Scouting Snapshots

In the Scouting Movement the Chief Scout Award starts with Beavers Scout Section gaining their Bronze, then Cub Scouts their Silver, Scouts their Gold, Explorer their Platinum, Explorer /Network their Explorer Belt and finally the Queen’s Scout Award.

It was an evening to mark the inspirational achievements of those young people who had achieved their award having started on their journey aged 10.5 and were now joining the Explorers section or just about to aged 14.

The evening was hosted by Dan Barber, Explorer Scout from the Tenzing Unit, in Blackpool District Scouts, who is also the Chairman of the West Lancashire Scouts Explorer Forum, who welcomed Members of the County Team, Blackpool District Scouting, the Recipients, and of course the proud parents, family members and leaders.

Dan gave a quick back ground to his young Scouting life, and explained how much it meant to him, and how much he has accomplished, and intends to accomplish in future years.

He then went on to introduce Ben Wilson, a Young Leader with the 6th Blackpool Scout Group, now an Explorer Scout , who received his Chief Scout Gold Award last year .

Ben explained all the things he had learnt and achieved from team work to map skills, and was looking forward to attaining his “Platinum Award”, but what he felt most was that Scouting had given him the confidence and made him so much more a better person than he already was, and given him such independence.

Following his testimony, a member of the County Team then read out the names of all 46 Scouts who received their individual certificates off Steve Morton, the West Lancashire Scouts County Commissioners, who all came from the following districts: Chorley, Fylde, Ormskirk, Preston, and South Ribble,

Also represented from Blackpool District were the following members: Sam Chapman, Conrad Evans, Lois Jackson, John Newton and Kyle Skelton all from the 23rd (St. Marys) Scout Troop, along with Adam Robinson, of the 45th (St Christophers) Scout Troop.

Steve Morton, the West Lancashire County Commissioner, was then formally introduced to the audience and recipients.

He congratulated all the award winners, and then went on to say that they should look at the what they can achieve in their future lives.

The evening closed with thanks by Dan Barber for their attendance.

Congratulations to all!

Science at their fingertips

The youngsters from 44th Blackpool Cub Pack took part in the Science Badge, in partnership with Rolls Royce.

The badge consists of three sections: Reaction; Interacting with Energy; and Living things.

The Cubs have to choose two tasks from each of the section which has six tasks in it.

Activities might be growing crystals and finding out what happens when you add salt to water, using spaghetti and marsh mellows to build the strongest tower you can and growing a plant.

The Cubs will then have a chat about what has happened and fulfil the task to gain the badge, which may take a few weeks.

Learning about fire safety

The youngsters from 53rd Blackpool Cub Pack recently undertook the challenge of the Fire Safety Activity Badge.

The badge itself consists of seven activities.

These include:

Visit a fire station/or invite a firefighter to attend the meeting, then both listen and ask questions as to what the member of the fire and rescue services does on a daily basis, what type of hazards with fire does he or she has to deal with,

Take part in a fire drill, and understand why you do this.

Make an emergency escape plan for you home, or your meeting place, or if in a strange building find where the emergency exits are, you are not being silly, but sensible.

How you should behave around bonfires, campfires, how do smoke and heat detectors work, and regular checks of the batteries.

And establish with the help of the leaders three potential areas in your home or at the cubs meeting place were a fire might happen.

Once the youngsters have completed these tasks, which takes a couple of weeks, they are then awarded their badge.

, to wear with pride.

The 53rd Blackpool Scout Group( Based at St. Monicas Church Hall), Mereside, just behind the Toby Grill, Preston New Rd, have vacancies within the three sections....Beavers Scouts aged 6 - 8yrs meet on a Thursday evening between 5.30pm - 7pm, Scouts aged 10.5 - 14 yrs also meet on a Thurs Eve from 7.15pm - 8.45pm. and Cubs Scouts meet from 5.45pm - 7.15pm pm.on a Monday Eve .