Chief Scout Bear Grylls with Scouts

On 18th May 2009, The Scout Association announced Bear Grylls’ appointment as the tenth and youngest Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. Bear is one of the UK’s great outdoor adventurers; he is also a strong supporter of young people as seen via his work with international children’s charity, Global Angels. As Chief Scout, a position he will hold for five years, Bear will be the volunteer Leader of the largest co-educational youth Movement in the country: Scouting has around half a million Members including some 90,000 adult Leaders. – Announcement on World Scouts website

Here in Australia you can see Bear Grylls on TV – Monday nights on SBS his survival show ‘Man vs Wild’ is shown at 8:35pm. Online you can follow his exploits on Twitter, his blog or at http://www.beargrylls.com/. What an amazing example Bear is setting for people young and old everywhere!

Using south dome telescope

On the 25th of September 2009, Lindsay, Grant, Jackson, and I went to the Sydney observatory. This was a patrol activity for scouts and part of the astronomy badge.

We all met at the observatory and went inside. While we waited for the tour we looked around and saw a telescope.

When the tour started the first place we went to was the 1874 large refracting lens telescope which is the oldest working telescope in Australia. We looked at the moon.

After the 1874 telescope we looked in a room which had lots stuff to do with the Southern Cross.

We went to see a modern day telescope in the north dome. It is a 40cm computer-controlled reflecting (mirrored) telescope. We looked at Jupiter though it looked like a blurry dot because of heat and wind.

In the 3D cinema we watched a movie called Extreme Places. It was about the Galileo project, Titan, the Mars project, Europa and Io.

After that we all went home.

To organise a visit to the observatory, either call the observatory on (02) 9921 3485 or visit http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/.

Trailwalker tips: Head torch etiquette

Keep it below the knees, please! When you’re facing another trailwalker, adjust the angle of your head torch beam so that it shines no higher than their knees. Adjust the angle before you look up to their face — afterwards is too late [...]

If you have the time, please read this and think about how it might apply to our events – especially the Scouts State Rally next weekend.

Weary scouts line up for a photo

Our Scout group has begun their preparations already with a solid night of packing all the gear last Sunday. The Scouts set off to camp on Friday night and will return on Monday.

As usual, the Cub pack and Joey mob are invited to visit Region camp on the Sunday to visit and join in many of the activities that are available. This is a valuable opportunity for the younger sections to see the Scouts in action.

Reminder to Cub & Joey parents : drive to and park at Waterfall station to meet the free shuttle bus that will ferry us all down into Camp Coutts at 8:30am. Wear full uniform with comfortable shoes, bring lunch, snacks, water (important!), drinks, jumper, raincoat, a change of clothes and sunscreen. Sausage sandwiches will be on sale at camp.

Where is Camp Coutts? From Sydney drive down the Princes Highway to Waterfall station – easy!

JOEY SCOUT MOB and CUB SCOUT PACK

“Their Service Our Heritage”

To complete the requirements of this badge we will be participating in two Anzac events.

Sunday 19 April 09 – Five Dock March (phone Akela 0449 736 509. or Bagheera 0415 095 101)

Meet outside Club Five Dock, Great North Road at 9AM. Wear FULL uniform.

We march to Five Dock Park Cenotaph for the service, and return to the club for refreshments.

Saturday 25 April 09 – Legacy and the Anzac March (phone as above)

Meet outside Legacy House (Google Map) at 7AM. Wear FULL uniform and bring a pack with jumper, raincoat and a water bottle. We will have breakfast at Legacy House then we will proceed to Wynyard Station George Street to collect donations by distributing rosemary. We will return to Legacy House to hand in the trays and money; as well as refreshments. Then we will proceed to the corner of Bent & Macquarie Streets to meet up with the Armoured Corps for the march. We will finish at Hyde Park in front of the War Memorial about 12:30PM

We would like every Joey and Cub in attendance at BOTH of these events, so you ALL earn the “Their Service Our Heritage Badge”. If you can’t make it to either of these events you can still earn the badge by doing 2 of the following;

Attending a local Anzac Service somewhere else

Picking up litter at a war memorial

Talking to a Service Veteran and reporting what you learned to the Mob/Pack

Drawing a picture of a Cenotaph and finding out what actions it remembers

Finding out why rosemary is for remembrance

Finding out what Legacy does

First Night back after Holidays

Our first meeting for 2^nd term will be Monday 4 May 09 at the hall

Finally we hope you all have a great and safe Easter with your families and friends.

HAPPY EASTER

Keep Hopping Mob

Good Hunting Pack

Akela Wattle Kaa Tietta and Bagheera

Ten decoratively painted young hands

Harmony Day in 2009 transported the Joey mob to Malaysia and India.

In Malaysia the mob learned to count to five : 1– satu ; 2 – dua ; 3 – tiga ; 4 – empat ; 5 – lima.

After a brainstorming session on decorations used by cultures around the world, the mob learned a little about some of the henna decorations used in India.

Some women in India decorate the backs of their hands and their arms right up to their elbow on the day they are getting married. This henna paste painting is called Mendhi and is linked to Hindu worship.

The mob then had the chance to draw their own hands and decorate them on paper before having some real (face) paint applied to their own hands.