Campfires have been burning, marshmallows toasting and lots of happy smiling faces running around (and that’s just the leaders!)

In September, we reopened our grounds so groups could come and enjoy Bonaly while being Covid secure, each group is allocated their own zone and toilet facility.

In October our Yellow phase risk assessments (indoors and outdoors) were approved, meaning we can now have groups of up to 30 including leaders, and we can offer the use of indoor space in the Baronial Hall, The Chalet and Forth Lodge for day visits.

We have already had visits from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. They have been pioneering, shelter building, playing wide games, making natural sculptures, taking part in team challenges and building lots of fires.

Halloween saw witches, zombies, vampires and all manner of scary creatures descend on Bonaly and great fun was had by all.

November is looking very busy but there are still some spaces available, if you would like to visit us just email an enquiry to info@bonaly.org.uk or info@sesscouts.org.uk.

It’s great to see Scouting back at Bonaly Scout Centre.

Mark Campbell
Warden
Bonaly Scout Centre

A vibrant Bonaly Active Support Unit (ASU) is absolutely vital to the success and sustainability of Bonaly Scout Centre (BSC) and we are looking for the right person to take on the leadership of what will be an extended ASU.

The vision for Bonaly as a Scout focussed centre requires a strong volunteer base to work on a range of areas such as facilities, finance and admin, communications and activities and as such the new ASU Manager will play a critical part in the future success of Bonaly Scout Centre.

As part of the Bonaly Leadership Team the ASU Manager will be responsible for recruiting new ASU members as well as supporting and leading the ASU to ensure that Bonaly through the Warden, Deputy Warden and the ASU can provide the services our Region and other customers are looking for.

This is a key role which will require a significant investment of time and skills to be successful. If you think you can help or just want to find out more please contact Peter Casebow who is leading the Bonaly Leadership Team and to whom this role will report (with a dotted line to the Regional Commissioner). peter.casebow@sesscouts.org.uk 

We are delighted to announce that our grounds are open for Scouting to meet up – following Scouting guidance for the Yellow phase.

We will be open for evening visits on Thursdays and Fridays 18:00 – 21:00, and for day visits on Saturdays 10:00 – 15:00. Group size will be limited to 30 including leaders with the number of groups also being restricted so we are COVID secure.  

Please note the new email address for enquiries is info@bonaly.org.uk  and that the booking needs to be by email, please don’t phone and due to limited staffing at the moment, a reply may take 48 hours, but we will try and get back to you ASAP.

Thank you to Annette Mackenzie who has set up a fund-raising page for specific projects to improve facilities at Bonaly Scout Centre, via Virgin Money Giving at   https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AnnetteMackenzie1   

It has received support from Councillor Scott Arthur who promoted the initiative on his Facebook page and an anonymous benefactor who donated an amazing £10,000 towards the target.  We would appreciate if members could circulate this more widely to stimulate interest with friends and Leaders who have fond memories of camping at Bonaly.

It’s great to see Scouting back at Bonaly and we highlight below how two

Groups have restarted Scouting at Bonaly.

25^th Braid Scouts Return to Bonaly

“Ooh – do we get to use axes?”  Scout aged 11

After 6 months of lockdown, and doing-our-best by zoom, but not (if we’re being really honest) enjoying it, we were all looking forward to some time outdoors as a troop in some wide-open green spaces. So, when Bonaly Scout Centre announced they were ready to open their gates again we were one of the first in the queue.

We booked for the all-day Saturday slot, in order to do some daylight activities in before winter, and settled on a 3-base rotation plan for 18 Scouts with a game at the end.  Planning was not too onerous – Bonaly had COVID-19 site risk assessments and systems already in place so all we had to do to do was plan, risk asses and prep some activities that could be achieved within the Scouting COVID regulations.

“I love whittling. I even love just saying the word whittling. Whitt…er…. ling.”  Scout aged 11.

The obvious first choice for a socially-distanced base was knife skills and whittling. With many of the Scouts now used to keeping a distance from each other, we thought there would be less chance of them invading each other’s blood circles. Our prediction was right and the base went well with only one small plaster being required for the whole day. We reviewed basic knife safety and skills by making pointy marshmallow-toasting sticks and then instructed the Scouts in how to whittle a mushroom out of a thicker stick sourced from the surrounding woods. Many Scouts ignored the creative direction and chose to invent their own artworks- a whittled squid, a submarine, a white stick, and a wooden shaped thing – all creations were beautiful and unique and as long as the scouts were being safe and enjoying sitting on the sun-deck created by the old tepee bases, whittling and chatting, we just let the creativity flow.

“We got to ride on chariots that we’d made from wooden poles. I was like the Duchess of Bonaly being carried around on my chariot!” Scout aged 11

The second base was pioneering. Each Scout had their own stave and string to start with to practise some basic knots and lashings and then they worked together in groups of 2-3 to make chariots. The chariots were large enough that the Scouts could work on their own without getting too close to each other and the older (12-plus) Scouts were spread out appropriately. And they did indeed carry each other proudly around the field like Dukes and Duchesses in a manner that would have made even the original residents of Bonaly Tower proud.

“Ooh – do we get to use axes?”  Scout aged 11

After 6 months of lockdown, and doing-our-best by zoom, but not (if we’re being really honest) enjoying it, we were all looking forward to some time outdoors as a troop in some wide-open green spaces. So, when Bonaly Scout Centre announced they were ready to open their gates again we were one of the first in the queue.

