Tonight was the last of the two Christmas Cake making sessions and we couldn’t have done it without Janet and Jane your both amazing! So tonight the cake mix had been baked and it was time for the fun bit. Marzipan and icing plus the personal decorating of each scouts cake. Jane was on hand with her coloured icing and cutters/scissors/tools. I think you’ll all agree with the leaders that the finished products look good enough to eat!

Another great night at 1st Stoke Gifford Cubs. 

Both packs went on a joint ice skating adventure at Cribbs Causeway Winter Wonderland.  There was some wobbly legs, squealing, slips & trips and that was just the leaders! Well, Raksha!

All the cubs had a fabulous time and were once again so wonderfully behaved.
Next week we are at our separate bases.  Old School Room Cubs are covering Banksy & St Michaels Cubs (AKA Wolf Pack) will be covering country code & Banksy – Recommend the cubs wear an old t-shirt under their uniforms next week.

Tonight OSR troop of 1st Stoke Gifford Scouts had a surprise visitor for their model making session. Aardman animations head model maker popped in to give some of his expertise on how to make a gromit. Jim had a presentation on all things Aardman and then we watched a short animated movie. Jim divided up the modelling clay and when asked about quantities he replied he has made so many he knows the amounts off by heart.
The osr scouts then broke off into patrols and started to build their very own gromit with Jim over looking and he even hand wrote an instruction sheet and construction diagram which he signed as a prize for the patrol with the best model. Jim is going to judge the models next week giving Patrol points.
This was a great session and Jim was fab.
All this was organised by Pip, great job!

These evening both packs were lucky enough to have a visit from Carol and Wilson.  Wilson is her 4th dog - but first male dog she has had.Carol is an ambassador for the National Institute for the Blind.  Carol talked to cubs about the training a guide dog needs to go through before they live with blind person.
 
When puppies are ready to leave their mothers they go and live with a puppy walker.  Puppy walkers help house train the puppy’s teach them obedience and socialise them.  They take the puppies onto trains, buses, into supermarkets and some even get to attend parties.
 
They stay with their puppy walkers until they are about a year old.  It is at this point they attend Guide Dog School for about 15 months.  They learn how to guide a person outdoors, cope with traffic and watch for obstacles.  Wilson was a gold star pupil.
 
Once training is completed, puppies are matched with their new owners.  A further 10 days’ worth of training is then undertaken with their new owners so they can get used to one another.
 
The cubs also asked some very interesting questions:-

• How do you tell the time?
• Do you drive?
• Does Wilson get stressed?
• How long have you been blind for?
• Can you use the oven?
• Can you read Braille?
• Do you play with Wilson?

The cubs then got an opportunity to pet Wilson – much enjoyed by everyone.
 
It must be noted that the cubs were exceptionally well behaved tonight – Well Done Cubs.
 
Next week both packs will be ice skating at Cribbs Causeway – please check your emails for your OSM invite – more information will be sent out this week.

What a wonderful advent church parade this afternoon at the old school rooms where the Stoke Gifford guides performed.

This evening saw the OSR scout troop visit The Bristol Hindu Temple in Church Road, Bristol. The Temple is an old Church building. We were met outside and welcomed inside and spent a while looking at the fantastic decorations adorning the walls and ceilings. After their prayers to the 3 separate deities consisting of chanting and bell ringing whilst holding a special candle.
The talk explained about the many gods and their names plus their meanings. The 33 million gods are believed to be one god and all the different personalities.
The visit was finished with prayers for us as their visitors and friends.

With Christmas fast approaching the Beavers have begun to prepare for our annual visit to Osborne Court to perform a couple of Christmas Carols for the residents. 
​So far we have masters volume, we just need timing and pitch.

​The beavers all got creative and festive this evening, producing Christmas decorations to go on their trees at home this year.

Tonight continuing on this terms theme of disability awareness for The Million Hands requirements saw the OSR full of canine friends that make the lives of humans with disabilities easier. The therapy dogs demonstrated removing washing from a machine and finding a mobile phone as well as other tasks we take for granted. They are all specially trained and have to earn their jacket annually to remain in the programme. The scouts had the opportunity to interact with all the dogs which was great fun. Sheila the main speaker was injured in a road traffic collision some years ago and isn’t able to do day to day tasks without her dogs. She spent time explaining to the scouts all about the training etc.

Today saw the beginning of the 2nd Cub Pack.  The pack leaders are Akela (Chris), Raksha (Jackie) & King Louis (Ty).  We currently have 12 eager cubs who are split between Orange and Purple Sixes.

Today, we checked our pulses to see what happens when we exercise - involved an energetic game of dodge ball and lots of running. 

We challenged the cubs to complete electronic circuit boards and make sandwiches using only one hand! Their sandwiches all looked delicious - especially the chocolate spread and banana! Lots of good team work, having to work together to open packet and peel bananas.

Time was then spent understanding the meaning of the purple Membership badge worn on the front of the cub jumpers & problem solving - how to get King Louis, Raksha and a banana across the river - ask the cubs - King Louis will eat the banana if left alone with it.

Finally - badges were handed out and homework set - Parents - please see email that will be sent from Akela.

Remembrance Day 2018 saw 1st Stoke Gifford Scout Group once again on parade with us all in our smartest ironed shirts and neckers having marched down to the village memorial to join other uniformed groups, past and present military personnel and civilian members of the public.
The service was a fantastic tribute to the fallen and Alison placed the scouts tribute, a special wreath was laid with crosses from pupils of St. Michaels CE VC School.
Many thanks to all that attended and I know those that couldn’t due to sports events will have remembered in their own way.
LEST WE FORGET!