Recap of April 2019 to April 2020 - (Stenton) Scouts

Recap of April 2019 to April 2020
The period of this report saw a real time of change at the 91st with many ups and downs,
before the recent ‘Rona-Coaster’. We have said farewell to Leaders moving on to new
adventures and welcomed new Leaders and adult volunteers. We have camped, hiked, set
stuff on fire, ate more marshmallows than is healthy, we’ve brought Christmas cheer into
our community, embraced our inner geeks, and explored what is important to each of us as
Scouts...but here are the highlights.

Summer term ’19

Saw Beavers embarking on adventures, camping and walking while Cubs and Scouts went ‘ back to
basics’ with fire safety, whittling, and navigation. Scouts began the Pilgrims way and we got as far as
Glenrothes before weather, then pneumonia, then lockdown, made us pause; we are looking
forward to getting it completed some time this decade!

Cubs led their programming to look into environmental issues and the impact of palm
industry…shopping for camp takes much longer now, but the Group has started taking the first steps
towards being eco friendly and sustainable, led by the young people.
Scouts started looking at Social impact, diversity and equality; what it means to be a Scout and what
barriers people face that we should, as Scouts be challenging.
This led the Group to take on the diversity badge, and we were suitably proud to represented at
Scout Pride, again.

Autmn + Winter term ‘19
Cameron moved on to his position in the Dsitrict and we welcomed Emma to the team as an
assistant Beaver Leader, along with some new volunteers to our Parent Exec.
We took time to ‘re-group the group’ working across all sections to focus on old fashioned Scouting
and Scout Skills. Re-grouping was then necessary as we were plagued with injury and illness in the
leadership team, but managed to continue to deliver the programme with Scout Leaders tolerating
Beavers and Cub Leaders boaking at Scouts making armpit fudge!

Winter ‘20
Seems spookily prophetic now, but the Group chose to look at wellbeing, focusing on the mental and
emotional aspects, what it means to be part of a community and how to develop resilience. Going
into Lockdown we were all incredibly grateful for having created that foundation and exercises with
young people we could then refer back to during virtual Scouting sessions.
The activities we did in the New Year were as a whole Group, and one of the highlights of the year
was a whole group hike, with nearly the whole group there. Scouts helping Beavers, Beavers
challenging Leaders and Leaders being invested by their sons and sons being invested in their native
language.
 We even managed to squeeze in a whole group night away before lockdown, with a sleepover at
Innoflate which I think the leaders enjoyed more than the kids did.
One of our final activities for the term was gutting out our hall and every Section was represented,
and again a clear out before everything was locked away was spookily good timing.

Kirsty Strachan SL on behalf of the 91st Scout Group.

Recap of April 2019 to April 2020 – Cub Section
                    Activities, Highlights and Badgework

April ‘19

After the Easter break, all sections were welcomed back with a Group Games Night. Children took
part in fun and co-operative activities, in cross section patrols.

May ‘ 19

Cubs used practical and written tasks to work on their Fire Safety
Badges, and were delighted to explore the fire truck, brought to our
hall, by the Firefighters from Cadham Fire Station.

June ‘19

Children had expressed an interest in current news reports featuring
environmental issues, so a programme was planned for the Global
Issues badge. The children learned about Palm Oil, Deforestation,
Natural Disasters, Survival Essentials, Refugees, Charitable
Organisations and the 17 Global Goals.

Before the children broke off for the summer, they also had a weekend
camp at Wemyss Firs. The camp was delivered with a Goonies Theme,
which caused great excitement.

As well as practising core scouting skills, the children solved puzzles and clues
to unlock treasure chests for their Patrol. As usual, the camp fire singalong was a particular
highlight.

July ‘19

Although regular meetings were paused for the School Holidays, some cubs continued to work on
personal interests to gain badges including Animal Carer Activity Badge and Physical Recreation
Activity Badge.

Aug ‘19

Teamwork and Teamleader skills were practised in a Group Games Night and sessions on trees and
foraging renewed the children’s interest in their local environment.

Some cubs took part in Kip On The Ship, which involved an overnight stay on the Glenlee Tall Ship in
Glasgow.

