SEEE expeditions

SEEE expeditions

SEEE

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South East Explorer Expeditions (SEEE) - expeditions coming up, and adults can join in the fun

Training has continued, particularly with the 25 Braid Bronzes who were at Greenbank on Friday 21 April. 

  • > The Braid Bronze training and expedition takes place in the middle of May. 
  • > Silver and Gold Hillwalking expeditions are lined up for after the exams: Practices in June, Qualifiers in August and September.
  • > The Biking Silver expeditions are being actively planned, and leaders recruited.
  • > Some Bronzes from other Districts will do their training and expedition with their own Unit, but there will be another SEEE expedition for those not covered by that. 
  • > The paddlers completed their Practice expeditions in April, and final preparations are being made towards the Qualifying Expeditions in June and August on Loch Tay and The Great Glen respectively.


Can you help? We would still welcome more helpers for Biking, Hillwalking and Paddling.  If you have received a message asking whether you could help on particular dates, please reply.  If you did not, then contact us using https://form.jotform.com/sesscouts/find-out-about-seee

David, John and Steve for SEEE

SEEE and DofE Update

SEEE and DofE Update

South East Explorer Expeditions (SEEE) is well under way with organising this season's programme. Some key points:

  • – 178 Explorers & Network members have now confirmed choices for their DofE Expedition section with SEEE, with options for hillwalking, biking and canoeing.
  • – Training starts in March, and we’re seeking adult volunteers to join our 16 separate expeditions across June, August and September to help make them the amazing experience that DofE can provide – fill in this form: https://form.jotform.com/sesscouts/find-out-about-seee.  We will also be running Bronze expeditions in May, and help would be welcome with them, too.
  • – It should be noted that some Units and Districts are running their own expeditions, so the numbers above are not the total for the Region.
  • – We are working on a Gold expedition specifically for Network members, and any Network member interested (including Leaders under 25) should get in touch to discuss.


As a result of all the hard work put in by young people and adults, our current total for DofE Awards completed in the Region since mid-September 2021 (just under 18 months) is:

129

Bronze 

76

Silver

15

Gold


A lot of this depends on local Leaders who support Explorers with their overall DofE programme. Sometimes this is an Explorer Leader, but often it is a Leader from another section, a parent, or someone who chooses to take on only this task. It usually involves meeting with the candidates about once a month and answering questions online. It’s great fun and so rewarding.

If you are interested in finding out more then please do get in touch. Of course, full support will be provided. 

John Buchanan for SEEE           
expeditions@sesscouts.org.uk

DofE Expeditions for 2023

DofE Expeditions for 2023

DofE Expeditions for 2023

Silver and Gold

South East Explorer Expeditions – SEEE – have almost completed the recruitment process.

  • Canoeing is full, and training has started.
  • For Biking and Hillwalking, those interested should have completed two forms: the first an expression of interest; the second giving more details to help us plan ahead. 

We shall now discuss with the expedition Leaders and Assessors, then contact candidates to offer them a place on a specific expedition.

Network

We have a group of Network members wanting to do a Gold expedition.  Any others (including any leaders under 25) will be welcome, so please get in touch.  Even if you are not doing DofE, this would count towards the King’s Scout Award.

Bronze (Hillwalking only)

Explorers should have completed two forms, as above.

We will work out whether it will be best to arrange an expedition locally, through the Unit or District, or include them in our plans for expeditions run by SEEE.  This may take a little time.  Please note that it should be easy to add in extra candidates, such as Explorers joining from the Scout section after Christmas.

Calendar

We aim to produce a calendar of dates for training and expeditions to allow everyone involved to plan ahead.

Adult helpers and ESLs

We shall be contacting all those who have helped us in the past and would welcome more assistance, whether with organisation, training or running the expeditions.  Anyone interested in joining our team should note their interest on this form.

Explorer Scout Leaders

If you are an Explorer Leader and you have Explorers registering with SEEE, it would be very helpful if you could identify an adult contact for your Unit – you, another leader, a parent …  Please email us to let us know who this would be.

