Observing and Adventuring

We've had a really busy Scouting weekend... loads of fun was had all round!

On Friday, most of the Cubs attended the Observatory outing that Nicola had kindly arranged. We owe a big thank you to The University of Glasgow for sponsoring our access to The Observatory on a Friday evening... who knows, maybe some of the Cubs will become astronomers in the future! A big thank you also goes to the astronomers themselves... Fraser, Erin and Ricardo who all gave up their evening to tell us lots of interesting facts and show us exciting things. It was really useful and will certainly help the Cubs earn their Astronomer's Badge.

On Saturday, Spud spent the day in the Cairngorms with some Scouts from around Glasgow... they were learning winter mountaineering skills... using crampons, ice axes and avalanche probes. They dug out snow holes, and we all had great fun bum sliding down the hillside!

Maybe some of our Cubs will have a chance to take part in similar activities when they're a bit older!

Then on Sunday 16 of our Cubs went to Auchengillan for an Adventure Day which was subsidised by the Allander Trust - thank you once again to the Trust!

The lads who attended can compete this form to earn their fitness challenge badge if they've not already got it!

We did loads of fun activities including bungee running, climbing, abseiling, and crate climbing.

It was cold, but they guys were in high spirits throughout the day... aided by the odd cup of hot tea and a new pair of wooly gloves!

All the lads participated in each activity with their group... it took a lot of courage to participate in some of these activities, so those of you who gave it a go deserve a big pat on the back! Well done!

I saw a lot of great examples of team work, helping each other, concentrating on the task in hand, good manners, and listening when you were asked... this was excellent... keep it up!

Well done to one of our newest Cubs, MM... he took the prize for combined highest crate climb and wall climb... he won himself a copy of the Cubs Powerpack book...

This book has lots of info about Cubs, Scouting as a whole, and it tells you what you need to do to earn each of the badges. If you want to buy a copy, you can get one from Spud for £4 or you can get it yourself from the Scout shop.

The adventure day was the first opportunity we've had to use our new high-viz jackets... these really helped the leaders keep tabs on all our Cubs... and the kids loved them. Sorry, to all those who wanted to take them home or buy one themselves... there are no more left anywhere in the world (I think!). But you'll use them each time we're out 'n' about on our adventures!

I'll be getting the paperwork out to you soon for the next set of adventures and activities... mountain biking in Glentress is on 27th Feb, and is now fully booked. There will also be a muddy bike ride held locally on Sunday 28th of March, so look out for the forms for this one and get them back early (12th March is the deadline) to avoid disappointment!

Astronomy & Adventure

Tomorrow night we're due to go to the Glasgow Uni Observatory on Acre Road, just off Maryhill Road. If you've signed up, check this map to see where the observatory is. Meet at the main entrance at 1830h this Friday. There is still one place available. Text Spud if you'd like it!

This activity will help Cubs to earn their Astronomer's Badge. Some of the Cubs have been working on this since our Space Camp last year... others have been taking part in lots of activities this term to help them earn the badge... Here we are making planet models that we then formed into our 'human solar system'...

We even had a game of flying saucer hockey last week which was great fun...

This Sunday we will be heading to Auchengillan for a day of adventurous activities... there will be bungee running, crate climbing, abseiling, and rock climbing on the tower. There is still one space available as I have been able to increase the number of spaces from 12 to 16. If you'd like it, please text Spud and bring a fiver and the ODA form with you.

I'll be keeping a 'reserves' list for the mountain biking trip, so if anyone is still interested let me know... if anyone drops out you can be offered a place.

Up n coming activities...

Here's the list of activities for the new term... make sure you have your forms and payment back as soon as possible to book your place!

Observatory Outing, Friday 5th Feb

Adventure Day, Sunday 7th Feb

Mountain Biking, Saturday 27th Feb

Muddy Bike Ride, Sunday 28th Mar (form to follow nearer the time!)

Download and print the forms if you don't already have a copy.

Sponsored Night Hike Success!

This Friday almost all of our Cubs took part in a sponsored night hike at Mugdock Park.


The lads had fun finding their way by torchlight... and we were blessed with a beautiful clear and crisp winter's night.




There was time to play around at the ruined castle. The moonlight made it a bit spooky!

All the guys seemed to have fun, and it sounds like they've all been doing well collecting sponsorship. The forms and money will be collected on Dec 11th. Please keep collecting and see if you can win a prize (1st, 2nd or 3rd) for raising the most money.

