85th Greenock & District Scout Group

(Inverkip & Wemyss Bay)
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85th Greenock & District Scout Group
Our site is designed to give you all the information you need about what's going on in the Unit, Troop, Pack or Colony. For more information on your specific Section, click on the link above.
 
If you want to see some old photos of the Group in action, you're sure to find some here as well.

Latest News

 

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.

Lost Property
We've updated our lost property list here to include items from Group Camp. Please check this list as soon as possible and claim your items from your leader or direct from Andy Yarr. All unclaimed items will be disposed of or recycled after 4 weeks.





Group Camp 09

Phew! What a weekend! Did anyone spot the rain let up once on Saturday? It's a real shame we had to call off events for the younger sections, the weather was just too persistent. Even so, we did manage to get some great photos of the older sections as they persevered against the weather. It's great what you can do with a torch and a slow exposure camera. Well done to all who managed to survive a tough camp. You can look forward to the Itchy Midgie camp and hopefully a much drier weekend.


As usual we have posted lots of photos and made them available here. You can order prints, etc. from this site. We can recommend the poster size photos for your bedroom - these turn out quite sharp. If you try to order an enlarged print but the original isn't high enough resolution, the site will warn you. The Scout Group don't make any money out of this, but every time someone places an order we are given more storage space to upload more photos. There's some videos here as well!
  


Group Camp Directions
 
Need to know how to get to Everton Campsite for Group Camp?
There is now only one way to get there as the path via Ardgowan View has now been fenced off. This map shows you how to get there starting from Inverkip Primary School and walking South East up through Finnockbog Rd and then through the 3 gates marked. You should leave 20-30mins to walk the route.
Note that we expect the single track to become very conjested, so we request parents to drop their children at the school, or at Gate 2 on the map. Don't attempt to take a car passed gate 3 as you will have difficulty getting turned and will have to wait a long time before you can drive back down again. Click here to enlarge the map..
 
Kayaking
















A group of our Explorers tried out kayaking for the first time last weekend off Inverkip beach. The boys braved the cold wind to practise their strokes as they paddled around the bay. They even found time to spend learning how to capsize and trying out rescue techniques on each other. If you're in the Scouts and you want a go yourself, watch out out for more chances to try it out including a session during this year's Minibus Expedition.

IT Badge
 
On the 18th of April 2009, 6 scouts took part in a 6 hour course to complete and gain stage 3 of their IT Badge.
The course took place at The Inverkip Pavilion. During the course, they covered photo editing, photo optomisation effects, how to become administrators of the troop website and lots lots more.
Website editing included making sure that absolutely every single article looked pretty much the same with the same layout.They all did exceptionally well in completing their course.  Well done to all of the scouts that took part as they all gained their IT badge.

 

 

Burns Supper Camp

Want to see the pictures and videos from the Burns Supper camp? You can find them right here for the photos and here for the videos. Well done to everyone who took part. Hopefully you've dried out from the river run, your nerves have settled from Jacob's ladder, your ego's recovered from being water-ballooned, your appetite's come back after your feast and you've had a sound night's sleep after your bivvying. As always parents can order prints of the photo's from photobox. We don't get any payment for this,

 

 

but we do get increased storage space for more photos every time someone places an order.

Want some more camps? The next large scale camp is Group Camp at Everton on 9th May. Watch this space for details! 

ps. Apologies to the faint hearted for the last photo in the photobox album. I can only assure you that it's not how it looks. We hope.

 

Car Stickers

Over the next week everyone should recieve one of our new 85th Car Stickers. This is your chance to WIN one of special prizes. Over the next few weeks our trained spotters will be recording the registration numbers of cars displaying the stickers in their rear windows. If we identify your car's registration plate you could win one of the prizes of the week. You can ask for a sticker for your 2nd family car if you like. There's a bonus prize if you're the first person to name 7 of the people you can see in the sticker. Hint: The answer's closer than you might think.

Winners:

Congratulations to the below car registrations. You have been spotted. Please claim your prize from your leader. This list is updated weekly.

KY55 XNE

SC53 RNO

KV04 KMA

GN51 WWA

SE07 SPU

NV05 WMU

SH54 MSZ

KL53 DZG

SH52 YMR

SA05 UNL

SO54 AEJ

SF05 GAX

 

Christmas Hillwalking Weekend

Congratulations to everyone who took part in our Christmas Hillwalking trip this year. 3 parties spent 2 days on the hills around Crianlarich Youth Hostel including Ben Vorlich, Beinn Odhar and Stob Choire an Odhair. Here's a couple of the first photos to arrive (anyone with any more please mail them to Andy Yarr for uploading). You can visit the full gallery of photos here. There's some video clips of playing on the ice here.

For those who prefer their activities a little less cold and not so hilly, remember we have the pioneering weekend at Everton on 10th Jan. This is a camp which the Explorers are orgsanising for the Scouts. We have Everton Lodge booked for the night. The camp will count towards your Nights Away badge, your Zodiac Challenge and yor pioneering badge. Details are below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






Pioneering Badge Everton Weekend

The Explorers are organising a weekend camp at Everton to work on and hopefully gain the Pioneering Badge. They're doing this as part of their Young Leaders Award and have booked Everton Lodge to save us havign to get cold under canvas for thre weekend. All those wanting to come please return your form to Andy Yarr or Callum Scott by 31st Dec.

