Mid Winter

 It's that time of year as the catkins come out as I noticed between this rain and snow ridden January had emerged while walking about yesterday morning dodging the puddles telling us it's mid winter.

A scattering of the white stuff

While the news yesterday remarked upon this month being the hottest on record in parts of the UK such as Northwestern Scotland it certainly wasn't like that early last week here with temperatures in the minus's and snow.

Well wrapped up with my best gripping footwear on I went out exploring looking for new growth and birds.

The way the snow landed on this tree stumps bark makes for an interesting pattern.
 

A pause in the activity

Angler wangler what?

He's in the right place for a spot of fishing a hobby of which can count toward your badge and awards but we're taking a break for a sandwich which being made from a bap is easier to hold onto so it doesn't fall into the river.

It looks as if something has caught his eye as often it does me whenever I'm on river or canal banks and those early steps in learning a skill and learning to concentrate, waiting patiently for the prize.

Pathways

It is interesting how pathways are formed over time not by being purposely created but by people embarking on a route and continuing along it so the grass covering is exposed.

The trees in the background do appear at first glance to have formed a structure but it is an optical illusion.
 

There was thank goodness little damage here from  this weekends storm.

Winter Sun

Winter can be a great time to be out either if like this weekend gone it had its challenges such as storms so I wasn't out much yesterday as flying debris isn't good for Cubs or anyone else really.

On the other hand around here the Winter Sun is really lovely bringing out strong colours and fine detail in say tree trunks and just for being out feeling it on your skin as you watch the birds and squirrels.

 

Play in snow

 Playing in the snow, something we are down to get today during this bitterly cold snap that saw temperatures drop to minus eight degrees yesterday I rather feel he'll feel that if my experiences are anything to go by as much as his footwear is spot on for stying upright in this weather.

Mnay local children have made snow men with branches for arms and a carrot for a nose here.

Hiking in the snow

 With more than a nod to conditions outdoors with temperatures below freezing and snow one can only imagine a organized scout hiking expedition in the winter months and yet they survived!

I cannot see any UK scouts being allowed today to hike in such conditions due to health and safety concerns and the threat of litigation should *anything* go wrong.

The rucksack

 You can't travel far on foot without needing at least a stop if not one or more overnight stays on a hike and not everywhere is vehicle accessible even if really that's the best option availbler to you.

The thing you need is a rucksack which I can remember at the age of nine having to get to grips with for a few long hikes.

It's a bag like structure which is secured on a frame which then is carefully fastened on to your back and come in varying capacities.

Because it is on you, not to one side it's essential to balence out the weight so not to put an undue strain on your back, something getting a quarter of way into a hike you'll notice of you got that wrong!

At the very bottom the less used items go and above them on the lower third of your back go the heavier items.

Lighter items go above that to roughly your shoulder height and finally at the very top those thing you will need to use on a frequent basis.

Bags all differ a little in terms of internal organization but this exploded a guide to what should be in each level with the rear back and side pockets.

Obviously on a short day hike you can leave much out but have enough  space for food allowing for any incidents, first aid, maps with compass and your camera.

Getting this right isn't just about being comfortable travelling miles on foot but ensuring everything you need is at hand so you enjoy your days out.

Using a compass and map

 One of the most important things to learn is to orientate using a map and compass as allowing a little between magnetic and true north it is one of the most accurate ways available to you and doesn't suffer from "batteries are low".

Taking responsibility seriously when out

One bullet that cannot be dodged in scouting is the responsibility a Group leader and others has to those children and young adults out on an adventure be it local or further afield.

My thoughts revolve around the hearing into an ill fated exercise by a group of Venture Scouts from Reddish, Stockport currently going through a hearing that resulted in one sixteen year old losing his life having fall to his death on the Great Orme, Llandudno, Wales an area I have walked around personally in all weathers.

The groups original plan was to go walking up Snowdon but this had been called off due to bad weather, not uncommon up there knowing that well so the Group leader seemingly arranged for walking to take place on the Orme as a replacement activity.

Normally in scouting everything around such activities is set through POR, Policy. Organization and Rules and you can't just gather members up and go off.

