Bonaly Scout Centre September Update

26 Aug 2021

Welcome back!

It is so good the see Scouts back camping at Bonaly following the relaxing of the Covid restrictions. If you are camping or visiting for the day why not give our new self-led “Camouflage Tracking” activity a go? Working in two teams, the first challenge is to lay a trail of tracking signs for the other group to follow into the “Hiding Area”. Then one member of the team is chosen to hide and is camouflaged by the rest of the team using the equipment provided and natural materials. The teams now follow each other’s tracking signs and attempt to find the hidden person!

ScotJam@Bonaly was a great weekend with 120 Cubs and Scouts enjoying the sunshine and the Archery, Tomahawk Throwing, Low and High Ropes, Burn Scramble, Camouflage Tracking, and of course the Campfire. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped to make the weekend possible.

Image: Burn scrambling in the Roman Bath.

Our maintenance ASU have been hard at work keeping the centre looking good. The Chalet refurbishment is now well underway with new carpets, beds and vanity units. We are now taking bookings from the 1st of October for the new look Chalet and dates are filling up fast! To make an inquiry you can email info@bonaly.org.uk or use our online booking request form.

Image: The New Look Chalet

The Bonaly “Come and Have A Go Day” was very well attended and gave anyone interested in volunteering a chance to take part in some of the activities we have. Everyone had great fun enjoying the Low Ropes, Crate Stack, Burn Scramble, Pioneering skills or some of the Self-led activities we have on offer. Interested in joining our volunteer instructor team? Please get in touch by email or give us a ring on 0131 441 1878.

Image: Well done Sandy – that’s got to be a record!

Badge Activity Mapping Charts

7 Jan 2020

The 1st Facebook sites for Scouts, Cubs and Beavers are a great source of information and resources for each section

Recently, the following Badge Mapping Charts for Scouts, Cubs and Beavers were posted and the feedback from users both nationally and in our region has been excellent – they can be found below.

If you have any feedback on them, or you want to review the additional resources available you can do so via the relevant 1st Facebook site below – you will need to join the group initially.

1st Facebook Scouts https://www.facebook.com/groups/2450689742/

1st Facebook Cubs https://www.facebook.com/groups/1stcubs/

1st Facebook Beavers https://www.facebook.com/groups/406372746135055

Beavers Badge Mapping

Cubs Badge Mapping

Scouts Badge Mapping

Profile – Neil Hogg, Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner (Cubs Section Support)

4 Dec 2019

I started my Scouting life as a Beaver at the 108th Merchiston (now Pentland), going all the way through the sections there until eventually becoming a young leader then Assistant Leader at both the Cubs and the Scouts at the same group. In 2009 I was “promoted” to Cub Scout Leader which is a role that I held until 2016. During that time, I also took on the role of ADC Cubs in Pentland in 2014. The highlight of my time as ADC Cubs was being involved in the centenary celebrations in our District which included our District camp which was attended by 260 Cubs.

I was appointed Deputy District Commissioner in January 2017 and then took over as acting District Commissioner for Pentland in August 2017.

As well as those roles I have also found time to help out as a District Training Advisor and a member of our District Appointments Advisory Committee member.

I am looking forward to taking on this new role as Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner and hope that I can help support the Cub sections within the Region.

Cubs and Beavers have fun outdoors

7 Oct 2019

Cubs and Beavers from the 82nd Craigalmond (Cramond) Group had a brilliant September Camp at Netherurd, a fantastically equipped and located Guide centre. In total 42 Cubs and 5 Beavers spent two nights away with the camp theme of Space.

Activities at camp included zip lines, backwoods cooking, shelter building, rocket making (and launching), scavenger hunts and star gazing. Everyone who attended went on a very sunny hike that took us all up to the summit of a local hill with great views.

Thanks to a fantastic set of leaders and some thorough planning it was a very successful weekend! The camp was blessed with great weather for September and everyone went home very tired but happy!

A busy night at Cubs learning to tie the Reef Knot and Round Lashing

7 Sep 2019

A busy night at Longniddry Cubs learning to tie the Reef Knot and Round Lashing. The Cubs then had to capture an escaped lizard, make a flagpole higher than the Bowling Club’s one, drop a tennis ball into a space on the roof and make a 4 metre selfie stick! As you do!

1st North Berwick Beavers and Cubs raise over £2,000 for Summer Camp

4 Jun 2019

The 1st North Berwick Scout Group has been busy recently raising much needed funds towards its annual camp.

The camp is taking place at PGL Dalguise in June. The 1st North Berwick Scout Group needed to raise money towards the cost of transport to and from the camp as 2 buses are needed for almost 100 Cubs, Beavers, leaders and the parent helpers who are expected to attend. The annual camp is always one of the highlights of the year for the Cubs and Beavers. They will be spending 2 nights away and are able to take part in water sports and other activities that are not available locally.

In order to raise money towards the bus hire, 43 Cubs and Beavers, aged between 6 and 10 years, completed a sponsored hike on 17 March from Yellowcraig Beach back to their base at North Berwick Scout Hall. The youngsters proudly carried their Scouting flags the entire way, helping to raise awareness of the Scout Association too.

On Saturday 30 March, the Group also held a coffee morning at North Berwick’s Hope Rooms. The Cubs and Beavers served tea and coffee along with home baking. There was also a tombola, raffle and some lovely Mothers’ Day gifts, which all contributed towards the fund raising. The event was a real success, raising over £900, and was supported by some of the founder leaders of Beavers in East Lothian.

Thank you to everyone within our local and scouting community for your amazing hard work and support for both these events. We have been able to pay for the transport for the camp, meaning each child’s payment has been greatly reduced.

With the money raised we were also able to purchase camp blankets for all the Beavers and Cubs, and had a commemorative camp badge made. We ran a design competition for it, with the winning design created by one of our Cubs, Austin Walker. Well done Austin!

Laura Hill, 1st North Berwick Beaver leader