Sept ‘19

The AGM provided the perfect opportunity to share the children’s achievements with their parents.
A variety of badges and certificates were presented during the meeting, with one Cub achieving the
Chief Scout’s Silver Award!

Navigation skills were also revisited, reinforced and developed across the group with
compass and map based activities.

For the more adventurous amongst the group, an activity night at Fordell Firs was
arranged. Skills in crawling, building, climbing, swinging and archery were all put to
the test in the dark!

Oct ‘ 19

The cubs celebrated Diwali with Rangoli designs and sweet treats. The children
enjoyed learning about this festival, and earned the international Activity Badge.

Back to Basics Camp at Wemyss Firs was chilly but constructive.
This camp covered core skills with a particular focus on pioneering.

Nov ‘ 19

Cubs designed Christmas cards to enter the competition for the Beavers
and Cubs in East Scotland. No competition winners this time, but some
lovely work was produced.

The section also made a start on their Scientist Badges with a programme
delivered by a STEM teacher, who brought in a variety of science activities
for the children to explore.

Dec ‘ 19

The children made Christmas cards and messages and delivered these, along with a
complimentary teabag and biscuit, to the elderly living in the local area.

December also included baking, board games and a movie night!

Jan ‘20

Bush Fires in Australia were a topic for discussion at the start of the year, and a
Problem Solving Games Night challenged the children physically and mentally.

Feb ‘20

The children made lovely decorated Valentine’s boxes and chose sweets to put in
them to take home for a loved one.

Following on from previous sessions about Community Impact, a Community Clean
Up was arranged so that the children (and parents) could work together to clean the
area surrounding the hall. Equipment was provided by the local safer communities
team, and the area was transformed by the helpers in just a few hours.

Mar ‘20

The children planted herbs, vegetables and flowers, in preparation for
transplanting at a later date into a local allotment.

A sleepover at Innoflate in Livingston was a firm favourite with all who
took part. The inflatable theme park was the perfect venue for energetic
but safe fun, with facilities for food and overnight accommodation. The
children couldn’t wait to play Nerf Wars and try out all the inflatable
obstacles and features.

Apr ‘20

Despite the national lockdown due to COVID 19, our group kept our children busy with story telling,
recipes and live sessions on Facebook. Posts from the Scout leader supported children working on
their Naturalist Badge from home, and parents were pleased to encourage their children to work on
their Home Help Badges.

Those who missed out on summer camps, because of cancellations during
lockdown, were encouraged to take part in the Homeboree hosted by Rosyth
Scouts. An amazing programme was delivered through Facebook and
YouTube so that the children could experience a home-based camp, while still
feeling part of a Scouting event.

Recap of April 2019 to April 2020 – Scouts Section
                                           Highlights

Sept 2019

Scouts completed the third stage of the Pilgrims Way, Lochore to Glenrothes. By this stage they had
really developed their pace and had great instincts, like bringing an extra Tea for me!
We kept working on navigation skills and foraging, identifying which Leaders were old and which
trees were alder; yes we can now ALL identify Alder trees.
September also saw us joining with Cubs for an evening’s activities at Fordell, including archery in
the dark (pretty sure our new Risk Assessments wouldn’t cover that).

Oct 2019
Back to Basics camp saw us breaking in our new tents (should that be mudding in?) each one with its
own name thanks to Scout section. Scouts did a great job of passing on skills to Cubs, and generally
having fun exploring, fire-lighting, cooking and playing in the woods over a damp muddy weekend.

Nov 2019
I’m not sure if it was the damp camp in October, but I didn’t see Scouts again till the end of
November. But I know they joined in with Cub programmes and helped out and were shining
examples…well until I came back and then we made armpit fudge which even made me a little
queasy.

Dec 2019
Always goes by in the blink of an eye, but in amongst the games and badgework we wrote cards and
delivered them to local community. This is the second year we did this and many local residents
were commenting that they had been wondering if we would be out again and delighted in seeing
high viz Christmas ninjas running in and oot of gardens.
As always our Christmas finishes with a whole Group Movie night; this is where Kim excels with
sweeties and snacks and the bestest movies to get us all in the seasonal spirit.

