1st ArboryScouts

AGM tonight

2010-11-19T09:54:00.001-08:00

7pm

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beetle drive tonight

2010-11-12T03:22:00.001-08:00

7pm everyone welcome. refreshments , raffle and fun

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the dog ate it

2010-10-14T07:11:00.001-07:00

as part of the promise challenge there is a requirement to do a piece of work on a "political or world issue". I want an original work of at least 150 words. you can use the internet for research but please don't cut and paste, I will find out, if Google worked for you it will for me. I did mine last night and 150 words is surprisingly short.

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targeting victory

2010-09-27T13:05:00.001-07:00

A short note to remind everyone that this Friday's shooting starts at 7.30. we'll still be finishing at 9.30 and everyone needs to fill in the permission form, we will be bringing spares.

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friday nights alright for hiking

2010-09-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that we are hiking this Friday from rushen mines to the waterfall hotel car park. If the scouts could have a go at filling in the route plan I gave them we'll know how we're getting there

Annual General Meeting

2010-09-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

I believe is on the 19th November, the week after the beetle drive. I think we still need a treasurer so take one step forward and volunteer soldier. The other thing we could do with is a proper fund raising commitee rather than the leaders trying to organise that as well as sessions.

So if you'd like to help form a fundraising commitee now is the chance to join at the beginning.

Would Sir care to see the menu?

2010-09-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

1st half Autumn Programme
Woohoo! 4 days before the start of term comes the programme. Download it now! Don't forget to email me to say you have it so that I can print less copies for Fridays session.

Plan early, plan often

2010-08-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

This is just a twist on my usual maxim to "Save early, save often" but it has a nice ring to it. Anyway Autumn term news already. The scouts leaders are having a planning meeting tomorrow more than 2 weeks before the start of the school term. Usually this would be the Tuesday or Wednesday before we start so it's quite a change. I'll try and post the plan as soon as I can but I can tell you one thing we are definately doing and that is a trip to the observatory on the 17th September. Hopefully the night will be dark enough and the weather clear that we can get a view of something cool through the telescope. It might be worthwhile thinking of interesting questions to ask while we are there.
A favourite that I'm sure we'll pop in is the rifle shooting in Castletown at the rifle club by the football ground. It's something we've done every year since I've been running scouts and everyone looks forward to.

A couple of additional notes for your diaries: We had a scout group meeting and decided that we would run a beetle drive on the evening of the 12th November to raise funds. If anyone would like to voluteer to bake cakes or donate something for a raffle please come forward and talk to me or anyone else, or send an email to my address 1starboryscouts@manx.net

The other date is the 4th December when we are bag packing at Port Erin Shoprite. I don't have all the details but when we last did it it was in shifts from 10am 'til 4pm. Signup sheets will probably circulate after half term but the more scouts helping the more we raise. Doke n't forget that we need a certain level parental supervision as there are only so many leaders.

If anyone would like to make any suggestions about what goes into the scout programme again email or talk to me, I welcome all suggestions.

"Wheely bad" or "Too many indians and not enough chiefs"

2010-07-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Sadly this Fridays session (23rd July) will have to be cancelled. Terry, Mike and I are all going off island and so no one will be available to run the cycle ride or supervise the barbeque. We will look forward to seeing you all after the summer holidays bright eyed and eager to scout.
Of course this is a perfect opportunity for you parents and guardians to volunteer to be a scout leader, permanent or occasional helper. I'm sure you'll give it appropriate thought :-)

Where's that?

2010-06-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

This weeks programme is presented from the well known location of Mullyn Ny Carty
View Larger Map
My efforts to describe it's location, well I should be acting on Hollyoaks, enough said. Mike and I will provide the food to be cooked, all you have to do is provide willing scouts to cook and eat it.

One ring to Barule them all

2010-06-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

For those who have lost their Friday handouts we're going over the mountain this week. No rally to get in the way so it's the Round Table to the Watertrough. Set down is 8pm pickup at 9:30pm. Start is here
View Larger Map just down the Colby road from cross roads

Pick up is here
View Larger Map in the car park just off the Ballamohda road

Usual scout rules apply: appropriate clothing, footwear, snack etc

De fault

2010-05-31T23:26:00.001-07:00

the 2 sweetest words in the English language. Which is how I appear to be winning this months poll, so get voting.

is as good as a rest

2010-05-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Well another change of venue. This week we are at.....Arbory School. Da da daaaaaa!

