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Ballymoney Scout Group celebrates another great year

AGM 2013 (7) Three Chief Scout Bronze, 5 Chief Scout Gold, 4 Chief Scout Platinum, 1 Chief Scout Diamond and £300 donated to charity. Sounds a bit like an adaptation of the 12 days of Christmas but this is a list of just some of the achievements by members of the Ballymoney Scout Group, over the past year.
On Friday 10th May at the groups AGM, group and district member presented the Children’s Heartbeat Charity with a cheque for £300. The money was raised at the annual district St George’s day parade that was hosted in Ballymoney this year. Sarah Quinlan from the charity was present to receive the cheque. The Children’s Heartbeat Trust delivers emotional and practical support to parents and families of children with heart disease in Northern Ireland. They are currently campaigning to keep children’s heart surgery here in Northern Ireland. More information can be found on the charity’s website www.childrensheartbeattrust.org
AGM 2013 (5)The evening also saw young people receive the highest awards for their sections and some move up to the next section.
Three Beavers (6-8 year olds) received the Chief Scout Bronze award having taken part in a variety of activities from sleepovers to pantomime visits, healthy eating to learning about other countries.  The Cubs (8- 10 ½ years) received 9 new members from Beavers and saw 4 of their members move up to Scouts. They also saw one of their leaders recited his promise to be invested as a member of the Scout Association.
AGM 2013Five Scouts (10 ½ – 14 ½ years) were awarded the Chief Scout Gold award having completed 8 Challenge awards from Adventure to Global challenge. The Explorer section (14 ½ – 18 years) saw 4 of their members awarded with the Chief Scout Platinum which is the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award plus additional activities and 1 member received his Chief Scout Diamond (DoE Silver plus additional activities).
The evening was well attended by young people and their families and also the special guests of the evening Deputy Mayor, Alderman Cecil Cousley, Paul Meikle Coleraine District Commissioner and Sarah Quinlan for Children’s Heartbeat Trust.  The new executive committee was elected with some members returning to their roles while other positions have been taken on by parent supporters.
AGM 2013 (9)Scouting is a completely voluntary organisation that provides a wide range of experiences and skills to young people and adults alike. Leaders, helpers and parent representatives for the executive committee are always being sought. No skills or previous experience are required – you just need to be committed to working with the young people and having fun!  You can see more of what Ballymoney Scouts do on our website http://ballymoney.ukscouts.org.uk/
All adult helpers must be Access NI checked, and any training (1st Aid, Child safeguarding, or anything else identified) will be provided.
If you feel you can offer any support, or know of anyone that would be interested please contact the Group Scout Leader Kevin on 07775632415 or email kevinhelen.wellings@btinternet.com

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Camp Skills Day

IMG_1402The day started by helping local residents with a clean-up in Macosquin village; this goes towards the Global Challenge.
Then over to Kevin’s house for a day of camp skills including putting up tents, setting the site, collecting fire wood, using axes and bow saws, lighting fires with some backwoods cooking. Chocolate cake was on hand for afternoon tea, as the Scouts and Explorers enjoyed the sunshine. Then a few more practical skills of using Tilly lamps and stoves, before heading off to Downhill Beach for a mad and sandy game of rugby.
Once back, supper was had, flasks were sorted and gear packed for a short hike to the bivi site where the scouts and explorers would bed down for the night under the stars.
After a windy but dry night back down the hill for bacon butties, hot chocolate and the cartoon network.
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