Making 2009 matter in local scouting
Posted: February 3, 2009 Filed under: Do something Now is good, events, Explorer Scouts, Extreme Scouting, Jamboree, Motoring, Network Scouts, Northern Ireland, Off Roading, Scouting, Scouting Itreland, Scouts, UK Scouts, Venture Scouts Leave a commentThis year, we at Lisburn and District Scouts are celebrating 100 years in operation, It is also the first full year of my new tenment of District Explorer Scout Commissioner which makes me repsonsible for all scouting in Lisburn District for boys and girls aged 14-18.
Explorer Scouting is Lisburn or Lagan Valley as we like to call it has not been without its problems since its conception nearly 5 years ago. Before Explorer Scouts started, boys and girls would have stayed within their own group until the age of 16 and at that age they would then (like I did) either choose to be a young leader within the group, join a venture scout unit (16-20) or do both. The boys and girls now have to (at 14) join a larger district group for more adventuresome activities.
The implementation was problematic at best and we found that the kids at 14, did not want to leave their group but stay on. We also found a negative impact on the scout section were the leaders found it more difficult to teach the younger kids without the aids of older more sense able patrol leaders.
The solution was to form Partnership agreements whereby each group could start their own Explorer group under the district umbrella and that group would take part in district explorer scout events once or twice per month. This again worked in theroe however no district events ever seemed to take place. In October of 2008 I was approached to take on the lead of Explorer Scout Commissioner for Lagan Valley Explorer Scouts and head up a district program to include all of the partnership groups, and older scouts heading towards Explorer age.
My tenment ties in well with our 100 year celebrations and now I find myself wondering, How can I make this year matter? How can I change the way Explorer scouts in Lagan Valley Run? and How can I make a difference?
In the past kids from the partnership groups have not been keen to get together with other groups – you know what kids are like! so my first thoughts are to organise at least one evening per month weather it be something really scouty or just pizza and coffee, It will get them together and interacting.
My second thoughts are to arrange at least one camp or sleep over per quater – there is nothing better in this world than camping with your mates and over a weekend you can really get to know each other.
Thirdly I want to take things to the next level, badge work and camping is great but I want to create an experience and open oppertunities to these kids that they would just not get in school or youth clubs, International trips, Surfing, Rally car driving, Shooting, Scuba diving and all that sort of thing.
The road will be long, but very worth while. (I hope!)
Off Roading – Part One , Getting Stuck
Posted: October 13, 2008 Filed under: 4wdni, 4x4, Extreme Scouting, Jeep, Jeep XJ, Motoring, Off Roading, Scouts Leave a comment
I have decided rather than selling ‘ Old Faithful ‘ my old and reliable trusty Jeep that I am going to do a few modifications and do with it as Jeep intended, Off Road the baby !
The annoying thing about off roading in a 4×4 is that, although they are in theory built to take the abuse they do need some work for that ‘Go Anywhere’ experience, as I found out the hard way !!
At Present, Old Faithful is completely standard and I have tackled a few not to tricky off road courses, all has went pretty ok (apart from I can really see the benefit of off road tyres as my bus slips and slides its away about the hills getting not much grip at all) until Saturday when I got myself a wee bit stuck …….
The lift on the car was not enough as the wheels dug down in the mud, the center of the car touched earch and perched me right there, I remember reading on one of the forums if this happened, simply grab your Hi-Lift jack, Jack her up, dig out the earth and drive on. Great, except I dont own a high lift Jack, but a phone call to a good friends and hey ho, I got one fairly quickly.
All in all a great days craic, and a list of modification I know I will need if I am to take this seriously and protect my Jeep !
* Off Road Tyres
* 2/3 inch lift
* Flood lights, Front and Back (for night driving)
* Rock Sliders, all round the car for protection.
And thats just for starters, watch this space !
Cars – Can you mix your Business Car with your Pleasure Car?
Posted: October 7, 2008 Filed under: Interesting, Motoring, Network Scouts, Scouting, Scouts, UK Scouts, Venture Scouts Leave a comment
If your like me – then a Car is more than just a means of getting from A to B, my car serves me three main purposes and they are also why I need a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
Scouting – Plenty of room for 5 people, camping gear with the added option of a trailer and roof rack for longer expeditions
Off Roading – Something I have recently taken up but loving every minute of it
Work – Probably the most important need for a vehicle is that I live and work in the sticks and need to get to meetings all over Ireland.
The problem I am faced with, is that whilst my car is great for the first two, however for work I just need something reliably and there are tax advantages for changing to a Diesel Model.
So i am have with the question, Do I
A. Get a Diesel off road vehicle to tick all the boxes (but maybe not look that professional) or
B. Get a reliably business type car like a BMW 320D and keep my 4×4 for fun ! (which means running two cars, two insurance bills, two tax bills etc)
My mind is truly pickled !!! Advice is welcome !
Cheap Motoring : The Land Rover Defender Project
Posted: March 28, 2008 Filed under: Motoring Leave a commentI was talking to a friend of mine about the cost of Fuel, What is is doing is fantastic, He has an old Land Rover Defender, which he is converting to run on used chip pan oil, he can buy 1000 litres for a mere £300-00, 1000 litres of Diesel on todays prices would cost £1200, saving him £900 per 1000 litres
That should more than cover the cost of the conversion, the storage tank and the higher rate of road tax for 4x4s
Rock on!
Cheap Motoring : There has to be a way
Posted: March 25, 2008 Filed under: Motoring Leave a commentUpon breaking down the cost of running my car last year, I was amazed by just how much of my hard earned cash (which i pay income tax on) goes back to the government in Road and Fuel Tax
After this years budget, our good friend Alaster Darling, has put fuel and road tax up again, So I got to thinking , there has to be a cheaper way of running a car, Im going to look at a few different ways of keeping my money in my pocket, not the pocket of the labour government,
Ill let you know, but in the mean time you might be supprised to know that for every litre of Fuel you purchase at the pump, The true cost is only around 40p, and the other 68p goes to London.
Crazy!
Russell McQuillan 