 

 

 

Winter Wonderland

 

 

We usually expect the weather in this country to be unpredictable and foul, but our recent trip hillwalking showed Scotland at it's spectacular best!

Two hillwalking parties - one of Scouts and the other of Explorers set off up The Cobbler and Ben Narnain with the promise of a fine day ahead of them and that's exactly what they got. The snow line was low following the recent snowy weather we have had and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. Those clouds they did see were lingering as a mist filling the glens below. Off the footpath, the snow was knee deep powder - another rarity. The Scouts got to practice wearing crampons although the snow wasn't suitable for practising ice axes yet. There'll be plenty of time for that over the coming winter if the snow keeps up. To see some of the photos (you don't want to miss these!) visit our photobox album. Feel free to order prints - or even poster-size prints which cost around £10 and are good quality. We are allocated more photo space whenever someone makes a purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gang Show Success

 

 

Congratulations to everyone who took part in or helped at this year's Gang Show. The show was a complete sellout for every performance from Tuesday through to the two performances on Saturday and dignitaries ranging from the Queen's Lord Lieutenant in Scotland to the Lord Provost and the Chief Commissioner for Scottish Scouts visited back stage to heap praise on the cast. The picture shows the 22 older members of the 85th who took part either in the cast or back stage. Thanks also to our 4 cub cast members who aren't pictured here because they were dragged off to their beds before we got the camera out.

 

 

 

Kayaking

 

 

We are delighted to announce that Andy and Alan have now renewed their Kayaking authorisations. This means we will be able to take parties kayaking again on lochs around Scotland as the warmer weather returns next spring. Look out for our new kayaking badge courses when the time comes.

 

 

 

Glasgow Climbing Centre

 

The Scouts are heading to the Glasgow Climbing Centre in Ibrox for an evening of climbing on the indoor climbing walls. This counts towards your Climbers badge as well as yourAdventure Challenge. Fill in a form and return it as soon as possible if you want to come along.

 

 

 

Hillwalking in Loch Lomond

 

The Scouts have arranged another hillwalking trip on Sunday 30th November. We will leave early on the Saturday morning (7am) and return mid-late evening on the Sunday depending on weather. The trip is designed to let Scouts of all ages try out hillwalking and allow us to look forward to more hillwalking in the New Year. Please make sure Scouts have good boots and waterproofs. Print out a permission form here.

Ps. Don't worry, you won't be climbing as high as Carrie - it just seemed like a good excuse to post the picture again.

 

Gang Show 2008

 

The Gang Show rehearsals are going strong and this years show - marking 100 years of Gang Shows - promises to be a vintage performance. We have booked most of the Arts Guild balcony for the Group for the Friday night and are looking forward to a great night of entertainment. Please meet at the Arts Guild Theatre at 7pm sharp on Friday 28th November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


Fundraiser for Mark's Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Explorer's spent the weekend early in October distributing programmes at Kip Marina's annual Boat Show to raise unit funds and to set up a new fund in support of an annual event in tribute to Mark Muir, our friend and young leader who died recently. Ideas for the event are being discussed, but given that Mark was a 'Double Everest' holder - meaning he climbed twice the height of Everest on Scottish mountains within the course of a year - front runners include a hillwalking challenge.

 

 

 

Hillwalking

We've started our programme of hillwalking for the next year with a couple of training walks around the Arrochar Alps. We're aiming towards giving scouts of all ages a taste of winter hillwalking by visiting a lower snow slope during the winter, and a full mountain for older Scouts. This means we need to practise now as the wet and windy weather is a great taster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Wemyss Bay Troop

If you've come to find out about the new Wemyss Bay Scout Troop, then welcome!

On this site you will find information about our other sections in Wemyss Bay and Inverkip. We already have Beavers and Cubs in Wemyss Bay, and Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorer Scouts in Inverkip. Have a browse around the Group History, each sections' own areas, the archives and the various photo galleries. Or visit the New Scouts section within the Scouts area for more detailed detailed info.

 

If you're interested in our other sections, visit the About Us page where you're find information on the age ranges, or our Contact Us page where your very welcome to contact out leaders with questions.

 

 

Dates for the New Session

The new session is nearly on us, so these are the dates each section will start back.

Beavers (Inverkip): Friday 12th Sep 5.45pm - 6.45pm

Beavers (Wemyss Bay): Thursday 18th Sep 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Cubs (Inverkip): Friday 12th Sep 6pm - 7.30pm

Cubs (Wemyss Bay): Thursday 18th Sep 7.15pm - 8.30pm

Scouts (Inverkip): Wednesday 10th Sep 7pm - 9.30pm

Scouts (Wemyss Bay): Friday 19th Sep 7pm - 9pm

Explorers (Inverkip): Wednesday 10th Sep 7pm - 9.30pm

 

In the meantime, we wish the best of luck to our Scout Patrols who are entering the Hardie Webster competition this year. They've already started training and should have a great experience at the competition the weekend before we all start back.

