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

Ventact is a crazy-fun activity weekend for Venture Scouts, Rangers, and Senior Branch. It’s held in Kilcully Campsite over a weekend where there are campfires, discos, random games and surprise activities around Cork City and County.

Ventact is unique as it is the only event of it’s type which is organised by a Joint Committee of Scouts and Guides and sees a gathering of 300-500 young people. The other special thing about Ventact and why it is a special event for Douglas & St Finbarres is that our own former Chairman Don Trotter was one of the founding members of the event.

Ventact South is a fun activity filled weekend. Activities on Friday night are based around Kilcully Scout Campsite. Normally there is a band or campfire on Friday night. On Saturday different activity centres are used. Some of the activities in the past that have been used are water skiing, horse riding, canoeing, rock climbing, zip lines, go carting, sailing. Saturday Evening involves fun games on the campsite followed by the Scout/Guides Own. This is a gathering to review the weekend and play a video to recall the weekends events. The Ventact Themed Disco normally begins around 21:00. Sundays Activities vary from year to year. From Bouncy Castles to Birds of Prey and everything in between.

For an overview of the event visit their website – Ventact Info

There are 3 primary hiking challanges that a scout can undertake.

MPC – Mountain Pursuit Challenge

There are 4 events a year, one in each of the provinces. On completing a province attendees receive a unique diamond shaped badge, when a scout completes all of the provinces all 4 badges form an impressive larger diamond when displayed on their uniform.

Event Dates:
Munster in April
Leinster in May
Ulster in August
Connaught in September.

Sionnach Adventure

On completing the Sionnach challenge scouts receive a unique badge with the image of a Fox (Sionnach) for their uniform.

Event Dates: TBC

Fia Challenge

This challenge is organised on a Scouting county level and on completing the Fia adventure scouts receive a unique badge with the image of a Deer (Fia) for their uniform.

Event Dates: TBC

Challenge Info:

For each of the challenges teams consist of 4 scouts and 1 Leader who remains with the Scouts for the full weekend. They are lightweight wild camping weekends for Scouts between the ages of 13.5 and 15.5 and the events will have many teams participating.

Although the scout team will have a leader with them, the scouts are responsible for their own camp setup, cooking, cleanup and navigation across a preset course. The attending leader/s are responsible for their own setup and cooking.

These events are run over 3 (2.5) days and 2 nights. On the first night (Friday) teams arrive at check-in where their is a gear inspection, it is very important to note that if gear is forgotten a scout or the whole team can be sent home. They then walk to a low camp usually <5km. The following morning (Saturday) teams make their breakfast, break camp and hike with all their gear to the high camp usually <5km.

At high camp, teams again set up their tents, store their gear, get a quick snack and then start navigating the preset route set by the organising team of Scouters/Leaders. These routes are always prechecked prior to any scout teams attempting them and are always very manageable, but scouts will need a decent level of mountain fitness. They are always looped routes, so start and finish at the high camp. When navigation routes are completed scouts cook their evening meal and time is then their own, so they’ll have a great opportunity to meet and mix with scouts from right across their scout county / the 4 provinces.

On the last day (Sunday) before heading back to the pickup point scouts make their breakfast, break camp and do a site cleanup. Subject to weather they’ll also take part in a “Scouts Own”. At this they are asked for their views about how the event was run, the route and what could be changed to improve it in the future and they’ll also receive their badges.

Prior to participating in any of these challenges it’s important that scouts take part in the hiking and navigation training offered so they are fully prepared for what’s involved in these events.

A manual covering all aspects of these type of challenges, what to bring, tents, food types and route cards is available by clicking the following link… MPC Manual

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

—- 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.

This blog is brought to you by two of our Venture Scouts Alex and Brian and recorded in the form of a ships log.

9:30am Left campsite with 9 Scouts and 7 leaders. Tunes on the bus…

10:50am Arrived at Enniscrone at 7th Wave Surf School. Everyone arrived in one piece.

1:00pm Finished surf school. Headed to Sligo Town

2:32pm Arrived at Sligo Town. Went shopping.

4:05pm Left Sligo Town

5:23pm Arrived back onsite with all Scouts and leaders.

6:00pm Finished a game of UNO. One scout left to go home as she is going on holiday.

7:04pm Ate cheese pizza and chips for dinner. Held a meeting about what could be improved at our next camp.

8:20pm Explored ruins near the camp and took an alternate path to visit the lake near our camp.

9:27pm Started log

10:30pm Finished log

– Alex & Brian (times are approximate)

This blog is brought to you by two of our Scouts Tomás and Darragh

Our day started on Orchard Island to the sound of a (Tomás) phone alarm. Some people woke on the island as other people were only going to bed.

