SEEE was delighted to host its first social meeting for the volunteers who help make expeditions possible for some 150 Explorer Scouts and Network members, with options this year for hillwalking and biking.

As well as providing an opportunity for the team to catch up and swap ideas for this year, Martin Elliot, Lead Volunteer, dropped in to present a number of Awards. We picture Neil Wotherspoon and Colin Gibson receiving Commendation Awards for all their work providing expeditions for those with individual needs, and Kyla, a recent King’s Scout Award recipient and expedition participant, giving Neil our new SEEE necker. Martin also presented an Award for 15 Years service Award to longstanding SEEE volunteer Janet Paterson, and we’d also like to recognise Val Bichener and Phil Young for recently received Service Awards.

This is the result of a huge amount of sustained effort by the Explorers, supported by their families, and sometimes continuing into their Network years.  It also reflects the work of the local leaders who guide them on their DofE journey, and of the amazing teams who make it possible to run so many expeditions through SEEE, with a choice of Biking, Canoeing or Hillwalking.  

Many Explorers, including those who do DofE at school, complete their Volunteering section as Young Leaders with the younger sections, so the people who work with them can take credit, too.  Finally, for many Explorers, the Gold Residential section is done at Blair Atholl or WSJ, or on one of the courses at Meggernie or Fordell.  

All these awards can be used towards the Chief Scout’s Award Platinum and Diamond, and the King’s Scout Award.  We are already seeing a sizeable number of these being completed, but it would be great to see more, so any encouragement and advice given by Explorer Leaders would be very welcome.  

The summer was a very active one for Explorers, so this is just a brief summary.

Camps

Many Explorers were involved in camps over the summer, both with their Units and as Young Leaders helping the younger sections.  Special mention should be made of the International camps, including Blair Atholl, Kandersteg and Denmark. 

SEEE – South East Explorer expeditions

The DofE Qualifying hillwalking expeditions for Gold and Silver are well under way, with two of each completed using routes between Arrochar and the Dunoon area.  There is another Silver in the Lowther Hills, and another Gold starting at Arrochar.

There was also a very successful combined Gold and Silver expedition for Explorers with additional support needs.  Congratulations are due to the young people concerned, including those who attended as supporters, and special thanks go to Neil and Colin for organising and running this so successfully, having previously run Bronze and Silver.

There is a Biking Silver and further Bronze expeditions this month.  Canoeing should be completed shortly. 

Awards

As a result of their activities over the summer, many Explorers will have completed nights away, hikes and expeditions that count towards their Chief Scout’s Award Platinum and Diamond levels, and King’s Scout Award, as well as specific badges.  We would encourage all leaders to check what individual Explorers have done, and add it to their record.