Explorers Blog

Keep up to date with all of the goings on in the Explorers, here on the Explorers Blog...
 

Forth Region Expedition to Africa 2013

An expedition is planned for Explorer and Network Scouts who will be at least 15 years of age on 1st July 2013.  See the Expedition website for fuller details www.forthregionexpedition2013.info
 

Forth Region Wins National Explorer Competition Camp



A team of 6 from the Deadrock ESU from West Lothian beat other teams from across Scotland to be crowned champions at this year's Explorer Competition Camp "E4 on the Fringe". 

Teams of 5 or 6 Explorers from around the country were challenged with a treasure hunt style quest, tackling mini challenges at bases across the capital city.  With tasks ranging from circus skills to photographic scrabble, the 11 teams travelled by public transport through Edinburgh for over 8 hours on Saturday.  Evening entertainment was a disco at Bonaly where the event was based for the weekend.  Sunday's activities were just for fun and allowed the teams to mix up, meet other Explorers and make new friends taking on different games from around the globe.

Traditionally this annual event is held in the winning Region the following year, and Forth Region will be very pleased to host this excellent event in the autumn 2012.

A great big well done to the Deadrock ESU team!  Well done also to other teams from Forth Region who took part from Stirling and West Lothian.

DESC
We are pleased to announce that Ronnie Payne, ESL at the Antonine Unit in Falkirk, has taken up the post of  District Explorer Scout Commissioner in Falkirk District.

Splash! Cancelled
It was with regret that the Splash! event for Explorers was cancelled this year.  Unfortunately the numbers which were returned were insufficient to allow the camp to run within budget and with suitable activities.  Here's hoping that future Region events are better attended - stay tuned for future events.

Explorer/Network Expedition 2013
A small core team is currently in place  and looking at an Explorer/Network Expedition for 2013.  The cost has been capped at £2k and the destination within that cap is likely to be somewhere in Africa, possibly either Zambia or Botswana.  A flier will go out later this month with an Information Evening being held in November and application forms available then with a selection event in early December.

Recognising International
In August SHQ launched a new International Staged Activity Badge.  This award recognises interaction with Scouting abroad.  Elements are graded from a simple pen-pal level to major International events and the badge requires participants to tell others about their experience.

Know someone just back from expeditions abroad?  Ask them to run a sectional programme item or give a presentation.  You may notice their new personal and world perspectives.  This encourages both our young people who went and those taking part (who they may see their own future goal).

Why not take part in Jamboree-On-The-Air/Jamboree-On-The-Internet the weekend of October 15/16?  A weekend event is being organised by BIO unit in a Stirling scout hall.  If individuals or groups from any section want to take part, daytime or staying-over, let them or me know.  There are many Global themes and challenges associated with this event that can be also be rewarded elsewhere in the award system.  Find the JOTA/JOTI information on-line.

To stay in touch with International items there is now a web page in the SHQ site. 

Two International events from SHQ with built-in training are looking for applicants - Hike Scotland 2012 and USA 2013.  Hike Scotland is for Explorer Scouts and is based on achieving the West Highland Way, leading group including International guests, with pre- and post- event shared camps and activities and preceded by training that includes achieving Hillwalking Terrain 1 (summer) Leadership status.

USA 2013 is for leader development.  It is modelled on the ‘Utah’ trip Forth Region did in 2009 – 3 weeks of multi-centre activities in National Parks and Boy Scout America camps – with parallel expeditions from each Scottish Region.  This will be opened to Scouts next year but for now we need applications from Forth Leaders who wish to develop their International horizons.  Your team will organise and lead a Forth Region group with SHQ training and support before and during your event.  

Colin Robertson, International Adviser, Colinrobertson46@tiscali.co.uk