Welcome Back to Face to Face Scouting

After spending 18 months in Zoom meetings, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from Kyle and Carrick District are very pleased to be getting back to face to face meetings. We would like to welcome all our young people and volunteers back into face to face Scouting and celebrate all the positives that have happened in the past 18 months!

From young people participating in ‘camps at home’, crafts and science over zoom and a great number of other activities. We are delighted that the future is looking brighter and we are hopeful for a ‘forever’ return to Face to Face Scouting following all the uncertainty that the last 18 months has brought!

It has been fantastic to see so many groups already taking advantage of the move to green over the last couple of weeks, with so many exciting activities getting started. It is always amazing to see the creativity and energy that every volunteer and young people brings to Scouting, during the covid restrictions and now that restrictions have eased! So Thank You. 

Most of the groups in South Ayrshire are taking adventure of the good weather undertaking activities outside. These have included lots of walks, thus clocking up miles for the Hikes Away badge, toasting marshmallows on an open fire has also been a popular activity, especially when they are squashed between two chocolate biscuits.

Forbes from the 14th Ayrshire Cub Group (Prestwick) said, ‘I’m so happy to be able to see my friends and my leaders, doing new activities and playing games with them again! Although Zoom meetings were fun, being able to see everyone is much better!’

Fiona, GLS for the 14th Ayrshire Scout Group (Prestwick) said ‘Through lockdown we had a reduction in our numbers and this was expected. However, the young people are now coming back in their droves. They are so excited to see friends and volunteers they’ve only seen over Zoom. They are looking forward to pioneering, visits from the fire brigade, pitching tents, playing games and a host of other activities.’

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said recently. ‘Scouting is Good for You’ as it gets you out of the house, gives you the opportunity to share hobbies and interests with young people, gives you the chance to learn new skills and make friends.’

Debs Olesen, District Commissioner for Kyle and Carrick Scout Group said, “It’s fantastic that once again we can start to provide face to face Scouting across South Ayrshire. This is a great opportunity for Scouting, to grow and adapt as they have done throughout the pandemic. We are welcoming young people back, and over time we would love to be in a position to offer a place in Scouting to every boy and girl who wants to join”.

Seeing all the sections across the district restarting face to face can only be a positive for the South Ayrshire community. Getting young people active, engaging with friends but most of all having fun and adventures again!

Below are some photos of groups that have returned to face to face activities in the last few weeks. We are looking forward to sharing more photos over the next couple of months.

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Hammock fun with the 48th Cubs Dundonald

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Boys outside all night tonight, they had a great night. 1st Ayrshire Scout Group – Tarbolton

A good first night back for scouts and explorers with a games night. 43rd Ayrshire scout Group – Kincaidston

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12th Ayrshire – Kingcase are back – Scouts put up the District tent, also Scouts and Beavers pioneered, Beavers with marshmallows &.straws, sadly the were Scouts camera shy.

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Straight back into scouting activities for the 14th Ayrshire Beavers, Cubs and Scout- -Prestwick

If you are interested in helping out with Beavers (boys and girls aged 6 to 8), Cubs (boys and girls aged 8 to 10), Scouts (boys and girls aged 10 to 14), or Explorers (boys and girls aged 14 to 17) or helping in the background with things such as building maintenance, finances etc, please contact Kyle and Carrick Scouts using the link below. If you would like to join Scouts Association in Ayrshire we have groups across the Kyle and Carrick district. Find more information on Kyle and Carrick Scout District

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I Love to go a Wandering…

Hello, my name is Harry Bevan and I am 6 years old. I have been in the 14th Ayrshire Beaver Scouts (Prestwick) since last August and I have enjoyed it because I have been able to do lots of activities. When Fiona (my Beaver leader) told us about the Hikes Away activity badge I was excited because I like hiking. I like to walk because I love climbing trees and when I have been hiking, I have come across a lot of big trees to climb

I really like climbing trees at Culzean and down by the River Ayr.

Hiking is good fun because I also get to collect sticks and if I find really big ones, my dad and I have ninja fights! Through Lockdown, my Mum, Dad and I went on a lot of hikes and I really liked spending time with them. My favourite was the last hike we did from Dundonald Castle through the woods and to Collennan Reservoir. I thought walking through the woods was exciting because there were lots of rocks to climb and when we got to the reservoir I spent ages rolling down the big hill.

I can’t wait to take some of my friends there when we are allowed to go out in groups again.

