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Adventures, Farewells, and Spooky Thrills: Bonaly’s October Round-Up

Adventures, Farewells, and Spooky Thrills: Bonaly’s October Round-Up

Picture of Peter Casebow

Peter Casebow

Chair, Bonaly Scout Centre

Mark Campbell Bids Farewell, But Not Goodbye

After an incredible five-year journey, Mark Campbell is stepping down from his role at Bonaly Scout Centre. But don’t worry—he’s not going too far! Mark will remain part of the Active Support Unit, so you’ll still spot him around the site, sharing his passion for adventure.

Mark has been a guiding light for Bonaly, leading us through the challenges of the pandemic and implementing a brand-new operating model. His efforts to build and train our volunteer instruction team have been nothing short of spectacular. From crafting engaging programmes to bringing the best out of our volunteers, Mark’s contributions have left a lasting legacy.

It’s only fitting that Mark’s final day will be spent running one of Bonaly’s most popular events: the Survival Camp. This thrilling experience, now a cornerstone of our activities, is a testament to his dedication and vision. We wish Mark all the best in his new adventure at Garvald, West Linton, and look forward to seeing him continue to inspire at Bonaly!

Celebrating Our Recent Adventures

Cubs Nature Awareness Camp

A huge shout-out to all the Cubs who braved the great outdoors at Bonaly’s Nature Awareness Camp last month! From exploring food webs to investigating rivers and woodland, the Cubs embraced every moment. They got hands-on, caring for trees, creating nature crafts, and bonding over campfire songs and a thrilling night hike.

We couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of The Green Team and our dedicated volunteers. Your hard work ensures these young Scouts leave with memories and skills that will last a lifetime! THANK YOU!

Beavers Adventure Day

The Beavers brought their energy and enthusiasm to Bonaly this month for an action-packed Adventure Day! They tackled the climbing wall, built dens, zoomed down the grass sledges, tried their hand at archery, and created natural sculptures—just to name a few! Each activity was designed to help them earn their ‘My Adventure Challenge Award,’ and it’s safe to say they all rose to the challenge.

Get Ready for the Grand Finale: Explorers Halloween Survival Camp!

As the year draws to a close, we’re gearing up for one last epic adventure: the Explorers Halloween Survival Camp on 26th–27th October! Explorers will face the ultimate spooky survival challenge, sleeping under the stars without tents, cooking over open fires, and putting their survival skills to the test. Will they conquer the eerie Halloween weekend? There’s only one way to find out!

Join the Adventure in 2025!

Want to make sure you don’t miss out on all the excitement next year? Our 2025 events are already in the works, and they promise even more thrills and unforgettable moments to create lasting memories. If you’d like to be added to our mailing list, drop us an email at events@bonaly.org.uk.

From all of us at Bonaly, THANK YOU for being part of our adventures. Here’s to new challenges, new friendships, and endless fun in the great outdoors!

Beaver Scout’s Remarkable Journey of Achievement and Royal Recognition

Beaver Scout’s Remarkable Journey of Achievement and Royal Recognition

George Beattie, a dynamic Eight-year-old member of the 44th Braid Scout Group in Edinburgh, has set a new standard of excellence in Scouting. Demonstrating extraordinary dedication and enthusiasm, George has not only earned every badge available during his time as a Beaver Scout but has also been honoured with a Commendation Award for his remarkable achievements.

A Record-Breaking Beaver Scout Journey

George’s journey in the Scouts is nothing short of inspirational. During his time as a Beaver, he earned all 24 Activity Badges, including ‘Emergancy Aid’, ‘Disability Awareness’, ‘Global Issues’, and ‘Money Skills’. In addition to these, he also achieved 15 staged activity badges such as ‘Air Activities’, ‘Community Impact’, ‘Navigator’, ‘Paddle Sports’, and ‘Nights Away’, along with the Thistle Award, which focuses on Scotland, its people, and culture. His accomplishments culminated in the attainment of the Chief Scouts Bronze Award, the highest honour for Beavers, after completing all six Challenge Badges.

George’s mother, Dianne, expressed her pride: “George absolutely loves Scouting and was an eager Beaver from the start. Following his brother William’s enthusiasm to participate in the weekly programme and work on badges at home, George also made himself very busy! We are fortunate to be part of such a hardworking and enthusiastic Scout group with dedicated leaders who encourage the development of skills and experiences.” The emphasis on developing Skills for Life has been a cornerstone of George’s success, equipping him with the knowledge and confidence to achieve his goals.

Dianne continued “The OSM system has been invaluable at facilitating badge work. George would often rushed home from a weekly meeting and log on to see which elements had been completed, often before the leader would have a chance to get home, let alone log on and populate OSM!”

TrailJam Adventure and Inspiring Others

Having been inspired by his big brother, William, who did extremely well in Cubs in his own right, obtaining all but one of the Cub badges, and is now enjoying being a Scout and developing new skills. George’s own enthusiasm for Scouting has also inspired others in his group to strive for similar achievements. Another young Beaver, Matthew Allan, has followed in George’s footsteps and completed all Beaver badges as well. This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement was evident during the group’s Cramond Island Adventure as part of TrailJam 2024. The Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts enjoyed exploring the island and collected several large bags of litter from the beaches, showcasing their commitment to community service and the environment. These activities are designed to instil valuable Skills for Life, such as teamwork, leadership, and environmental stewardship.

