Blair Atholl 2010

Following on from our 4 Scouts and Explorers who have been selected for the Sweden Jamboree in 2011, we are delighted to announce that 4 of our Group have been selected for the Blair Atholl Jamborette in 2010. This event has attracted Scouts from more than 50 countries to Scotland every 2 years since 1946. Congratulations to Lloyd, Niall, Jack and Ewan on being selected for the event. Lloyd and Niall are also going to the the larger Swedish Jamboree next year.

Happy New Year 2010!!!

And Welcome back for the new term. Below are the dates each of our sections are starting back. Looking forward to seeing you then.

Beavers (Wemyss Bay): Thursday 7th Jan

Cubs (Inverkip): Wednesday 13th Jan 6pm

Cubs (Wemyss Bay): Thursday 7th Jan

Scouts (Inverkip): Wednesday 6th Jan 7pm

Sweden Jamboree 2011

We are delighted to announce that no less than 4 members of the 85th - 2 scouts and 2 of our Explorers - have been selected to join the West Region contingent for the World Jamboree in Sweden in 2011. It is a big honour for so many members from our Group to be selected given the tight competition for places, and a reflection on the calibre of the boys involved. Well done to each of Callum, Lloyd, Andrew and Niall who we are told by the selectors have been a credit to the 85th.

Callum and Lloyd were part of our Scottish National Explorer Competition winning team this year and have both had a strong personal influence in the success of our Explorer unit in its early years. Andrew and Niall are Patrol Leaders in our Wemyss Bay and Inverkip

troops and rarely miss a chance to get in on the action. Andrew not only helps in our Cub sections, but also helps at Cubs in Rothesay as well.

Scouts Global Challenge - Russia

As our Scouts in both Inverkip and Wemyss Bay know, we have been linking up with some Scout troops in Chelyabinsk in Russia for our Global Challenge badge. So far we have compiled a list of questions for the Russians to answer, and we have also submitted a list of questions about the UK which we want them to find out about. Ultimately we plan to present to each other what we have learned about one another.

The next stage for us is to research the questions we are to find out about Russia. These questions can be found here. Each scout who wants to earn their Global Challenge should choose 3 questions (or more if you like) at random and mail in their answer (send to andy.yarr@virgin.net). Provide pictures if you can for the presentation. We'll pick the best answers. All answers should be submitted by Friday 8th January. Some of the questions may not be perfect grammar, but the meaning is clear enough. Remember our Russian friends speak English a lot better than you can speak Russian.

Glenkin 2009

Now that the Glenkin farmhouse and barn in Dunoon are open once more, we were delighted to be able to return with the Scouts and Explorers for their Christmas camp this year.

The Scouts worked on the Navigator badge as well as their Outdoor and Outdoor Plus badges over the weekend, learning mapping symbols and navigating around the area before returning to cook their own evening meals on stoves.

Well done to everyone who survived the quiz (pictured left) and it's penalties. Congratulations to the winners of the Chicken Shoot.

Unfortunately the Red Bull Race had to be canceled at short notice due

to the racing plane involved flying away over the treetops into the forests of Dunoon. We'll see if we can bring that activity back for a future camp after a bit more pilot practice.

Thanks to our new up and coming leaders Jordan, Mark, Alan and Graeme who helped run the camp. We hope to see more of them in the future.

Pictures of the camp can be found here, and a short video can be found here.

Note. We have noticed we are getting visitors to the website who are actually searching for Glenkin with a view to making a booking. To help those visitors we can confirm that, as of March 2009, Glenkin has been open for business again under a new partnership agreement, and bookings can be made as before via Scott Bryson at BrysonSM@aol.com

This year's Armistice day parade was held on Sunday the 8th of November. A total of 100 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers came to this event. Everyone met at the church hall along with the Guides and councillors before parading into Inverkip Church. The parade went into the church for one hour where they took part in the service, sang hymns, heard bible readings and heard about people that had died during the two world wars. They then marched to the Centotaph at Inverkip beach where another short service was held and the wreaths were laid.

Thanks to all Group members and their parents for such a smart and well behaved turnout once again.

Mark Muir Challenge

Congratulations to all Explorers who took part in - and completed - this years first Mark Muir Challenge.

This challenge badge and competition has been organised by the 85th and leaders from the 32nd in tribute to our friend Mark Muir who would have been thoroughly embarassed to see his name on a badge.

