Scout newsletter

NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2022

This can also be viewed on our Troop website: Newsletters

CONTENTS

1 - TROOP CALENDAR
2 - TROOP MEETINGS RESTART - SUBS DUE
3 - CURRENT COVID RULES
4 - CHILTERNS HIKEOVER
5 - SUMMER CAMP
6 - TROOP POLICIES
7 - CONTACT

1 - TROOP CALENDAR
Happier New Year! Web information and Calendar: The New Year is a good opportunity to catch up on Troop information, as outlined below. Our website (address at the bottom) has more information and the Newsletters page has copies of recent Newsletters. Camps in 2022. We have booked camps through to Summer Camp next year. 18 - 19 March Chilterns Hikeover (Friday evening to Sat lunchtime - sleep indoors) 13 – 15 May Troop Spring Camp (Tolmers) 24 – 25 June Aquila Starnight (Fri evening to Sat lunchtime) Sat 23 - Sat 30 July Troop Summer Camp - see below More information on our website: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/calendar.htm

1 - TROOP CALENDAR

Happier New Year!

Web information and Calendar: The New Year is a good opportunity to catch up on Troop information, as outlined below. Our website (address at the bottom) has more information and the Newsletters page has copies of recent Newsletters.

Camps in 2022. We have booked camps through to Summer Camp next year.

18 - 19 March    Chilterns Hikeover (Friday evening to Sat lunchtime - sleep indoors)
13 – 15 May    Troop Spring Camp (Tolmers)
24 – 25 June    Aquila Starnight (Fri evening to Sat lunchtime)
Sat 23 - Sat 30 July    Troop Summer Camp - see below

More information on our website: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/calendar.htm

2 - TROOP MEETINGS RESTART - SUBS DUE
Meetings restart on Friday January 7 at the Scout Hut. Meetings are 7.30 to 9.15. Note that, uniform is required unless announced otherwise. To keep our neighbours happy and for safety: A reminder of policy on getting scouts to and from our HQ and on parking.: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/Policies/parking_bringing_taking.htm *Subscriptions* These are £50 per term, due at the start of each term. Please help us by getting subs in on time by paying by bank transfer: email me for our bank details if new to the Troop. After paying, please fill out the (very short) on-line form on our website: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/Form_Subs_payment.htm This will now be the way of recording payment and will prompt us to check receipt and email confirmation. This covers a wide range of costs and currently the Group gets no other income (except almost all parents Gift Aid their subs). Subscriptions are very roughly divided equally: Troop expenses - everything for the Troop except camp fees - badges, equipment, meetings etc 18th Scout Group Group - cost of upkeeping our HQ, camping equipment etc, contribution for section camp travel Scouting organisation - and insurance, campsites etc. New scouts (starting this term): we do not expect payment for two or three weeks, until the decision to join.

2 - TROOP MEETINGS RESTART - SUBS DUE

Meetings restart on Friday January 7 at the Scout Hut. Meetings are 7.30 to 9.15.

Note that, uniform is required unless announced otherwise.

To keep our neighbours happy and for safety: A reminder of policy on getting scouts to and from our HQ and on parking.:
http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/Policies/parking_bringing_taking.htm

Subscriptions

These are £50 per term, due at the start of each term. Please help us by getting subs in on time by paying by bank transfer: email me for our bank details if new to the Troop.

After paying, please fill out the (very short) on-line form on our website:
http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/Form_Subs_payment.htm
This will now be the way of recording payment and will prompt us to check receipt and email confirmation.

This covers a wide range of costs and currently the Group gets no other income (except almost all parents Gift Aid their subs). Subscriptions are very roughly divided equally:

Troop expenses - everything for the Troop except camp fees - badges, equipment, meetings etc
18th Scout Group Group - cost of upkeeping our HQ, camping equipment etc, contribution for section camp travel
Scouting organisation - and insurance, campsites etc.