Gavin was missing his coffee and shouted at us to get up, again. We had cereal bars for our breakfast on the island and then took down our shelters so we would leave no trace. We waited for the boats to come and collect us and while we waited one slacker was still asleep. His name was Ronan.

We packed everything onto the boats, the scouts went first so we were first back to the site. When we docked the boats Gavin ran to get his precious coffee.

When we were back onsite the leaders had cooked us sausages and rashers which were really nice so this was our lunch. We then played our last game of UNO with Emer before she went home and goes on her holiday to Spain and her mum had chats with the leaders.

Then in the afternoon we went on our patrol hike to Boyle Town. In Boyle we discovered Supervalu and went to a park and sat and talked about camp. We also bought a new board game called pub quiz and said that this would be for everyone in the group to play with.

When we came back to site we were told to start getting ready for dinner so we put the fires on and started to boil the water for the pasta but we soon figured out it was chicken burgers and waffles and there was no pasta. We’re not sure who told us it was pasta for dinner though.

After dinner a few of us went on an adventure to the bottom of the site to the big green building to find a fridge and some couches. We played soccer for ages and when we came back we found ourselves signed up to the pub quiz game that we bought earlier. Our team won!

We’re going to bed early tonight as everyone is really tired and we’ve been told we’re getting up early tomorrow to go surfing.

– Tomás and Darragh with help from Slaney

This blog is brought to you by two of our Venture Scouts Katie and David.

After a late night of escapades certain scouts went to bed quite early.

From 9am most campers were awake, aware and eating a nutritious breakfast of cereal, juice, hot chocolate or tea.

The first enjoyable activity to partake in was Zip-it where one camper completed the hardest circuit. After pushing our limits in regards to patience and bravery we began heading back to our site.

After a well deserved ten minute break we enjoyed a lovely lunch of salad and hotdogs.

A list was compiled and eager and wary campers packed bags for an overnight stay on Orchard Island.

Rowing across the scouts enjoyed listening to aesthetic and high energy music such as Queen and ABBA. After arriving and unpacking we prepared shelters we hope not to need.

We discussed the likeness of our campsite in the forest and certain books and novels as well as comparing interesting phrases for example a miasma of discombobulation and the vibrant fire juxtaposed to the midnight sky.

We made wrap-pizzas with some campers running out of cheese and our leaders coming to the unfortunate realisation of a lack of easily accessible caffeine in the near future. Our sympathies were with them.

Our older campers managed to nab the last tarp for their shelter and after watching the enchanting sunset they helped the younger campers gather fern for their shelter.

The day came to an end and the night began with high spirits all around. The darkness creaped in quickly and the forest was submerged in a fiction-worthy night.

Smores and other chocolatey treats were enjoyed and we began one of our more risky ventures when we decided to forgo sleep in favour of a night of messing and procrastination.

Sadly (or sensibly) some campers retired to the previously prepared shelters from early in the morning.

Games, fun, music and gossip were exchanged around the campfire leading to a memorable trip and might be recalled for years to come.

– Katie & David

Post script: younger scouts accompanied by a leader were attacked/interacted with some local and friendly bats as well as one memorable moment were one camper had an unsettling encounter with a mouse.

This blog is brought to you by two of our Scouts Slaney and Emer.

After an eventful Sunday us tired campers had a late start to breakfast at 10 past 9.

Eager campers prepared their bags and waited to be told what activities lay ahead for the day. At 10:30 we set off to the lake on foot. We arrived shortly after and split into three groups before heading in rowing boats to Trinity Island.

The island proved tricky to find with one boat up on the rocks unable to move, some steering in the wrong direction and one boat never arriving.

Once we reached the island we explored the historical remains and discovered some locals on and around the island such as caterpillars, spiders, a dead fish and swans.

On leaving the island a boat was scratched and damaged but it didn’t stop an exhilarating race back, which resulted in many blistered hands.

After a fun experience out on the water we journeyed back to camp for lunch. After over two hours of rest we ventured back to the lake for an educational boat tour around the islands. We learned many facts such as a house with 365 windows for a different view each day of the year and were intrigued by a 6 foot long pike fish with 700 teeth caught by a local fisherman.

We arrived back to the shore safe and sound. We headed back to camp but some peckish ventures stayed behind at a nearby cafe.

The remaining campers continued their voyage back and started to prepare for dinner. The next few hours consisted of hard working labour as we built tripods, gathered firewood, prepared the pots and began cooking. A few slackers arrived back to camp to unfortunately discover half the work was completed.

After eating a hard earned meal of spaghetti bolognese and some scrumptious cheesecake. Later in the evening we enjoyed some smores while we reflected on yet another eventful day.

– Slaney & Emer with credit to Katie, Tomás and Darragh.