Time to be out!

 Although the weather out there this morning isn't the greatest for it, there is nothing to match the twanquility of exploring the countyside during the summer months.

If you're lucky you'll see as I have a number of times this summer colourful butterflies out and about.

Of course you may encounter a Bumble Bee or Honey Bee on your travels too.

Sailing

This is a scene I can well recall going sailing in my teens on a vast man-made pool with the support of a local sailing club, learning to master the sails, ensuring ones head wasn't hit the the boom toward the middle of the picture on  bright sunny day

Ideas from afar

Another warm day here.

An interesting picture that does go some way to answering what a modern day Scouts uniform could be had the changes of 1966/7 not gone ahead.

We have the traditional heavy double breast pocket with a to the elbow sleeve which has some space for badges coupled with just above the knee length green shorts not so far removed to that soldiers in warmer climates do wear.

The socks seem to be a cream white with traditional garters but red topped off by white trainers which I know will have the purists fuming but at least they are suitable for most outdoor activities.

It looks smart and distinctive which a uniform I feel needs to be  - it should turn heads - and practical

Scouting and the environment

Respect for nature is important and nature plays a part in scouting running through the adoption of The Jungle Book within Wolf Cubs originally not just for leadership issues but also for the need to conserve our environment.

Cubs and Scouts today do work on awards based around the environment and conservation and these two cubs have just finished making their bird boxes to help maintain our bird life by providing them with a place to nests.

Increasing pressures of population growth have led to reduced tree coverage and also intensive agriculture has removed hedgerows so such measures do help.

Politics and Scouting

This illustration is from the Boy Scouts of America to which any Briton would instinctively know this could never happen here because in this country it is accepted and written in to some of our laws even that NO CHILD should be involved in political activity nor should he or she be subjected to political persuasion especially by those in in which his care is invested such as teachers, sunday school instructors or adults in scouting.

Even for say a troop to put up notices advertising an Election or to distribute Polling Cards would not be accepted as the odd Scout Master has found out although personally I regard that as a extreme interpretation of a well intentioned rule and feel to take part in an election is a civic duty of every adult.

They certainly cannot under any circumstances distribute political material.

Summer is here

 

Summer is here and with a vengence so the seasonal call for people to excercise care while out camping out is out although you shouldn't need to tell any Scout or former members about such matters as how to light and extinguish our camp fires and keep any areas we use tidy, free from litter.

The good thing about summer is (fingers crossed) no mud, lots of daylight so events can run most of the day and loads of fresh air as we enjoy camp and who didn't at the time?

I just loved this time of year as a boy.

Learning through play

Things some may not of expected to had seen but always were a part of it, playing does a part of scouting especially when using the much respected Lego sets, you can learn to make things which bring in both practical and engineering based skills.

Here the First Datchet Sea Scouts Cub Section are working together on quite an advanced modelwhile others having made theirs are playing with them.
 

Tree climbing

Attitudes to certain types of boyhood activity have changed over the decades from when seeing things like shimming up drainpipes to climbing trees were seen as desirable masculine pursuits that tought you how to handle risks to todays very risk adverse that discourages such adventure.

I loved to try such things as wobbly on foot I was, seeing it as a challenge to be taken on, facing your fears as much as I would accept a hard hat would make sense if you were going well into the tress canopy with its risks of coming down fast living with the effects of a brain injury personally.

I feel overall that sense of adventure is better for boys than a more slower more bookwormish approach.
 

Having fun in the Cubs

Cubs away from their own "Den" don't just do age appropriate things around their camp such as helping to keep it clean, organizing and generally contributing but do some more pure fun things such going to play centres  and theme parks as a pack with leaders and other trusted adults.

Here these cubs are having great fun doing piggy backs with the scout leader after playing on the slide behind them which helps to form bonds between all .

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After the last post, I think this is a good summary of the kind of feeling of kinship and adventure you may well experience this time rowing a boat along the like with such beautiful views along side you, everyone having to work together.

Around the ages of eight to eleven I can remember rowing with friends and an adult a boat across a long extensive pool in the glistening sunshine having a whale of a time.

Marking the Platinum Jubilee

As touched upon on Friday these few days are different for being the Queen's Platinum Jubilee marking her seventy years on the throne which are being reflected across of all society here and Scouting is no exception.

The Queen was a GirlGuide herself, gaining her awards entirely on merit, just like anyone else and is the Patron of  Scouts, showing in her approach to life those values she learned and we all hold dear not least her sense of committment.

In Scouts there is specific Platinum challenge open to all to work towards not least that Platinum Jubilee badge and in the last few days no doubt a good number have been doing things towards that.

Beacons are really quite an old established way to communicate things such as danger of risk of invasion so for centuries lighting a beacon at a point it can be seen for miles around.

Today it is kept for ceremonial purposes and a massive chain of beacons was established for such events and scouts and girls guides amongst others lit over 1,200 beacons such as those at Betley and Dudley to mark this anniversary.

How a beacon is lit was something the longstanding children's magazine program, Blue Peter showed in it's Jubilee special edition on Friday which did include a feature on Girl Guiding.

Two young scouts lit theirs in this photograph.

Three cheers for our Queen and Patron!

Queen's Birthday Awards

It was the Queen's birthday yesterday and so honours are announced from Her Majesty in that period so today will will take note of them on this blog

Ann G. Limb (former UK Chair of the Scout Association), and Graham Haddock (a member of the Scout Association Board of Trustees) for services to young people.

Ann inspired by adult volunteers from Girlguiding and Scouts, and teachers who believed in spoke out against injustice and create opportunities for all regardless of background

Between 2015 and 2021, Ann served as the first female, and openly gay, Chair of Scouts. She led outstandingly in her position, and played a fundamental role in helping young people gain skills for life.

Her award also recognizes her philanthropic work too.

Graham has been volunteer for more than 40 years, holding roles at Group, District, Area, Scotland, and UK levels. At the moment, Graham’s a member of the UK Board of Trustees, the Vice President of Scouts Scotland, and he’s been Chief Commissioner of Scotland for seven years.

Nottinghamshire Scouts and Avon Scout County are receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The award recognises the outstanding work of local volunteer groups to improve their communities. Their achievements highlight the many ways fantastic volunteers contribute to their local communities, and make life better for those around them.

This is the highest award a voluntary organization can achieve and is equal to a MBE.

Among a number of Scouts who were awarded Platinum Champions awards here in the Midlands one sticks out.

Nicola Johnson, from Sandwell Scouts – Nicola’s driven Scouts forward in Sandwell with her ambition and dedication, helping as many young people as possible access Scouts.

The Platinum Awards  recognize and reward volunteers who have tvery much gone the extra mile, and celebrate the country’s spirit for volunteering. It links nicely with the celebration of HM The Queen’s 70 years of service especially noting her service as a Patron of Scouts in that time.

These awards all go someway towards showing not only the work people in scouting put in but also the value of Scouting for Children and Young People.

Follys to climb

 

One place quite high up and thus a challenge fairly close to here is the Village of Mow Cop.

Mow Cop is perhaps best known for the sham castle built there by Randle Wilbraham in 1750. There are conflicting opinions on this attractive ruin, some say it was already built in its ruinous style, others that it was formerly a summerhouse for the Wilbraham family. Whatever the truth, it is a hard climb to get too see the building, but once there it is worth for the spectacular views and the feeling of being almost on top of the world.

It is situated along Congleton Edge that forms the boundary between  administrive Staffordshire and Cheshire although in  practise much goverment services comes from Staffordshire and the West Midlands Region.