New scouts (starting this term): we do not expect payment for two or three weeks, until the decision to join.

3 - CURRENT COVID RULES
The Scout Rules have not changed since December, but we need to be aware that they might change at short notice. We do need to follow these rules and we also look at prevailing local infection rates. The main features are: Anyone aged 11+ must wear a face covering when indoors, unless they are exempt. Please ensure your scout brings a mask!!! Upto half term we will be mainly in the hut, but include some outdoors. We will ensure good ventilation (such as extraction fans). We will minimise close contact. As usual, Any last minute changes will be communicated by: email Stop press page: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/stop_press.htm Troop WhatsApp page

3 - CURRENT COVID RULES

The Scout Rules have not changed since December, but we need to be aware that they might change at short notice.

We do need to follow these rules and we also look at prevailing local infection rates. The main features are:

Anyone aged 11+ must wear a face covering when indoors, unless they are exempt. Please ensure your scout brings a mask!!!
Upto half term we will be mainly in the hut, but include some outdoors.
We will ensure good ventilation (such as extraction fans).
We will minimise close contact.

As usual, Any last minute changes will be communicated by:

email
Stop press page: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/stop_press.htm
Troop WhatsApp page

4 - CHILTERNS HIKEOVER
Friday evening March 18 - Saturday morning March 19 The Troop is going on a Friday evening hike, followed by sleeping over in heated, indoor accommodation at Braid Wood Scout Centre, near Chesham. We will finish Saturday midday. While some of the details are still to be finalised, the likely arrangements are as follows. The hike will be approximately the normal Troop meeting time and start at approx. 7:30 p.m. It will be on paths in the Chilterns and we will ensure there is adequate adult supervision. No particular equipment is needed for this, but preferably Scouts will wear hiking boots. A good torch would be an advantage. Scouts will need to have sleeping gear, including sleeping bag, camp mat etc, which we plan on transporting to the Braid Wood by car. On arriving at Braid Wood we will have some supper and some video entertainment, (then hopefully some sleep!). Saturday morning, we will have breakfast and then some wide games before finishing. But Scouts that need to get back straight away can leave first thing on Saturday morning. For this activity, leaders can transport some Scouts, but we are likely to need some parents to help drive in each direction (approx. 30 - 40 minutes.) The cost will be about £7 per Scout, but we are not quite ready to start taking payments. NEVERTHELESS, please save the dates NOW. The building is booked! This is a great starter activity for new scouts: one night and indoor accommodation. A few photos and information: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Camp_information/Hikeover_information.htm Very importantly, we really need three parents to volunteer to be our base contact. Essentially this means staying at the hall at Braid Wood during the Friday evening ONLY, hopefully ensuring that it is nice and toasty when the hike groups arrive, to cook some sausages on the stove and to act as a "base" for contact. When the hike groups have arrived, the parents could leave if they want. Having a parent or two coming on the hike would also be a help. DBS clearance is not needed for this, unless you plan on staying overnight.

4 - CHILTERNS HIKEOVER

Friday evening March 18 - Saturday morning March 19

The Troop is going on a Friday evening hike, followed by sleeping over in heated, indoor accommodation at Braid Wood Scout Centre, near Chesham. We will finish Saturday midday.

While some of the details are still to be finalised, the likely arrangements are as follows. The hike will be approximately the normal Troop meeting time and start at approx. 7:30 p.m. It will be on paths in the Chilterns and we will ensure there is adequate adult supervision. No particular equipment is needed for this, but preferably Scouts will wear hiking boots. A good torch would be an advantage.

Scouts will need to have sleeping gear, including sleeping bag, camp mat etc, which we plan on transporting to the Braid Wood by car. On arriving at Braid Wood we will have some supper and some video entertainment, (then hopefully some sleep!).

Saturday morning, we will have breakfast and then some wide games before finishing. But Scouts that need to get back straight away can leave first thing on Saturday morning.

