Douglas & St. FinBarresScout Group – 2nd 6th 47th 93rd Cork

It’s nearly here so time to get down to specifics for those of us attending ‘The Big Beaver Scout Sleep Out’

All Beavers are asked to arrive and check in with their leaders at 17:00 on Saturday May 11th.

This event is only open to anyone who has done the sleep over in the Scout Hall a few weeks ago, if you have not already contacted your Beaver Scout leader by email to confirm your child is going please do so NOW. We’re going shopping shortly!!

What to bring?

• Sleeping Bag
• Ground mat & Pillow
• FULL change of clothes to include; underwear, socks, shoes, pants, t-shirt, jumper
• Warm hat
• Rain Gear (rain jacket and pants if available)
• Wash Gear; toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel
• Unbreakable or non-expensive bowl, cup, plate, knife, fork and spoon
• Healthy packed lunch for Sunday and a snack for Saturday night. (Beavers should arrived haven eaten already on Saturday evening)
• Beaver Scout Neckerchief
  (Uniforms are not needed but neckerchief must be worn at all times. No necker, No activity…)
• Anyone with specific medical requirements please speak with a leader before hand.
• All of the above (with the exception of the sleeping bag, ground mat and pillow) should be packed in ONE bag or rucksack (not a suitcase) and your Beaver Scout should help with the packing so he/she will know where everything is when needed.

On Saturday evening once checked in, settled down and tents assigned we’ll be running some Orienteering activities and then getting involved in the County Campfire with the Scout sections who are onsite taking part in their annual shield competition weekend before lights out and bed by approx. 23:00

On Sunday the plan is to wake up and have breakfast around 08:00. We in Douglas have plans to have cereal for breakfast, some juice and also some cooked sausages, rashers and bread. Some games will then be arranged as well as showing the Beaver Scouts the sites built by the Scout sections and a trip around the Sunday festival which again is part of their competition weekend. Lunch (packed lunch brought by the Beavers themselves) will be around midday and Beavers are to be collected at 13:00.

PLEASE NOTE: The Scout sections will be wrapping up their competition weekend not long after this so there will be increased traffic around the area on the day so we are asking that you park your car in the car-park of the cemetery across the road from the campsite and walk in.

Click here to see a Map to Kilcully from the John Slye Scout Hall

People are often wondering how to get there!!!  It’s relatively simple!

The “starting point” for these directions is the grotto in Blackpool.  This is at the BACK of Blackpool Shopping centre, near to Pizza Hut & KFC.

1. Coming towards the grotto from town, turn right (up Dublin Hill).
2. Keep going straight until you come to the Black Man pub.
3. At the Black Man, follow the road left.
4. After about .6 of a kilometre, turn left  (signposted for cemetery)
5. After about .75 of a kilometre, you’ll find the campsite fairly well signposted on the left.

Can you all get back to Dara (Friday nights) and Conor (Monday nights) if you’ve any further questions.
daragowan@douglasscouts.ie and conorcrowley@douglasscouts.ie

The Big Beaver Sleep out is on Saturday May 11th – Sunday May 12th in Kilcully.

This is open to anyone who has done the sleep over in the Scout Hall last weekend.
The itinerary is

• 17:00 Arrive & Check in
• 18:30 Orienteering
• 21:00 Campfire
• 23:00 Bed – Lights out

Sunday

• 08:00 – Wake Up & Breakfast
• 09:00 – Sunday Festival
• 12:00 – Lunch
• 13:00 – Break Camp

Can you all get back to Dara (Friday nights) and Conor (Monday nights) by this weekend?
daragowan@douglasscouts.ie and conorcrowley@douglasscouts.ie

Could you also bring the money on Friday and Monday in an envelope with your scouts name on it.

All ready to rock for the first Beaver Scout sleepover in the Scout hall. We’ll see all the Beaver Scouts at the bus stop outside Douglas Court Shopping Centre with their HighViz Jackets or armbands and unless the weather is extremely bad we’ll be hiking from their to the Scout Hall.