 

Great Tower '08

What a week. Well done to all 15 Scouts and 5 Explorers who took part in this year's Summer Camp to Great Tower on Lake Windermere in the Lake District. Not one complained about the rain as they cooked their meals on their own fires for the week and took part in actvities ranging from Caving and Climbing to Mountain Biking and Hillwalking. With an average age of less than 11½, all campers performed fantastically well throughout. Photos are available here for you to download or order prints.

 

 

Austria '08
Four of our Explorers have just returned from the Greenock District trip to Austria. Over 50 Scouts and Explorers from around the District travelled by coach to Austria at the start of July to stay in the idillic Alpine village of Stanzach in the Lecht Valley. They enjoyed Hillwalking, White Water Rafting, Canyonning, Castles and much more. Thanks to David Storey, Mark Sinnamon and team for organising the trip. Check the District website here for a gallery of photos or here for Callum's photos.
 
ps. 3 of them got dropped off at our own summer camp at Great Tower on the journey back. Now that's dedication!
 
pps. Good luck to Darren Percival who will complete the Hat Trick by joining the International Jamborette at Blair Atholl next week.
 
 
 
Parachuting - Again?
Here we go again! Not content with jumping out of an aeroplane from 10,000ft strapped to an instructor (March), the explorers have decided to return to try a solo jump or 2. Th enew visit will be on the weekend of 13th/14th September. Any explorer aged 16 or over and under 14st should return their form by end June.
 
Laser Station
Scouts and Explorers are ending the session with a zap at Laser Station in Xscape Braehead on 25th June. Boys should return their permission form on Wednesday 18th.
The places are limited so they'll be allocated o na first-come first served basis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fishing
7th June 2008 - the Unit has spent a great weekend at Portencross beach and Pier near Seamill demonstrating their fishing skills to the local wildlife. At the end of the weekend a total of 4 mackerel had been caught and barbequed. Some photos can be found here using the password fishing.

 

Caving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are delighted to announce that Scout Leader Alan Fielding has gained his Caving Instructor certification after an assessment with a national coach in Lancashire last week. Alan and caving and climbing partner Gary were able to apply their day jobs as rope access technicians and their years of experience leading in Britain's toughest caving systems to gain the certification. Caving has always been a big hit with 85th scouts in the past and we look forward to opening the experience to more of today's Scouts and Explorers.

 

 

Group Camp Everton

The leaders would like to say thankyou to all 100 campers from the 85th who contributed to such a fantastic Group Camp at Everton for making the weekend such great fun. This was the first ever of what we will make an annual event. Everyone showed great enthusiasm for all the games and activities including the slimy slide, the sumo wresting, the boxing, the earthball, Jacob's Ladder, bivouac building and lots more. We had the biggest and grandest water ballooon fight ever seen at Everton, and managed to cook all sorts of concoctions in our backwoods cooking. And for once the weather smiled on us all. It really was a great weekend.

There are loads fo photos available - too many to load onto this website, so as an experiment, we are publishing all the photos on a specialist site. You can browse the photos fairly easily here, (when asked for a password give groupcamp) and hopefully find a photo or 2 with your child in it. Try out the slide show as an easy way to run through the photos, but give it some time to get started. You can even order some prints from the site providers.

 

Parachuting

Three Explorer’s from our Ardgowan Explorer Unit have successfully completed parachute jumps last week. Jordan, Graeme and Mark each jumped tandem from 10’000ft and enjoyed a 30 second free fall before their chutes were deployed. The boys had pitched their tents and camped out on the airfield and waited all weekend for a break in the weather before finally completing their jumps between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday evening. They’re now planning a return trip in August which may even see them earning their Parachutist badges. Anyone who would like to join them (including parents or other family over 16yrs and under 14st) should contact Andy Yarr using the details in Contact Us. More pictures and videos are available in the Explorer Gallery.

 

Auchengillan

Well done to the 25 Scouts and Explorers who braved the weather in our weekend Orienteering camp at Auchengillan. The camp doubled as a Patrol Training Camp and boys have learned some new camping skills in preparation for Summer Camp in Great Tower as well as completing the 2nd of 3 Orienteering events towards the Orienteers badge. Look out for more camps and orienteering events in the comng weeks. There are a few pictures in the Scout Gallery.

 

 

 

 

  

Rather not see your Picture on the Site?

Your privacy is important, so we won't use your full name on this site and won't identify you in any pictures. If you prefer your picture not to appear, tell your leader or use the Contact Us form to let us know.

 
Announcements
 
IT Badge
These pages can be edited by scouts who want to contribute to a website as part of their IT Badge. Get an admin account from your leader. Important! Read these guidelines before you start. Find out more about the IT badge here
 
Looking for Everton Scout Camp?
Everton Scout Camp near Inverkip is run by Greenock District Scouts. Bookings and enquiries should be directed to Carol McCallum 01475 522 531 or by emailing her at DavidCarolMcCallum@talktalk.net .
 
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