Moggie

Yet another video from TSA in the UK Cheers Gareth

http://www.1stwestbury.org.uk/index.php?page=photos&album=14&menuid=9# Hopefully this link will take you to the patrol tents we brought with us to the US this summer. We camped at Schiff Scout Reservation, Long Island (had a great time, thanks to the guys there who helped us). They are Kyham 8 man canvas tents that weigh a ton! We had to break them down from their valise and distribute amongst the scouts baggage. For a standing camp the patrol lives together in one tent. Cheers Gareth

This is a short message to say thank you to all of the scouts, scouters and supporters who contributed their time, knowledge and skills to help make the 1st Westbury Scout Group expedition to Long Island, NY a massive success. In the UK we have a tradition of spelling and shouting bravo as a message of thanks B-R-A-V-O BRAVO! YIS Gareth

LIBob said "- Doing so coincided with a vast seascape change in the nature of scouting UK." Not In my neck of the woods. Scouting in the UK has been co-ed (Venture Scouts were always co-ed) for a few decades, in 2007 it was announced that to coincide with the scouting centenary that all groups would have to provide scouting experience for girls (there are some exceptions such as where scouting is provided in single sex establishments). My own scout group changed in 2006 in anticipation of the 2007 requirement. I can assure you that the nature of scouting has not changed in my group nor in the other groups in district. I wouldn't argue that this change didn't cause some angst at the time but with hindsight our concerns have proved to be unfounded. Cheers Gareth

To LIBob, "Now their cub packs are growing rapidly and their "boy" scout program is growing 5-6% per year. (I'm guessing nearly 100% of that growth is from girls joining.) BUT is it really scouting? By 2006 UK scouting awarded more computer MB and more religion MBs than First aid or Camping MBs. The UK scouting programme runs differently to the BSA version. "If the goal is to change scouting to a co-ed group of kids who learn religion and computer skills then by all means go ahead make it co-ed." You can find out how the UK programme runs by visiting: http://www.scouts.org.uk or http://www.scoutbase.org.uk Programme Zones split the whole programme into manageable areas. Each Zone represents a different development area in a young person's life. There are six Programme Zones in the Scout Section. They are: * Beliefs and Attitudes * Community * Fit for Life * Creative Expression * Global * Outdoor and Adventure It is recommended that a troop spend roughly 50% of its programme time working within the Outdoor and Adventure Zone. These Zones are delivered using 10 methods, which give the programme variety and range. Sometimes one method will be more suitable than another. On occasions you may use a number of methods within the same activity. The Methods are: * Activities outdoors * Games * Design and creativity * Visits and visitors * Service * Technology and new skills * Team-building activities * Activities with others * Themes * Prayer, worship and reflection In addition to the Programme Zones and Methods, there is a also a third element to the Balanced Programme. Put simply it identifies what people might expect to see if they walked into a Troop meeting. We need to be aware of it as it very much reflects the experience of being a Scout. * Activity * Fun * Teamwork * Leadership and Responsibility * Relationships * Commitment * Personal Development This link will take you to the current edition of Scouting Magazine, there is an article on the growth of scouting in the UK. The biggest growth has been in the 14-18 yr old section (Explorer Scouts) and 18 -15yrs (Network Scouts). Girls make up approximately 15% of scouting in the UK http://www.scouts.org.uk/cms.php?pageid=2965 My own scout group didn't go fully co-ed until 2007 (explorers have always been mixed), so has it made any significant difference? in short, No. We did have to make some changes, but in the great scheme of things they haven't proved to be particularly onerous. It hasn't had any significant impact on Guiding locally either. Personally, its great that my daughter can fully participate in scouting with me. Cheers Gareth

http://www.scouts.org.uk/news/288/scouting-sees-biggest-membership-surge-in-40-years This link will take you to the Scout Association news web page Cheers Gareth

T2Eagle, Most UK groups use that type of tent, they are also for sale on The Scout Association web site: http://scoutshops.com/acatalog/group-tents.html This link is for the general tent index on the scout shop web page: http://scoutshops.com/acatalog/tents.html For a quick weekend camp we'll use lightweight equipment but for a standing camp then the big patrol tents come in to their own. Cheers Gareth

http://www.blacksofgreenock.co.uk/ This link will take you to the Blacks of Greenock site and shows the traditional UK scout patrol tents along with their costs (over 500 (about $700) just for the tent without fly or ground sheets). We keep a couple of these for district camping competitions, they last decades we have one tent from 1980 in good serviceable condition. Cheers Gareth

In the UK we use Patrol tents, 8 man canvas tents that the whole patrol lives out of for standing camps, lightweight nylon tents for back packing or a quick weekend camp. In my scout group the lightweight tents still tend to be 4-5 man tents (we have been known to get six small scouts in them). We also own a number of Guerber 2 man expedition tents (again supposed to be lightweight, but the get heavy, real quick!). The tents are owned by the scout group and shared between the cub pack, scout troop and explorer unit. Currently we tend to use Kyham Indian TC8 canvas tunnel tents for the cubs and standing camps, and various Vangos for lightweight camping. Cheers Gareth

Try these links. http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/support/training/gilwell/ http://www.scout.org.uk/gilwelltraining http://www.scouts.org.uk/learnersresources The Scout Association training scheme is geared primarily aimed at meeting the needs of scouting in the UK. Regards Gareth 1st Westbury Scout Group

The Web page of 1st Westbury Scouts in the UK http:www.1stwestbury.org.uk Cheers Gareth edited for typo(This message has been edited by Moggie)

No we're visiting Long Island, the plan is to link up with a troop there whose home town shares the same name (Westbury). Cheers Gareth

Hi, I'm a scout leader in the UK, with 1st Westbury Scout Group. As usual we have a web presence www.1stwestbury.org.uk so please come over and have a look. In July I'm leading the troop on a visit to the US and as part of trying to understand the differences and common ideals I hope you'll forgive if I ask the odd question or seek clarification of things that you find commonplace. Cheers Gareth

Happy Birthday from the UK Gareth