There isn’t anything I don’t like about hiking if the weather is good. If there are snacks in the bag, I am good to go! I don’t like hiking in the pouring rain because I get absolutely soaked. I remember one walk we did last Lockdown around the Fairy Knowe Trail at Barr. It wasn’t a long walk but felt like it.

We tried to eat lunch under the trees but our food got soggy!

I liked the stepping stones at the end though and want to go back when it’s dry.

Everybody should hike because they will get exercise and exercise is important to be healthy. They should also hike because they will have fun, they will see lots of different places and different types of nature. I have seen a lot of different plants including an orange mushroom at Rozelle (Mum says it’s an Orange Peel Fungus).

I am very proud getting my Hikes Away badge for 10 walks and even more proud because Fiona said no-one in the group has ever given out a stage 10 badge before. I am happy that something I like earned me a badge.

A massive well done to Harry for being the first Member of the 14th Ayrshire Scout Group (Prestwick ) to reach stage 10 Hikes Away Activity Badge. To earn each stage a Beaver Scout’s hike, must involve at least two hours of activity and a purpose. These walks can be anything from: exploring a country park or nature reserve on foot or going on a family ramble. All I ask is that the Beavers take some photos and tell me where they went and what wildlife they saw. I’ve loved seeing all of Harry’s walking adventures, he’s walked for more than 20 hours in all weathers to get to stage 10. He’s been a true inspiration to his fellow Beavers during Lockdown and I can’t wait to see where his adventures will take him next. (Fiona Hainey Beaver Scout Leader 14th Ayrshire Scout Group).

If you want to get involved or join the Scouts Association in Ayrshire we have groups across the Kyle and Carrick district. Find more information on http://www.kcscouts.scot

#skillsforlife

#kyleandcarrickscouts

#hikes

#adventures

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My Mission To Get My Chief Scout Silver Award

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HI my name is Kaleb Strong and I am 9 years old and I am in the 14th Ayrshire Cub Scout group in Prestwick. In Lockdown I have been working towards my Chief Scout Silver Awardas I wanted to give myself a challenge. To get the badge I had to complete 7 challenge badges. For each of the challenge badges I had to do lots of different requirements some took longer than others and I just did a bit every day after home schooling. The tasks were challenging but at the same time they were lots of fun and gave me a break from boring school work!

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My most challenging challenge award of them all was most definitely the Team Leadership badge. The part of the badge I was most nervous about was hosting the Cub meeting last Friday. It took me three days to get all the games ready but I really wanted to do it as I knew this was my last challenge badge. I emailed Fiona (the Beavers leader) a couple of times to check it sounded good which it did so that helped lots. I was really really nervous but I managed to do it and it looked like everyone had lots of funplaying all my games and all my friends listened really well which stopped me being so nervous. My Cub leaders Craig and Pete told me at the end I did really well so that made me feel really happy.

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The best part about doing the badges in Lockdown is once you complete a badge you get a surprise letter through your door addressed to you. In the letter there is the badge that you earned and a certificate with a message on the back signed by Fiona which is really nice and she always tells you how proud she is of you which makes you want to keep going for it.

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I am so excited to have got my Chief Scout Silver Award which is the highest award that you can get in Cubs. Fiona and Craig came round to my front door on Saturday to present it to me, I could hardly wait. My Mum, Dad and little brothers Izaak and Jarod are so proud of me and said we are going to have a treat dinner on to celebrate my achievement.

Over recent weeks and months, Kaleb has done tremendously well working on his badges during a difficult time for all. From earning his Stage 1 Musician badge through to his Artistic Activity badge and his Thistle badge, he has always shown great determination. He is one of very few in the Scouting movement to earn all three stages of the Great Indoors Badge and he has already made great headway with his Hikes Away badges, getting to Stage 5 in a short time. Perhaps most awe-inspiring is his effort to gain his Challenge Awards, with many of the Skills, My World and My Personal Challenge badges earned since the New Year, alongside his Outdoor and Adventure Challenge badges. Completing his Leadership Challenge badge through leading the Cubs’ Zoom session recently was most pleasing to see, and in gaining his Chief Scout’s Silver Award Kaleb and his family can be rightly proud of all he has achieved…the 14th Ayrshire Leaders certainly are! 🌟 Cub leaders Craig, Pete and Daniela said.

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Scouts’ Christmas Party Extravaganza Goes Online This Year

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts groups across the Kyle and Carrick District joined forces to celebrate the festive season through a virtual event instead of our usual face 2 face Christmas Carol Service.

