Date: May, Friday 6th – Sunday 8th

Checkin Time: 18:00 – 18:30

Finish / Closing Ceremony: Sunday 8th @ 15:00 (refer to detail at bottom of page)

Location: Kilcully campsite

Directions: Via Google Maps

This is an event for Scouts who in a team of 8 demonstrate their scouting skills in the areas of Camping, Pioneering, Cooking, 1st aid, Navigation and camp site hygiene & cleanliness. It is a Cork South Scout County event and that weekend there will also be another Scout county onsite running a similar event. They’ll have free time during the day and at night and as it’s their 1st time at this type of event we just want them to go and enjoy the experience, have a laugh and take the opportunity to mix with other like-minded scouts from right across Co. Cork.

Things to keep in mind: Scouts must not be late arriving on site for registration and once there (barring a family issue) scouts must not leave the site. Although they’ll be working very much under their own initiative there will be plenty of leaders onsite to assist them if it’s needed.

All of the scouting kit will be provided by the group, but they’ll need to have their own personal kit (listed below).

Food: All food, breakfast, dinner and tea will be provided. However we won’t know what the proposed Saturday night menu will be until we’re on site. As the team has yet to decide who their team cooks are we’d suggest that all team members start practicing prep’ing meals at home. We’d suggest concentrating on vegetable peeling as well as cooking rice and pasta dishes. Of course this is something that all of our scouts should be doing in prep’ for our summer camp in August.

Personal Gear they must bring

• Scout Neckerchief
• Rucksack (Important they have only 1 bag for all their personal gear as tents and site must be kept tidy and clutter free)
• <Hiking Boots> only
• Raincoat + Waterproof pull-ups
• Warm Hat and gloves
• Light fleece jacket.
• Sun hat
• Change of clothes for 2 days
• PJs or light tracksuit and T
• <Sleeping bag> + travel pillow (can bring a 2nd s/bag to ensure they’re warm)
• Ground matt
• Head torch + spare batteries
• Personal wash gear
• Cup / bowl / plate / knife / fork / spoon / t-towel / j-cloth (kept in string pull bag)
• Small bottle of hand sanitiser
• Personal 1^st aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Sun lotion

Additional Training: Next week as well as the usual scout meetings we are planning on organising 1 or 2 additional outdoor evening meetings to practice the various Shield tasks. Team members MUST attend these, but all scouts are welcome to come along and participate. If/when we have a location confirmed we’ll put details on the WhatsApp.

Finish: On Sunday after the closing ceremony Scouts will be required to tidy away and load the kit on the transport and then meet back at our scout hall to help put all the kit away and/or hang any wet tents. We expect to be finished in Kilcully by 15:00, but could run over. Keep an eye on WhatsApp for updates.

Important: If your scout suffers from hay fever, is an asthmatic or needs regular medication let your leaders know before attending the event.

Hi All,

Summer camp 2022 will soon be upon us! It’s really great after the last couple of years without one, to finally have a summer camp again!

The Ventures have been planning this for a while, and now it’s coming to fruition.

Details are:

• Venue: Lough Keel Scout Campsite, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
• Dates: Saturday 9th July to Saturday 16th July
• While always open to change, among the activities that are being looked into are Camping (obviously!), Boating, Island Bivvying, Surfing, Zippit and lots lots more!

Lough Keel is a really fabulous site. We’ve had many summer camps there, going back over nearly 40 years!

The price of the camp, in total, is €375. This includes everything, travel, food, activities, camp fees etc. The camp is now listed on Easy Payments and the structure will be 5 payments of €75.

Any questions at all, please get back to us! Any normal means of communication, or email camp22@douglasscouts.ie

Kind Regards,

Leader team.

As mentioned at the last meeting the section are competing in the Cork South Shield Competition this year on the 6th-8th of May at Kilcully Scout Campsite.

In preparation for this we are going to Fota Scout Centre on the weekend of April 8th – 10th. This weekend is not limited to those who wish to attend the shield. All scouts are welcome to attend, the more the merrier.

Scouts attending must have an activities consent form completed and returned to us and also have paid the annual registration.

Securing a place is subject to a non-refundable deposit of €10 and can be paid at the next meeting (30th March).

• Arrive: 7:30pm on Friday 8th April
• Depart: 2pm on Sunday 10th April

Accommodation: Tents

Cost:

• Cost is 40 euro per scout (including deposit). This will cover accommodation, food and programme for the weekend.
• The full amount is due on Wednesday the 6th of April.

Gear List:

• Uniform not necessary but neckerchief is a MUST.
• Old/worn clothing is best to be used for this weekend
• Sleeping bag
• Bivvy bag
• Full raingear (jacket and leggings)
• Warm hat and gloves
• Hiking boots
• Tea towel
• Unbreakable cup, bowl, plate
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Two complete changes of clothes
• Towel and personal wash gear
• Water bottle – at least 1 litre
• Torch and spare batteries

Directions:

Please DO NOT pack ANY electronic devices or mobile phones or bring any such devices on the weekend.
Douglas & St. FinBarres Scout Group accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused to electronic devices or mobile phones while away on this weekend.
Leaders WILL NOT ‘mind’ ‘take care’ ‘watch over’ any electronic devices or mobile phones for Scouts on this weekend

Should you have any further query please do not hesitate to contact me at seantaaffe@douglasscouts.ie

Yours in Scouting,

Sean and Ronan.

Date: Sunday 6^th March

Location: Galtymore

Start Time: 9:30am

Finish Time: 3pm

General Directions: Jct 12 M8, Kilbehenny, continue on R639, at cross roads signed Galtymore climb turn left, continue to the end.