Contact us

Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze Expedition August 2022

Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze Expedition August 2022

Scouting is designed to be flexible to support all young people to take part, achieve and reach their full potential. That is also true of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Recently, this approach to ensuring all our young people reach their potential was superbly demonstrated when a group of Explorers from Braid and Craigalmond, including some with additional support needs, completed their two-day DofE Bronze Expedition Qualifier in the Pentlands.

At the start of the Expedition, the Explorers agreed that their main “aim” would be to “work together to help achieve their objective of completing the expedition” and it was great to see each member of the group overcome specific challenges and/or support other members of the group, especially when things got difficult. As the Expedition progressed, the group got to know each other better and adapted how they could support each other. The Leader team were hugely impressed with their positive attitude, physical strength, and collective approach to completing the expedition. A highlight was when the group were on the final leg, singing together, knowing they had achieved something special.

Congratulations to Euan, Jack, Kyla, Lennox and Rona on completing your Bronze Expedition and a huge thanks to Lois for your brilliant support during the two days.

Thanks to the Leader Team (Mike, Hector and Donald) and our Assessor (Neil) for your support and to the SEEE Team for their guidance.

Mike Treanor
Leader in Charge

Why not read about the other Regional Expeditions over the summer.

Volunteer opportunity available

If you enjoy reading this then please get in touch to find out how you can become an adult volunteer. It’s so rewarding for you in so many ways. You’ll only know if you try. You can work directly with the young people or more behind the scenes in whatever flexible role suits you in time, skill and space. You don’t have to have had any prior Scouting experience, you just need to want to do good, and help others.  If you believe in this as a set of values then this is a great opportunity for you. What’s not to like!  Please email us for an informal, no obligation, chat. 

Regional Expeditions over the summer

Regional Expeditions over the summer

There have been three walking expeditions over the summer: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The Bronze, started 20 August, is reported here, and is particularly pleasing as the Explorers involved had to overcome additional challenges.

The Silvers who completed their Qualifying expedition were out at the height of the heatwave and did extremely well given the conditions in the Lowther Hills.  The leaders did a great job getting them through, with the task of providing extra water added to their normal responsibilities.

The Golds were out over the same weekend, but walking a circular route from Bridge of Orchy, looping down Glen Lyon on a route containing three challenging, pathless sections.  They coped very well, supporting each other throughout, and were rewarded by some spectacular views in country where meeting a person was a rare event; meanwhile, down below in Tyndrum, the visitors faced nose-to-tail traffic and queues everywhere.

The paddling groups had a very successful summer, with 40 candidates completing their Practice on Loch Venachar, based at the Invertrossachs Scout Centre.

The Autumn brings another Silver and Gold Qualifying expedition for the walkers in the same areas, and also for the paddlers, who will be on Loch Tay and Loch Awe, respectively.  There will also be a final Bronze walking expedition in the Pentlands, for those just starting their journey.

Congratulations to all the young people, and grateful thanks to the many adults without whom this could not happen.

John Buchanan for SEEE (South East Explorer Expeditions)

Volunteer opportunity available

If you enjoy reading this then please get in touch to find out how you can become an adult volunteer. It’s so rewarding for you in so many ways. You’ll only know if you try. You can work directly with the young people or more behind the scenes in whatever flexible role suits you in time, skill and space. You don’t have to have had any prior Scouting experience, you just need to want to do good, and help others.  If you believe in this as a set of values then this is a great opportunity for you. What’s not to like!  Please email us for an informal, no obligation, chat. 

Volunteers needed for SEEE

Volunteers needed for SEEE

  • We are looking for adult Volunteers to help with Expedition Training (outdoors) and on Expeditions.  The leaders-in-charge are in place, so what we are looking for is offers of help, whether for one day or for a whole expedition.  If you have not received a request, contact us on enquiries@see-expeditions.org.uk.
  • Explorers should have heard about Silver and Gold expeditions and be replying to our messages.  The first training session, on Zoom, is on 6 March, followed by a face-to-face day on either 12 or 13 March, then another to be arranged with groups.  If in doubt, contact enquiries@see-expeditions.org.uk.
  • Most Bronze expeditions are being run locally by Units or Districts.  Those who have not heard yet should get a message very soon.  If your local leader cannot help, get in touch with enquiries@see-expeditions.org.uk.

The SEEE Team