We're planning a Patrol Camp for Ardsley Scouts, 4-6 September, probably at Silverwood. Just wondering if any other troops fancy taking part? The basic idea would be each patrol camps as a self-contained unit, with their own sleeping, dining and cooking arrangements. Leaders would camp separately to keep an eye on things, and run activities. The aim is to get them working effectively as a Patrol. There would ideally be a competitive aspect, maybe with a prize for the Patrol that gets the most points?
Still early days, planning-wise, but if you'd like to get involved let me know via the comments link below, or email ian@ardsleyscouts.org.uk
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
District Camp - Report
Here’s my report on the District Camp just gone.
Numbers
Excluding Leaders and Explorers, there were 155 campers, which splits down by Group as follows: Darfield 43, Hoyland Common 26, Wombwell 29, Hoyland 38, Ardsley 19. The section split was Beavers 45, Cubs 42, Scouts 68.
That’s an impressive turnout. I think 200plus is achievable next year, and I think we should plan on that basis. I would also suggest we start promoting the event earlier next year; I think we’ll get more going, and it will help with the planning if we can get a better idea of numbers 4 – 6 weeks before the event.
Programme
We were blessed with good weather this year, which always helps, but the programme was in the main successful too. Thanks to all the Leaders for all their hard work. Thanks to Mick for the ‘Scouts Own’, which I thought was pitched to perfection. Thanks to the Explorers who did a great job with the campfire and the assault course. It’s probably unfair to single out individuals but I thought George was excellent as campfire leader. Thanks to the Fellowship for organising the backwoods cooking. On the day they struggled to cope with the numbers of scouts, so if we do anything like that next year we need to run more than one session. Last but not least, thanks to Tim Hague for running the first aid competition for Scouts. He’s far too polite to say so, but on the whole I don’t think he was too impressed with their first aid skills, so maybe that’s something we can work on.
Finances
I haven’t received any further claims for expenses, so I assume everyone is sorted. So the final position is as follows: total income was £890, total expenditure was £461, leaving a surplus of £429, which I propose to redistribute to the Groups pro rata to the camp fees originally paid. You can find a spreadsheet of my working-out here, but I propose to refund the following amounts: Darfield £105.25, Hoyland Common £58.36, Wombwell £78.82, Hoyland £120.22 and Ardsley £66.35. The refund works out at just under 50% of the camp fees originally paid. I will bring the money to the next District Scouters’ Meeting.
Some groups spent more on food than the £8 allocated from the camp fee, I know we did, so I would say the split original agreed was wrong. When I’m budgeting for camps I work on £5.75 per 24-hours for food, so I’d normally have allocated £11.50 for food for this camp.
Camp fees were £300, which is worked out at just under £2pp. This is a fixed cost (providing we book the entire site) so the more go the lower the cost per person.
The activities expenses came to £161, which is just over £1pp – which wasn’t as much as I expected, but I supposed the ‘Back to Basics’ theme helped there. I think for next year we need to come up with a way of allocating the activities budget in advance so we do actually spend it.
Numbers
Excluding Leaders and Explorers, there were 155 campers, which splits down by Group as follows: Darfield 43, Hoyland Common 26, Wombwell 29, Hoyland 38, Ardsley 19. The section split was Beavers 45, Cubs 42, Scouts 68.
That’s an impressive turnout. I think 200plus is achievable next year, and I think we should plan on that basis. I would also suggest we start promoting the event earlier next year; I think we’ll get more going, and it will help with the planning if we can get a better idea of numbers 4 – 6 weeks before the event.
Programme
We were blessed with good weather this year, which always helps, but the programme was in the main successful too. Thanks to all the Leaders for all their hard work. Thanks to Mick for the ‘Scouts Own’, which I thought was pitched to perfection. Thanks to the Explorers who did a great job with the campfire and the assault course. It’s probably unfair to single out individuals but I thought George was excellent as campfire leader. Thanks to the Fellowship for organising the backwoods cooking. On the day they struggled to cope with the numbers of scouts, so if we do anything like that next year we need to run more than one session. Last but not least, thanks to Tim Hague for running the first aid competition for Scouts. He’s far too polite to say so, but on the whole I don’t think he was too impressed with their first aid skills, so maybe that’s something we can work on.
Finances
I haven’t received any further claims for expenses, so I assume everyone is sorted. So the final position is as follows: total income was £890, total expenditure was £461, leaving a surplus of £429, which I propose to redistribute to the Groups pro rata to the camp fees originally paid. You can find a spreadsheet of my working-out here, but I propose to refund the following amounts: Darfield £105.25, Hoyland Common £58.36, Wombwell £78.82, Hoyland £120.22 and Ardsley £66.35. The refund works out at just under 50% of the camp fees originally paid. I will bring the money to the next District Scouters’ Meeting.
