After 5 very good years as District Commissioner and numerous other years as a Cub Leader, Alan Burnham will be leaving Lea Valley District next term to take up his new role as a member of the new Bedfordshire County Team.

District Commissioners serve a term of 5 years, as per the rules of the Scout Association. Many go on to have nervous breakdowns or move on to Scout County Teams, whichever occurs first.  

We wish Alan all the very best in his exciting new role and we will of course see him in the future at many County Events, such as the Centenary Camp in May next year. We're also sure Alan will come and entertain us around the camp fire at our next District Camp, if we ask very nicely.

A new District Commissioner will be appointed to lead the District through the next 5 years.   

Each time we announce the departure of one leader on this web site it would appear that the flood gates open! Unfortunately, Alan Burnham was also the Akela for Caddington Scout Group's Cub Pack and as he takes on his exciting new role as a member of the new County Team he will no longer be able to continue as Akela.

The good news is that Akela (Alan) will be back at Caddington Cubs after the summer holidays, but only until half term! Giving the group time to hunt down and recruit a new leader. 

Akela leading a camp fire

Anyone interested in becoming the next Akela at Caddington Scout Group should contact Alan or Mark through the Recruitment page on this web site.

On Thursday 13th July, after a very successful Mini Olympics event held at Stockwood Park, Strathmore Cub Pack said Good bye to their Akela. After taking the leading role for several years and thoroughly enjoying it, Sam is now having to stand down due to college course commitments.

Won-tolla, Kim and Big Baloo all wish Sam the very best with her course and hope that she will stay in touch. The District Cub Team will once again swing into action and will be helping out at Strathmore from September.

Akela (in the centre) pictured at the Pirates of the Lea Valley Cub Camp in June 2006

The date of the next AGM has been set as Monday 11th June 2007.

If you are willing to donate any old mattresses to us please click to contact Alan Burnham by e-mail.

Bedfordshire Beaver Scouts

Celebrate 20 Years!

Nearly 500 Beaver Scouts and their leaders from across Bedfordshire had an unexpected guest at their birthday celebrations. They were drenched by an unscheduled cloudburst that added a novel, fun-filled interlude to an already damp programme. One Beaver Scout said afterwards, "It was the best day of my life!" The mammoth birthday party took place in the Scouts Training Ground at Bromham to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the start of the Beaver Scout section.

Organised for the county by leader Mark Webb and his team, the event included a monkey bridge, archery, kite making, pillow fights, a wet bouncy castle slide, water bottle rockets and a cannon run with yet more water. Mark said, "We checked with the water authorities about any water saving ban but we were told not to worry. As it happened, we reckon more water came down in the half hour downpour than we used for the whole event."

Before the rains came, two youngsters Charlie Hughes and Jonathan Blazeby, were one of many teams who tried to beat all comers at the greasy pole pillow fight. Then the heavens opened. One Beaver Scout could hardly believe his eyes as he was marooned in the middle of the training ground during the drenching rainstorm but he enjoyed every minute of it. And two leaders Ben Lucas and Nicola Woodward showed how to stay dry under a handmade, colourful, fancy head-dress.  Later, nine Beaver Scouts who all shared the same birth date, joined forces to cut the specially made enormous birthday cake in the dry refuge of a marquee.

Back home, mums found out just what Beaver Scouts call fun when they dragged sodden uniforms from 500 rucksacks and just hoped that their washing machines could cope. For the youngsters this was a birthday party they would not forget in a hurry.

(See some pictures from the day)

View the slideshow of pictures

A powerful earthquake, measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, struck central Java near Yogyakarta, a city of approximately 800,000 people, shortly before 6am local time on Saturday 27th May. Aftershocks continue to shake the city. Oxfam's emergency teams are working around the clock to bring clean drinking water and essential supplies to thousands of people made homeless by the Yogyakarta earthquake. You can help too, click on the Map above to visit the Oxfam web site. 

How to give to charity - Results

Girlguiding UK is delighted to have been voted to receive the generous donation of royalties by Jessica and her publishers.

We plan to use the £300 donation to support our work developing joint Scout and Guide provision for young people in hospitals, in hospices and in residential care. An example is our long established joint unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital and we are working hard to develop this type of work further, to enable even more young people to benefit from being involved in Guiding and Scouting. We'll share further news about this work on our website, www.girlguiding.org.uk

www.howtogivetocharity.org

Visit Lea, Leagrave &  St. Luke's Scout Groups at the St. Luke's Youth Festival on the 1st of July

Visit the St. Luke's Youth Festival on Saturday 1st July. This totally free event has been organised to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of St. Luke’s Church. The Festival is open to all ages, however under 12’s should also bring their older youth (parents) with them.

Between 10.30am and 5.30pm there will be a series of events for all ages. Including active displays of Scouting, A rock stage in the Vicars Garden where youth bands will have the opportunity to play live in front of an audience and many other youth and local groups showing what they do.

The church hall will have static displays from various organisations working with young people in Bedfordshire, and up on the hall stage there will be displays from local schools and clubs.

The Church will be open for meditation and spiritual guidance from different ethnic and cultural societies.

At the end of the day, if you are still craving for more ... then have no fear! From 6.30pm till 10pm, the hall stage will be the centre of attention as a group of budding youth rock bands will perform for your entertainment.

Beavers, Cubs & Scouts visiting on the day are requested to wear their uniform. If it is really really hot, then shorts, T-shirt and group scarf will be just fine - don't forget the sun tan lotion!

