Local news and views for the Pencaitland and surrounding community
After the Christmas break kids of both cub & beaver packs returned to their regular Thursday evening activities… with just one exception; a new venue.
After the Christmas break the kids of both cub & beaver packs returned to their regular Thursday evening activities… with just one exception; a new venue.
Following a year using Trevelyan Hall, the scouts have now moved to Pencaitland Primary School’s gym hall.
Are you interested in having your child join the fun or even helping out yourself? Fill out the form below to join the Scouts in Pencaitland or, if you have problems viewing it, just click here.
Since October 2012 Pencaitland has seen the return of both Cub and Beaver Scouts. Now plans are being made to launch Scouts for older kids.
Since October 2012 Pencaitland has seen the return of both Cub and Beaver Scouts. Now plans are being made to launch Scouts for older kids.
The Scout Troop forms the senior section of Scout Groups. Since 2003 it has been open to ten and a half to 14 year olds. This Troop is the longest running section within the UK organisation, although it was originally termed the Scout Patrol when the movement started back in 1907.
Local organiser Ken McNight is keen to talk to any parents or other adult helpers willing or able to spare their time, however limited, to help bring this next stage of the Scouting movement back to the village.
A meeting is planned for the 11th of December in the Winton Arms at 8pm in order to recruit a team of people keen to make this happen. It’s only through volunteers that have helped out to date that we already enjoy both Cubs and Beavers Scouts. Now it’s your chance to get all three local Scout sections based back in Pencaitland.
Please come along on the 11th and help make this next step a reality. Don’t assume that someone else will step up and make it happen. Sadly that’s what contributed to the previous demise of Scouts in Pencaitland over ten years ago. Everyone who wants to help is very welcome and very much needed, and the more that help the easier it is and the less each person will need to do individually.
If you can’t make it to the meeting on the 11th please contact Ken directly on his email at kenneth@commsworld.com.
Ian Archer was kind enough to bring along some of his white-coated colleagues to last night’s Halloween Cubs night in Trevelyan Hall, treating the kids to practical hands-on experiments and a small fireworks display.
Ian Archer was kind enough to bring along some of his lab-coated colleagues from Ingenza to last night’s Halloween Cubs night in Trevelyan Hall, treating the kids to practical hands-on experiments and a small fireworks display.
There were also prizes for the best pumpkin designs.
If you don’t see the photos below you can view them here.
Pencaitland Scouts have been through exciting times with many new kids & volunteers since being revived in 2012. Can you help build on this great start?
Pencaitland Scout Group has been through a very exciting period with increasing numbers of children and adult volunteers since being revived in 2012.
The search is now on for a new GSL. Since the scouts returned to the village it’s become clear that there are some amazing people within and outside the Group and the Scout movement is keen to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to nominate people they feel could take on this role and make that crucial difference.
You are being invited to contribute to this search by submitting a nomination, (or nominations), of persons, including yourself, who you feel should be considered for this important and rewarding role.
As well as considering those for nomination the Scouting movement is asking you to share this information with your contacts and encourage them to nominate candidates for this role.
Self nominations are actively encouraged and expected. If you believe you can bring the right skills and expertise to the role and you are enthusiastic and motivated then why not nominate yourself? If you don’t, and are not nominated by someone else, you may miss out.
To nominate others or yourself please complete this Nomination Form and either post or email it to Scott Burton. You can also contact Scott Burton, Local Development Officer for South East Scotland Scouts, or Liz Wilson, District Commissioner for East Lothian Scout District, to have an informal chat about the role and what it entails.
It does not matter if the individual you want to nominate is new to Scouting. Scouting has a comprehensive adult training scheme which can provide training and support for anyone new to the role, enabling the individual to develop. What is important is for them to bring the leadership and skills that will continue to move the Pencaitland Scout Group from strength to strength.
In the role of GSL you can make a real difference to local young people by working with a team of like-minded volunteers to deliver Scouting. You will be responsible for ensuring each adult has what they need to be confident in their role, whilst being able to fit the role around your availability – you don’t need to be down at the Group every week nor do any direct youth work! To get you up to speed you will have access to training relevant to the role and will receive an induction, as well as on-going support from the team at Scouts Scotland.
The postal address for nominations is:
Scott Burton
South East Scotland Scouts
15 Valleyfield Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9LP
The search will close on 29th November 2013 so please ensure your nomination is in in good time.
Nominations will be reviewed by the search team and a shortlist drawn up for interview. If you are unsure or would like a non-committal chat about the role, or any nominations you wish to make, then please do contact either Scott or Liz to discuss further.
It was touch & go but in the end the Sun shone down on Pencaitland’s army of litter pickers who scoured the streets & pathways for a record rubbish haul.
It was touch & go but in the end the Sun shone down on Pencaitland’s army of litter pickers who scoured the streets & pathways for a record rubbish haul.