Swimming & Night Hike

A bunch of our Cubs attended the Swimmer's Badge Night last Friday, and most of them earned themselves a swimmers level 1 badge. One Cub earned a level 2 badge... well done RS. They all tried really hard, and had fun floating in the life vest, and diving for the hoops! Well done guys!

This coming Friday is our Night Hike in Mugdock Park. It is sponsored, and funds raised will be used to subsidise future activities for our Cubs and to buy equipment for the Group. I would like parents to encourage their Cubs to raise as much money as possible, and remind them that there is a prize for First, Second and Third places for the most money raised. Here's a link to a spare sponsor form! Money raised should be handed in on Friday 11th December.

By participating, Cubs will add another "hike away" to their tally... and if it's their first or fifth they'll earn a badge. Participating also helps Cubs earn their Community Challenge Badge

There are a few lads who have not yet signed up for this event. I'd like to encourage them to attend, even though they've not yet signed up.

Parents, please encourage them to come... if they are going to come can you let me know in advance so that I am expecting them, and make sure they bring the

permission form with them on the night.

All the details of what to bring and where to come are on the permission form which you can download.

Click here for a map of where to come to for drop off and pick up...

I look forward to seeing you there... I hope you can all support this event.

Many thanks,

Spud

Wet Wet Wet Bikers...

Yesterday 7 of our lads braved the elements and joined us on a great adventure mountain biking in Glentress.



After a week of torrential rain, we had gone to great lengths to check that the roads hadn't been washed away, that the trails were in a rideable condition, and that we had all the appropriate gear with us. The lads were well warned to have tonnes of extra clothes with them, and they also had their swimming stuff... not for swimming in the puddles as one Cub thought, but for our back-up plan if the weather was too bad and we had to abandon ship!



It was a beautiful clear day in Glasgow when we set off... and it was still dry when we reached Glentress. But that was the calm before the storm!


We spent some time learning some basic skills of mountain biking in the skills park before splitting up into groups to tackle some more challenging terrain. It wasn't long before a few of the guys had mastered taking 'air' on some of the jumps in the freeride park. And while there were a few spectacular crashes, we got away with only a few scrapes and bruises, thank goodness!

As the day went on, the weather deteriorated. But after a round of hot drinks and some lunch, they were all up for more action despite the torrents of rain! So we continued...

Some of the lads played on the freeride park and the loops, while the others tackled electric blue... a nice wee downhill section with some sweet jumps and drop offs. They loved it, and couldn't wait to get back up to the top to do it all over again, and again, and again! Thanks to Nicola, we were shuttled back to the top in the van.

A couple of the younger Cubs decided to call it quits about 2ish, and they were happy to take refuge in the van once they were dried off! But the rest of the guys could barely be persuaded to stop for the day... even as dusk settled to become a pitch black night!

Great credit is due to all the guys for continuing to show such high spirits on what became a miserably wet day. I think there are a few true mountain bikers in the making here... and I think they've seen why mountain bikers all wear shorts, whatever the weather!

There were a few Cyclist Badges earned, and these will be given out next time we have a Pack Meeting... and you've all added another 'hike away' to your tally. Some of you were given a Fitness Challenge form to complete this badge too.




A huge thank you is due to all our adult helpers... Nicola, Ali, Stuart, Rose... I really couldn't have done it without you. Thank you.


And finally, thank you to the Allander Youth Activities Charitable Trust for funding the vast majority of this trip for each of our young lads. It is really great that these 7 kids have had the opportunity to see that there is more to do on a wet Saturday than play on their computers! Keeping fit and having fun... thank you.



Remember that next week is the Sponsored Night Hike... please remind your Cubs to keep collecting sponsorship... if they need another form they can download one here. If they've not yet signed up and would like to attend then parents should send me a text so I know to expect them. Please post a permission form to me if you've not yet completed one.


There are prizes for the Cubs who raise the most sponsorship money... so keep collecting. Return the sponsor forms and money on Friday 11th December.

Panto trip

Thanks to Jacquie, one of our new leaders, we are lucky enough to be able to attend the Tron Theatre Panto as a Group this year... we are going to go on Tuesday the 15th of December. We will be at the 7.30pm performance, and Cubs should meet at the enterance of the Tron Theatre at 7pm. Cubs who will be attending paid for their place on Friday 13th Nov.


You don't need to bring anything with you, but please wear your Full Cub Uniform. Thanks.

Check out more details of the panto on the Tron's Website...