Bare in mind that the southern 100 track will probably be closed.

for those of you who don't know where Arbory school is here's google

View Larger Map

The wheels on the train go round and round?

2010-05-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

Actually they fell off! My negotiations with the dept of transport have failed, lets just say overtime was mentioned and leave it at that.

Soooooo. The backup plan for next week was to mountain bike around the South Barule cycle tracks. Pending checking that the area won't be closed, already used and suitable thats what we'll do. I'll have to switch to my knobby tires and probably inflate them too. Such is life.

View Larger Map

Museum Madness

2010-05-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well I got a call from a nice man today who represented the Military and Aviation Museum and we are booked in for Friday. I'm not entirely sure that we can spin it out for 90 minutes but you never know. Perhaps I'll bring the balls for an impromptu game of Kingball, as long as we stay away from the road, oh and any planes.

On a different note I'm not entirely sure anyone is reading these posts so if you are email me to let me know. Oh and vote in the new poll, vote for me. BTW the result of the last poll was orienteering and we arranged (we island scouting, not royal we) a competition a couple of weeks ago so things do happen based on these polls. Not this one of course, it's just an ego trip. Vote me.

If you do have ideas, suggestions, pathological desire to take up a leadership position my door is always open. Metaphorically, I close the real one when it's cold.

Kriss Kross Cringle

2010-05-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have no idea where Cringle Reservoir is. Bare in mind that the A27 Colby Glen Road may still be blocked at the water works. If I find out one way or the other I'll blog here

programme

2010-05-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed it here is the
1st half summer term programme

How many ears soes a scout have?

2010-05-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

3. Left, right and orienteers. Thats probably the worst joke I've ever done. Oh well, 3 of our intrepid scouts came along to Colden plantation on Sunday for the orienteering competition on a course that I think could easily be described as 'challenging'. And after just 2 hours they arrived back at the start with 11 out of 12 control points for a credible 4th. (No one mention time penalties, please) Fun was had which is all that really counts and the tea was quite nice.

On yer hike

2010-05-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

The best laid plans and all that. We'll when I planned the hike for 7 May I had checked the internet which assured me that this weekends rally wouldn't interfere with out South Barule hike. Yeah, right! Well we have a new hike, one which I checked out on Saturday after a few text messages telling me about road closures. The plan is to meet in Bradda Glen car park for a prompt 8pm start and pick up in Bradda Glen car park after a complete and "fun" circuit of Bradda along the raad ne Follan. It's 90 minutes for me so the scouts should have no trouble and if I remember my camera I'll even post some pics from the hike.

It's taking over the world

2010-02-28T01:17:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say that I'm moving my filehosting over to google. If anyone can work out why manx.net files keep failing to download let me know as I really can't see why.

Remember to forget something

2010-02-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome back. This is my 1st post for a while and as always it's short and sweet. For those who haven't had a copy of the programme for this term click here. As you can see the super splash is nearly upon us and the kayak polo is not long after. Something I forgot off the programme is 3 legs challenge which is this year being centrally organised if you want to take part, let me know and we can get a leader on each of the hikes.

Confused? You won't be after the next episode of...

2010-02-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

The AGM saga continues....
It is now 6:40pm on Friday the 12th February at Arbory school. Sorry for the late info but this saga keeps running, any more twists and there could be an award in it. Of course this means there won't be a session that evening and as I'd already had to change after the railway museum no real harm done.

Grid Ref: 123456

2010-01-30T05:10:00.000-08:00

For those people who didn't get the slip detailing the change next weeks scout meeting is at the Methodist Hall in Ballabeg. We've used this before so no supprises. See you all at the same time on Friday.

A promise is a promise

2010-01-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

As everyone can see this week is promise challenge week and I'd like to remind everyone about the two pieces of "homework" that I set on the term plan. The first is easy 6 or 7 written lines of a well formed prayer asking in humility, giving thanks that sort of thing. The other is a bit harder, I'd like at least half a page on a political or world event or issue. This is important and is a major constituent of the challenge badge, the written aspect gives the leader team time to apraise the work and just its merit for the badge.

Sadly the railway museum trip wil have to be held over until they open to tourists. Apparantly the engines are covered for the winter, a kind of loco-hibernation and they won't wake up until spring.

Finally the AGM should be rescheduled for the 1st week back after February half term. Assuming no more snow that is.

What's occurin'?

