This website is no longer maintained. Our new, mobile-friendly website can be found here: https://dsfscouts.ie/.

Click your prefered county.

Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Leitrim – Limerick – Laois – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow

Antrim

Province: Ulster

Armagh

Province: Ulster

Carlow

Province: Leinster

Cavan

Province: Ulster

3rd Monaghan Carrickmacross Scout Centre – Carrickmacross SG own the centre which is in Co. Cavan.

Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre

Clare

Province: Munster

Clare Scout Centre

Killaloe Scout Centre

Cork

Province: Munster

Brinny Campsite – Bandon

Fota Scout Centre

Kilcully Scout Centre

Derry

Province: Ulster

Donegal

Province: Ulster

Wild Atlantic Adventure Centre

Down

Province: Ulster

Dublin

Province: Leinster

Larch Hill Scout Centre

Fermanagh

Province: Ulster

Galway

Province: Connacht

Kerry

Province: Munster

Muckross Youth Venture Centre

Kildare

Province: Leinster

Kilkenny

Province: Leinster

Laois

Province: Leinster

Leitrim

Province: Connacht

Limerick

Province: Munster

Castleconnell Campsite

Curraghchase Scout Campsite

Longford

Province: Leinster

Louth

Province: Leinster

Collon Campsite

Mayo

Province: Connacht

Meath

Province: Leinster

Monaghan

Province: Ulster

3rd Monaghan Carrickmacross Scout Centre – Centre is in Co Cavan.

Offaly

Province: Leinster

Roscommon

Province: Connacht

Lough Keel Scout Campsite

Sligo

Province: Connacht

Tipperary

Province: Munster

Dundrum International Scout Campsite

Tyrone

Province: Ulster

Waterford

Province: Munster

Faithleg Scout Centre

Glenshelane Scout Campsite

Mount Melleray Scout Centre – Currently closed

Westmeath

Province: Leinster

Portlick Scout Campsite

Wexford

Province: Leinster

Internationl Scout & Guide Centre

Piercestown Campsite also known as Knockingall Organisation Community Centre

Wicklow

Province: Leinster

Lough Dan Scout Centre

Each Scout section (Beavers 6-8, Cubs 9-11, Scouts 12-14, Ventures 15-17) run over 3 years, with 8 for Rovers 18-26. During the final year of their section a Beaver, Cub, Scout and Venture can participate in the Chief Scout Award (CSA) programme. The Rover award programme is longer.

A Scout, Venture or Rover undertaking their CSA are also eligible to apply for the Gaisce award. The tasks for both award programmes are very similar.

The Gaisce programme is structured in levels as follows:

Bronze for final year Scouts
Silver for final year Ventures
Gold for Rovers

As the scout progresses through their age sections the effort required to complete tasks to attain their awards will naturally increase and should reflect the skills they’ve learned over the previous 3 years.

If your Beaver, Cub, Scout or Venture has an interest in undertaking the CSA awards programme you and they should speak with their section leaders to discuss the committment they’ll need to make to achieve their award and how they can achieve each milestone of the programme.

If you’re a Rover speak with the GL and they’ll put you in contact with the Groups PAL.

The documents listed below will give you details of the requirements for each level of the CSA awards programme and the final link will allow you download the overall programme hand book that contains indepth info on the various tasks that are required for each level and the application form to be completed.

Cubs

Scouts

Ventures

Rovers

CSA Programme Handbook

Downloaded the full CSA Handbook from here… CSA Handbook

We have a selection of walking boots that are looking for a new owner to take them on more adventures. All have been checked and, where necessary, given an extra clean. All have very little or no wear and are now ready for more action. Size-wise they are probably more suitable for beavers or young cubs. If interested, just talk to your child’s cub or beaver leader. The boots can be tried in the hall to see if they fit your child. A EUR 5 donation would be appreciated.

Are you ready, boots?

—- Beaver Details —-

Duration: 1 Day Transport: By train. Arrive: Sat 1st, meet Kent station at 9.40am Depart: Sat 1st, TBC Cost: €5 (Speak with your leader about booking) Gear They’ll Need: Neckerchief A packed lunch Rain gear – coat & water proof pull ups Boots Hat & Gloves Day bag / small backpack Bottle for water Wear old clothes Insect repellent Sun cream

—- Cub Details —-

Duration :1 night Transport: By train. Arrive: Sat 1st, meet Kent station at 9.40am Depart: Sun 2nd, collect Kent station at 1pm. Cost: €25 Gear They’ll Need: Neckerchief A packed lunch Rucksack Rain gear – coat & water proof pull ups Boots Hat & Gloves Head torch + spare batteries Day bag / small backpack Bottle for water Old clothes + change for day 2 Sleeping bag Ground matt Small pillow PJs Personal wash gear Personal 1st aid kit Insect repellent Sun cream Cup / Plate / Bowl / Knife / Fork / Spoon / T-towel

—- Scout Details —-

—- Venture Details —-

Duration: 2 nights Transport: By train. Arrive: Fri 30th, meet Kent station at 5.30pm Depart: Sun 2nd, collect Kent station at 1pm. Cost: €35 Ventures should have food before leaving for train. Gear They’ll Need: Neckerchief Rucksack Rain gear – coat & water proof pull ups Boots Hat & Gloves Head torch + spare batteries Day bag / small backpack Bottle for water Old clothes + change for day 2 Sleeping bag Ground matt Small pillow PJs Personal wash gear Personal 1st aid kit Insect repellent Sun cream Cup / Plate / Bowl / Knife / Fork / Spoon / T-towel

Hi all,
You can download a consent form that needs to be filled out for every youth member and handed back to their Leader at their next meeting or their first meeting back, (whichever comes first) to allow for activities in 2022/23.