First thing is there was no First Aider which is a requirement from which gather one was assumed to be going with them but upon arrival was not to be found.

It shouldn't be assumed, it needs to confirmed, recorded AND contact needs to be made to ascertain how they were to proceed such as if a First Aider was available to come out to them and clarify what activities if none wore available could be safely undertaken.

This tends to be a reason for using Outward Bound Centres and the like for such activities - they take care of all of that.

The second and in some ways more worrying aspect was how the young lad and friend became seperated from the main party that was in any event running beyond Rules which meant they had no responsible adult supervising them.

This simply should not be. The group needs to stay together unless a seperate party is formed AND that has to be supervised.

That with the absence of Map to ensure he was on safe trail has how sadly he came to lose his life.

It's hard to avoid the conclusion this affair could of been avoided had the Group Leader followed the set down procedures and rules which do exist and to which no doubt local leaders will be reminded of.

Rules can be a pain and risk assessments aren't always flavour of the month but these thing exist for a reason.

Camping in Winter

 

Brrr it was zero degrees overnight with ice about as I got about towards the woods yesterday morning sorting my gloves and thick hat and coat but can Winter stop outdoor camping?

The short answer is NO as this boy camped out in the cold but you must dress appropriately with lots of layers, make sure you have a really good ground sheet to keep that cold from seeping into your back and proper footwear well insulated and with excellent grip.

These days I'd add on top of your provisions, some means of cooking and a decent map, a mobile phone in case of any difficulty as old school phone boxes no longer exist in many areas.

Outdoors in 24 Challenge

Let's be honest.

Many of us are struggling with post covid life where we were kept indoors in an anxious environment with parks closed, restrictions on just how far we could leave home, our physical health may well of been impacted from the virus (mine was) and worrying cases seem to be on the rise again.

What we know is being outdoors with a bit of thought about safety, safeguarding and things we need with us can help by getting in fresh air, stimulating the senses as we take an interest around us as we find out more about nature and even get together holding fun events.

That's where Outdoors in 24 can fit in either as youngster in scouting or someone who is more young at heart and for scouts completing the 24 challenges which like most things can be adapted to suit age and any disabilities, can earn you the blanket badge

These may include Den Building, sleeping out in a tent, organizing a camp fire with skits, song and marshmallows, making wild art from what's around you, wild fruit picking or what in Japan they call Forest Bathing which basically is slow walking between the trees taking in the experience with all your senses.

Trying wide games, watching the skies and stars, getting muddy making mud art, doing a mud obstacle course or muddy adventure walk trying an activity with sand or snow.

How does having an adventure on wheels grab you? You might try kite flying, having a picnic, seeing a waterfall or planting something.

There's really lots of things you could be doing that are fun and will help keep you heathy so are you going to give it a shot?

It sure appeals to me.

The Boy's Brigade

 

The Boys' Brigade was originated in Scotland, United Kingdom, which was the world's first uniformed organization for youth and was founded in Glasgow by Sir William Alexander Smith on 4 October 1883. 

It has a history of 130 years.

The Object of The Boys' Brigade is: “The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.”

It was originally organised in a military style and we have a legacy of that today in some of our terminology. The local unit is the "Company", companies in an area form a "Battalion". Those leaders who are trained and enrolled by BB are Warrant Officers, Lieutenants or, if in charge of a company, Captains.

Over the years, BB has developed its programmes of activities, keeping pace with the expectations of young people.

The national organisation sets standards for leader training, and safety and child protection policies.

Pictured is the 1934 uniform.

New Year edition

It's the New Year where in the UK New Year honours are handed out for acts of community service of which a fair number have been given to those in Scouting and GirlGuiding for providing service as leaders, district comissioners and so on.

These people play a massive part in making all that happens in the world of scouts and guides happen, organizing activities, supervision awards, fund raising and being the back office handling the everyday stuff with no charge for their labour.

It isn't just that scouts without them would be impossible, it's the impact over time in our communities that contribution makes to raising the next generation to play a full role themselves that sometimes the statutory services like education don't quite manage despite their very best efforts.

That's why beyond those individual honours we should give thanks for what all in every part of scouting are doing.

Here's to scouting in 2024!