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Our Scouts are back from a competition camping weekend at Bay Park campsite at Mt. Martha. The Cohen Shield is an annual event where Scouts from the whole district converge on Scout camp sites throughout Victoria, competing in various challenges over the weekend, and being scored for teamwork, cooperation, attitude and successful completion of many tasks.

We achieved gold and silver pennants this year! Which is a marvelous achievement.  The patrol system is well at work on these weekends, where the more experienced Scouts help the newer scouts with tasks, and impart important skills and knowledge in the process. So although we strive for gold, the most important part is we work together as a patrol and help our younger members become the future patrol leaders and experienced Scouts. That is where the gold is! Well done to the patrols and to Sascha and Jess for leading so fully and competently. Gary and Tristan were extremely proud of all of you this weekend.

Special mentions to Jasmine, Jaida and Sam for completing their first ever competition camp, and to Blake who joined us from 6th Caulfield.

Lastly a big Thank you to Gary and to Tristan for giving up your weekend to help get our Scouts to this amazing event.

At camp

First aid task

All the winners!

Thumbs up for a great weekend

This week the older Scouts passed down wisdom to the younger of our Troop.  Scouts were encouraged to discuss their badgework and what they planned to achieve. Then the older scouts helped the younger ones with lashing knots.  The cooperation and patience shown by all Scouts was highly commendable. It’s what Scouting is all about.

Joel helping out Sam

Josh and Amos

Dara and Josh

Jess and Jaida

Jaida with her first Scout badge!

Badge!

Josh with his first Scout badge!

Art badge completed!

Have a peek at what the Scouts got up to at first aid night this week…

Last night Scouts finished for term 2 on a super high note. We all met at Aim Archery in Cheltenham where Eric carefully took us through the basics of becoming professional archers. After a few short hours we were proclaimed semi-professional by Eric (emphasis on the ‘semi’ part).  The bows were real, the arrows were real. The apples on heads were real (only joking!).  Fantastic night had by all, with Sascha taking the honour of best archer. Thanks to Gary for bussing us down and organising the night and the people at Aim for a great night.

Our Scouts are just back from a wonderfully run Gourmet Cooking Camp at Noonameena Scout Camp in Lauriston run by the 15th Brighton Scout Group. The weather was spectacular and the Scouts ready for foody action. Cooking included working in 3 patrols for the weekend to produce the best dishes possible. Dinner was a resounding success. Chili Con Carne, Beef Goulash and Chicken Cacciatore. Dessert was Apple Crumble, Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding and Peach Cobbler!!  Sunday included a trip to Hanging Rock before heading back. A HUGE thank you to Terry for organising the weekend and for the support of the 15th Brighton and 10th Caulfield Leaders,  Michael, Gary, Helena and Matt.

The challenge was laid down. Scouts had one hour to prepare a sweet treat to be judged by our very own skinny Matt ‘Minski’ Preston.  Our patrols were given an array of ingredients to create their own treats. Who will reign supreme? Stay tuned to Facebook to find out. Boy did they look like they were having fun!

Preparing

Creating

Tasting

Matt now has Diabetes Type 2

Presenting!

Feast!!

Lick the bowl! Yum!

FEAST!!

At the end of Scouts this week a formal presentation was arranged to present Ashley Morris with his Australian Scout Medallion (ASM). Gary Brand spoke warmly of Ashley’s involvement in Scouts over the years and how Ashley worked very hard to achieve this award, the highest award possible by a Scout. Amongst all the other requirements, that included campcraft and citizenship, Ashley also organised and ran a 3 day hike which was successfully completed last year at Wilsons Promontory. We are very proud of Ashley and how far he has come in Scouting. He has now moved on to the next stage of his Scouting life and is enjoying Venturers. The pinnacle award for Venturers is the Queen Scout Award. We expect Ashley will work towards that in the coming years!! Well done Ashley.

We’d like to thank the following dignitaries for attending: Jason O’Donnell – State Commissioner – Scouts, Roy Kaplan – District Commissioner – Glen Eira Stonnington , Michelle Grierson –Region Commissioner – Melbourne, Graeme Berry – Scout Commissioner – Melbourne Region.

Thank you to Ashley’s parents Braham and Melissa for providing supper.

Gary and Ashley

10th Caulfield Scouts, Venturers, Leaders and dignitaries from Scouts Victoria

Over the last weekend five of our intrepid Scouts packed their rucksacks and went on a district run hike with hundred of other scouts from Melbourne. They bussed up to Tallarook National Park and participated in the annual Scout Hike, this year themed “Horrible Histories”. The aim is to hike to each of the 24 check points and complete an activity. Each patrol is scored on various things including the activity and efficient navigation and getting to checkpoints and sleep points on time.  Jess was Patrol leader with Dara as Assistant Patrol Leader. Both executed their duty with distinction. Special mention must go to Jess who excelled in her detailed organisational skills.

Scouts must carry all their clothing, food, cooking equipment and tents, which means each Scout carried around 12-14 kilograms each!!

Our Scouts walked 17 kilometres over 2 days and won Bronze with 1100 points which is very commendable given we are not so very experienced in hiking.

Well done Jess and the other participating Scouts: Dara, Aiden, Josh and Sascha.

Also thanks to a Glen Eira Council grant we now have hiking rucksacks, trangias and brand new hiking tents!!

It’s with vicarious pride that I celebrate achievements like the one that happened this week. Tristan Cliff completed his basic training as a Scout leader. Meaning he moves from being classed as a trainee to a fully fledged Assistant Scout Leader (ASL). Scouts Australia provide a brilliant array of online and face to face training programs to help our leaders become better at what they do. So although my leaders will possibly call me a pest when I nag them to complete their training, it is for the greater good of our group as well as a personal achievement for the leader involved. Mazel Tov Tristan, we are thankful to have you and your boundlessness enthusiasm, and hope it continues for years to come.