Adventure Skills

County Backwoods Event (UPDATED)

Barry Kennedy

Our next Scout event is the County Backwoods Event.

Please note: We are aware that the change of dates to the 19th/20th March does not suit everyone. As this is a County event, the rescheduling of the event is outside of our control. We would ask that you confirm if your son/daughter can or can’t attend by 5pm Wednesday 9th March as we need to let the County team how many will be attending.

Important information

  • Start: Sat, Mar 19th 10 AM
  • Finish: Sun, Mar 20th 12 PM
  • Location: Castleconnell Scout Campsite
  • Cost: €30pp

This event will be for teams of 4.

Required Personal Equipment:

  • Raingear (Jacket & Trousers)
  • Hat & Gloves
  • Boots
  • Warm fleece
  • 2 x Changes of clothes (1 Change packed in rucksack, 1 left with Scouter)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat
  • Survival bag
  • Head Torch (with spare batteries)
  • Bowl, Cup and Cutlery
  • Penknife (suitable for survival tasks)
  • Water Bottles – filled and in your Back Pack (To carry 2lt of water)
  • Toiletries
  • Personal First Aid Kit
  • Rucksack – ALL personal and Team equipment must fit into, or be attached to the Rucksacks. Allow room for some team gear

Directions

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/7T9HSgZbv9HeJJhz7

Backwoods Skills

This event will cover elements of stage 3 in Backwoods so Scouts should familiarise themselves with these skills over the next few weeks. We’ll be covering most of it during Scout meetings but we’ll also add some resources (links, videos) to this section

Animated Knots

Barry Kennedy

Over the last few weeks, our Scouts have been covering the basics of knots, hitches and lashings during their Virtual meetings. We’ve been using the fantastic website Animated Knots to teach the knots to the Scouts (they also have a very handy app). We’ve had the opportunity to look more closely at the knots than we would during our normal meetings and we’ve even covered some knots the Scouts might not be familiar with.

Here’s what we’ve covered so far: (Updated 26/6/2020)

Block one

Reef Knot: https://www.animatedknots.com/square-knot

Bowline: https://www.animatedknots.com/bowline-knot

Sheet bend: https://www.animatedknots.com/sheet-bend-knot

Block two

Figure of Eight: https://www.animatedknots.com/figure-8-knot

Clove Hitch: https://www.animatedknots.com/clove-hitch-knot-rope-end

Round Turn & Two Half Hitches: https://www.animatedknots.com/round-turn-two-half-hitches-knot

Block three

Alpine Butterfly https://www.animatedknots.com/alpine-butterfly-loop-knot

Timber Hitch https://www.animatedknots.com/timber-hitch-knot

Square Lashing https://www.animatedknots.com/square-lashing-knot

Bonus challenge Turks Head https://www.animatedknots.com/turks-head-knot

Block four

Monkey’s Fist https://www.animatedknots.com/monkeys-fist-knot

Bonus Challenge Heaving a line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q40J8G6gDI

Block five

Diagonal Lashing https://www.animatedknots.com/diagonal-lashing-knot

Round Lashing https://www.animatedknots.com/round-lashing-knot

*******

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be returning to this site to cover a few more knots, hitches and lashings, including a few new and challenging knots.

We’ve also been talking about some pioneering projects we’d like to try in the future once we return to scouting together. This website has a few ideas https://scoutpioneering.com/favorite-larger-projects/

Beavers Air Badge Assessment Next Monday 2nd December

Barry Kennedy

Next Monday (2nd December) is an assessment night for all Beavers.

Requirements

Bree Beavers (Year 1) will be assessed in Air 1 requirements.

Ruairc (Year 2) and Conn (Year 3+) will be assessed in Air 2 requirements.

Kite Building

As part of their assessment in Air 2, Ruairc and Conn Beavers must bring a kite of their own creation to Beavers next Monday for assessment… (it doesn’t have to be the one they brought home last week).

Please Note: To satisfy this part of the Air 2 requirements, each Beaver must be able to describe how they built their kite, they must have flown the kite (please post a photo or small video into the Parents Whatsapp before 7pm Monday 2nd December) and they must understand where it is safe to fly a kite.

Bree Beavers are also welcome to complete the kite requirement of Air 2 if they wish but it is not essential as they will not be assessed on Air 2 until their 2nd year.

Resources

Here are some links that might help:

Things that fly

Making a Paper Airplane

Making a parachute

Parts of an airport

Parts of an airplane

If ye have any questions relating to this that isn’t already covered on our website or in the Adventure Skills book, please contact us in the WhatsApp group.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Yours in Scouting,
23rd Limerick Beaver Leaders.

Scouts conquer Torc Mountain

Barry Kennedy

Well done to our 12 Scouts and 5 Scouters who successfully summited Torc Mountain (535m) in Killarney over the weekend.