2010-01-11T11:21:00.000-08:00

For those of you who would like advance warning of what we are to here is a pdf of this half terms programme. Note that there are some actions for the scouts to do before some of the sessions.
If the programme doesn't load highlight the pdfs address end press enter on it like you are typing a web address. It seems to work the second time.

HNY

2010-01-02T02:26:00.000-08:00

Well happy new year and all that. You'll all be thrilled to know that I'm planning to have a planning meeting this week. Friday, is of course, the AGM 6:30 Arbory School. Be there parents (or guardians) or you'll miss out on having your say. No scout session afterwards though. I should give out programmes for the coming half term there.

More when I wake up/

7pm? What's the burning issue

2009-12-07T10:01:00.000-08:00

I've spoken to the Fire Service about our visit on Friday and can confirm our booking for 7pm. Yes, 7pm not 8pm but that's what the fire station can do so we have little choice. I realise that could cause some scouts issues with double bookings so if you could let me know as soon as you can whether you can make it I would appreciate it. Also, if you have transport issues let me know and we can try and plan around that.
Arrive at the Quarterbridge car park for 7pm, pick up will be at 8:30.

If you can't find my scouts email on here it's 1starboryscouts@manx.net

Fire Station Friday?

2009-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

Well, with 6 days to go I have no reply from my letter to the fire station requesting that we are allowed a visit. I'll be phoning them on Monday to find out and so will hopefully let everyone know whats happening on Friday on this blog on Monday. Stay tuned.

AGM is go!!

2009-12-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Well the AGM is on. It's official. As I predicted 8th January at 6:30pm has been set aside for the meeting. So parents please come and participate, we really do need your input. We will be handing out leaflets that have kindly been provided by Nick, our treasurer, before the end of term.

Nick has also indicated that he will be stepping down in the autumn as treasurer so we will be needing a replacement. So if you feel volunteering is for you Nick says its not a difficult or time consuming job please come tell one of the leaders or come to the AGM and speak up.

Due to the AGM I think we won't be having our regular scouts session on the 8th. Of course if we change our mind we'll let you all know.

Super Late?

2009-11-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me will understand that the last minute is well..... Here's the link to google maps with the secret location of tonights event. Like I said drop off is the car park near the quarry, collection near the reservior. See you there

Rock and Roll Mats

2009-11-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

I wonder why I convince myself that sleeping on roll mats is ok as everytime I do it I swear I'll bring my airbed next time. Anyway, no hike to Peel as the weather intervened for a few very wet hours. Everyone arrived at roughly the right time which was a near miracle given the conditions and my directions. Dance kingball marathon and a nicely odd quiz were great activities before the rain stopped and we able to get out onto Peel hill for a lovely little hike. Slipping was minimal given the conditions. It was then back to the hall for toast and chocolate literally minutes before the hourly rain returned.

Whether forecast

2009-11-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

It's probably going to rain tommorow but... it might not, you never know. Seriously though the plan if too wet is to go straight to Peel, do a session and a sleep over. I'm 100% confident that I'll make the final decision at the last possible minute. Let's hope for the best

Watch this space

2009-11-10T16:08:00.000-08:00

It looks like my lovely titanium watch has had a bit of a crisis after I unscrewed the winder. I did reattach it but it has a real problem with keeping the time and is now only correct twice a day. So, after being encouraged to replace it by my lovely wife I took advantage of one of the random sales that seem to happen in Samuels from time to time and invested in a new timepiece.

Features include digital compass, thermometer, altimeter, barometer and time. I think the only useful thing missing is a laser.

And then there was website

2009-11-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

A long time ago I said I would create a site for Arbory scouts and after a couple of failed attempts at hosting my own, well this is easier to be honest.
The first thing is to remember our night hike on Friday 7:50 at the Quarterbridge car park. Waterproofs, food, drink, torch the whole nine yards. Anyone unclear about the details should either email this account, read my letter or call me. Again my phone numbers are on the letter.

For those who have looked at the timetable and think that the Annual General Meeting is on the 27th November I have BIG news. It's not, if fact I have no idea when the AGM will be but when I printed the timetable at 7:30 on Friday there was an AGM by 8 when I arrived at the school not so much. Anyway in its place will our original idea which involved a leisurely stroll through Cringle plantation starting at the upper car park (grid ref: 247749) and being picked up from the main car park by the reservoir (grid ref: 253743) all at the usual times.