Sue Baker, a Beaver Scout leader and Michele Grattidge, Scout and Explorer Scout leader were presented with awards in December for their dedication and support to scouting in Stoke Gifford.
Michele started as a parent helper at 1 st Stoke Gifford Beavers in 1997, when her son Chris joined the colony.
She soon went into uniform as an Assistant Beaver Leader and from there has been a Cub Leader and then on to be a Scout Leader with the 1 st Stoke Gifford School Scouts, based at St Michaels Primary School.
In addition, she was a founding member of the Solar Explorer unit in 2007 and was an Assistant Explorer Leader until 2020.
She is a trained Duke of Edinburgh assessor and played a leading role in many Solar D of E expeditions and camps as well as supporting other groups with their assessments. She has been on more camps than she can remember and played a part in the growth and development of so many young people over the years.
She is the first person to be a leader at all our units, i.e. Beavers, Cubs, Scout and Explorers. Chris has gone on to be a Scout and Explorer Scout Leader himself, keeping up the family tradition.
Michele was given an ‘Award for Merit’. This award is given for outstanding service of not less than 12 years. It rewards keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period.

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.

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.

OSR Scout Troop having spent a couple of weeks writing prayers and choosing hymns with Karen put it all together today at St. Michaels Church for all the other uniform groups from Stoke Gifford. Scouts read, sang, collected donations, flags, helped people to their seats, gave out harvest bread and much more.
The service was fab with lots of food donations collected for Filton Food Bank with cheerful harvest hymns, thought provoking readings and thoughtful prayers. Thank you for all putting in so much effort, proud of you all.