This competition weekend was without a doubt one of the most demanding challenges to be laid down to the Explorers of Greenock & District in recent years. You can be sure that anyone you see wearing the badge has earned the right to be proud of it. Those who earned it climbed 4 mountains in the Arrochar Alps on the Saturday and camped out on those mountains before returning to complete a series of rafting challenges in the Daff Dam on the Sunday. Thanks to Karen, and the rest of Mark's family and friends who joined us during the weekend and presented the first badges and trophy. Photos are available here.

Tesco Bag Packing

Well done to everryone who worked at the Bag Packing event at Tesco. We managed to raise a total of £1555 towards our funds.

With the recent costs of installing electricity at the bothy, buying new expedition hike tents and these funds allow us to continue upgrading our equipment and subsidising activities over the coming months.

Dates For the New Term

The new term is almost upon us. Below are the dates for starting back up again.

Beavers & Cubs Enrolment Day (Inverkip only): Friday 11th Church Hall

Beavers (Inverkip): Friday 18th Sep. 5.45pm

Beavers (Wemyss Bay): Thursday 17th Sep.

Cubs (Inverkip): Wednesday 16th Sep. 6pm

Cubs (Wemyss Bay): Thursday 17th Sep.

Scouts (Inverkip): Wednesday 9th Sep. 7pm

Scouts (Wemyss Bay): Friday 11th Sep. 7pm

Minibus Expedition 2009

We are delighted to make available all the photos and a few videos from this year's Scout and Explorer Scout Minibus Expedition. 22 Scouts and Leaders travelled around the country from Arrochar to Aviemore camping wild and playing hard for a week. We camped at Butterbridge, Victoria Bridge, Glen Etive, Steall Falls, Ben Nevis and the Badaguish centre in Aviemore. We walked up The Cobbler, Buchaille Etive Mor and Ben Nevis. We kayaked on Loch Lomond and went boating there too. We saw the wallabies there. We golfed in Fort William and took a swim as well. We visited the Landmark Centre and tried out clay pigeon shooting. Well done to everyone for managing to complete a full week of scouting at its toughest!!!

Wow! 3 in a Row!

No pressure on the Scout secton, but the Explorers have just put the icing on the cake by completing the hat trick of trophies, After a fantastic effort of timed hiking and competing in challenges in Inverkip and the surrounding area, they have won this year's Scottish National Explorer Competition! This follows both the Beavers and the Cub sections each winning their District competitions the previous weekend.
The Explorer patrol fought off stiff competition from Units from as near as Greenock, to as far afield as Hawick, Edinburgh, Inverness, and Banff and Buchan to secure the trophy. They have been congratulated by staff at the event on their determination and their exceptionally strong teamwork. This is the first time the National competition has been based at Everton and the success of the event should put the District in good stead for hosting similar events in the future. Congratulations to all involved, and we hope the sleeping bags you each got along with your trophy keep you warm in the years to come. Photos are now available here.

Cubs Secure the Gordon Kerr Trophy

We are delighted to announce that the Cubs have won the Gordon Kerr Trophy this year. The Cubs had a great time with activities including a Battle Bar, a bouncy castle and Sumo Wrestling. The trophy has special significance to the 85th as Gordon Kerr was a life long Scout with the 85th, being responsible for keeping our history safe by writing many of our Troop's diaries through the late 40's before becoming Cub Scout Master in the 50's and growing the cubs for more years than most of us can remember. His wife Mary will be especially pleased we have won the trophy. More photos can be found at the District web site here.

Beavers Win District Beaver Day
























Congratulations to our Beavers who have won Greenock & District's Jean King Trophy this year. The Beavers had a great day competing with 300 Beavers from around the District. They tried their hand at climbing on Jacob's ladder, Sumo Wrestling, Skittles, Snakes and Ladders, crate climbing, parachute games, fishing, and lots lots more. They even found time to learn some new songs at a fun campfire. The winning team is pictured showing off their trophy. You can find more photos of the event at the District web site here. Thanks to all parents and Beavers who took part in a great day out.




Annual District Parade

Well done to everyone who turned out so smartly for the sunniest Parade this District has seen for many a year. This year not only saw our new Wemyss Bay Scout Section take part for the first time, but it also saw our Cubs wearing their new kilts for the first time, and our Explorers show off their new ceremonial flag as well. This year's parade was held in Gourock to join in the 6th G&D (1st Gourock's) centenary celebrations. Congratulations to everyone at Col Darroch's Own - thriving as strong as ever at 100 years young.
Shirley our Group Scout Leader would like to thank every Beaver, Cub, Scout, Explorer and Leader for joining the parade on such a glorious afternoon, and not forgetting every parent, brother, sister, cousin, auntie, uncle and grandparent for lining the streets as we marched past.
We've posted some photos on the usual site here.