Last evening (last session before half term) the osr scouts had a session on map reading. This is a great life skill and a fundamental scouting skill. So they all do geography at school at one level of another but how do you make this not like a school lesson? Answer you can’t, from What is a map? To orientating it to North, taking a bearing and pacing, to contouring and boxing to back bearings and to complete the air activities badge (how would a pilot map read?)
It was hard going but at the end hopefully with fingers and toes crossed most (if not all) could orientate a map and take a bearing which will be the fundamentals for orienteering later in the second half of term and hopefully get the scouts through the 2 day expedition. A couple of stories as to why it’s important you don’t rely on others to do the map reading and it’s not fun to have to walk for miles with all your kit on your back when you get lost and hopefully it was enough to at least get the scouts to make sure they all knew where they are and where they’re going. 9am today and the osr troop of 1st Stoke Gifford scouts turned up with their bikes at little stoke park outside of the 1st little stoke scout hut (which we had use of for toilets and water). After a quick safety talk and briefing the 13 scouts were off! With the opportunity to have a pit stop after every lap for drinks or snacks, quick maintenance adjustments or just for a rest some scouts pulled away and began lapping the others. With leaders cycling around the course to check the scouts it became apparent that a few were stopping halfway around for drinks and snacks. With a little encouragement they were back on course. The first to finish took just over 2 hours and the final scout crossed the finish line in 3 hours and 50 minutes. At this point it needs to be highlighted that some scouts completed the distance on bmx bikes and some on slimline mountain bikes with massive wheels but all tried they’re very best and all that started finished. We had lots of lovely comments from walkers and dog owners about how polite the scouts were and how nice it was to see lots of young people exercising and having fun. Big well done to all. Your amazing! Tonight at the old school rooms we were joined by Anita and some colleges who brought along cycle coding kits to mark all the scouts bicycles. Also we had Matt who was teaching the scouts how to repair a puncture in a tyre inner tube. Also the rest of the leaders and young leaders were checking the scout bikes for problems making them unroadworthy. Pleased to say that only a few needed minor adjustments to the derailleur and brakes. Some had seat raised and lots of testing and showing the scouts what was being done and explaining why. So now we are all ready for the weekend and our 40km cycle ride. Good luck all and don’t forget your helmets! Eight members of the 1sr Stoke Gifford OSR Scout Troop joined 35 other teams of Scouts and Guides from all over South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bristol Counties to take part in the Bristol Monopoly Run Competition. Teams of 4-6 scouts or guides armed with a monopoly board of places to visit around the local area from Ashton Gate to Cribbs Causeway and westbury on Trym to Parkway train station. The weather was fabulous and the teams could visit any place on the board in any order with bonus points for getting to a place between certain times and higher points for travelling further a field using a day rider ticket on First Buses. There were scouts all over the place and lots of inquisitive members of the public and business owners asking what was happening. They commented what a great idea and fantastic for the young peoples confidence and knowledge of the City. The teams had 6 hours to visit as many places as they could and then get to the finish line at 26 Northcote scout HQ in westbury on Trym. Every minute they were late points were deducted from each teams final score. The teams from stoke gifford started from the Baden Powell Boathouse in Redcliffe and used the first bus to travel out to The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and even Ashton Gate stadium as well as walking a long way around the centre of Bristol unsupervised directly but with a team of volunteer leaders driving minibuses, meaning water stations and admin at the start and finish. These activities which give the young people #skills for life, couldn’t happen without all the volunteers and support from parents. The results will be in soon but the best part of the day as with all scouting itself is to have a lot of fun! Plus we get a badge! |
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