Where is St. Luke's Church? Click Here for a map

Strathmore Scout Group are looking for more people aged between 8 and 9 years old to join their Cub Pack. With a packed programme that is set to include a night hike, scouting skills, a District Cub Camp in June and loads of other exciting stuff, now is a good time to Join The Adventure of Scouting with Strathmore Cubs!

District Cub

Board Games Championship 06

On Monday 27th March, Cub Packs from all over the District  met at Slip End for the annual board games championship.

17 carefully selected Cubs competed for champion status in Draughts, Dominoes, Connect 4 and Kim's Game.

Congratulations and well played to: Alistair from Leagrave Cubs who came in 1st place for Connect  4; Conor from Slip End Cubs who came in 1st place for Dominoes; Adam from Lea Cubs who came in 1st place for Draughts and Aaron who came in 1st place for Kim's Game.

Overall winning Cub Pack was Slip End Cubs who become the proud holders of the cub totem pole until the next District Competition!

(See Pictures)

2005 was a great year for Lea Valley District, according to the annual Scout Association census. The census shows an increase in the number of young members and an increase in adult supporters, all enjoying the adventure of Scouting.

Overall, the District has grown from 208 members in January 2005 to 271 in January 2006. Young Members from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, & Explorer Scout sections increased from 139 in January 2005 to 193 in January 2006.

Following the announcement of the census figures the District Commissioner, Alan Burnham, said "Please pass my thanks on to every adult involved in the District. Each and everyone has done that little bit extra to make the last year a success for Lea Valley. Long may it continue."

Groups all over the District are gearing up and making the effort to save water at home, in their meeting places and in their local communities. With the driest 16 month period on record, the south-east of the UK is already short on water reserves with hosepipe bans already in place through Sussex and Kent. It's time to take action now ...

 www.environmentagency.gov.uk

1. Have a Shower not a Bath! a 5 minute shower uses less water, however a 5 minute power shower can use just as much water as having a bath!

2. Don't let the water run whilst cleaning your teeth.

3. Install a Hippo in your toilet! ( http://www.hippo-the-watersaver.co.uk )

4. Fix dripping taps.

5. Wait until the dishwasher or washing machine is full or use the half-load button for smaller washes. Always try to buy a water efficient model if possible.

BBC Action Network

Action Network also provides you with the means to write articles about issues that matter to you in your local area or organise an online campaign yourself so that you, too, can start making a difference to your community.

After many months of deliberations, the report on possible changes to District boundaries within Bedfordshire has been produced. The document has been read by the County Team, which has decided not to adopt the report's recommendations. So, for the foreseeable future, the District structure will remain as it currently is.

The old saying about good things is really being put to test this month! Slip End Beaver Colony have waved goodbye to Kestrel, who has flown the nest - so to speak.

Kestrel (Jon) has moved away from Slip End village, but isn't flying too far, he will be teaming up with Kaa (Sue) after half term at Lea Cub Pack.

Islamic Evening

Beech Hill Scout Group invited other members of the District to attend an Islamic evening. With food tasting, an Islam Quiz, a capital town quiz, glass painting, henna patterns, write your name in Arabic, dress up as a Bedouin (see picture) and many more activities, all the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts had plenty to do to fill the evening! Many thanks to Beech Hill group for organising this enlightening evening, which is set to become an annual event.

(See More Pictures)

What do you think

of it so far?

Steve Moore, an Explorer Scout (Young Leader) with Lea Scout Group’s Beaver Colony, has written a book about Luton Town Football Club’s league 1 championship march.

Steve will be donating £1 for each book sold to Lea Scout Group Funds.

More information

Cub Scouts in the District took part in a Conker Championship on Saturday 15th October. With 22 Cubs, from 3 groups, battling for the title of District Conker Champ the competition lasted all morning. Eventually the champions were named as: Samuel from Strathmore - 3rd place, Levi from Lea - 2nd place and in 1st place Jamie from Strathmore, who took home the Conker Champs Trophy! Strathmore become the proud guardians of the cub totem pole until the next District competition.          

 (See More Pictures)

Leagrave Scout Group

Walk for Wildlife

On Sunday 9th October, Leagrave Scout Group took part in the WWF walk for wildlife sponsored walk at Whipsnade zoo. Several Beavers and their Beaver Leaders walked 2 miles around the zoo. 5 Cubs, from the recently re-opened Cub Pack, their Leaders and family also took part, they enjoyed a 4 mile  walk.

All money raised will go to help protect Orang-utans from extinction.

District Scout

Camp 05

To see pictures of the weekend camp Click Here.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, it has been necessary to postpone the Disitrict Cub Uni-hoc competition until early 2006.

Further details of the new date and times will be sent to all Cub Leaders shortly.

Leagrave Cub Pack

re-opened!

Lea & Slip End Beavers

Drumming Workshop

The District Cub Team are at it again, they have recently re-opened Leagrave Scout Groups Cub Pack. 7 Cubs were invested on Friday 7^th October 2005, with more to be invested in the next few weeks. With support from parents and from the existing members of the Scout group, a band of willing volunteers are set to carry on the good work and with the addition of a Cub Scout Leader from London the Pack is looking strong in time for the Groups 50^th Year Celebrations next July.

The Beaver Scouts from Lea and Slip End Colonies enjoyed a noisy evening of drum banging and didgeridoo playing under the expert tuition of Chris Puleston. Using traditional drums & instruments originating from Western Africa and a few from Australia,  the Beavers and their leaders enjoyed every beat!

www.chrispuleston.org