This week Beavers were ticking off some challenge badge work. They were making bee hotels for solitary bees (complete with some decorated wood slices to personalise them) and hunting for bugs outside the scout hall.
#TheBigHelpOut
Scouts are tackling the volunteer part of their World Challenge badge by helping out at Lislagan farm. Lislagan farm is a groundbreaking facility for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues to avail of social and leisure, fun and friendship, health and well being initiatives and therapeutic interventions.
This week we began clearing grass from the bases of their fruit trees and general weeding on the pathways around the planters. Of course, we had to have a game of rounders afterwards. We will be visiting another couple of weeks in May to complete the volunteer element of the badge.
Last Sunday we took a break from study to get out to the beach and have some fun in the sun. Our explorers took part in some team building, pioneering activities by building structures from wood and rope to support heavy weights. We understand that study can be stressful so we checked in on our explorers mental health by playing a few games, eating s’mores around the camp fire and had some free time away from the books just to relax and chill 😎
Beavers visited Pets @ Home to start their animal friends badge. They learned about Guinea pigs, Rabbits and fish (cold water and tropical).
Massive thanks to Melissa from Pets @ home for her patience and enthusiasm (and her artistic beaver drawing to welcome our young people.
Beavers wanting to earn their badge need to look after an animal for the next 4 weeks.
Scout section have been working towards their fire safety badge recently. Over three sessions they covered all elements. They also created houses in their patrols which were burnt at Downhill forest to toast marshmallow’s 🤤
Before and after our Easter break beavers were learning their knots as part of their outdoor/skills challenge. We had strawberry laces to learn reef knots and figure 8 knots. They created luggage tags for their rucksacks/school bags so they could spot their gear easily. They also tried to learn how to tie shoe laces. Finally they learnt knots to make giant bubble wands. Lots of games played too of course 😉 Well done Beavers!!!
On Sunday some of our Phoenix explorers went on an exploration through the solar system. We jumped on the train from Ballymoney and headed to Cultra. We then had a virtual tour through the “our place in space AR app” which guides you along the scaled down model of the solar system. This was designed by artist Oliver Jeffers with scientist Professor Stephen Smartt and a creative team led by Nerve Centre. The explorers walked to all of the sculptures and read the info about the planet they visited. After a wee pit stop at the Crawfordsburn Country Park Cafe they continued their walk of 10 long miles to Bangor train station.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming another new member to our quickly growing group with an investiture into the Phoenix ENSU Ballymoney.
This weekend Beavers were dropped off at the Peter Thompson Hall, Castlerock, for a sleepover with a prehistoric theme. The sun was shining so a trip to the nearby park to burn off some energy. A quick game of the floor is lava and then free play with young leaders (YLs) entertaining.
Back to the hall for some dinner….turkey dinosaurs, waffles and beans 🦖. A dinosaur nest for pudding (ice cream, mini “dino”eggs and sprinkles). Then they all helped scout leader David to construct a massive “blanket” fort for sleeping under when it was bed time.
After dinner our YLs stepped up and ran some games and crafts (Dino pegs and clay fossils) with leaders assisting. Some of the YLs set up a Dino trail outside for the beavers to follow. Then our beavers got their torches and followed then footprints to find the nest with dinosaur eggs then back into the hall to build their dinosaurs.
After saying goodbye to our YLs the Beavers enjoyed some birthday cake (Happy Birthday Conor) before getting into PJs to watch a movie. Some dinosaur themed books also looked at during the wind down.
After a wee bit of sleep, time to get up and carry on. Breakfast, a colouring in competition, well done Marcie, dinosaur gliders in the main hall, “hatching” dinosaur eggs (balloons), team tug of war (don’t touch the lava pits) and some raptor races on the path around the bowling green before one last play in the park. Top raptor racers were Harvey and Patrick 👏🏻
This week Beavers followed on from their photography badgework with lodge photo posters (anyone missing can add their frames pics next week). Frames included their names and information about things they liked. They also took part in some problem solving and teamwork activities and a team game.
Our older sections joined up for our delayed winter camp at the weekend, however the weather certainly was like winter 🥶 Luckily we were indoors at the PTH in Castlerock. We had games, a table quiz, a day out to Dundonald for ice skating, Clip and climb and bowling, more games and a movie. Due to the weather we had to cancel some outdoor activities but the youths enjoyed some extra social time.
Thanks again to the PSNI for visiting our group for the 2nd time this week, this time scout section. They discussed drugs, smoking and alcohol. Scouts saw some drug samples and tried on drug and alcohol goggles. Hopefully everyone learnt something tonight and will keep on the right side of the law!
The Phoenix Explorers enjoyed a short hike, followed by axe skills, multiple ways to start a fire in a survival situation and quick or not so quick basher/shelter building. Although this was a refresher for most it was a great learning experience for our new members. We also got all our explorers involved in games to allow them to bond and bring out the natural leaders among them. of course no day out would be complete without a camp fire, s’mores and hot chocolate.
