Scouts Christmas show

As an end to our term the Scouts entertained us with their various talents. We were treated to a show of some great musical abilities, on the bagpipes, piano, violin, guitar and tenor horn. We had a group of scouts telling jokes and another group doing a "dance" number involving tin trays and some sore heads.

Then, as a finale, and inspired by the recent panto we went to, there was a very funny version of the Twelve Days of Christmas involving cans of irn bru, lost front teeth and squirty cream.

Well done to everyone who took part or acted as helpers and the cheering audience on the night.

Bonfire night 2017

Our annual Group Bonfire night event was a great success again this year. We had around 70 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, and even the odd Explorer came along to help out.

The bonfire was the best we've had, the guys that the Beavers had made seemed to almost explode as soon as they were put on the bonfire, the "hot dogs" were definitely the best ever after the Cub leaders decided to go for real sausages!, and the fireworks were better any previous year, mainly because it seems you get three times the fireworks if you buy them a few months before bonfire night...and we haven't even mentioned the glowing light-sabres that replaced the glowsticks this year.

All in all a great success. Thanks to all the leaders for organising and particular thanks to the Traffords for the use of their land and to the Fords for the parking area.

Visit to FADS

This week we went to visit the Fintry Amateur Dramatic Society where they are in the middle of rehearsing for this year's panto - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. David told us all about the plays the put on, the competitions they have won and showed us around the stage and beckstage areas.

Then we got to act out some of the panto scenes. The photo shows six of us being dwarfs together with Owen, who is actual is a dwarf in the panto.

We had a great time and in two weeks we'll be back for the opening night of the actual panto.

Athletics at the Emirates

Having had some intense training over the past month, this week twenty-four of Balfron's scouts headed over to the Emirates Arena in Glasgow to take part in their very own Scout Olympics!

From a gruelling 800m race, a 4x200m relay and 100m sprints to long jump, shot put and high jump, the Scouts all put in a fantastic effort and have all completed the activity section of their Athletics Activity Badge.

Results of the competition to be released at the AGM next week! Well done!

Scouts Expedition Camp

Last weekend six of Balfron's oldest scouts braved the weather to undertake their expedition for their Chief Scout's Gold Award! Hiking along Loch Lomond and camping right beside the loch gave the opportunity for some (very cold) swimming with a lovely fire to warm up by the camp.

Congratulations to all six on completing their expedition and they will be looking forward to receiving their Chief Scout's Gold Awards in a few weeks time.

Scouts in Namibia

Two of our ex-Scouts (now Explorers) are off on a very exciting adventure. They will be part of the Forth Region Scouts trip to Omakange, in Namibia where they aim to help raise funds and then help build an infant school and community garden in a remote impoverished village.

Omakange is about 170 km from Etosha National Park and although the village has a relatively high population of 700 people, there is no school. The nearest school is about 6-7 km away which means children aren't able to make the 14 km return journey every day along dusty roads under a hot sun until they are about 8 years old.

Forth Region Scouts have partnered with Scouts of Namibia to develop the project and it's hoped that a new scout group is formed locally as a result of the project.

You can follow the Scouts' adventures on Facebook and Twitter at the following pages 

https://www.facebook.com/BuildNamibia2017/

https://twitter.com/BuildNamibia17

Good luck from all of Balfron Scouts, Cubs and Beavers!

Search and Rescue

Last night we had a visit from the guys from the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team. They told us all about their work, how they search for lost walkers in the hills, ambulances stuck in the snow, and in general help all the emergency services, particularly when it's difficult for them to get to where they want to be.

They told us all about the emergency first aid they have to know and then set us a chalenge. We had to find someone who was lost (in the graveyard!), and help them if they were injured. We spread out for the search of the area, found the injured walker, called back to our team to bring the equipment, put on the leg splint, because it seemed like he had broken his leg, and then used the collapsable stretcher to get him to safety. We had a great time and learned a lot...we even managed to put the splint on the correct leg.

Many thanks for the Search and Rescue team!

Path building

A couple of weeks ago we helped out the local community group who are in charge of looking after the paths around Balfron. They wanted to re-route the path down past the field where the old Ballindalloch mill used to be so that it went around the field. This means the path is in a much better condition and that the farmer can now use the field for his young cattle...so everyone is happy.

Well...maybe the scouts weren't too happy when they saw the four tons of gravel they had been asked to spread along the path! But the really got stuck in and did a great job, they even used some great big stones to fill in the large holes in the path before they covered with the gravel. There was a great group spirit and by the end we had a great path to walk on.

 

Cubs Camp at Barrwood

Balfron Cubs at Barrwood, 27-28 May 2017

The Cubs had a very successful weekend at Barrwood - Richard has already sent an email around everyone with details, but here are some of the pictures taken over the two days

Campfire Activities

Tyre Tug of War

Lunchtime!

"The Beasts of Barrwood" - Cubs had to make a beast out of natural materials and hide it somewhere around the campsite.

Inchcailloch Scout camp

This weekend the Scouts went to Inchcailloch, an island in Loch Lomond, close to Balmaha. We set off from Balmaha in the old ferry boat, with Calum bringing supplies in his canoe.

After what seemed like a long walk across the island with our full backpacks we reached our campsite for the weekend. The scouts set up the tents and had plenty of time to play games on the beach, go paddling in the lovely warm loch (or so the scouts told us) and make a fire while Calum made the hot chocolate.

It was a lovely night, with a great sunset and plenty of time to go off and explore the island. We searched for wild garlic for the soup, had our dinner on the beach and set up hammocks for those that wanted to forego the comforts of a tent. After a night walk to the graveyard, scaring a few deer on the way, it was time for bed.

It rained a bit in the night but we didn't notice it. After having to get woken up by the leaders we had a great breakfast and then headed off across the island to get the ferry back to the mainland.

The national park only allow a few people to stay on the island at any one time (we had it all to ourselves) so after hiking eight miles to Drymen the first lot of scouts said goodbye and the leaders picked up the next lot. Retracing their steps another eight miles back to Balmaha the second lot enjoyed the Saturday night on the island.

Lots more fun on the beach, wide games and garlic collecting later and a few more people in hammocks and it was time for bed...and an hour or so later the scouts actually went to sleep...but not for long. The dawn chorus (of fighting canada geese as well as barn and tawny owls) was very loud so a few scouts were unfortunately woken up quite early!

But maybe that was good as there was plenty of time to get the tents down and trek across the island back to the ferry and the waiting parents.

That was the end of another very successful Inchcailloch camp...the best bits were probably Calum's wonderful cooking, the great weather and the beach. 

We'll definitely be back soon!