Some groups spent more on food than the £8 allocated from the camp fee, I know we did, so I would say the split original agreed was wrong. When I’m budgeting for camps I work on £5.75 per 24-hours for food, so I’d normally have allocated £11.50 for food for this camp.
Camp fees were £300, which is worked out at just under £2pp. This is a fixed cost (providing we book the entire site) so the more go the lower the cost per person.
The activities expenses came to £161, which is just over £1pp – which wasn’t as much as I expected, but I supposed the ‘Back to Basics’ theme helped there. I think for next year we need to come up with a way of allocating the activities budget in advance so we do actually spend it.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Scout Athlete Badge
We need to decide what we're doing regarding the Scout Athlete Badge, which we're proposing to run on 28 June at Broomhill instead of the raft race. I think we said 1pm start time - can someone confirm that please? I don't mind doing a letter, once we've sorted out what we're doing. The 'official' Athlete badge events are:
So we're going to need:
Not sure how we can do the high jump, unless anyone's got any thick bouldering mats(?), but if we are doing it we need a flexible cross bar and something to hold it up.
This would be a lot easier on a field that's already already marked up with a 400m track - anyone?
We need to know who we've got going leader-wise, and who's bringing what kit-wise.
- 100m Sprint
- 200m Sprint
- 300m Female
- 400m Male
- 800m
- 1500m
- High Jump
- Long Jump
- Shot
- Discus
- Cricket Ball
So we're going to need:
- long tape measures
- stop watches
- something to mark out lanes, start and finish lines, etc
- cricket ball
- discus
- shot
Not sure how we can do the high jump, unless anyone's got any thick bouldering mats(?), but if we are doing it we need a flexible cross bar and something to hold it up.
This would be a lot easier on a field that's already already marked up with a 400m track - anyone?
We need to know who we've got going leader-wise, and who's bringing what kit-wise.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Proposed merger of the three Barnsley Districts
Below is the text of a letter sent by Andy Moore, County Commissioner, on 8th June 2009 to all Group Scout Leaders and Scouters-in-Charge in Barnsley Central, Barnsley Pennine, and Barnsley Fitzwilliam districts. This was briefly discussed over the weekend in an ad hoc Exec meeting. GSLs have been asked to discuss this within their Groups prior to the next Exec Meeting on 6th July. The intention is that Exec meeting will come up with our considered response to the proposals:-
Dear Scouter,
I am writing to all Group Scout Leaders within the Barnsley Districts to inform you that a proposal has been put forward to evaluate changes to the Scout Boundaries within Barnsley. This was a proposal put forward from members of the movement in Barnsley as part of the search process to find a new DC for Barnsley Central and we also know that a new DC will be needed for Barnsley Fitzwilliam next year.
It was felt that because of this we should consider the option of the amalgamation of the three districts. The subject has been discussed with all three of the District Commissioners along with their Chairmen. It is felt that due to the decline in the number of groups within each district; the repeated resources of personnel time taken up for the three districts which could be better used to support Scouting for one area, that this was the right time to form a new district - Barnsley Metropolitan Scout Council.
Obviously this will need to be handled in the correct manner and this is the first part of the process to inform all groups at the same time. The subject will form part of the agenda at all three District Executive and Scouters meetings. The proposal will be to form a new district by the 1st April 2010 so planning/programmes need to be put in place that can be fulfilled and future plans discussed. The finances will also need to be kept in line with the Charity Commissioner accounting periods.
This proposal should only give added benefits to our Youth membership and there should be little change to the groups but I feel it will give added strengths when working as one district. If you or your Scouters have any queries regarding this - the subject will be on your meeting agendas as stated, but you can contact either me or your current DC's for information.
This is an open debate and we are willing to listen and answer and questions. Please let us continue to support Scouting in Barnsley together.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Moore
County Commissioner
Please feel free to use the comments link below to have your say. That's what the blog is for.
Dear Scouter,
I am writing to all Group Scout Leaders within the Barnsley Districts to inform you that a proposal has been put forward to evaluate changes to the Scout Boundaries within Barnsley. This was a proposal put forward from members of the movement in Barnsley as part of the search process to find a new DC for Barnsley Central and we also know that a new DC will be needed for Barnsley Fitzwilliam next year.
It was felt that because of this we should consider the option of the amalgamation of the three districts. The subject has been discussed with all three of the District Commissioners along with their Chairmen. It is felt that due to the decline in the number of groups within each district; the repeated resources of personnel time taken up for the three districts which could be better used to support Scouting for one area, that this was the right time to form a new district - Barnsley Metropolitan Scout Council.
