Durham Scout County News

Pantomine 2010

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:19:59 +0100

Well its that time of the year again and the Beaver Pantomime is coming up fast.
This year its Cinderella and is on at the Gala Theatre in Durham on Sunday the 12th December at 1pm. The cost is �7.50 per person again and we have 490 seats to fill. So please download the booking form and ask your Scout leader to book up for the pantomime.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

�Pantomime Booking Form

Midnight Madness

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:40:49 +0100

Details of this years Midnight Madness are now available at http://www.dusagg.org.uk/midmad

A Grand Day Out

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:37:50 +0100

26 Beavers from all over South Tyneside came to West Hall Campsite for a grand day out and got to meet some new furry friends along the way.

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This was no average�Beaver Fun Day for these young people, a whole host of badges were on offer for them to complete including the friendship challenge badge and the event had a theme based all around the culture of China. The lucky�Beavers got to have a go at writing their names in Chinese, face painting, building and decorating Chinese lanterns and even making a huge carnival dragon as a big group project.

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Also during the day the 26 exited young people were visited by a number of different organisations including the fire brigade who held a chip pan fire demonstration, 2 Police Community Support Officers who told the children all about how to be safe. And not one but two visits from some very special animals with some very special jobs. Northumbria Police Dog Handlers brought a sniffer dog puppy and a general purpose dog poppy to meet the Beavers and they even got to stroke the beautiful animals. Natasha, Phoebe and Holly from 22nd South Shields said, “The dogs were really friendly!”

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The last surprise for the day was a visit from Ethne Brown who trains Guide Dogs for the Blind, the�Beavers presented a cheque for 200 pounds they had fundraised through coffee evenings and other means to go towards the training of future Guide Dogs. As well as getting a talk about how they do their jobs. After a non stop day of fun and new discoveries it was finally time for the sleepy Beaversto go home.

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And finally we would like to thank the Fire Service, Northumbria Police and the Guide Dog Association for all their help making the event such a success!� �

Dryburn Camping Competition

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:08:24 +0100

15th South Shields Hawk Patrol are the winners of the 2010 Dryburn Camping Competition, �challenging Scouts from across Durham Scout County to demonstrate their best camp craft and programme planning skills.

After an excellent weekend, the results were as follows:

1st 15th South Shields Hawk Patrol
2nd 1st Herrington Ram Patrol
3rd 1st Sedgefield "A" Team

The Hawk Patrol were duly presented with the trophy by Jeff Ledger, County Commissioner, at the flag down ceremony.

The gap between, and particularly between, first and second was only a few points and when you consider that the winners score was 2222 points this is significant. What clinched it was the Hawk Patrol adopting the advice given to all at the start of the weekend which was to copy that which is praiseworthy in others and correct in yourself that which falls short.

The Rams were points ahead until The Hawks copied the very professional campsite layout of the Rams but built on their strength of a display of tent rules, consideration given to a balanced "5 a day" diet and an excellent visual display of the trip they completed as part of their program for the Saturday.

In this instance "copy" is good and the Rams are congratulated for showing good practice in this way which, once copied, allowed the Hawks to take the lead. All the more pleasing was the fact that the Hawks were a pretty new to the Dryburn.

Congratulations also to Abbie Hearmon who represented her patrol to receive the Brian Slack Flag for the Patrol which improved the most.

The Hawk and Ram patrol and the Sedgefield "A" Team will receive a visit from John Moore, ACC Scouts at the soonest opportunity to present the award of the Dryburn Gold awards and, in the case of the Hawks, a County Neckerchief being an award that grants "County Scout" status to the scout, at the soonest opportunity.

John Moore, ACC Scouts said "I can honest say that I have never seen Good Scouting from so many in one place. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Scout Leaders for bringing the Patrols to a standard that allowed them to do so well."

Beaver & Cub Fun!

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:12:15 +0100

Over 500 Beavers & Cubs had a great weekend at the Beaver Picnic and Cub Fun Day last week. They took part in activities such as an assault course, archery, football competitions, inflatables, mountain boarding, grass sledging and climbing.

Have a look at the fun they got up to!

Beaver Picnic

�Cub Fun Day

Be Prepared to Give

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:18:41 +0100

As part of the celebrations for World Blood Donor Day (14 June) NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more donors to come forward. Helping them to spread the message are Blaydon District Scouts.

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The�district is campaigning for family members to join up as each group races to come top of the lifesaver league. The best performing groups will be ranked on the table and rewarded with prizes.

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The theme for celebrations this year is ‘New blood for the world’ encouraging the next generation of blood donors to come forward. Darren Bowen Lead Donor Relations Manager for NHSBT said:

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“World Blood Donor Day is all about youth this year, so we are delighted to work with Blaydon Scouts. We are counting on the support of family and friends to not only fill in a life saving pledge but come and donate.”

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World Blood Donor Day is an international event and now takes place every year on the 14 June. This commemorates the birth date of Karl Landsteiner in 1868, who discovered the ABO blood group system. It is the discovery of this system that made blood transfusion possible.

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Peter Jensen, District Commissioner Blaydon Scouts said:

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“We recognise just how important blood donation really is, so we are more than happy to help out. The decision to give blood is a lifesaving one.�

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The appeal also takes on extra significance as the World Cup kicks off. During the World Cup in 2006 blood stocks fell by almost a fifth and hit their lowest level in the summer months for five years.

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Darren added:

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“We want to avoid a similar drop this year and call on all existing and new donors to plan ahead and do their bit. Transfusions are only possible because of volunteers.”

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Blood donors can donate three times a year. The process takes around an hour - with the actual donation taking about ten minutes.

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To become a donor you need to be aged 17 - 65, weigh more than 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and be in general good health. There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years. To book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk

Durham Sanctuary

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:11:27 +0100

Sailing Regatta 2010

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:26:43 +0100

Scouts win Royal award

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 09:53:40 +0100

The 22nd South Shields (Brownsea) Scout Group has won The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the voluntary equivalent of an MBE.�The group will now receive a certificate from the Queen and a crystal trophy from the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Nigel Sherlock. For the full article visit�http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/Scouts-win-Royal-award.6338815.jp

Bear in the Air!

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:24:13 +0100

On May 29th, Chief Scout Bear Grylls kick started his whistle stop helicopter tour of the North East region by visiting both Durham and Northumberland Scout Counties! At both events he was met by a group of eager young people from across Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland and was very keen to talk with them and find out their views about Scouting. Between the events�Bear and his young son Jessie, now a Beaver Scout took part in a number of different activates, from climbing to Zorbing, to sailing at the mouth of the Tyne with 3rd South Shields Sea Scouts. Explorer Scout Jenny Woods from Chester le Street�who met�the Chief�at South Shields said, ""It was great to meet and talk to Bear, I think that he will be a great role model for Scouts." Bear's visit caused quite a stir in the local and national press and some of the stories can be found below.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/TV-star-drops-in-to.6330038.jp

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7780309/Bear-Grylls-on-whirlwind-visit-to-meet-10000-scouts.html

http://scouts.org.uk/news/303/bear-takes-to-the-air-to-visit-10000-scouts

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