Scouting Snapshots

Summer may be over, but for one Blackpool Scout leader it was certainly a summer to remember!

Nicola Bonsor, 33, enjoyed a trip to the 15th World Scout Moot in Iceland during the summer holidays

Nicola is a Cub Scout Leader and Assistant Group Scout Leader with the 51st Blackpool Scout Group, based at St Stephen’s on the Cliff Parish Hall, North Shore.

She is also a member of the Blackpool District Cub Leaders Team and a primary school teacher.

Nicola said: “On Saturday July 22, I set off on my journey to the 15th World Scout Moot in Iceland.

“This is an event that happens every four years, in different locations around the world.

“It is aimed at Scouters who are between 18 and 25 years old.

“I went as International Service Team to help support the running of the event.

“In total, 5,123 Scouters attended from 89 different countries.

“The event was split into two parts - expeditions and the main site - Althingi.

“For the first five days, Scouters were sent to one of 12 locations around the country to complete different activities in tribes of 40 young people.

“Then everyone came back together on the main site to complete activities in themed programme villages.

“It provided an excellent opportunity to work with and learn from Scouters from all over the world, as well as visiting some stunning locations around Iceland.

“Where else could you get the chance to camp with a glacier and a waterfall within 15 minutes of the campsite?

“The next World Scout Moot will be held in Southern Ireland, and I can’t wait!”

Happy to be back together

Upon their return after a busy holiday period, the eager Beavers of 7th Blackpool were as excited as ever to get back into the swing of their Monday night adventures.

To ease the leaders and youngsters into their first night, it was an evening of fun and games, including one called “Octopus Arms”,where one youngster has to try and catch their fellow members until there is just one survivor against the growing octopus!

The meeting began when all Beavers aged between six and eight gathered together for their opening ceremony and making their promise to their leaders which is “Promising to do their best, be helpful to other, and to love their God”.

Team work is the real key

One thing so many youngsters in Scouting love to do is the challenge of making and creating gadgets.

So on the first night back, the leaders of 51st Blackpool – based at St Stephen’s on the Cliffs – set the Scouts with various tasks to achieve.

The great idea with making these or any types of structures, is working together, using your own initiative, and personal skills, and self discipline, but always bonding together as a team.

For instance lashing to poles together requires maybe up to three people, two to hold the poles firmly and correctly and one to make a strong knot and lashing with the rope.

Then when it comes to camping field activities on a cold and possibly wet weekend, practice makes perfect,

The group has also a number of places available for all the sections, in particular the Beaver Section aged six to eight.

The Beaver Scout Section meet on a Monday evening from followed by the other sections.