• General
  • Financial problem
• Troop Scouter's Report
  • Skilkana
  • Soccer Challenge
  • Troop Camp
• Pack Scouter's Report
  • Lion Camp
  • Toughees Challenge
  • Skilkana
  • Christmas Camp
  • Farewell

Hello Everyone

Well it’s that time of the year again and I am sure that most of you are wondering what happened to the year, where did it go???    The countdown to yet another Christmas has begun.  I also think that it is a good time to spare a thought for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Congratulations must go the following people – Ashley Prowse (ex-Scout) who has been chosen as a Councillor for 2002 at Victoria Park High School.  Also to Christopher Pike (Akela’s son and also an ex-Scout) who obtained his Diploma in Nature Conservation with 4 distinctions – well done!!

A big thank to all the people who so willingly helped with the Lapa project.  Especially to those people who still give up their Sunday afternoons to work on finishing off the Lapa.  Thank you also to La Farge for donating the grit we needed for the project.  The Lapa will be a big asset to our Scout Hall and grounds.

Also to be thanked is Madga Ellis, (who lives near the Scout Hall) who together with children from the surrounding squatter camp, do a sterling job of keeping the veld area around the Scout Hall clean.

On the financial front we have had some bad news.  In the past the municipality subsidized our rates and this year we have received only a portion of our total rates as a subsidy.  We expect that this will probably be phased out totally during the next few years, which means that we will have to pay our own rates.   I would like to urge all parents to please pay their subs on time, as this will go a long way to alleviating our financial problems.

The annual Skilkana competition was once gain held in Uitenhage on October 13 and was hosted by 1^st Uitenhage SOE Scout Group.  For those who are not familiar with what Skilkana is all about, it consists of fun bases to test the skills of the Scouts in performing tasks in the shortest possible time, or trying to obtain the highest score.  Some basis are Scouting orientated – such as knots, lashings, lifesaving, Kim’s game and billy boiling.  Others are pure fun – such as water relay, beanbag relay, chariot race and egg throw.

Soccer Challenge

1^st Cotswold once again hosted the annual inter Troop Soccer Challenge.  The event once again was held at the P.E. Technikon Main Campus’ sports fields.  Although our Scouts faced some tough opponents, the boys enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to next year’s event were they will be hoping the bring the trophy back to Cotswold.

Troop Camp  

As most of the scouts in the troop have never been on a proper scout camp, we thought that it might be a good idea to have a more fun orientated camp than a traditional scout camp where the focus is usually on the construction a fully functional campsite.

If a passer by or tourist had to stop and listen to some of the stories of the Scouts after the 1^st night, they would have thought that this area of the world was populated by the ‘big 5’ of the animal kingdom.  The scouts could not stop talking about all the glowing eyes of the Springhares / Rabbits they saw & the howling of the jackals in the distance.

The camp went off well and was a good team building and learning experience for the Scouts.  Pictures of the camp will be available on the troop’s website in early part of the new year. (click here to go to the photo album)

A special thank you must go to Madelein Roberts (Panther’s wife) for braving the elements by coming along on the camp and really spoiling the scouts by preparing and cooking some delicious food.

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all the members of the 1^st Cotswold family a merry Christmas and a very prosperous and happy New Year.

Gareth Whittal
Assistant Troop Scouter

I (Akela) was privilege enough to be part of the Algoa Lion Camp, which was a first for me.  Although we ran a wet programme all weekend, there was a dry programme just in case the rain stopped!  My cubs thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and felt they had achieved a lot.  The facilities at Loerie Educational Centre were very good, only the ‘loo’ was a little too far away from the sleeping quarters for some of our older scouters! 

As part of this year’s Toughees Challenge a ‘care bag’ had to be filled with items for underprivileged scholars.  The Cubs donated their bags to local squatter children who lived relatively close to the scout hall.  These children ranged from as little as 3 years old, are doing a ‘clean up’ of the koppie next to the scout hall.  A local lady, Mrs Magda Ellis, who is extremely passionate about the environment, is supervising this project.  Although only four children turned up, they were speechless when they were handed the ‘care bags’ as well as coldrink and popcorn.

Thanks again to the 1^st Uitenhage SOE Group for a well organised event.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed the event and are looking to next year’s event.

Christmas Camp With 1^st Uitenhage SOE Cubs

We were once again privileged to camp at Gilsprings with our Uitenhage friends.  The theme for this year was ‘a jungle camp’ which was great fun.  A night hike to the dam, a day hike to the tower, a short walk to the ‘eyes’ to see the water bubbling out of the ground were some of the exciting things that were done.  The weather was extremely hot and all the boys cooled off on “Red Fang’s slippery slide”.  The boys used their skills to make ‘dream catchers’ with beads and feathers, jungle masks, clay jungle animals and even clay puppets.  Part of the entertainment was a jungle puppet show.  Thanks to 1^st Uitenhage SOE for a great camp, a good programme and yummy food.

Farewell

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Gowdin Prince and his family.  They are relocating to a smallholding in Rocklands.  We wish them well with their new venture – pig farming.

Akela