You can also download the Managing Medications form which is now referenced in the consent form if needed.

You can fill them in and print it off yourself and bring it down to the next activity.

Location: Cuskinny Court Activity Centre, Cobh.

Date: 18th June 2022

Start Time: 9.30am

Collection Time: 6.00pm

Cost: €25 – Covers all activities and snacks.

Pay online by following this link Online Payments System When logged in select “Cuskinny Activity Day” from the list.

Directions (Google Maps): https://tinyurl.com/5cpzmy8f

The group have organised an activity day in Cuskinny Court activity centre for all our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Ventures.

Activities will include archery, climbing wall, grass sledging, zipline, squirel trail, forest maze, some activities have an age limit. We will also have a combined age games event, so lets hope the leaders can keep up!!

Gear to bring:

• Knapsack lined with a bin bag.
• Rain gear (coat and waterproof pull-ups)
• Boots or old runners
• Old clothes
• A change of clothes and shoes
• Lunch
• Water bottle
• Sun hat
• Sun lotion
• A compass, if they have one.

Mobile Devices: Leaders will not take responsibility for any devices brought to the event and there are no charging points at the centre.

Hi all,
You can download a consent form that needs to be filled out for every youth member and handed back to their Leader immediately to allow for activities in 2021/22.

ConsentForm2021/2022

You can also download the Managing Medications form which is now referenced in the consent form if needed.

Managing Medications Form

You can fill them in and print it off yourself and bring it down to the next activity.

A good sleeping bag is an essential piece of scouting kit. In Ireland we’re lucky not to have huge weather extremes, but one of the biggest issues that we see scouts of all ages experiencing is being cold at night when camping. Having a good sleeping bag is as important as having a good rain coat and hiking boots.

What type of bag to get?

Sleeping bags come in two shapes

1. Mummy bags
2. Standard or Rectangular

1. Mummy bags

• Are quick to heat up.
• Retain their heat well.
• When compressed take up less space than an equivalent rated standard bag.
• Can be a little restrictive for movement.

2. Standard or Rectangular

• Quite slow to heat up.
• Don’t generally retain heat well.
• When compressed are much bigger than an equivalent rated mummy bag.
• Much roomier than mummy equivelant.

Rating of bag

Bags are rated using the term “Season”, which in effect corresponds with Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. We don’t have major extremes of temperatures and while scouts do camp out in cold weather it’s never at excessive sub-zero levels, so we’d recommend the bag you get is a “3 season”.

A “3 season” will keep a scout warm in the Irish conditions we camp in and if it gets warm they can easily open the bag to cool down.

Bag prices can vary widely, so we’d suggest you shop around to match your budget.

Sleeping bag care.

A good sleeping bag when looked after properly will give your scout many years of warmth and comfort.

They come with a compression bag, helps squeeze it as small as possible which is handy when packing a rucksack. When not in use bags should be kept in a pillow case and not in their compression bag. This keeps the fibres loose and helps maintain the bags heat retaining properties and will increase its life span.

After using the bag.

After returning from a trip the bag should be opened, unzipped, shook out and hung on a line or over a door for a day or two and then stored in a pillow case.

If the bag is dirty

It’s very important that you follow the cleaning instructions on the label. Most are machine washable, but be sure to check what soap can be used. When washing include a tennis ball or two in the drum, this will help loosen out any compacted fibres.

Hang your wet bag on a clothes line or across a door in a well aired room until totally dry. Then shake before storing in a pillow case.

NB: All kit should be labeled or etched with the scouts name.

Scouts of all ages hike across all types of terrain and at times can be many hours from the nearest road access point, so the foot and ankle supports that well-fitting boots offer are invaluable at preventing needless injuries such as twisted ankles and blisters.

Type of boot?

Leather or Gortex?

Gortex can be lighter, which can be better for the younger hiker. Leather on the other hand can probably handle more extreme use.

It really comes down to your personal preference which type you go for, but the fit is key to comfortable hiking.

What size boot to get?

You should go up a half-size from your usual shoe size, this allows for wearing warm hiking socks. That said, they shouldn’t be too loose anywhere in the boot except for the toes. If the foot is sliding around in the boot even with laces done up that’s not a good fit and it’s a recipe for blisters and sore feet.

Never wear brand new boots on a hike, besure to break them in for a few days before hand.

Wearing boots

One of the most common issues scouts have with hiking boots is that their laces are not done up securely. It causes rubbing that creates painful blisters on the heels, it also allows for water to get in further adding to the potential blister issue and of course it means cold feet even on a warm day.

Looking after your boots

You should clean your boots immediately after you’re back home from your hike, it’s a good habit to get into. You’ll be happy you did the next time you head out and your boots are ready for action.

Cleaning Boots

Remove the laces and just rinse the outside of the boots with a damp cloth and warm water. To remove mud and dirt use a stiff brush. Do not use any detergents as they may damage the fabric or boot leather.

How to dry your boots?

Keep them away from any direct heat sources e.g. radiators or sunshine as these will damage the boot uppers. Stuff them with old newspaper and leave them in a well ventilated place and replace the paper until it eventually comes out dry.

Care after cleaning

When dry, treat your boots with a water proofing agent. Best to speak with the shop you bought them from or drop into one of the many outdoor shops in town for advice.

Proofers are usually just sprayed or rubbed on and then gently rubbed in and left to dry. They’re not expensive and are well worth investing in, they’ll help lengthen the life span of your boot uppers and will help keep your feet warm and dry when out hiking.

What socks to wear?

The best socks to use are woolen or you could opt for any number of the special hiking socks that are available in outdoor shops.

Extra laces

You should invest in spare laces when getting a pair of boots.

NB: All kit should be labeled or etched with the scouts name.