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For just over an hour on Friday night over 95 young people aged between 6-14, came together with their families, logged on to take part, making Christingles, singing Christmas songs and watching some brilliant videos of our young people decorating a Christmas Tree and reciting a Scout Poem ‘Twas the Camp Before Christmas’. There was also a festive family quiz! with all activities going down a treat! We finally finished up by celebrating all the awards and achievements by young people and our amazing adult volunteers which have been presented over this really rather extraordinary year!

Yuri Scout Leader for the 18th Ayrshire Group, who put together the Christmas Tree Decoration video said: “I was so happy to see so many great bauble videos and I had so much fun together with my wife and son making our part of the video. I hope you all enjoyed the end result.”

Click on the link below to watch the amazing Kyle and Carrick District Scouts decorate the Christmas tree. https://fb.watch/2ebp0jjeJ_/

The Star of the Christmas Tree decoration video is Scout Joshua, he said “it was amazing to see so many people joining in with the video and I enjoyed being part of the production.”

Click the link below to watch the Kyle and Carrick District Scouts reciting the Scouting poem ‘Twas The Camp Before Christmas. https://fb.watch/2eb9dlmH7U/

Wendy Scout Leader for the Ballantrae 2nd Ayrshire Group who constructed ‘Twas The Camp Before Christmas’ said: “It was great to be able to get the whole district of Kyle and Carrick involved, initiating cooperation throughout Ayrshire, and giving our young people and leaders a feeling of a Scouting Christmas.’

District Commissioner Debs said : “Our young people should feel incredibly proud of what they achieved throughout this year, we hope it has inspired them to take on new hobbies, whether that be baking, bauble making or bingo calling! I also cannot thank our incredible Adult Leaders and Volunteers enough for all their hard work and dedication during this most challenging of years, they are an inspiration and we couldn’t do any of this without them!”

The event comes after the success of a number of other online events that leaders have worked hard to run over the summer and autumn months which saw young people in all sections taking part in virtual camps, Halloween events, and a photography competition.

The feedback from our parents and young people has been fantastic! Despite everyone being spread across Ayrshire, seeing them all on one screen, singing, waving and laughing together brought an overwhelming sense of joy and renewed comradery for all involved.

Beaver Scout Lewis said ” I loved doing the quiz as a family and enjoyed lighting the candle on my Christingle and eating the sweets from it at the end.”

I couldn’t believe how many people were on and the zoom party, I loved seeing the videos of everyone.” said Beaver Scout Crawford.

Mum Jill, whose son attends the 14th Ayrshire Scout Group (Prestwick), said: “During lockdown my son Lewis, along with all young people couldn’t attend Beaver Scouts, but the amazing leaders provided a weekly Zoom meeting instead, as well as fun activities to complete at home. His summer was full of games, laughter and badge work. The leaders who organise these events and give up their time are amazing and so committed to the children. My son and I loved the virtual camps and parties, although we are looking forward to returning to face to face scouting soon!”

Here is Where Our Family Scouting Story Begins….

Written by Harris Cattanach – Beaver Scout.

My name is Harris Cattanach and I am seven years old. I’m a Beaver Scout in the 14th Ayrshire Scout group in Prestwick. When my Dad was young he was also a Beaver in the 14th Ayrshire Scout group (Prestwick )which was the first group of Beavers for the 14th!

My dad has recently been tidying the attic and found lots of interesting things from scouting history, like his old cub hat, his scout uniform, two scout flags and a certificate to celebrate 70 years of scouting. My dad doesn’t have as many badges as I do because if you completed a camp you would get a flag instead of a badge. It was interesting to see that my dad’s scouting shirt from over 30 years ago had the exact same badges on the right arm as my Beavers sweatshirt! The flags are from 1978 and 1980 which means that they can’t have belonged to my dad as he was born in 1977 and would only have been a baby then. We’re not sure where they came from but we like that they are a part of scouting history!

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At our last Beavers meet up, I brought all of my Dad’s old things to show everyone. Everyone liked the certificate the best. It was given to my dad when he was a cub in 1986 when scouting was 70 years old. I am going to keep all of my Beavers things so I can show them to my kids when I’m older.

Harris showing his Beaver friends all of his Dads historic Scouting items

Scouting is One Big Adventure

My name is Innes Begen, I am 7 years and 11 months old. I am a Beaver in the 18th Ayrshire Scout Group (St. Columba’s, Ayr). I have achieved lots during lockdown and over the summer, so I will tell you about some of my badgework and adventures in this blog…….

