Footballing Superstars!

A quick congratulations to our victorious 7 a side Football winning team who won the District Football Competition on the 1st July this year.

We had two teams in the competition and they ended up playing each other in the final.

So well done to you all!


Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

Macedonia Open day - Saturday 30th June 2012

Sebastian Heywood

Amy Tapper

Macedonia Church were celebrating their 140th year and invited people along to show their pictures of past and present.

The Church were also showing the new plans for the new Church which will be built next door to the cricket club.  It was hard to picture, but Shelia explained it is bigger than she expected.  There is still no date, the plans have been draw up but now there are all the legal aspects.  Sheila will keep us posted.

224th were invited to show what we are about and what we do as a group.

I asked for volunteers and 4 people put their hands up - 3 new Cubs which was great! -  Sebastian, Amy, Lottie and last, but not least, Ben.

We had some banners which we put up and a table full of photographs of what the Cubs had been doing over the last year. 

Ben Smith



Lottie Cunningham

There was a table set up with a PC and a slide show of past and present pictures which brought back some memories for some of our visitors including Keith Booth (Group Scout Leader) for over 40 years.  Pictures were also behind the wall which made people laugh.  John, one of the church members, who was a Cub Leader for many years here asked for copies as some of the pictures had his son on which he has never seen before.

Pictures and PC

PC set up - showing slide show

Unfortunately there were not many visitors, the slide show did however show the new 3 Cubs what we do, camp and district events and they seemed very excited about their new adventures with Cubs.

Wendy Nicholls

Cub Leader

www.224manchesterscouts.co.uk





Scouts Navigate through Daisy Nook

Whilst the Scout and Cubs football teams were away conquering the District, the remainder of the troop decided to head out and put their recently acquired Navigation skills into practise.  After celebrating 144 (ish) years of the Macedonia Church, at Church Parade, they decided to step out into the fresh air and take in some of the local countryside in the great British Summer (the wettest since records began!)

With map and compass in hand they set off, leaving the Beavers and leaders in their dust.  Using the 6 figure grid references they recently learnt how to use, they navigated to various points around Daisy Nook Country Park, stopping of course to check out the tyre swing in the park!

Then, given a scenario that the bridge had 'collapsed' in a storm (it hadn't really, but this was to test their navigation skills on the hoof) they headed along an alternative route down to the River Medlock.... now minus it's infamous bridge!

So, they can't go over it, do they go around it, do they go under it..... (you get the picture).  Well, Scouts are a group that are guided to work as a team to overcome obstacles, but on this occasion there was a definite split in ideas. (which was mostly down to the footwear being worn!).

Those with wellies skipped across the stepping stones, carrying young Charlie with them.  Ella decided to take the high road, to avoid the river all together, and Lizzie, being a thoroughbred scout (yet ill prepared by not having any spare clothing) decided to pretty much wade through the flowing river and simply wring her socks out on the other side.  Bear Grylls would have been proud! ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeOdXOqpRM8

Then for some further navigation, and playing in the river with some giant Labradors (or collecting bits of 'Roman' pottery?) before making our way to the visitors centre, where Ella treated everyone to an ice cream (before their sandwiches!).

Good to see the Beavers putting the leaders to shame with their packed lunch of pasta and fresh strawberries!  Better than cheese sandwiches anyway.

A short stop at the park on the way back, then a trek back to the church, taking in some wildlife on the way back (baby Moore Hen's and a couple of Herons on the canal!).

A good day was had by all and the Scouts earned their Hikes Away 1 badge, and earned part of their Navigation Badge.

Anthony
Assistant Scout Leader

www.224manchesterscouts.co.uk

Almost an Olympian!

We, as a district, were very proud today as our very own District Commissioner took part in the London 2012 Olympic Torch procession. Les Cowell, who is the District Commissioner for the North Manchester and Medvale district which we are part of, was nominated to carry the Olympic Torch. He carried the torch through the streets of Bury on the afternoon of Saturday 23rd June before the torch made its way into the centre of Manchester.

