Suisse Adventure 2013

To prove that Scouting activities never stop, this is what 29 Explorers and 8 Leaders from Romsey District did during August.  They spent two glorious weeks in Switzerland at the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC).  The team also included our District Commissioner but he cannot be seen on any of the following pictures, or can he?!

Sunrise over Lake  Oeschinensee

Kandersteg beyond viewed from on top of Gallihorn 

1200m higher than the campsite

Renewal of promise at sunrise at Lake Oeschinensee

Crossing a glacier on Lotschenpasse Hike

Whitewater rafting

Sandwich making

From these photographs you can just see what a fabulous time they all had, apparently there was some rain or was it hail?  However, nothing could spoil such a Scouting Adventure.
 
The next County trip will be from 14th to 28th August 2016. If you will be over 14yrs by then, you could be part it!

Scouting activities never stop, even in August!

A few weeks ago Kings Somborne Scouts, aided by a team of volunteers from The Southern Co-operative store, parents and Leaders set about clearing the grounds at their HQ.

  

Kings Somborne are at the start of a 12 month development programme which aims to encourage more young people from the village and the surrounding area to experience the benefits of Scouting and have fun.  The development programme is looking to improve communications, ensure the group is financially stable and improve the facilities.

Apart from cutting the grass and pruning the shrubs and hedges the team dug a fire pit, disposed of masses of rubbish and old fixtures and fittings. They also sorted out an over grown wood pile and relocated an old shed.  Future plans are a campfire circle,  a compost heap and wild life friendly habitats. They hope also to plant wild flowers on a bank by the main entrance and fit water butts to the rain water system.  

As you can see from the photographs they are still smiling!

 

Scouting never ceases, there is always something to do even when the children are on school holidays.   So please send details of what has been happening in your group during August and share with everyone else in the district!  

e.mail:     romseywoodsmoke@googlemail.com

Climbing High!

The latest news in the District  is that the much anticipated climbing wall has been installed at the Dr Peter Centre Romsey.  

It’s nearly 2 years since the District officially opened their brand new Centre and since then they have been working hard to turn their fantastic building into an active Centre.

The height and width of the main hall make it ideal location for a climbing wall and abseiling facility. The wall has 5 ropes and allows up to 5 scouts to use the wall at the same time. There is the option of adding traversing walls to either side of the main wall at a later date.

Thanks to donation from the Romsey Mayor, Alex Fairey Trust, the local Co Op amongst others the Scouts raised the just under £12,000 to purchase the wall.

 

The plan now is to raise funds for new climbing equipment valued at £1,500 with donations already received and grant applications pending it is hopeful that this equipment will soon be purchased.

The wall will be tested over the summer holidays, ready for use when the new term starts in September.

The official opening is planned for sometime in the New Year. James Ketchel Hampshire Scout Ambassador hopes to be at the opening during a break in his round the world cycling tour. 

The climbing wall will be used by all sections and the District is really fortunate to have such a facility. 

Please Support Kings Somborne Group

Kings Somborne is one of the three charities taking part in August's Waitrose Community Matters fund raising scheme at the Winchester store. The GREEN TOKENS.
They are up against a soldier charity so probably won't get the largest award, but even so  the expected sum of money should be around £200.

  
This is very good news not just because of the money raised but the publicity it gives the Kings Somborne Group and in particular its twelve months development plan.

Please encourage your family, friends, relations and colleagues to post their green tokens in the Kings Somborne box.
 

The group will know how much money they will receive in early September and there will be a presentation of a cheque about six weeks later.

Come to the Fair at Nomansland!

On Monday 26th August 2013 the Nomansland Village Fair is going to be held on the green opposite the Lamb Public House. This annual event is run by Bramshaw Scouts and part of the money raised goes to support their Group.

It's a great day out, from 12pm to 5pm and has become a regular on the Steven's family calendar for the past four years. Toffee has also taken part in the last three dog shows.

 

Toffee says "see you on Monday"

 

There is also the opportunity of running a stall to raise funds for your Group, the site fee is usually £10. The District Team is running a Bric a Brac Stall. Anyone available to help set up from 10am, help with the sale from 12pm or help clear up around 5pm would be most welcome.

So come along and have some fun  - dogs welcome!

For more information contact Louise or Nikki at Bramshaw.

Kings Somborne Beavers meet the "Long Arm of the Law!"

Just before the end of last term, Kings Somborne Beaver Scout Colony received a visit from two Stockbridge based Police Community Support Officers.  The Beavers weren’t helping the Police with their enquiries, just learning about the work of the PCSO’s and the local wardens.

After answering questions about their work the PCSO's talked to the 6 to 8 year olds about stranger danger.
 

“It's always nice to interact with the young ones to build relationships and prevent them from getting the wrong message about the police" said one of the PCSOs

 

This is the first of many joint events between the Kings Somborne Scout and the local Police as they have promised to keep in regular touch with the Group and visit the Scout HQ on a regular basis.

Beaver Scout Fun-day

Just as the hot weather began in June the Beavers held their Fun-day with the theme being 'Space'.  Over 70 Beaver Scouts from all over the district enjoyed a fun filled day with activities in the field at Woodley.  

Plenty of cold drinks were on hand and wearing hats was a priority.  Some of the bases were fortunate to  be in the shade. Transporting a rocket with the help of ropes pulleys proofed a bit of a challenge, especially when you included a donkey, a carrot and a rabbit!

 
The flying saucer biscuits had to be iced in the headquarters before they melted. Although getting into a mess whilst eating them is all part of the fun!

The assault course was another favourite and along with the water rockets, bouncy castle and many more space themed activities during the day, there was certainly plenty to do.  In the afternoon space rocket ice lollies were given out to help cool the Busy Beavers!

Since June there have been camps and other interesting news, so please share what you have with everyone else.

Welcome to Woodsmoke 500!

Romsey District Woodsmoke was first published in November 1964 and since then there have been 499 editions of this very important District Scouting news. Over the years various editors have taken up the task of producing Woodsmoke, beginning with Wally Mansbridge and ending with Liz Holloway in 2012 - and so that is why this blog has been named . . . . . . . . . . . .

 WOODSMOKE 500

 

Above is the very first edition of Woodsmoke.

The aim of this blog is for people to contribute to it with past, present and even future Scouting news, not only within the district but internationally.    Just e.mail your contribution to me via the e.mail on the right hand side (photographs also very welcome) please be aware of safeguarding issues.  Comments on posts are also welcome but if you are not a blogger yourself then remember to put your name on any comments or they may not be published. 

The blog header includes the three words that the Chief Scout Bear Grylls describes Scouting and can be found here.

Welcome to Woodsmoke 500!