For this activity, leaders can transport some Scouts, but we are likely to need some parents to help drive in each direction (approx. 30 - 40 minutes.)

The cost will be about £7 per Scout, but we are not quite ready to start taking payments. NEVERTHELESS, please save the dates NOW. The building is booked!

This is a great starter activity for new scouts: one night and indoor accommodation.

A few photos and information:

http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Camp_information/Hikeover_information.htm

Very importantly, we really need three parents to volunteer to be our base contact. Essentially this means staying at the hall at Braid Wood during the Friday evening ONLY, hopefully ensuring that it is nice and toasty when the hike groups arrive, to cook some sausages on the stove and to act as a "base" for contact. When the hike groups have arrived, the parents could leave if they want. Having a parent or two coming on the hike would also be a help. DBS clearance is not needed for this, unless you plan on staying overnight.

5 - AQUILA SUMMER CAMP 2022
We have the dates (Saturday 23 July to Saturday 30 July, 2022) and site booked: St Brides Scout Camp in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This is a very different area from our last Summer Camp. This is a Scout campsite, right on the coast near St Davids We are now taking deposits for this, our main activity of the year. The first letter, requesting deposit is now on our website. http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/newsletters.htm After paying the deposit, complete the short registration form: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Camp_information/Form_Summer_Camp_deposit.htm More information: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Camp_information/Summer_camp_information.htm There are some photos of the site and area: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Campsites/new_forest.htm More photos are on our noticeboard in the Scout Hut. We are keeping the cost of the Camp down to £174.00, inclusive of transport, food and accommodation. We need to get a clear idea of the number of scouts who wish to go, so to ensure a place please pay the deposit of £49.00 as soon as possible, but in any case by the end of February. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET NUMBERS SORTED OUT EARLY, AND WE WANT TO TRY TO ENSURE WE CAN TAKE ALL SCOUTS WHO WANT TO COME AND BOOK ENOUGH PLACES FOR ACTIVITIES. SO REPLY QUICKLY. I think all the Scouts had a great time last Summer Camp, so I hope plenty will sign up for the next: the highlight of the Troop's year. We do save spaces for new scouts, so they can get to know the Troop before deciding

5 - AQUILA SUMMER CAMP 2022

We have the dates (Saturday 23 July to Saturday 30 July, 2022) and site booked: St Brides Scout Camp in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This is a very different area from our last Summer Camp. This is a Scout campsite, right on the coast near St Davids

We are now taking deposits for this, our main activity of the year. The first letter, requesting deposit is now on our website.
http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/newsletters.htm

After paying the deposit, complete the short registration form:
http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Camp_information/Form_Summer_Camp_deposit.htm

More information:
http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Camp_information/Summer_camp_information.htm

There are some photos of the site and area:
http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Activities/Campsites/new_forest.htm

More photos are on our noticeboard in the Scout Hut.

We are keeping the cost of the Camp down to £174.00, inclusive of transport, food and accommodation. We need to get a clear idea of the number of scouts who wish to go, so to ensure a place please pay the deposit of £49.00 as soon as possible, but in any case by the end of February.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET NUMBERS SORTED OUT EARLY, AND WE WANT TO TRY TO ENSURE WE CAN TAKE ALL SCOUTS WHO WANT TO COME AND BOOK ENOUGH PLACES FOR ACTIVITIES. SO REPLY QUICKLY.

I think all the Scouts had a great time last Summer Camp, so I hope plenty will sign up for the next: the highlight of the Troop's year.

We do save spaces for new scouts, so they can get to know the Troop before deciding

6 - TROOP POLICIES
There is a section on our website that contains a number of Troop policies, to help ensure a fair and smooth running of our Troop. Such written policies cannot be exhaustive, but these do form part of our guidance for what is expected from members: http://aquila.scout-troop.org.uk/Member_information/Policies/troop_policies.htm

18TH ST ALBANS

AQUILA

SCOUT TROOP

NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2022

CONTACT