Google Map Directions: https://tinyurl.com/kstrwrhf

Food before hike: Hike is not overly difficult, but a good breakfast is essential to fuel their walk until their 1st food break.

For the health and safety of all our scouts if we deem any inappropriately dressed for the hike they will not be permitted to attend. Parents are asked to wait until check is completed.

Spare clothes and footwear should be left in the car that will be collecting them.

Date: Sunday 6th February 2022

Start: 9.30am

Finish: 2.30pm

Location: Paps

General Directions: N22 Killarney Rd. Right turn you’ll need is signed as Clydagh valley

Google Map Directions: https://tinyurl.com/yarvw2kz

Food before hike: Hike is not difficult, but a good breakfast is essential to fuel their walk before the 1st food break.

For the health and safety of all our scouts if we deem any inappropriately dressed for hike they will not be permitted to attend the event.

Spare clothes and footwear should be kept in the car that will be collecting them.

** To facilitate our scouts sitting their JC, hikes previously planned for June have been pushed out.

Firm hike dates will be updated following discussion with the scouts.

To ensure your Beaver and Cub Scout gets the maximum enjoyment out of their hikes and camping trips it’s very important that they have the right kit with them. Thankfully here in Ireland we don’t usually get huge weather extremes, but we do get a lot of rain. A good rain coat will help keep the rain out and boots will help prevent a twisted ankle.

Below is a basic list of items they should have. If you have any questions please speak with the leaders.

Clothing + Footwear

• Hiking Boots with ankle support + spare laces <Click for boot info>
• Light weight waterproof raincoat with hood
• Waterproof pull-ups
• Warm Hat and gloves
• Light fleece jacket.
• Hiking pants
• Warm hiking socks – woollen are best.
• Sun hat
• For Winter Hiking
• Thermal skins
• Buff / neck warmer
• Scarves or cotton trackies should not be worn as they soak up the rain, scarves can get misplaced.

Kit

• Rucksack that has waist band – Can be used for all hiking and camping, does not need to be filled!
• Large bin bag for lining the rucksack.
• 1ltr Water bottle – When hiking it is very important your scout keeps well hydrated.
• Head torch + spare batteries – When walking important to have both hands free.
• Best place to carry spare batteries is in a spare torch!
• Whistle – 6 Blows for help needed – 3 to respond
• Sleeping bag – 3 season. <Click for bag info>
• Ground matt – Foil backed has best combo of insulation and light weight.
• Travel pillow – Do not bring regular pillows, they are bulky and just get dirty.
• Pillow alternative, empty pillow case stuffed with clean clothes or towel at night.
• Wash gear.
• Small pocket notebook and pencil
• Bivvy bag
• Metal flask – Hot drinks are always welcome on a cold day.
• Cup / bowl / plate / knife / fork / spoon / t-towel / j-cloth
• Pen knives and fire starters – Only permitted with a leaders permission.

First Aid

• Face masks x 2
• Small bottle of hand sanitiser
• Personal 1^st aid kit – Can be a small zippo bag with waterproof plasters.
• Insect repellent
• Sun lotion

Optional Items

• Compass – Long bodied is best for map reading, route planning and navigation.
• Walking poles
• Gaitors

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

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.

To ensure your scout gets the maximum enjoyment out of their hikes and camping trips it’s very important that they have the right kit with them. Thankfully here in Ireland we don’t usually get huge weather extremes, but we do get a lot of rain. A good rain coat will help keep the rain out and boots will help prevent a twisted ankle.

Below is a basic list of items they should have. If you have any questions please speak with the leaders.

Clothing + Footwear

• Hiking Boots with ankle support + spare laces <Click for boot info>
• Light weight waterproof raincoat with hood
• Waterproof pull-ups – ideally with zips and Velcro fasteners along the legs.
• Warm Hat and gloves
• Light fleece jacket.
• Buff / neck warmer
• Hiking pants
• Warm hiking socks – woollen are best.
• Sun hat
• Gaiters
• For Winter Hiking
• Thermal skins
• Ice grips for boots
• 2nd warm hat
• 2nd pair of gloves
• Do not bring scarves or cotton trackies as they just soak up the rain.

Kit

• Rucksack 65ltrs that has waist band – Can be used for all hiking and camping, does not need to be filled!
• Large bin bag for lining the rucksack.
• 2ltr Water bottle – When hiking it is very important your scout keeps well hydrated.
• Head torch + spare batteries – Scouts need both hands free on night hikes and for putting up tents in the dark.
• Best place to carry spare batteries is in a spare torch!
• Whistle – 6 Blows for help needed – 3 to respond
• Compass – Long bodied is best for map reading, route planning and navigation.
• Sleeping bag – 3 season. <Click for bag info>
• Ground matt – Foil backed has best combo of insulation and light weight.
• Travel pillow – Do not bring regular pillows.
• Pillow alternative, empty pillow case. Can be stuffed with clean clothes or towel at night.
• Wash gear.
• Small pocket notebook and pencil
• Bivvy bag
• Metal flask – Hot drinks are always welcome on a cold day.
• Cup / bowl / plate / knife / fork / spoon / t-towel / j-cloth
• Walking poles
• Pen knives and fire starters – Only permitted when an equipment safety course/test is undertaken.

First Aid

• Face masks x 2
• Small bottle of hand sanitiser
• Personal 1^st aid kit – Can be a small zippo bag with waterproof plasters.
• Insect repellent
• Sun lotion

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

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.