224th Manchester Scout Group have a lot to thank Les for as he took over the reins of the group when our previous long-standing Group Scout Leader, Keith Booth, became ill and could no longer run the group. He organised trying to get the group back up and running and then ran many of the beaver and cub nights until we could get leaders in place.

Over 100 members of the district (including scouts, cubs and leaders) lined the streets of Bury to cheer Les on, and as we waited for the torchbearer to arrive, a chant of 'We Want Les!' could be heard ringing along the A56!

And then the moment arrived! We could see Les trotting his merry way down the road - torch held proudly aloft. The cheers grew louder as Les approached - and he responded with an almost regal-like wave! And then he was passed... off into the distance... to hand the torch to the next torchbearer. 

For Les, this was a job well done and probably deserved a celebratory meal and maybe some cold liquid refreshment! Les later told me "I can not believe how emotional this feels! Loved it! huge thanks to everyone who came to watch".

Well done Les - you deserve it!

Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

STOP PRESS!!! We will have Les and his Olympic Torch at the Church next Thursday (5th July) from 6 - 8.30pm. Everybody will have the chance to have their photograph taken with the Olympic Torch at the bargain cost of £1 (all monies to Group Funds). So don't forget to bring some extra money and your great big smiles for your photo!!

www.224manchesterscouts.co.uk

Cubs keeping the country tidy!
 
Most of you will be old enough to remember 'Bob-a-Job' week where cubs and scouts would go out into their communities and undertake jobs such as tidying gardens, painting a fence or simply putting the rubbish out. When this scheme ended 20 years ago there was no longer an official route for members of scout groups to help out in their neighbourhoods. 

This changed this year with the introduction of Scout Community Week. Taking place from 14th - 20th May, it was an opportunity for Scout Groups to raise funds whilst delivering real benefits to the local community.

As a group, 224th didn't undertake any fundraising community events this year (possibly next year!!). However, the Cubs tried to do their little bit for their community by all taking part in a neighbourhood litter pick during the Pack Night!


So on 31st May 16 Cubs set out from the church - all decked out in gloves and rather fetching hi-visibility jackets and all carrying  'Litter Grabbers' and black bin bags. Walking along Ashton Road East you would never have seen so many excited cubs as these were in picking up litter!. Our route took us along Ashton Road East, up Woodford Road, then up Richmond Road and onto Westminster Road.

With plenty of rubbish-packed bags the litter pick ended in Westminster Gardens Park. To use up more of their energy the cubs took part in relay races (well it is nearly time for the Olympics!!) and other games. After a refreshing drink and biscuit break we then took the short walk back to the church to finish with Grand Howl.

With a small part of Failsworth now looking a lot tidier, the Cubs can feel very proud of themselves and the effort they put in to picking up the litter.


Thank you Cubs!


Phil


PS: Our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, praised the efforts of Scout Community Week, read story here


www.224manchesterscouts.co.uk

224th at Failsworth Carnival 2012.

Last year we were soaked to the skin (see picture above!) - what would the weather hold for 224 Manchester Scout Group this year at Failsworth's annual carnival?

Despite the carnival this year being moved forward to the 19/20 May - the weather held out for us and often we were bathed in sunshine. And the sunshine seemed to bring out the inhabitants of Failsworth who descended onto Lord Lane playing fields in their droves. 

This year our impressive 'Splat the Rat' game returned including the handmade Rats which had survived another year. With stacks of prizes ready for the best splatters - the leaders and beavers, cubs and scouts readied themselves for the onslaught of contestants. And at times it was an onslaught! But with lots of willing helpers every customer was treated well and all seemed to enjoy trying to splat that pesky rat!

By the end of the day we had run out of our consolation prizes of bags of sweets (despite a quick visit to Tesco to restock!) and Im sure those helpers were exhausted if the tiredness of the leaders that evening was anything to go by!

So a quick thank you to those who turned up to help or support the group and the carnival.

Phil 




www.224manchesterscouts.co.uk

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