Obviously this will need to be handled in the correct manner and this is the first part of the process to inform all groups at the same time. The subject will form part of the agenda at all three District Executive and Scouters meetings. The proposal will be to form a new district by the 1st April 2010 so planning/programmes need to be put in place that can be fulfilled and future plans discussed. The finances will also need to be kept in line with the Charity Commissioner accounting periods.
This proposal should only give added benefits to our Youth membership and there should be little change to the groups but I feel it will give added strengths when working as one district. If you or your Scouters have any queries regarding this - the subject will be on your meeting agendas as stated, but you can contact either me or your current DC's for information.
This is an open debate and we are willing to listen and answer and questions. Please let us continue to support Scouting in Barnsley together.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Moore
County Commissioner
Please feel free to use the comments link below to have your say. That's what the blog is for.
District Camp - Thanks
Thanks everyone for your efforts over the weekend. Don't know about you but I'm still exhausted! Anyway, everything seemed to go more or less according to plan, and you could tell that kids were having a good time, so I think we can all give ourselves a pat on the back. Job well done!
I'll post more on the finances later, but there is some money left over, and Steve's already agreed that I can distribute this back to the Groups. If anyone has any expenses that haven't been reimbursed can you let me know by the end of this week. You can email me at ian@ardsleyscouts.org.uk.
I'll post more on the finances later, but there is some money left over, and Steve's already agreed that I can distribute this back to the Groups. If anyone has any expenses that haven't been reimbursed can you let me know by the end of this week. You can email me at ian@ardsleyscouts.org.uk.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
District Camp - Latest Numbers
We're now expecting around 165 campers, which breaks down as follows: 46 Beavers, 43 Cubs, 63 Scouts, 12 Explorers. This includes Wombwell.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
District Camp - Site Allocation
Camp Site allocations for the District Camp are as follows:-
2nd Darfield - Infill Field 1
5th Hoyland Common - Monk Bretton 2
9th Wombwell - Monk Bretton 1
18th Hoyland - Arena
36th Ardsley - Ridge 1
On arrival please report to the Duty Warden as normal, then set up on your allocated site.
Reserved activity areas are as follows:-
Beaver Activities - Infill Field 2
Cub Activities - Ridge 2 & 3
Pioneering - Lodge Field
Backwoods Cooking/Fellowship - Oven 1 & 2
Spare - Woodside 1, 2 & 3
The Training Field is not available.
The Lodge is booked out to the Cub Leaders on Friday evening until 9pm. From 9pm it is booked out to the Scouts for the Film Show. On Saturday afternoon it is provisionally booked out to the Scouts for the First Aid Competition. Darfield have use of the Lodge oven on Friday evening.
A site plan can be found here.
Any problems please let me know asap as I do not expect to arrive onsite until 7pm-ish Friday.
2nd Darfield - Infill Field 1
5th Hoyland Common - Monk Bretton 2
9th Wombwell - Monk Bretton 1
18th Hoyland - Arena
36th Ardsley - Ridge 1
On arrival please report to the Duty Warden as normal, then set up on your allocated site.
Reserved activity areas are as follows:-
Beaver Activities - Infill Field 2
Cub Activities - Ridge 2 & 3
Pioneering - Lodge Field
Backwoods Cooking/Fellowship - Oven 1 & 2
Spare - Woodside 1, 2 & 3
The Training Field is not available.
The Lodge is booked out to the Cub Leaders on Friday evening until 9pm. From 9pm it is booked out to the Scouts for the Film Show. On Saturday afternoon it is provisionally booked out to the Scouts for the First Aid Competition. Darfield have use of the Lodge oven on Friday evening.
A site plan can be found here.
Any problems please let me know asap as I do not expect to arrive onsite until 7pm-ish Friday.
District Camp - Programme
An updated camp programme is now available for download from here.
NB. Can Scout Troops please bring their own ropes for pioneering, otherwise it could be a fairly short-lived activity!
As of last night's meeting we're expecting around 144 campers, which breaks down as follows: 46 Beavers, 35 Cubs, 51 Scouts, 12 Explorers. We're still awaiting Cub & Scout numbers from Wombwell so it could be more than that.
Money: Groups are to retain £8 for food for each camper, and £3 for each Beaver. The balance of £7/£2, respectively, is to be paid into the central camp fees/activities fund. If you're spending money on activities please supply receipts.
NB. Can Scout Troops please bring their own ropes for pioneering, otherwise it could be a fairly short-lived activity!
As of last night's meeting we're expecting around 144 campers, which breaks down as follows: 46 Beavers, 35 Cubs, 51 Scouts, 12 Explorers. We're still awaiting Cub & Scout numbers from Wombwell so it could be more than that.
Money: Groups are to retain £8 for food for each camper, and £3 for each Beaver. The balance of £7/£2, respectively, is to be paid into the central camp fees/activities fund. If you're spending money on activities please supply receipts.
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