Scouts

Taking advantage of the great weather in May, Kinnaird and Altitude Explorer Scout units held a joint meeting travelling to the Auchenstarry quarry at Kilsyth.  Some concentrated on improving their paddleboarding skills and didn’t worry if they fell off – it helped cool them down! 

Others practised rock climbing and to make it more exciting and to further their experience, the Explorers belayed for each other, (with appropriate supervision of course).   This meant that the young people who were climbing were held and lowered by another young person with an instructor standing by and most made it to the top.

Earlier this year, the scouts from the 93^rd Braes Scout Group and the Altitude Explorer Scouts joined Limerigg Action Group, Paths for All and CVS Falkirk to do some path clearing in Limerigg Woods.  The sun shone while they sawed trees and lopped off lower branches to help make the walks and paths more accessible to all in the community.  The Explorers were in their element building a couple of bridges over some really muddy areas. It was great teamwork especially as Limerigg Action Group laid on plenty of snacks and a hearty lunch in the community hall. 

A Scouting family from Troop 175, in Florida, who host the 93^rd Braes Scout Group during their American trips, recently enjoyed a day in the Barrwood accompanied by members of the 93^rd.  The Drake family were touring around Europe, ending in Scotland but they just had to visit the local campsite after hearing so much about it.  

They made their own pizza for lunch and even had a go at crate climbing which is not done in Florida.  Isabella is pictured with Jake Wadell from the 93^rd, after spending the day on the water.   Scouting is indeed a large and international family.

The 15^th Grangemouth Scout Group recently celebrated their 115^th  Birthday with a party for all their youth members – beavers, cubs and scouts.  We were delighted to be back in our re-opened and refurbished hall.  They even welcomed some special guests who were Scouts with the Group, some as far back as the 1950's!  They are now opening a new Section, Squirrel Scouts.  This section, called a drey, caters for 4 – 6-year-olds.  If you would be interested in your child joining any of the sections (ranges from 4 – 14 years), sign up at https://www.falkirkscouts.org.uk/Join,  or consider joining the fun as an adult volunteer!

The 51^st Dennyloanhead Scouts recently enjoyed another fantastic group sleepover. This time, youngsters from Beavers to Scouts braved the ‘deep’ and camped in the underwater tunnel of the Loch Lomond Sealife Centre.

They enjoyed many encounters with the sea creatures from the exploratory rock pools, pongy Otters, a stubborn and independent 3-legged Turtle, an enormous attention-seeking Grouper but especially the six-foot-long Stingray which was equally fascinated by the Scouts lying in the tunnel.

On Sunday morning they explored the shores of Loch Lomond and visited the Birds of Prey centre where they enjoyed the discovery trail and were wowed by the flying display.