The Community Council would like to say a huge thank you to all those who took part in today’s event. In addition to the usual well-trodden routes, with such a good turnout we were able to cover far more ground which resulted in a significant increase in the amount finally collected. It’s estimated that the volume of litter bagged is around double the amount retrieved at last year’s event.
Many thanks also to Pencaitland Primary for putting together some fantastic posters publicising the event.
Amongst the flotsam found:
You can see photos from today’s event below. Anyone wishing to have an original copy should email website@pencaitland.org
As part of Winton House’s annual Spring Family Open Day, this year Pencaitland Scouts were out in force to help set up and participate in an assault course within the walled garden.
As part of Winton House’s annual Spring Family Open Day, this year Pencaitland Scouts were out in force to help set up and participate in an assault course within the walled garden.
All those taking part in the Scouts’ Assault Course were asked to make a voluntary contribution to raise funds for Pencaitland’s new scout troupe which was only recently revived late last year after a seven year hiatus.
Below we’ve got a selection of photos from the day…
Following the recent revival of Cubs in Pencaitland after a seven year hiatus, Beaver Scouts are also set to return this March.
Following the recent revival of Cubs in Pencaitland after a seven year hiatus, Beaver Scouts are also set to return this March.
Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting family aimed at roughly six to eight year olds. Their activities are based around making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, learning how to be safe and most importantly, making new friends.
As David Donohoe, who is championing the revival of the Beaver Scouts in Pencaitland, explains: “We’ve already had a fantastic response to the return of the Cub Scouts which started late last year. Now we want to build on that success and encourage parents to sign up their kids to Beavers. Beavers is for those in the six to eight age bracket and will provide a safe and controlled environment on a weekly basis for children to engage in all sorts of group activities to help them develop, learn and most importantly have fun.”
You can find out more about Scouts by checking out the Parents FAQ.
NEXT STEPS: Would you like to add your child to the waiting list for Beavers and/or give your details to help? Read on…
Continue reading “Beavers aim to build on Pencaitland Cub Scouts success”
After over seven years with no scouts presence in Pencaitland the new investiture of a Cub Pack for the village was celebrated by kids and parents alike in Trevelyan Hall.
After over seven years with no scouts presence in Pencaitland the new investiture of a Cub Pack for the village was celebrated by kids and parents alike in Trevelyan Hall.
South East Scotland Scouts has been working closely with local parent volunteers over recent months to help see this day become a reality. For further information about Pencaitland Scouts or to add your son or daughter to the waiting list visit this page.
See all the photos in a Flickr Slideshow here.
Pencaitland’s new Scout Pack is part of the South East Region of Scottish Scouting which only came into existence in 2008. The emphasis in the Region is to give local Districts more scope to plan and deliver programme support for young people and adults involved in the Scouting movement.
Following two recent meetings with officials from the scouting movement and interested parents, plans are taking shape to bring back the Scouts to Pencaitland after a seven year absence.
Following two recent meetings with officials from the scouting movement and interested parents, plans are taking shape to bring back the Scouts to Pencaitland after a seven year absence.
Pencaitland used to be well served by the scouting movement for many years, with the local troupe being one of the first in Scotland to have girls join. Unfortunately, many of the parent helpers that made it possible moved on and, without new people to carry it on, the local scout group folded around 2005.
Now, thanks to the efforts of parents keen to see it return, a small group has formed to bring it back once again.
This time it’s being headed up by David Donohoe and Alison Mells with the support of parents keen to help make its return a success. But there are few guarantees without further support from parents who would like to see all three age groups eventually revived.
Currently the plan is to have Cubs (eight to ten and half age group) return in late November, with the Trevelyan Hall providing a base for Cub meets each Thursday, roughly once a week during term times. Cubs is the second section of the Scouting movement, originally started in 1916 for younger brothers who wanted a ‘look-in’. In nearly a century, the section has constantly evolved and adapted its programme and methods to meet the changing needs of each generation of kids.
Then, provided there are sufficient local helpers to work with David, Beavers (six to eight and a half age group) would begin sometime in the New Year, also using Trevelyan Hall. Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting family. Their activities are based around making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, learning how to be safe and most importantly, making new friends.
Eventually, if there proves to be enough local interest amongst parents, grandparents and other adult volunteers, the Scouts (ten and a half to fourteen age group) could be revived. Scouts are the third section of the Scouting movement. From the first experimental camp for 20 boys in 1907 there are now over 499,000 boys and girls involved in Scouting in the UK. Adult volunteers are critical in ensuring that our local young people are able to take part in their own big adventures as they grow into their early to mid teens.
Q. Would you like to add your child to the list and/or give your details to help? Read on…
Continue reading “Pencaitland Scouts set for return this November”