Thanks to those who came to the first of our Group Camp Meetings last night.

We’ll be meeting on:

• Wed 8th June
• Wed 15th June
• wed 22nd June
  • From 7pm to 8pm each week.

• On Wed 8th June (next Wednesday) we’ll be handing out new Parental Consent forms for camp.
• On wed 15th June, we’ll be collecting:
  • Those consent forms (filled in)
  • Passports
  • EHIC Cards
  • Camp Bank.

Camp bank will only be taken up in Euro’s.  We are suggesting that people carry whatever sterling they need on themselves – as it will be a small amount.  (We’ll suggesting that £10 will be plenty.  We will only have brief stops at motorway services – so it’s for a coffee, or a can of soft drink or whatever…..)

That’s about it for now!  Roll on four weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Four

         Weeks

                      To

                             Go!!!!!!!!!

I know we’ve been pestering you about passports for some time now – and hopefully all now have them – but the passport office suggest that some applications are now taking over 3 weeks!  In other words, if you haven’t arranged one, NOW IS THE VERY LAST CHANCE THAT YOU HAVE!!

Official Turnaround times from the Passport Office

Hi All,

In the coach industry, things can change at very short notice (keep that in mind) but right now, it looks like the coach we’ll have for Austria is:

For those who were in Prague with us some years back, it’s the same type of coach (Volvo 9700), same high spec, but much newer than the one we had then…

Roll on the end of June!

With just 6 weeks to go to we’re almost ready to go for Austria 2016!

Many thanks to everyone who kept up with the stage payments and to those that have already concluded paying their camp fee.

This is just a polite reminder to everyone that the full amount (€900) is now due. When we announced camp back in September we set out the following payment dates

• €300 must be paid by end of November 2015. (€50 deposit already paid plus an additional €250).
• €600 must be paid by end of February 2016.
• €900 must be paid by end of May 2016.

Any issues please make contact with your section leader as soon as possible

Hi All,

Would you believe that it’s just over 6 weeks until we leave for Austria!!!!

Quite soon, we’ll be starting to meet “as one group” every week – so we can all get to know each other a bit better.   In the meantime, just to draw your attention back to two posts we’ve put up….

Please have a click on:

Passports and EHIC cards

and

Initial Gear List

The gear list will change in the run up to camp (we’ll post the update here when it does) but it’s a good “starting point” to get stuff ready.  And it really IS time to be ordering your passport and EHIC card if you don’t have one already.

Regards,

Enda.

It’s VERY early – but here is VERSION 1 of our proposed Gear List. It WILL change so please keep an eye on the website!

It might be a good idea to start getting things together – rather than the usual rush at the last minute!

Things you will need are:

• FULL UNIFORM.  We will depart in full Uniform.  No Exceptions!  Now is a great time to check you have all parts of your uniform.
• Spare neckerchief.  While not essential, would be useful as a spare, or if you wanted to swap yours etc.  (You must always have a Douglas / St. FinBarres neckerchief, so if you’ve only one with you, then you can’t swap it if the opportunity should arise).

• Hiking boots will be necessary.  Remember too that it’s VITAL to “wear in” hiking boots.  If you need to or choose to buy new boots, you MUST have them “worn in” before camp or you’ll be VERY uncomfortable in them!
• Water bottle – At least 1 litre – possible 2 x 500ml’s would be a good idea.
• Sleeping Bag
• Pillow (if you like.  Inflatable maybe?)
• Pillow Case.  (There should be pillows in the chalet but you will NOT be able to use them without a pillow case that you bring yourself.
• Track-ends/Leggings
• Warm Sweater
• T-Shirts
• Changes of Underwear
• Plenty of Socks
• Warm Nightwear
• Change of Shoes or Runners
• Shorts & Trousers
• Raingear – Waterproof Jacket & Trousers
• Warm Hat & Gloves
• Wash Gear – Toothbrush & paste, Shower Gel, Shampoo, Comb
• Towel
• Swimming costume & hat
• Tea-Towel & Dish Cloth
• Sun hat
• Sun cream & Lip save
• Torch & Spare Batteries
• Rucksack or similar type hold all
• Day trip bag

Just for information, there are NOT clothes washing facilities in the chalet.  As far as we know there are no launderette facilities anywhere in the vicinity – so either have enough of clothes for the duration or be prepared to do a hand wash yourself!

The two types of bag are important and worth considering.  The main rucksacks will be going onto the coach before we leave Cork, and will not be available again until we get to Austria.  So everything needed for the journey will have to be packed in the day bag.  We would recommend that this would at least contain:

• Change of clothes
• Washgear & towel
• Water Bottle

If it’s small enough, it might be nice to have the sleeping bag in the day bag?  While not essential, it would add to the comfort on the journey, both on the coach, and possibly on the ships – although all sailings are “day sailings”.

That’s about it for now.

PLEASE keep checking this website.  All new information will go up here.  Travel information will go up here.  Also, we would anticipate that the “gear list” above will be changed / added to.  If that happens, you’ll read about it here!

Contact any of us with any queries,

Yours in Scouting,

Enda.

Hi All,

Getting close to camp now!

Just a reminder regarding “documentation” that will be required.

Everyone travelling will need a passport – in their own name.  If your passport is NOT Irish, please talk to us NOW just in case there are any issues.

Passport’s can be ordered from:

Get your passport information!!

The EHIC card (European Health Information Card) is available free of charge from:

EHIC Card Information

Both of these will need to be handed up to us on Wednesday 15th June 2016.

If not, you don’t travel – that simple!

Any questions?  Just ask!!!!

Hi All,

Just said it was time to give an update!  You mightn’t be hearing too much, but we’re working hard behind the scenes.  This is going to be one of the best camps ever!!!

At the moment, we’re planning activities and excursions. The biggest problem we’re having is trying to fit in everything that we’d like to do…. :-)

Anyhow – ferries are now booked, and the travel times look like:

• Departing from Frankfield on 30th June at about 14:00.
• Departing from Dublin Port to Holyhead on the 20:40 sailing
• Departing from Harwich to Hook of Holland at 09:00 on Friday 1st July.
• Travelling onwards to Elmen in Austria.

Coming home will be pretty much the reverse…

• Departing Hook of Holland on 13th July at 14:15
• Departing Holyhead on 14th July at 02:30
• Aiming at being back in Frankfield at APPROXIMATELY 10:00 on 14th July (Thursday).

That’s about it for now.  PLEASE get in touch with any questions or queries.  We’ll answer whatever we can!!

Yours in Scouting,

Enda.

SUPPORTING SCOUTING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Over the last week our sections have been given their batches of their 12 Days of Christmas Draw tickets. These tickets are Scouting Irelands annual fundraiser. All proceeds go to support local scouting and the development of Scouting Ireland national campsites.

Tickets are €2 each and each family is given a book of 20 tickets. If you require additional tickets please speak with your section leader to arrange them; additional books will be issued once a full sold book has been returned.

Our Parents & Friends Committee are coordinating this years tickets distribution and organisation. In order to return the tickets back to SI National Office in time for the draw we are requesting that ALL books of tickets (sold or unsold) must be returned to the Scout Hall on Friday December 4th at the latest

Best of luck and thank you for your support

Yours In Scouting,

Stephen Granleese
Chair – Parents & Friends Committee
stephengranleese@douglasscouts.ie