We booked for the all-day Saturday slot, in order to do some daylight activities in before winter, and settled on a 3-base rotation plan for 18 Scouts with a game at the end.  Planning was not too onerous – Bonaly had COVID-19 site risk assessments and systems already in place so all we had to do to do was plan, risk asses and prep some activities that could be achieved within the Scouting COVID regulations.

“I love whittling. I even love just saying the word whittling. Whitt…er…. ling.”  Scout aged 11.

The obvious first choice for a socially-distanced base was knife skills and whittling. With many of the Scouts now used to keeping a distance from each other, we thought there would be less chance of them invading each other’s blood circles. Our prediction was right and the base went well with only one small plaster being required for the whole day. We reviewed basic knife safety and skills by making pointy marshmallow-toasting sticks and then instructed the Scouts in how to whittle a mushroom out of a thicker stick sourced from the surrounding woods. Many Scouts ignored the creative direction and chose to invent their own artworks- a whittled squid, a submarine, a white stick, and a wooden shaped thing – all creations were beautiful and unique and as long as the scouts were being safe and enjoying sitting on the sun-deck created by the old tepee bases, whittling and chatting, we just let the creativity flow.

“We got to ride on chariots that we’d made from wooden poles. I was like the Duchess of Bonaly being carried around on my chariot!” Scout aged 11

The second base was pioneering. Each Scout had their own stave and string to start with to practise some basic knots and lashings and then they worked together in groups of 2-3 to make chariots. The chariots were large enough that the Scouts could work on their own without getting too close to each other and the older (12-plus) Scouts were spread out appropriately. And they did indeed carry each other proudly around the field like Dukes and Duchesses in a manner that would have made even the original residents of Bonaly Tower proud.

“I lit my first fire with a striker.  I should have brought my phone to take a photo of it!” Scout aged 12

And because a day at a Scout centre is not complete without a toasted marshmallow or three – the third base was obviously campfire cooking. We used 3 alter fires for each group of 6 Scouts so they could spread out and get lots of practise. We learnt about using natural resources to start fires and found some in the woods but then delighted in the help of cotton wool and vaseline to allow rapid striker success. We cooked calzone pizzas using ingredients that required no leader hands-on-prep and could be cooked individually wrapped in tinfoil in the embers. Smores were achieved using chocolate digestives rather than chocolate pieces to ensure less food handling and even the middle-aisle Gods were shining on us as Aldi had vegetarian marshmallows that week!

“I loved that game. Can we play it for longer next time?” Scout aged 12. 

At the end of the day we all came together (but kept apart) for a game of pop-the-balloon with social-distancing ensured by using extra-long pieces of string.  A bit of riotousness and group fun (and the usual leader cheating I think!) to end the day.

“I really like Scouts….. So far.” New Scout aged 10 ½.

By necessity to put our safety first, compared to previous trips to Bonaly, the day definitely felt a bit odd.  I really missed having the noise and bustle of other groups sharing the site, or the ease of being able to show Scouts hands-on how to use a bushcraft knife or a striker. But for young people in particular, lockdown has been tough. They have been distanced from things that are vital to their childhood and their wellbeing and things they have a right to – like fun, play, nature, connectedness, the great outdoors and big green spaces. On Saturday, Bonaly Scout Centre gave us all these things back again for a bit and, while still putting our safety first, allowed us to appreciate some of the things we loved, and took for granted, about our ‘old normal’.

Thank you Bonaly for a truly grand day out. We will definitely be back and are already looking forward to our next visit!

“Oh wow- smell that fire. I have really missed the smell of campfires”. Scout leader, age undisclosed

Nikki Maclean
Scout Leader 25^th Braid
nmaclean@25thbraid.org.uk 

108^th Pentland – Bonaly Returns

The COVID-19 lockdown hit us all in so many different ways in our personal and business life. But the introduction of Zoom meetings for the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in our group helped to keep the momentum of scouting going and helped raise the awareness of scouting in the minds of the parents as well as the young people. Despite being able to deliver part of the balanced programme over Zoom, the opening up of scouting into Amber was greatly appreciated by the amazing leadership team, who immediately set about organising a programme around small groups of young people outside. However, the two Friday scout troops need somewhere other than outside the scout hall to gather to ensure social distancing and keeping the arrival and departure safe for all.

No other places seemed appropriate then Bonaly Scout Centre came in a saviour and announced that they were re-opening. We were delighted to be able to book six Friday night slots in a row, with the first one actually on the Friday evening before the official opening on Saturday 12^th September, shhh, don’t tell anyone! The staff at Bonaly couldn’t have been more helpful and Mark Campbell was there to greet us on the Friday evening and make sure we had all we needed.

The bushcraft area was perfect for our needs for the night that included knife work and fire lighting. The areas set aside allowed social distancing for the older scouts and the leaders, whilst still being able to see the leaders demonstrate what was needed. Everyone had a great time; everyone lit a small fire and there was no need to bring out the first aid kit either. When we gathered all the small fires together for a bigger fire, we all then realised that what we were really missing is the camping and sitting round the campfire as it slowly decays.

It is absolutely fantastic to have Bonaly back open again even if it only just for evening and daytime activities for just now. I hope all the groups in South East Scotland will take the opportunity to use these facilities as often as possible.

“Welcome Back Bonaly, thanks for still being there”

Simon Innes
Group Scout Leader
108^th Pentland