In July I went on holiday to the Lake District. Whilst I was there I learnt to drive a motor boat. I wore a life jacket and so did my mum, dad and sister. I had to steer the boat, keeping the green buoys to my right hand side. The boat went fast but I liked to go slow, then surprise everyone by speeding up!!! We camped in a landpod and cooked dinner on a fire. In the lake district, a small river is called a ghyll, in Scotland we call it a burn. I took part in a really scary adventure activity called Ghyll scrambling. It is when you wear a wet suit, a life jacket, old trainers with no laces and a helmet. You then trek up a mountain, and slide, jump and half-swim down the ghyll to the bottom. It was cold and wet. It was very terrifying. I was one of the youngest people to take part. These activities helped me achieve my time on the water badge.

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Horse riding was something else new I tried out and absolutely loved. My mum organised it as a surprise. She told me to wear smart boots and old joggies so I was very confused and had no idea what I was going to do. I guessed on the way it was horseriding. I learned how to mount the horse, and to ride it slowly and gallop. If you kick its side, it moves forward. The harder you kick it the faster it will move. If you pull the reign on the right it turns right, if you pull the riegn on the left it turns left. If you pull both reigns at the same time, the horse stops. I even did a jump. It was so much fun!

I love making and creating things. At the beginning of lockdown I created the blue peter badge with paper quills. I mounted it and posted it to Blue Peter at the BBC. 10 weeks later I recieved a Blue Peter Badge award through the post. I also designed and made henna tattoos and a tie-dye t-shirt.

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My family grew in lockdown from 6 (me, mum, dad, sister, 2 fish) to 8. The new Begens are Flopsy and Fluffy, our rabbits. They are so adorable, cute, sweet and a little bit naughty. They likle to steal treats from each other even though they are sisters, and when we give them corn they still sneak through the nets of our veg patch to nibble the corn we grow. I took lots of pictures and videos, then edited them to make a movie with music to show my Beaver friends my rabbits. I showed it over one of our Beavers zoom calls. For all my work I earned my pet care and digital citizen badges.

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My Beaver leader Fiona delivered loads of badges for me and I have now been made Fir lodge leader. That made me really happy. I am excited for even more adventures, sleep outs and virtual camps over winter with the Beavers!

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Fiona Beaver Leader “It is great to see how determined our Beavers are to carry on Scouting, even during these difficult times. Innes has proven to be unstoppable he has worked hard completing his Teamwork and Outdoors Challenge badges as well as 4 Staged badges, 2 activity badges and earning his Leadership Stripes. The Leaders of 18th Ayrshire are incredibly proud of Innes and all he has achieved. Watch this space as I believe this young man is about to earn himself a Bronze Award too!“

Get Set To Get Wet

Written by Beaver Scout Jamie Pitt

My name is Jamie Pitt and I am 7 years old. I am a Beaver Scout in the 14th Ayrshire Scout Group (Prestwick). During my summer I have been learning new skills in the water around Ayrshire! I have written this blog all about my new hobby and trying to earning some new badges at the same time!

I take sailing lessons at the Sailing Club in Prestwick. I wear my old shoes, wetsuit and a life jacket. We had to pull the sailing boats down to the beach and at the end we have to jump off into the water and get the trolley for the boat. You have to hold the setting the right way, like a dagger – if you push it right the boat goes left if you push it left the boat goes right!

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Photo credit: Eddie Wallace’s amazing Prestwick Bays sunset. Jamie and 3 fellow Beavers were lucky enough to be captured in this photo having their sailing lessons (Jack, Lewis & Harris C)

One of the best bits of the sailing lesson is at the end we all get to jump into the water! The life jackets keep you a float but we all splash and laugh, its really great fun.

I have also started paddle boarding with my friend and Beaver Jack. We wear wetsuits and try and keep our balance while paddling. Its hard but I can stand up now and paddle quite far! Once when I was on the paddle board I fell off, but Jack threw a surf board to me and saved me! You always need to paddle board with a friend.

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On holiday I got to go fishing and I got to drive a motor boat and sit in the drivers seat – I loved it! I also went donut-ing! On my first try I managed to stay on but on my second try I fell off but I was all right and swam back to the boat. It was brilliant.

I LOVE WATER SPORTS!!!!!!!

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Fiona the Beaver Leader from the 14th Ayrshire Scout Group said ‘ wow what water adventures you have had Jamie. I am delighted to see you embracing new hobbies and skills.’

‘There are lots of staged water sport badges to earn and you have already earned the first stage in Paddle Sports, Sailing and Time on the Water! What a busy summer you have had!’

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