoyed the overnight stay in the relative comfort of Gummies - they didn't have to pitch their tents and had the luxury of cooking in a proper kitchen for a change.
They were all very impressed with the Horsham Scout Districts campsite (some didn't want to leave as it was so nice) and had enough energy to walk round the site before leaving. They were were on their bikes again by 10 am and were last seen peddling enthusiastically towards Crawley and East Grinstead.

The group's leaders Mathias and Arne expressed their thanks to Horsham Scouts for helping out at such short notice.
The rest of the group are:
Kimberley, Brecht, Astrid, Gregory, Fran, Sofie, Tine, Emma, Delphine, Emmelien, Lore, and Marie.



We hope they enjoyed their visit and very much hope they will want to come back for a longer stay in the future.


It is good to know that we can support our fellow Scouts whenever the need arises. This is just one of the benefits of being part of the Worldwide family of Scouting. 

Horsham Weald Scout District Cross Country Cycle Race

Sunday 29th June saw the “Horsham Weald Scout Cross Country cycle race” return with a bang. Despite the downpours on Saturday while setting the weather improved on the day. There were around 60 participants on the start line coming from all age groups (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers & Adults). All participants and spectators had a great time, supporting and encouraging each other throughout the day. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who took part, but particularly to all the finalists in each age group. A big thank you goes out to the following local businesses who supported the event, giving prizes and their time freely to ensure that it was a great success.

AD Cycles - www.adcycles.net, Tel: 01403258391, Twitter: @ADC_Horsham
The Candy Box, www.candybox.biz, Tel: 01403 254174
Battle Quest Games - info@battlequestgames.co.uk, Tel: 01403242003
Sussex Lighting UK Ltd – www.sussexlighting .co.uk, Tel: 01403241933, Twitter: @sussexlighting
Horsham Bikes – www.horshambikes.co.uk, Tel: 07880806209

Hear what some of those involved had to say;

AD Cycles - scrutineers and sponsors

A parent and participant

A Scout

Parents and participants

Simon - Horsham Bikes  - technical support and sponsor

 

Alan, Sam and the whole team are looking forward to next year’s event already and hope to increase participation at all levels and encouraging healthy competition within Horsham Weald Scout District.

Alan stated “Sam and I have been really thrilled with the take up at this year’s event. We hope the message gets passed around to other Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Leaders and parents to encourage more entries in 2015 and beyond. This was a fantastic Scout family event!” To find out more about joining Scouting and the opportunities it offers to adults and young people go to: Horsham Weald District - http://horshamwealdscouts.org/join.html West Sussex Scouts - http://www.westsussexscouts.org.uk/join-us/volunteer.aspx Scout Association - http://scouts.org.uk/get-involved/

To speak to the District Commissioner call - 0779 267 2443

Jamboree 2015 - Sponsored Cycle

PGL Adventure Weekend Offer

Here is an opportunity to offer a range of experiences for uniformed groups with qualified activity leaders. Paste the PGL Adventure Weekend in to your browser: www.pgl.co.uk/PGLWeb/Groups/uniformed-groups/adventure/courses/multiactivity.htm

GPS Picture

Ever wondered how good your young people were at route planning? Just exactly how straight a line can they tread? And if they need inspiration, would they be up for the challenge of drawing pictures that can be ‘seen from space’? As part of the 80th birthday celebrations we held for 1st Shipley Scout Group at the weekend, I got groups from all sections to show their creative side and try walking out a picture using nothing more than a GPS running watch (my Garmin 305), a large field and a bit of teamwork. The results were quite cool and can be seen online on. For an idea of what I am talking about without having to go online, here is a screenshot of a tent (mapped out over 0.17 of a mile.

The idea is simple but the results quite stunning. With enough people and perhaps a dot-to-dot effect, I reckon some quite complex shapes could be made, and why not extend it to hikes in general? With a creative mind, sections could devise routes over miles that write out words, recreate the constellations or make a massive fleur de lis? How about getting the West Sussex contingent of the World Scout Jamboree together and creating a ‘WA’?!!* But back to earth – the Group had a fabulous birthday party, the young people (and the once young people revisiting the HQ they have known and loved these last 8 decades) had a lot of fun and we even invested some new Beavers into the group. “WA: a Spirit of Unity” is the theme for the Jamboree. The Kanji Character “和” (WA) embraces many meanings such as unity, harmony, cooperation, friendship and peace. WA also represents Japan and its culture Chris Sturdy Explorer Scout Leader, Paladin DDC, Horsham Weald