All gear should be dropped to the Scout Hall AFTER your child has been dropped to Douglas Court

The Leadership team are looking forward to a great night

Beaver Scout Sleep-in:

The first Douglas Beaver Scout Sleep-in on Saturday April 13th is fast approaching. This event is for both of our Beaver Scout Colonies and will take place in the John Slye Scout Hall. This is an overnight event and the Beaver Scouts will be sleeping in the Scout Hall

• We are meeting at 8pm on Saturday night at the bus stop outside Douglas Court Shopping Centre
• Beavers should be wearing warm clothes and comfortable shoes as we are going on a short night hike before we get to the Scout Hall
• Beaver parents are then asked to drop their childs gear to the Scout Hall after they’ve been dropped off at Douglas Court
• Beavers must also be wearing a reflective armband or a Hi Vis Jacket
• Beavers are to be collected in the John Slye Scout Hall on Sunday morning at 11am

This may be the first time away from home and away from their parents for a lot of kids at this age but have no doubt that this will be an adventure for them and they’ll love every moment of it. Leaders will remain awake throughout the night in groups to keep an eye on everyone and ensure all are safe and sound and sleeping (wishful thinking on our part)

We will be watching an age appropriate DVD later that evening so we are asking that the Beavers bring their own snacks along with them. These should NOT be sugary drinks or sweets but just a light snack they can eat/drink during the DVD. We will be giving hot chocolate and a biscuit before bed too.

For breakfast we will be giving the Beavers some cereal, milk and juice but if your child has any special dietary requirements i.e. celiac etc please let us know. We are keeping the cost of this night away at just €5 per Beaver, money we have left over will be put towards the next sleepover which will be in Tents in May to keep costs down as much as we can.

• Beaver Uniforms are NOT needed to be worn on this activity
• However Beavers MUST AT ALL TIMES wear their neckerchief
• Beavers should pack the following into a small backpack
  Warm clothes to sleep in
  A small pillow
  Full change of clothes for the next morning
• Beavers must bring a sleeping bag (and a ground mat if they have one)

We need to know the numbers going by Wednesday April 10th at the very latest so 6th Cork Beavers (Monday nights) can put their name down with a leader on next Monday nights meeting or email Conor conorcrowley@douglasscouts.ie and 47th Cork Beavers (Friday nights) can put their name down by emailing Dara daragowan@douglasscouts.ie but again we must have these details by Wednesday as we’re off shopping then for supplies :)

We will be issuing a phone number that can be called for emergencies during the night; this number will be for emergencies only and not for ‘how are they getting on’ calls or texts….

Yours In Scouting

The Beaver Scout Leadership Team

Cub Scouts

We hope you are all enjoying the Easter break. We will be going on a camping weekend from April 26th-28th. This weekend will be held locally in Cork and promises to be great fun. The full cost of this weekend will be between €30 & €40. We need to know if your scout(s) intend on going by Monday April 8th LATEST as numbers are needed to confirm where we will be camping. If your scout is booked in for Larch Hill at the end of May it is crucial that they try to make this weekend as it is good preparation! Please email us & let us know if your scout is a yes or a no by April 8th!

YiS,

Wendy & Vickie

Beaver Scouts

Just a reminder…

Beaver Scout Sleep-in:

We will be having a Douglas Beaver Scout Sleepin on Saturday April 13th. This event is for both of our Beaver Scout Colonies and will take place in the John Slye Scout Hall. This is an overnight event and the Beaver Scouts will be sleeping in the Scout Hall so a full list of gear will be supplied in due course. More details will be announced shortly but please keep this date free for Beaver Scouts

Beaver Scout Sleep-out:

Along with the other Beaver Colonies in the Cork South Scout County we will be taking part in the ‘Big Beaver SleepOut’. This event is on Saturday May 11th and will be sleeping under canvas i.e. in tents. We will have more details in due course but asking you keep this date free also.

If a Beaver Scout cannot make the SleepIn then they will be unable to attend the SleepOut as their first night sleeping over with the Scouts.

