2019
Next year is the 50th Anniversary of Longcraig Scout Centre operating at Longcraig Pier.
We are developing plans to help us celebrate this spectacular occasion, and of course the celebrations will extend out to include every one of you in some way!
In the meantime, as we approach 2019, we need some help from you. Have you ever made use of the services or the equipment at Longcraig? If so, do you have a story to tell? We are compiling a book of tales and memoirs, so all contributions are welcome. Especially from the early years (there’s not so many of these folks still about!) but just as important, things from more recent years. Were you at the opening ceremony for the Centre in 1969? Or the ‘new Building’ in 1998? – we’d love to hear from you. Is your family a second or third generation Longcraig participant? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Did you achieve a badge, award, or certificate? – we’d love to hear from you! Have you got any memorable photos? – we’d love to hear from you!
Please send all your tales and memories and photos to: ian.harrower2@virgin.net
2018 – what remains?
As you read this newsletter, there are only a few weekends left available for activities on the water before we close down for the winter. Why do we do this? Well, we have to stop evening activities close to the end of August – because it starts to get dark not long after 8pm. So, we could offer shortened sessions on the water, but that can be further hampered by thick cloud or mist and such like. It’s not that easy to get everyone off the weather and boats away in the dark! We have tried earlier evening starting times, but a lot of people (including some of our instructors) struggle to get to Longcraig for an earlier start time.
We finish weekend activities in October – why? Because there is a significantly increased risk of bad weather, it will be colder, the days are shorter. For experienced watersports people that can all be OK, with wetsuits, suitable warm clothing etc. But for beginners, this can be just the recipe to put people off for life – which is NOT what we are about! It’s all a matter of risk management!
But we will still be active – all the boats come off the water, get stripped down and stored away, repairs get done, and we start the planning for the next year. You are welcome to come down and help – especially Scouts or Explorers – for one day or a few hours, or for longer. This can fit in with a number of badge activities and can also be a really great contribution t Scouting and in particular to Longcraig.
At the end of September we will be supporting the Scottish Scouts National regatta up at Lochgoilhead, with boats, equipment and some experienced staff. A team from Longcraig runs a scouting version of the RYA Youth RIB Challenge over the weekend, open to any participant at the Regatta.
Explorer units
Following the success of the partnership with the Explorer Unit who have been supporting Longcraig over last winter and through 2018, we are pleased to invite feedback from other Explorer Units who wish to make water activities and Centre Support a part of their programme. Please contact us for further details of how you can join up and add this to your Unit programme as well as learning new skills, satisfying challenge requirements, and fulfilling service activity all at the same time! Contact Ian on 0131 331 1108 initially.
And more on 2018:
Longcraig is coming to the end of a very successful season and it looks as if we will meet or exceed the targets we agreed with the Region at the start of the year. We would like to thank all of our customer groups and volunteer staff for their continued support. Bookings for the new season will open on 1st January 2019 and we look forward to your continued custom in our 50th Anniversary year.
Not all our activities are in boats: