This Friday is the annual district Torch Race.  Please see the important information below.

Wharfedale District is holding the annual Torch Race on Friday 8th May, and 1st Ben Rhydding are entering a team as usual.

For those of you who don’t know what the Torch Race is, it is a relay race from Otley town centre to the top of Otley Chevin.  It takes place every year and includes teams from almost all the Group’s in the District.

If you are part of the Torch Race team:

You must meet at the top of Station Road in Otley at 18:50 promptly.  You must be in full, smart uniform with your running kit on underneath.  This is because there will be an inspection by the District Commissioner before the race starts.  You should be collected from the top of Otley Chevin at 20:30.

If you are not part of the team:

We encourage you to come along and support our team.  Please meet at the top of Otley Chevin at 19:30 and be collected from the same location at 20:30.

Best of luck to all in who are running.

Urgent Information for Big Camp

You MUST bring these forms to Big Camp when you come.

Permission to camp form (without this you will be going straight back home). This form can be found by clicking HERE.

Free Drop Permission Form (without this you will not be able to do the free drop activity). This form can be found HERE.

Torch Race

If you have been chosen to take part in the torch race, please meet at the top of station road in Otley at 6:50 on May 8th.

Big Camp

Only one week to go till big camp…..

Here’s some information on where we’re meeting and when…..

We will be meeting you all at 7PM sharp at the gate (we only have a small time to get everyone on site) at the top of the site, see map below.

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There is a kit list in the important information tab (use the summer weekend camp). Or you can get to it by clicking HERE.

Everyone should have paid the full amount for Big Camp by now, if you have not or if you are unsure then please contact one of the leaders.

Scouts this Friday (27 February) is a wide game.

Hope everyone had a good half term break.  Scouts re-starts this Friday and the meeting will be a wide game.  The meeting will start and finish at the Scout Hut at the normal time, but please come in non-uniform and dressed to be outside.  Warm, waterproof clothes and boots are important.

We have received some information about The BIG Camp which we want to share with Scouts and parents.

We have received some further information about The BIG Camp from the West Yorkshire County organisers of the event.  Please click on the links below to see arrival and departure information and some “frequently asked questions”.

BIG Camp 2015 – Arrival and Departure Instructions

BIG Camp 2015 – Frequently Asked Questions Issue 3

If you want to go to Summer Camp and have not yet signed up, the absolute deadline is Friday 13th February.

In order for us to plan the transport and other things for camp, we have to put in place a final deadline for Scouts to sign up to go to camp.  If you want to go to camp then a leader must be in possession of your deposit and form by the end of the Scout meeting on Friday 13th February at the very latest.

Please speak to a Leader if you have any questions.

This update includes some important information about forthcoming events and activities.  Please read and make a note in your diary.

The BIG Camp

The BIG Camp takes place from 1st to 4th May, and many of you have signed up.  We are awaiting further joining details and will let you know as soon as we hear something.  If you are still interested in going then please complete the form on the website and hand it to Spider as soon as possible before it is too late.

St George’s Day Parade

St George is not only the Patron Saint of England, but is also the Patron Saint of Scouting.  Therefore St George’s Day is an important date in the Scouting year which we recognise through the annual parade.  This year the parade will be on 19th April at Otley Methodists Church.  The time is not yet known, but we will let you know as soon as we know.  In the meantime please make a note of the date.  It is important that we have a good turnout for this.

Summer Camp

Plans for summer camp in Holland are progressing well.  As a reminder it is from 1st to 15th August.  This year we are camping at Omen, a place the Group knows well having camped there on a number of occasions, most recently in 2000.  You can download and view the latest circular by clicking on the link below.  In the coming weeks there will be a dedicated Summer Camp 2015 page put on the web site where all information about camp will be held.  If you have not yet signed up to go and would like to, there is still time – just.  Please speak to Spider at the next meeting.

Circ Jan 2 -2015

Badges

We are keen that all Scouts are able to progress through their badges.  Often badges can be done using a Scout’s own initiative, but we are looking to run activities towards the Cyclist, IT, Camper and Cook badges.  Gandhi is the man for all things badges, so remember to talk to him if there is something you are interested in doing, or think you have already achieved a badge.

Contacting us

Leaders are always available to talk to on a Friday night, although some times it can be a little hectic!  If you need to get in touch, please contact the Section Leader, Spider (Michael Ackroyd) on 07905 587645 or spider@hagdyke.com

If you are going to Hag Dyke on 16th January, please remind yourself of the important information below.

Next Friday, 16th January, sees us make our traditional New Year visit to the Group’s hostel, Hag Dyke.  If you are going, please meet in the main car park in Kettlewell at 20:00 prompt ready to walk up to Hag Dyke.  There are some important points to remember:

• We will be walking up to Hag Dyke.  Therefore, you need to be wearing outdoor clothing, have waterproofs and must be wearing walking boots that provide ankle support (“walking trainers” are not suitable for Hag Dyke).  Footwear will be inspected in the car park, and any Scouts who do not have walking boots with ankle support will not be able to go to Hag Dyke.
• Scouts need to carry all their personal equipment up to Hag Dyke, therefore this should be in a rucksack with nothing tied on the outside.
• Make sure you have enough  waterproof and warm clothing.  The weather on the hills can be very different to the weather in Ilkley, so be prepared and check out the kit list on the “Useful Information” page of the website.

Any questions, please ask a Leader.  We hope that everyone going has an enjoyable weekend.

This Friday, 19th December, is the last Troop meeting of the year.  Please see important information below and note the earlier meeting time for this helping on the Santa Float.

As normal, the Troop will be helping the Ilkley & District Round Table with their annual Santa Float on Friday.  Those Scouts that have been asked to support know who they are and should note the meeting times below.

Santa Float helpers

Meet at the Scout Hut at 18:10.  Come dressed appropriately for the weather, perhaps with a Christmas twist!

All other Scouts

Meet at the Scout Hut at the normal time of 19:15 for party games.  Non-uniform.

The meeting will finish at the normal time of 21:15 for all Scouts.

Finally, we take this opportunity to wish all Scouts and parents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Don’t forget, the deadline for returning your deposit for BIG CAMP is this Friday.

If you want to go to the BIG CAMP next year, please remember that your form and deposit must be handed at the meeting on Friday at the latest.  See the earlier post for details.