What a wonderful year 2007 was for everyone involved in Scouting.

The year started with the Centenary Thanksgiving Service in Belfast Cathedral and finished with the really magical Christmas at Crawfordsburn.  There were many memorable events in the months between, perhaps the most outstanding being the Garden Party at our very own NI Scout Centre Crawfordsburn, the Fleur de Lis Gala night in The Waterfront Hall and Mr. Beaver’s Zoo Day.  Thank you to all the people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make these events possible.  During the past year I have had the honour to attend many events around the Province and it has been a delight to receive a warm welcome and meet so many enthusiastic and dedicated Leaders and supporters of our great Movement.  A very big ‘thank you’ to you all.

Christmas at Crawfordsburn just gets better and better! A really big ‘THANK YOU’ to Santa and his helpers and to Sid and the ‘on site’ team.  It couldn’t happen without you all.  During this event we learnt a few new things about the Christmas Story – did you know that Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to B…’the beach’ and the precious gifts the wise men brought were ‘toys’, ‘a hand bag’ and ‘gloves’ – although I deserved the latter by suggesting that grown-ups might wear this on their hands, expecting the answer to be gold!!

Win family tickets for Belfast Zoo!!  On the theme of the ‘Big Draw’, which took place during Mr. Beaver’s ZOO DAY, get you Beaver Scouts to ‘picture themselves’ as their favourite animal – drawings, paintings, collages or even a fancy dress photo!!  Send their creations to me c/o NISC

and they could win a special prize.  I look forward to seeing them!!

IMPORTANT NEWS for 2008!    Let’s meet the new CHALLENGES!

As Scouting begins an exciting new Century, some important changes have been made to the Beaver Scout Programme.  These will be effective from 1st February 2008 and are outlined in the Beaver supplement of the December 2007/January 2008 issue of Scouting magazine.  The major changes are in relation to the Programme Zones now linked to a new range of Challenge badges, other badges have been redesigned and the requirements updated.  Support material and resources will be available from the Sales Office at Scout Shops Limited, Lancing, online www.scouts.org.uk/shop or from the Scout Shop, Belfast during Spring 2008.  The Northern Ireland team are currently organising a series of locally based ‘Ideas Fairs’ which will run around the Province during Spring 2008.  These will launch our own version of POL - Programmes Online and provide support on the Programme changes. ACCs will keep you informed of dates in your area!

Remember…

WOODBADGE TRAINING

is for your support

See insert pack for details & dates

Watch this space!

BEAVER RALLY DAY

SATURDAY 17th MAY 2008

Northern Ireland Scout Centre