Welcome to Ripon and District Scouts

This from ANNE COLLINS our DAS Manager, who says:

"It was great to have 13 of our members and guests meeting up yesterday evening for a meal at The Blue Bell in KIrby Hill. As such events always are, it was chance for a good chat and a catch up on what everyone has been doing in recent times, our last gathering having been the summer barbecue in July.

It was also an opportunity to at last present Steve Hall with his 40 Years Service Award, a reflection of many years of conscientious work in Scouting, often behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly for everyone else.

Maintaining our reputation for Active Service, Toni was able to help out at the recent County Leaders meeting in Thirsk, which was much appreciated by the organisers and as Scouting returns to some form of 'normality', other requests will soon be coming through. 

Always looking to a busy person to offer help, another of our DAS members, Aimée, has kindly offered her services as a Fencing Instructor (as in swords and rapiers, not garden barriers ....) for the benefit of ANY youngsters in the District. Boroughbridge Scouts enjoyed their session of 'fencing' this week and it is certainly an expertly run introduction to the sport and a great experience."

Some 21 adult training courses from the County Training Team, now extending to January 2022, are available to all leaders.

Face-to-face courses across North Yorkshire, and some online, include:

First Response

Inclusive Scouting

Leadership Skills

Working with Adults

Growth

Supporting Young People

Camp Organisational Skills

Programme Planning

Residentials

Running Safe Activities

International Scouting...... and

Three 'Training in a Basket' sessions

Full details including how to register on the North Yorkshire Scouts EventBrite page. Just click HERE

The Scout Association has started a new provision for four and five year olds called Squirrels, to help young people gain skills for life at a time when it matters most and where it's most needed
 Benefits of joining Squirrels
 Squirrels is a completely new provision for 4–5 year olds. There are plenty of reasons to get stuck in, as Squirrels gives young people the chance to:
 Make friends
 Have fun outdoors
Learn new things
Earn Badges through fun activities

For more information click HERE

DASQUEST (an annual event organised by the local District Active Support Unit) has now been completed by lots of the Beaver Scouts in the District. They were challenged to go with their Leaders on a short hike answering questions about the Countryside on their way round.

The trail started at Studley Roger Village Hall and ran round Studley Park to the Church, down to the Lake, and then followed the Valley of the Seven Bridges before going over the hill following Plumpton Lane back to Studley Roger Village Hall.

Boroughbridge, Masham, 4th Ripon and Topcliffe Beavers all took part at a date and time that suited themselves, and our DAS Manager, Anne Collins, says there were some very favourable comments, including one leader who said they would like to run it themselves another time as a sleepover at Studley Roger Village Hall, praise indeed!

57 Beavers and 19 adults took part, so 76 badges have been given out.

Considering the difficulties some Groups have had in getting any meetings going again that's a good response and gave something out of the ordinary weekly meetings for leaders to think about and start looking forward to other activities.

With everything now being officially back to Green, so hopefully Scouting will be moving on and Zooming, whilst an interesting skill to have acquired, will be taking a backseat!