Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone 

(here's one of our "Christmas around the World" christmas cards

Balfron Scout Group: 1983-2013

Balfron Scout Group is 30 years old! 

In 1983, John Dymond (our Group Scout Leader) started a new Scout Group in Balfron and on the 16th November we were officially registered.

The various sections celebrated our birthday with a great big 30th Birthday cake at our recent Christmas parties.

Bonfire night

On Monday we had a fantastic Troop Bonfire Night. The Scouts had helped organise the night as part of their badge work and they seemed to get all the essential ingredients: a huge bonfire, lots of fireworks, and hot dogs. 

The Beavers had also made three guys for the bonfire and everyone was very impressed at how flammable they were! They were equally impressed by the bonfire (thanks to the Scouts and Tim Trafford for wood collection), the hot dogs and hot chocolate (thanks to the Chefs/Cub leaders) and the fireworks (thanks Steve).

We had a great turnout, with almost every Beaver, Cub, Scout and Leader there, and with extra parents and siblings there was over 100 people!

An extra big thanks goes to the Traffords for letting us use the Ballindalloch grounds.

Scout Sponsored Cycle

Last month the Scouts were out and about on their bikes, cycling along the edge of Loch Katrine in order to raise money for the Dogs Trust.

A fantastic turnout raised well in excess of £100 and a great cycle was had by all, followed by a well earned ice cream at the end!

Balfron Cubs on the BBC

Last week the cubs had great fun in the dark, playing games and creating a wonderful light show with glow sticks.

Here's a photo of them all running around with their light-sticks, trying to find their shoes in the dark!

The BBC were so impressed they even put their photo on their website (click here).

Cub Camp 2013

 

After months of waiting, Cub Camp finally arrived. This is the first camp in a long time, but now that two leaders have their permits hopefully it's just the first of many. Here are a few photos of the things we got up to...

Saturday was a lovely sunny day so we did lots of activities outdoors. We built dens...

...and learned some knots and lashings...

...so that we could make a stretcher.

We also learned how to make fires (without matches!)...

After all these activities we needed plenty of food...

...and sometimes a bit of quiet time by the campfire.

Then, after a really good night's rest, on Sunday we got to go on the climbing wall...

...while the leaders ate the rest of the cake.

We also went caving! which everyone loved, even in the rain.

After a very tiring weekend we all got our Nights Away 1 badges and the leader got to have a rest. 

Cub camp has arrived!

The first Cub Camp for a while is now (finally) here! After all the waiting the leaders have set up most of the camp and are waiting for the Cubs to arrive...

 

We'll post some more pictures soon. 

Beavers Programme Autumn 2013

This term we are doing the Creative and Promise Challenge badges, and the Explore, Imagination and IT Actvity badges.

Click on the image to see the full programme. 

                             

Cashel Forest

Last week the Cubs and Beavers went on the first walk of the new term, to Cashel Forest on the east side of Loch Lomond. 

It was a wonderful sunny day and a very well attended walk, over 50 Cubs, Beavers, Parents and siblings came along. 

As well as the views across the loch we saw five buzzards fighting (or maybe one of them was an eagle) but unfortunately we didn't see any adders, perhaps we were a bit too noisy.  

 

August 2013