We will have much more details on both of the above shortly but in the meantime if you have any questions or queries please take the time and speak with any of the Beaver Scout Leaders before or after the next Beaver Scout Meeting

Beaver Scout Sleep-in:

We will be having a Douglas Beaver Scout Sleepin on Saturday April 13th. This event is for both of our Beaver Scout Colonies and will take place in the John Slye Scout Hall. This is an overnight event and the Beaver Scouts will be sleeping in the Scout Hall so a full list of gear will be supplied in due course. More details will be announced shortly but please keep this date free for Beaver Scouts

Beaver Scout Sleep-out:

Along with the other Beaver Colonies in the Cork South Scout County we will be taking part in the ‘Big Beaver SleepOut’. This event is on Saturday May 11th and will be sleeping under canvas i.e. in tents. We will have more details in due course but asking you keep this date free also.

If a Beaver Scout cannot make the SleepIn then they will be unable to attend the SleepOut as their first night sleeping over with the Scouts.

We will have much more details on both of the above shortly but in the meantime if you have any questions or queries please take the time and speak with any of the Beaver Scout Leaders before or after the next Beaver Scout Meeting

St Patricks Day 2013

St. Patricks Day Mass

We are keeping with a Douglas Scout Group tradition going back many years this year and would appreciate the support from our members and their families in showing a strong turnout and letting the wider community see how great our numbers are now in Douglas Scouts.

There are 3 masses on Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, in St. Columbas Church Douglas, the 9:30am, 11am and 12:15. The 11am mass on St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally as gaeilge and given the day that’s in it Douglas Scout Group will be attending this mass in full and perfect uniform.

ALL Scouts (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures & Rovers) are requested to assemble in full uniform at the Scout Hall at 10:30am where we will then proceed to march together into the church for the 11am mass.

ANNUAL CAKE SALE 2013

Also on St. Patrick’s Day we will be holding our annual cake sale; we hope to benefit from as many customers as possible so we will be kicking off from 9:30am on the Sunday morning up until after the 12:15 mass (approx 1pm) This is where the friends and families of our members come in… WE NEED CAKES TO SALE… Can you bake us some or have some made for us? Please try your best and we’ll gladly sell them on the morning.

Cakes ready for sale can be brought down on Saturday afternoon to the Scout Hall from 4pm to 5pm where leaders will accept them and store them until the following morning and hopefully we’ll have enough to start selling at 9:30am after the first mass.

This year we are also doing something different; tea and coffee will be served to those who want to sit for a few minutes and have a cuppa with their cake that they just bought. So please tell your neighbours, friends and family that we’re looking for their support.

Bake a cake, buy a cake, have a cuppa and support Scouting in Douglas on St. Patrick’s Day 2013

I can safely say I have never been so concerned about the weather on Mother’s Day ever before. Waking at 4:00 am to the sound of pouring rain. The hike kicked off at 9:00 am. Much to everyone’s surprise including our own, we were driving at 9:14am. Many thanks for everyone getting down on time. It is our plan to always leave on time. This was a county event that Douglas organised along with Dave Shalloo the County Beaver Co-ordinator. We had 190 people on four buses. We had 119 beavers, 35 leaders, and the remainder were cubs, scouts and venturers.  There were 800 cocktail sausages, and 400 bottles of water also on board. There were also 50 eggs designed to be given out to each set of 6 beavers with the task to get the egg safely up and down the mountain. Unfortunately the eggs remain in a nameless individual’s kitchen as opposed to the bus. All egg, omelette recipes gratefully appreciated for the next two weeks!!

Our first stop was Muckross House bus area for a quick toilet break then off up the mountain. We started the walk from the Upper Car Park at the top of Torc waterfall. For driving directions if you want to try it yourself, it is the first left after the main entrance to Muckross House.  The car park is at the very end of this road approx 1 mile long.

We left the car park with a stealy determination to climb the mountain as you can see from this totally unposed picture.

We headed due south. Again for those of you who would like to do the walk you walk away from Killarney towards Kenmare. You cross a bridge and take a left to walk onto the old Kenmare Road.  The old Kenmare Road is an old coach road – in use until 1830.

There was tons of nature all round us on this part of the walk. The kids crossed a couple of streams and saw a lot of frog spawn. No tadpoles yet unfortunately but tons of frog spawn.

Following the Old kenmare Road you emerge from the forest (leave the lovely shelter) after approx. 750m. Another 750m sees you arrive where the railway sleepered path to Torc meets the Old Kenmare Road.