Jan 2020
The whole Group hike was amazing! Bitter cold, windy and dreich, what better way to start the
session? Scouts, as always, did me proud, buddying up with younger sections, encouraging, carrying

bags for Beavers and cheering on those for whom the last few steps were filled with tears. And a
first for the Group, District and I think Scottish Scouting, a Scout was invested entirely in Gaelic,
definitely a highlight of my entire time in Scouting.

Feb 2020
As part of the ambitious year we had planned the next step was gutting the hall, cupboards and
attics. And gut we did. Scout section were there in force doing all the manky jobs and disposing of
deid mice in the loft. It was a long tiring day but really brought all Sections, Exec and families
together and we organised all ready for our first camp in April…

March 2020
Innoflate was not my idea, it was Cub shenanigans that we got dragged into and I’m oh so glad we
did. As a reward for their hard work at the Community Clean up kids got to spend the night at
Innoflate in Livingston getting sole use of the place, with nerf gun fights, pizza, bouncy stuff, movies,
and no sleep till Sunday…the kids had an absolute ball. Thank you Chikela for the shenanigans.

April -June 2020
Well, that was interesting! We adapted, we did cake mugs, we did Pictionary, we did map reading,
we did Scottish mythology and clans. We took part in the Homeboree with Rosyth District, the Big
Weekend and Blair Everywhere. We identified plants and grew things and shared walks and finds
from our daily outings. Parents really seemed to relish the opportunity to get Scouts helping out
round the house for ‘badge work’…it did earn badges…honest.
We learnt to communicate in a different way and some found it easier than others, but we kept
looking out for each other in the toughest of circumstances and that is what Scouting is all about.

August 2020
Possibly the happiest I’ve ever been at a Scout event, when we finally got back together to play
games, and just see each other. No fancy badges or program, a field, a football, some hula hoops
and a bunch of kids with neckies, bliss.

Moving forward just now isn’t easy, there are a lot of ‘unknowns’ that change almost weekly.
Despite that we are gently, carefully moving forward. We have plans for volunteering/badge days
with both Silverburn Park and Fife Zoo, which will hopefully lead to opportunities for younger
Sections in the future. We will be getting back on the Pilgrims Way soon. And whatever other
shenanigans Scouts come up with.
Every year I say that this group of kids is the best group I’ve ever had to work with; I may have been
wrong in previous years.
Skip

Recap of April 2019 to April 2020 – Beaver Section
                                            Highlights

April 2019
Beavers had a joint session with the 50th woodside doing sport and fitness badge work. (Badge achieved
by those who where with us at the time.)

May 2019
We attended the Damboree at Fordell Firs that was organised by the 50th leader at the time Ian
Montgomary, very well planned out weekend. Beavers managed to gain an unexpected badge. Sub Zero
as it reached -2 through the night. Through doing this the beavers got their Damboree Badge as well as
their nights away challenge badge.
We had a joint walk with 50th beaver group at Loch Leven we walked from Burleigh Sands to Kirkgate
and then back to Burleigh Sands.

June 2019
Beavers/cub section joined other beaver/cub sections from the district to have a cinema trip to watch
Toy Story 4, while I joined leaders from all over Scotland to join in on the annual Gay Pride March in
Edinburgh.
We joined Cubs and Scouts of 91st on a Goonies Themed Camp. This was organised by Kirsty, 91st Scout
Leader. In which they have received their nights away badge.

July 2019
We had a Viking themed camp in which they earned their creative badge and camp craft badge. This was
also done with beavers from the 50th woodside and 23rd Leven. We had a Viking historian join us and
done some activities with the beavers.

August 2019
We joined 23rd Leven and 50th Woodside beaver groups on a district night away on the Clyde in
Glasgow on the tall ship. The following morning, we visited the Riverside Transport Museum

October 2019
We were invited to join the district cub cinema trip to the Kino Glenrothes to watch frozen 2.

November 2019
We finished of our experiment badge by making dry slime and we also finished of our creative badge by
designing and carving our own pumpkins which were then placed around the wooded area out side our
building to help feed squirrels throughout the winter months.

January 2020
We participated in a group hike from Loch Leven Larder to Loch Leven House and back again. This was
organised by Kirsty 91st scout leader. This contributed to hikes staged badge.