Thanks to Paul for joining our scout section this week to complete the diet section of the skills challenge badge. He told them how much sugar and additives are in energy drinks – please don’t drink them – and how 2l of water per day will give you much more energy!! He also led a cooking session using trangias to make a healthy curry with lots of veg from scratch. No photos of the final dishes as we were too busy eating. Thanks a lot Paul! 👏🏻👏🏻
This week we were pleased to welcome back an old scout to run a session for fitness February. Kurt did some warm ups and indoor games based around athletic skills. So good of him to give something back to the group he was once a member of. We wish him the best of luck on his adventures at camp America this summer 🤩 Not many photos 🙊
Huge thanks to Mervyn Espie for guiding our Explorers through a fitness session!! Not as many as usual due to half term but those attending were well challenged!! A dander back to the hall afterwards for some youth shaped activities
Still working towards the physical activity part of the Skills Challenge badge! Again a massive thanks to Jo for putting scouts through their paces for a 2nd week. This time circuits (at short notice – sorry Jo). Also planning some challenge badge work when not working out 😮💨
Over the past couple of weeks 2 of our young leaders worked on a plan for this week. They had to plan an activity and run some games. Lotars planned a craft to give to someone they love, then Luke and Lotars ran some games. Well done guys. Get those young leader log books filled in and signed off
Thanks so much to Jo Clarke for running a fitness session with our scouts last week. We split the group in half for more manageable numbers. Half doing fitness, half socialising and board games then switch. There were a few tired scouts sweaty scouts at the end 🥵
For the past 2 weeks scouts have been working towards their model maker badge. They used warhammer kits to create 4 different models, which they then painted. A lot of patience required to paint such fine detail
Some of our Scouts and Explorers hiked from East Strand, Portrush, to Dunluce Castle on a blustery Saturday afternoon. Just over 7 miles walked, with a stop at Dunluce Castle for a warm lunch (sausage baps/soup and a roll) before the return leg. It was great to see them all again after the Christmas break, and to welcome 2 possible new Explorers along for the dander.
Check out the YouTube video below
Scouts have been getting in the mood for Christmas over the past few weeks. We were being creative with Christmas cardboard canvases to decorate the hall. Then we learned how to make tasty shortbread. We had a party last week, playing traditional party games and enjoying some party food. Finally, scouts hopped on the train for our Winter outing to Bangor Aurora for a bit of splashing around in the leisure pool, slides and inflatables. Back to Ballymoney Scout Hall for a Christmas dinner on chip. Hope all our scouts and their families enjoy the Christmas break. See you all in 2023!!
Our explorers got together for Christmas dinner (prep and cook), socialising and a few silly games/activities too. Full bellies all round.
At the weekend our Phenomenal Phoenix Explorers attended the Scouts NI big sleep out at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre. Bus and car packed with young people and lots of care package donations for the Simon Community as we set off at 14:00. A stop at Antrim Castle gardens for a wander to stretch our legs, then on to Belfast. Almost an hour of free time around Castlecourt before filling our bellies with KFC, Burger King and Mitsuru.
When we arrived at Crawfordsburn we took our gear to the lid and got ready for the opening brief. Explorers took part in 5 different activity bases around the site, ate sausage baps, watched the campfire and then donations and money raised was presented to Simon Community.
Everyone got Bivis set up for the night and tried to get some sleep. Next morning, up at 7:15 to pack gear away and some free time. Bacon baps 🤔 for breakfast (provided by wee buns) then time to ship out.
Headed to the car park for a wee walk around Crawfordsburn Country Park Forest before heading to Applegreen for brunch and then home.
Yet again I find myself saying the same thing. The Phoenix Explorers are an amazing bunch of individuals. Once again they have done us and themselves proud!!!
Over half of our members turned out for this year’s Remembrance Parade. You were all fantastic and did yourselves and leaders proud. The last group pic was missing some members who had to leave sharp. Also, well done to our some of our Phoenix Explorers who also attended the parade.
As its Halloween on Monday we had a Halloween party with our scouts. The night was planned and ran by a couple of our YLs (Aoife and Robyn 🤩) with leaders assisting. Well done guys 👏🏻👏🏻
We had musical chairs, dancing, relay races (ducking for jelly babies in icing sugar and finding stars in “worms” wearing blindfolds) and dangling donuts. Party food to finish off is a must 🤤
Scouts enjoyed (endured 😂) autumn camp at Trench Farm, Ballycastle. Back to basics and getting to know each other on a rainy, muddy weekend camp. Exploring the site, meeting the farm animals, making ballistas, pumpkin carving, playing games, being creative, cooking (camp chefs cooked for 32 campers!!) and disco dancing in the moonlight 😄
Fabulous site, fantastic animals, lots of eating and playing games. Well done to 1st time campers, especially those feeling homesick. All leaders are proud of you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This week scouts were refreshing, teaching or learning lashings. Well done and thanks to all our YLs and PLs for sharing their knowledge. They were also covering knife and axe (thanks Jonny) safety and skills. Challenges were to light a rescue beacon with round lashings, complete square lashings and tripod lashings, prepare firewood (axe for kindling and knife skills for feather sticks). All these skills will be put into practice at next weeks Autumn Camp ⛺️ They also had the chance to speak to some scout leaders from Australia on a zoom call JOTI
Tonight Scout section visited Garvagh forest. They were split into 3 groups and sent off to find some old orienteering posts (no longer an official course due to mountain bike trails) and do a scavenger hunt, all by torchlight. Navigating in the dark added an extra level of difficulty to the challenges. After the one hour time limit passed all groups made their way back to the pyramid for some smores cooked over tuna can stoves 🔥🌔
This week scouts were put into patrols and did some getting to know you tasks, finding out what patrol members had in common and what made each member unique, followed by 2 truths and 1 lie. Then they were challenged to write the word “cat” and also draw a cat in their patrols, using a “floating pen”. Harder than it seems, lots of teamwork and communication required! Tiger patrol earned the most points. Finally new members to our group were invested.
Our last trip to finish up our summer of fun was to the Belfast Mela Festival. Up bright and early to catch the train to Belfast to enjoy a fantastic cultural day out. Once in the Botanic gardens, scouts broke up into groups and were given programmes with a map included. Then they set off to explore all the Mela had to offer! We all met up again around 15:00 to catch up and sample some food, then a final walk around while watching great performances on the world stage. Check out the comments under this post to see some other videos! #shoutaboutscoutsni