We started at the lower car park (V967 847) and headed up the path to the impressive Torc Waterfall. After the waterfall, we continued on to the upper Car Park (V967 840) where we joined the Old Kenmare Road. We stopped briefly to do some map-reading at the fork by the Old Torc Bridge (V965 837). We continued along the road until we reached the turned off. From here, we follow a stone path with some railway sleepers to the summit of Torc Mountain.

At the summit, we had lunch. We also attempted some feature recognition of the various peaks in the distance such as Mangerton and Purple Mountain. We descend the mountain and headed back to the Car Park (with a slight detour at the Fork to complete the loop of the Waterfall trail)

After the hike, we stopped into Supermacs before heading for home. Thanks to Scouters Barry Kennedy, Neil Ryan, Bob Halvey, Mike Boland and Mike O’Halloran for helping run this great day in the hills. We’ll be back in Kerry before long to take on Mangerton, Purple Mountain and, maybe, even Currantoohill.

Details for your logbook

Scouts should complete their logbook of this hike in order to progress in the Hillwalking adventure skills and for the Four Seasons hike badge

Number in Party17
MapOSI 78
Duration4hrs 22mins
Distance9km
Height Gain 468m

Feel free to show your log to one of the Scouters for feedback.

Beavers – Air Activities

Barry Kennedy

Our Beavers are currently working on their Air Activities badges. We’re asking parents to help at home to reinforce information. In particular, several of our Bree Beavers (Beavers in their first year) haven’t yet visited an airport. This might make a good family outing someday.

Full requirements

Resources

Here are some links that might help:

Things that fly

Making a Paper Airplane

Making a parachute

Parts of an airport

Parts of an airplane

Scouts complete MPC Diamond

Barry Kennedy
No photo description available.

The Group would like to congratulate three Scouts – Eoghan Halvey, Jack Wall and Jake Walsh on complete the four Mountain Pursuit Challenge (MPC) events this year and, in doing so, achieved the coveted MPC diamond. Thanks to Scouter Neil Ryan for leading this over the past few months.

The MPCs are a series of weekend mountaineering events for Scouts held across the four provinces each. They are designed to be tough and challenging and aim to improve hiking, lightweight camping and navigation skills in the hills.

Their first event was the Munster MPC in the Teermoyle area in Kerry back in April.

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing, cloud, sky, outdoor and nature

The second was the Leinster MPC during May in Aghavannagh in the Wicklow mountains and including Lugnaquilla (925m), the highest mountain in Leinster

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing, sky, cloud, outdoor and nature

The third event was the Connaught MPC in September along the Twelve Bens, Co Galway. This very wet weekend saw the team summitting
Benbaun (729m)

The final event was the Ulster MPC in Oct, Mourne Mountains, Co. Down. Barry stood in for Neil for this event which saw the Scouts summit Cove Mountain (654m) and Slieve Lamagan (702m). On Sunday, the three Scouts were presented with their fourth and final MPC badge.

Image may contain: 4 people, people standing, sky, cloud, outdoor and nature

Check out the MPC team website for more info on these events

Beaver Adventure Skills update

Barry Kennedy

Dear parents,

Hillwalking 1
Emergencies 1

On Monday 11th of March, your child will be undertaking an assessment in Hillwalking stage 1 and Emergencies stage 1. On successful completion of the assessment, the beaver will be then be entitled to Hillwalking badge 1 and Emergencies badge 1.

We have included the following documentation below so that you can help your child prepare for these assessments. A little bit each night would help ensure that they are ready this and help them progress to the next stage of their journey within Scouting.

Resources

Emergencies Stage 1 Check List

Hillwalking Stage 1 Check List

12 O’Clock Hills Map

Cratloe Woods Map

Basic Rules of First Aid

Emergency Services

Adventure Skills Handbook

Scouts go climbing

Barry Kennedy

Last Thursday our Scouts went out to Suas Climbing Centre for a night of Rock Climbing. This was the first of four sessions the Scouts will be doing over the next few months. 

Session one was an introduction to climbing. In the upcoming sessons we’ll be covering bouldering, belaying and other climbing techniques. Thanks to Dave and Oisin for teaching the Scouts on the night. Looking forward to the next session

Cubs conquer Moylussa

Barry Kennedy

Well done to all of our cubs today who climbed to Clare’s highest point Moylussa. After a slightly wet start, the weather turned for the best and we had sunshine all the way up and down. A special mention to out young cubs just up from beavers who completed their first major climb and to all of the other cubs – great achievement boys.

It is always a successful hike when everyone gets down safe and uninjured
Thanks to leaders Mike, Ger and venturer Jordan for bringing the boys on this adventure