Meeting Their Majesties

In recognition of his outstanding achievements, George was selected to represent South East Scotland Scouts at the Edinburgh900 event, celebrating 900 years of the city. During this prestigious event at Edinburgh Castle, George had the honour of meeting Their Majesties The King and Queen. According to Kieran Collins, South East Scotland Scouts Communications Lead, “George became one of the first, if not the first youth member of the Scout Association to be presented to HM The King since he became Patron of the Scouts in June this year. Nationally, we know of no others who have previously met the King in this capacity.”

While meeting their Majesties, George explained his recent achievements, which have been nothing short of remarkable, The King, who was clearly impressed, proclaimed “You are now my favourite Scout”. This declaration is not just a personal accolade for George but a shining endorsement of the values and accomplishments of Scouting.

George was thrilled with this recognition: “I feel very proud to be the first to achieve this prestigious award and honoured to represent Scouting at such a significant event and to meet the King and Queen.”

The Support Behind the Success

The achievements of young Scouts like George are a testament to the dedication of the adult volunteers who make such achievements possible. The group, led by a committed team including Lucy Stewart, Mark Allan, Laura Szpruch, Paul Brennan, and Group Lead Volunteer Alison Hill, provides a robust programme that encourages children to excel. Activities have included everything from indoor sleepovers and visits to fire stations to hikes, picnics, and magic tricks. These activities are meticulously planned to impart essential Skills for Life, ensuring that young Scouts are well-prepared for future challenges.

Lucy Stewart, George’s Beaver Team Leader, commented: “George’s dedication and enthusiasm have been truly inspiring. He has shown what can be achieved with determination and a passion for learning. We are all incredibly proud of him and his achievements.”

Martin Elliot, Lead Volunteer for South East Scotland Scouts, praised George’s accomplishments: “I was thrilled to present a Commendation Award to George Beattie. This is an incredible achievement, and it was clear the positive effect that Scouting has had on him.”

Looking Forward

Now a Cub Scout, George has set his sights on earning all Cub badges, continuing his journey of growth and learning within the Scouts. His story serves as an inspiration to young Scouts everywhere, highlighting the rewards of dedication, hard work, and community involvement. George’s ambition reflects the core mission of the Scouts: to provide young people with the Skills for Life they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

One of the oldest groups in the UK is reignited

One of the oldest groups in the UK is reignited

Picture of Chris Small

Chris Small

9th Braid ( George Watson's College)

After an 18-month hiatus, the 9th Braid GWC Scout Group is back up and running.

The 9th, which operates through agreement with George Watson’s College, is one of the oldest Scout groups in Scotland (if not the oldest), having formed in 1908.

It is an Open Group, meaning pupils at the school are welcome to join – as well as any young people in the Beavers and Cubs age range who live in the local community.

Following a period recruiting new leaders and developing a new programme, meetings started again on Friday 14th June with the first of two taster session evenings for young people interested in joining Beavers and Cubs.

Lead Volunteer Greig Torpey said: “We’re delighted to have restarted the Group with the initial taster sessions for Beavers and Cubs, and are looking forward to launching our weekly programme from Friday 6 September.

“We would encourage everyone who enjoyed the Beavers and Cubs sessions in June to spread the word, and we also appeal to parents to get involved.

“We have big plans for the Group and hope to re-establish a Scout Troop next year. But growing the 9th back to full strength and ensuring continuity will depend on parents being able to contribute their time. We know they’ll get a lot out of it if they do.

“We’d like to thank South-East Scotland Scouting Support staff Amy Irvine and Nacho Luna Borrás for their help in getting things off the ground again.”

Joining Greig on 9th Braid’s new team of volunteers are leaders Ben James and Jamie Cavaye, supported by Chris Small focusing on communications and admin for the Group. 

Weekly meetings will take place on Friday evenings during term time in the school’s Centre for Sport.

Any parents interested in their child joining Beavers or Cubs, or volunteering to help the Group grow, should email:

9thbraidbeavers@gmail.com or 9thbraidcubs@gmail.com

Exciting events coming to Bonaly

Exciting events coming to Bonaly

Picture of Peter Casebow

Peter Casebow

Bonaly Lead

Bonaly Scout Centre has a number of exciting events coming up later in the year.

Cubs

Cubs Nature Awareness and Conservation Camp 13th – 15th September

This is an opportunity for Cubs to learn about nature awareness and conservation by taking part in several Bonaly led activities. These will include bug hunting, burn dipping, animal games and doing nature crafts. The activities will take place on Saturday and each group will be allocated four different activities. The Cubs also get the opportunity to stay overnight in Ken’s Den. 

The nights away permit will be covered by the Bonaly Team.

Beavers

Beavers Adventure Day 13th October

An opportunity for Beavers to take part in lots of Adventurous activities which count towards the “My Adventure Challenge Award.

Explorers

Explorers Halloween Survival Camp 26th – 27th October

Explorers are challenged to survive the spooky Halloween weekend! Sleeping out without tents, cooking everything on open fires and learning survival skills.

To register an interest and get an information pack please contact events@bonaly.org.uk