February 2020
We participated in the community clean-up of the building and area around the building. There was a
massive turn out of parents/guardians/carers to help with the clean-up. This also contributed to their
community impact badge

March 2020

We joined scouts and cubs sections in a group night away to innoflate this was organised by Dawn 91st
cub leader
We officially got the word that there will be no face to face meetings for the foreseeable future because
of the Covid-19 outbreak. We however have been doing live sessions on Facebook and setting
challenges for members to do at home.

June 2020

Commencement of Scottish Thistle Badge work with a virtual tour of Edinburgh Castle

July 2020
Continuation of Scottish Thistle Badge with learning about family tartan, family crests and Scottish
mythical creatures. Designing our own crest and tartan and to explain why you chose the colors you did.

91st Scout Group AGM 19/20
Leadership Team Report

I know you will of all read the sectional reports and the Chairperson’s reports and seen all
the pictures, but as you all know I’m never one to miss an opportunity to blether or to sing
the praises of the Leaders in the 91st.

As most of you know I took unwell last October and developed pneumonia; before I knew
what had happened the Leadership team had stepped in, re-arranged Sections and activities
and spoken with parents and, because they knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away totally, put
me on tea duty while they ran the ship. I frequently talk about the Scouting Family, but I
have rarely felt it so acutely as I did then and I would like to thank all the Leaders, Kids and
Parents for all they did during that time to help me and the Group.

In the early spring, we worked across all Sections on mental wellbeing and building
resilience, I don’t think a progam has ever been better timed, and I hope the Kids were able
to recall some of this during lockdown.
Much has already been said about the Leaders’ efforts to carry on during lockdown. Every
adult now knows what the ‘rona-coaster’ feels like, and how some days, for no particular
reason, are like wading through treacle. Those days were the days that these Leaders,
forced on smiles, battled with technology, struggled to support parents logging on, tried not
to swear at the wifi and ‘Did their Best’. All the other days, they thought about how to adapt
programs, how to engage kids, how to reach out to parents, and worried about that one kid
in their Section they knew would find Lockdown most difficult. And then in the blink of an
eye they have written risk assessments, changed venues, adapted programs again,
completed training and prepared to deliver Scouting again in what feels like a constantly
changing environment.
This group of Leaders have lived their Promise every day and somehow, with no real break,
they are continuing to look to the future and plan for the 91st’s newest adventures.
They are a credit to the 91st and to Scottish Scouting.

Trustees Annual Report 2019 – 2020
1st June 2020

Charity Name:             91st Fife Scout Group (Glenrothes) Stenton

Charity Number:           SC021858

Principal Contact:        Karen van Zon (Treasurer)
                          3 Braid Drive, Glenrothes, FIFE, KY7 4ES

Charity Trustees:         Andrew Strachan (Chair)
                          Karen van Zon (Treasurer)
                          Jacqui Mackay and Maureen Milne (Secretary)

Governing Document:       Constitution

Trustee Recruitment
and Appointment :         Following Scout Appointments Process. Volunteers can
                          apply or can be invited/encouraged by existing Members.

Appointment:
Charitable Purposes:      The Purpose of Scouting
                          The purpose of Scouting is to promote the development of young
                          people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social, and
                          spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as
                          members of their local, national, and international communities.

Summary of the main
activities and            The Scout Method
achievements:             The Scout Method provides an enjoyable and attractive scheme of
                          progressive training, based on the Scout Promise and Law, which is
                          guided by adult leadership.
                          For details of 2019-2020 activities, see the attached Section reports.

Policy on Reserves:       See Reserves Policy 2020 document

Details of any deficit:   -£3001.84.
                          We began a planned programme of equipment renewal during 2019-
                          2020, including £2500 on tent renewal & £500 on camping and
                          safety sundries such as multiple First Aid kits. This was from the
                          surplus created when we sold shop stock during 2018-2019.
                          We also subsidised a “treat” trip to Innoflate in February for the
                          whole Group. Our 2020 plans to fundraise (afternoon tea, hoodies)
                          have been postponed because of Covid-19.

Donated Services and
Facilities:               N/A unless you count volunteer time!

Signed:
Role:
Date: