A brand new new boat is on order for 2012 and we have trained three more volunteer Instructors to add to our team of enthusiastic Scouters and Guiders.  So this year we hope to exceed the number of 'fun' sessions and activity badges we put on last year.

Don't forget we are also able to arrange Saturday courses for Pulling and Seaman activity badges and other awards, included DofE.  Minimum age is 11 years (or Scout Section membership). Adult parties - SAS, Network units or even Group/District Execs - are always welcome. Participants should be able to swim 50m – not that we ever go swimming!

Please contact John Jones, Pulling Adviser (email: john.jones@avonscouts.org.uk)if you need advice or look at the Club website for detailed information about bookings and programme: avonscouts.org.uk/boatclub

It really is something new and exciting – and a quite different way of viewing Bristol! All sessions start at Benjamin Perry Water Activities Centre, Phoenix Wharf, BS1 6TJ.

Bookings for evening fun sessions (7 - 8.30pm) open on 1^st March for sessions commencing w/b 23^rd April. Courses run on Saturday mornings. Apply by email to:

            Sandi Hardwicke, Bookings Secretary: sandi@wingreen.freeserve.co.uk

Undertake the Explorer Belt expedition or a major community project in Madagascar, explore a beautiful country and discover an incredible culture. It is the challenge of a lifetime and the ultimate adventure...are you up for it?

Applications for Madagascar 2013 close in just over a weeks time on 21^st October 2011 and you'll need to keep the weekend of 4-6^th November free if you do.

See the website www.mad13.org.uk for full information and details of how to apply.

Remember applications should be sent in ASAP and no later than 21^st October 2011.

• Poster
• Application Form

While there, Bear and the 2,500 young people attending will take in a range of activities including, at Ashton Court: music and dance workshops, circus skills, water zorbs, astrojet simulator, crazy golf, Scalextric, crazy bikes, trampolines, inflatables, and many others; and at Bristol docks: canoeing, sailing, pulling and rafting.

The event will be one of fifteen that Bear visits in the South West at the weekend. The tour is part of his mission to encourage more adults to volunteer for Scouting, as well as celebrate the important role of Scouting in Avon and the UK as a whole. The journey comes as part his plan to visit the whole of the UK during his term as Chief Scout, having previously visited the North East, Yorkshire and the South East.

The weekend’s event showed what Scouting is all about, offering thousands of young people the opportunity to take part in adventure in the company of peers and trusted adults. The Scout Association is the largest co-educational youth Movement in the country. Recent figures have shown that membership has passed the 500,000 mark in the UK.

However, the Movement is in desperate need of more adult volunteers to ensure that more young people can join the adventure. Waiting lists to join Scouting stand at over 33,500 nationally.  

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, said:

“I’m so looking forward to getting to meet so many Scouts over the next couple of days, and I know from experience that at every event I am dropping into that there will be hundreds upon hundreds of young people taking part in the adventure that Scouting provides. Such an atmosphere is such a privilege to be a part of. It’s crucial though that even more adults sign up as volunteers, to help the many other young people who are on the Scout waiting lists to have the opportunity to join in the adventure.”

Abby, an Explorer Scout aged sixteen from Nailsea, said:

“It will be great to meet Bear as he’s such a huge inspiration for me. Scouting’s all about adventure, so there’s better than having someone like Bear join in. I love being a Scout – it’s built up my confidence, helped me make loads of new friends, expanded my horizons and allowed me to try so many brilliant things I would have otherwise never been able to do."

James Roberts, a Scout Leader from 1^st Chew Stoke in Wansdyke, said:

“It will be great to have Bear involved this weekend – the young people in my Group are really excited and can’t stop talking about it. Volunteering as a Scout Leader is one of the best things I’ve ever done: there’s nothing more fulfilling than helping young people get the most out of life. I’ve also picked up loads of day-to-day skills that I can use at work as well.”

Saturday 21st April 2012 - 17th Bristol Scout HQ, Two Mile Hill

Saturday 30th June 2012 - 197th Bristol Scout HQ, Stapleton

Saturday 29th September 2012 - 1st Little Stoke Scout HQ, Off Rossall Ave, Little Stoke

Saturday 17th November 2012 - 58th Scout HQ, Gadshill Road, Eastville

These are full day courses and last from 9am to 5pm. Refreshments will be provided but you will need to bring your own lunch.

Cost is £18.00.and as places are limited  it is first come, first served!

If you want to pre-book or find out more please contact mark.gollop@avonscouts.org.uk

More information and an application form is available here: www.scouts.org.uk/jobs

Can you lead and support the development of Scouting for 14-25 year olds in Avon?

Deputy County Commissioner for 14-25 Development

We’re looking for a capable individual who can develop, lead and manage a team of volunteers to transform and grow our 18-25 provision (The Scout Network) and provide real support to growing and developing Scouting for 14-18 year olds (Explorer Scouts).   

If you can:

• Inspire confidence, trust and respect and deliver change confidently
• Recruit, manage and develop a team of effective volunteers
• Develop and deliver a plan to achieve our strategic aims with 14-25s
• Help young people to play an increasing role in leading their section
• Manage administration, people, projects and resources effectively
• Communicate with clarity and passion to influence and persuade others

You may be just the person we need!

You’ll really understand the needs of the age-range and the adult volunteers who support them. You will need to know or be prepared to learn how Scout Network and Explorer Scouting operate, how they’re administered and managed – and take overall management responsibility for the Scout Network section.  We need a team leader with personal presence, credibility and leadership skills who can deliver success.  You will need to be able to get others excited about and involved in an ambitious plan as part of our County Management Team.

Join the 14-25 Development Team

The Deputy County Commissioner will need a team who can help with these goals. Exact Duties will be agreed once the DCC is appointed, but please apply now if you wish to join this team.

For the right person, these are exciting and challenging roles with the chance to make a huge difference to literally thousands of lives.

To apply for these roles please complete the application form.

For an informal, confidential discussion, please contact Paul Harper on 07768952212 or Fred Stinchcombe on 07850 052684.

Closing date: FRIDAY 2^nd MARCH 2012

Join us for Beaver Experiment badge days on 15 & 16 October.

To book your place, please call 0845 345 1235 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, excl. bank holidays)

More information:

• http://at-bristol.org.uk/scoutingandguiding
• Download Poster
• Download Letter

More Information

Throughout the day, Bear will be trying to get as many of his followers as possible on Facebook and Twitter to donate to the campaign, either online or by texting BEAR37 £2 to 70070. He’s asking for as little as £2.

Spread the word

We’re not asking for donations from Members of the Movement, who already give so much to UK Scouting, but you can help by letting as many people as possible know about Bear’s birthday.

Tell your friends and workmates, and if you use Facebook and Twitter then be sure to update your status or tweet about the campaign. The further we can spread the word, the more people will donate, and the more likely it will be that Bear can reach his goal of a new climbing tower and safety equipment at Woodhouse Park.

The cause

Improving the educational activities at Woodhouse Park is a key priority for The Scout Association. It will help us support more young people from schools, disadvantaged youth groups and colleges, promoting the benefits of outdoor education to a new audience.

Young people at Woodhouse Park can already participate in challenging activities, from go karts and obstacle courses to archery and pond dipping. With a new climbing tower and associated safety equipment, including ropes, harnesses and helmets, we can offer at least 15,000 children and young people an outdoor adventure every year.

How to donate

Anyone who wants to donate to Bear’s birthday campaign can do so through our Virgin Money Giving page, or by texting BEAR37 £2 to 70070 to make a £2 text donation. 

www.scouts.org.uk/bearsbirthday

If for any unforeseen reason we’re unable to purchase the equipment needed, or there are surplus funds left over, we will use the donations to purchase other much needed equipment for our UK National Activity Centres.