Following up this path, you get great views of the surrounding country side very quickly.  It also has a lot of mountain for very little effort. If your kids did think they climbed Everest it is because it does actually feel fairly high as you can tell.

You can see the line of beavers stretching away in the distance.

Lunch was the usual truffles and chocolates!!!

A couple of minutes after lunch it got SLIGHTLY colder, the wind picked up and the mist and cloud line dropped down on us.  Discretion being the better part of valour we turned and descended down the mountain again. There is no fear of being lost or disorientated on this mountain walk as you quite literally followed the railways sleepers and stone path all the way down the mountain. For those of you used to mountain climbing the mist is the cloud line. Descending brings you under it again and back into good visibility. We were approx 15 minutes hike from the top but the wind was against us and we turned for home. There was a lot of very disappointed beavers as we turned for home and fair to say there were a few who probably thought we were actually at the top!! It was hard to tell with the mist!

Back at base camp, then we were treated to some cooked sausages by Dave Shalloo the County Beaver Coordinator. Well done Dave.

We were very unlucky with the weather yesterday. At the same time last year, the mist cleared at the top and we saw this amazing view.

Unfortunately when you are into mountain climbing, part of the climb is the anticipation of what you will or won’t see at the top. I have climbed Mount Brandon about 10 times and I have yet to have a clear summit. Everyone assures me it is fantastic. Maybe on the 11th climb….

Finally for those that did not make it back… It is okay, they are in my house.

I have 4 hats, ONE sock, two gloves (not matching i.e. separate) one pair of wellies, one pair of white runners, one shoe. Shall we say €1000 for the lot!!! Labels on everything next time!!!

Put Torc on your bucket list of things to do this summer. Well worth it. Look out for the tadpoles from end march on.

Same time next year folks!

Many thanks to Rose for the great Pictures taken on Mother’s Day!!

Don’t forget your Neckerchiefs tomorrow on the hike.

See ye all then

YIS

Beavers in the Hills Event Team \ The Gathering Torc Mountain 2013.
We will be back for 5:00-5:30pm. We will post on Facebook when we get back to the buses. Keep an eye on Facebook.

We will be boarding the buses at 9:00am at the bus stop outside Douglas Court Shopping Centre.

We will climb from Torc Waterfall to the Upper Car Park at Torc.  We will then climb from the Upper Carpark to (hopefully) the top of Torc Mountain.  Torc Mountain is described as a moderate walk along well marked trails.  There are no steep sided cliffs or any other dangerous obstacles on our way.

We plan to get back on the buses at 4:00pm and be back at the same location in Douglas Court at 5:30pm. 

If it is raining we will still go but we will stay within the tree canopy around the waterfall.  We will go at a fairly slow pace.  You would be amazed at how even the slowest walkers get swept along by the energy of the big group.

We would ask that all scouts have the following

• – nutritious packed lunch
• – some nutritious snacks
• – water (two bottles). We will leave one in the bus.
• – wear old clothes you don’t mind getting mucky.  The route we are taking is fairly clean. Please don’t wear jeans if possible. A tracksuit is fine. Their scout uniform pants is also a very good lightweight option.
• – have a change of clothes in a plastic bag.  We will leave this change of clothes on the bus so if they get wet they can get changed later.  A full change might be excessive but at least have socks and pants. If you could ensure to have a label on this bag this would greatly help.
• – wear hiking boots or wellies or good comfortable shoes with a good grip that you do not mind them getting dirty. Again, a change of socks  and shoes in the plastic bag in the bus would be good.
• – a warm hat
• – a good warm coat (ideally rainproof)
• – warm gloves
• – have waterproof leggings (if possible).

So, we would like all of the above to fit into a neat bag that the scout can walk easily with on their shoulders. Bear in mind that we will leave the change of clothes in the bus so they should just be carrying the water, lunch and snacks in the bag. If they are too hot they can put in their hats, jackets etc as they walk.  In other words they should be wearing plenty of layers that they can add to the bag or take out from the bag.

The total cost is €10 per scout. Can you please give this to your section leader as soon as possible if you have not already done so

Yours In Scouting,

The Beaver Scout Leadership team