Scouts earning a "Plumbers Badge"

A fun activity of "learning all about plumbing" was given to Scouts in our Group. It was held at the Scout hall on Saturday 5th October and run by Peter Griffiths, a parent of one of our Scouts.

Peter prepared a booklet for the activity and Scouts needed to complete various tasks in the booklet to earn the badge.

Peter also brought along a wide variety of tools, plumbing items / parts as used by plumbers so that the Scouts can also participate in some practical aspects of plumbing.

Prior to completing a task, a demonstration was given by Peter as to what tools were needed, how to use the tools and how to complete the task.

The task found to be very popular by all Scouts was the cutting and then the soldering of a copper t-piece, a coupling with two short straight pieces. This required using a gas-burner, solder and flux.

Below is a photo taken during one of the demonstrations.

Our thanks to Peter for his assistance in being the badge examiner for this activity.

World Scouting launches new online platform

On 15 October 2013, World Scouting launched a new online platform for World Scouting. It aims to bring together all the Scouts around the world in a permanent jamboree. It marks a fundamental mind-shift in communications and will contribute to change the way business will be done in World Scouting. 

World Scouting are sure that this new platform will contribute to further engagement and exchange between Scouts worldwide. The changes to scout.org go beyond creating a new website. They reflect the way the Movement is seen and the role Scouting has in the lives of Scouts and Scouter leaders throughout the World.

"The platform that was created which will provide constant learning, communication, sharing and development." - Scott Teare, Secretary General WOSM

The new website is the centre of World Scouting’s renewed web presence. It is a hub for all of digital activities bringing a new level of transparency, responsiveness and interactivity. The vision for the new scout.org is to be an online space where the Movement is living in its full vibrancy – 24/7 and 365 days a year.

To view the new site click here    http://www.scout.org/

Some example "screen captures" below

Update JOTA/JOTI 2013

Our Group Scouter has over this past weekend installed and tested IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and "TeamSpeak" (suggested programs from JOTI site). During testing of the software he had contact with other Scout/Guide users of the software in Netherlands, India, UK and Alaska.

Our Flights (Patrols) may try using these programs during this JOTA/JOTI event.

JOTA/JOTI 2013

Our Flight Leaders at a meeting of their Court-of-Honour have confirmed that their Flights will participate in this years Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) / Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI) Worldwide event.  This will be the third year that the Group (now call a Squadron) has participated.

Each Flight Leader has their own HamSphere call-sign and the HamSphere software emulates a virtual Ham Radio however is based on Internet connectivity.

The Flight Leaders and their Flights members will try to talk to other Scout Groups in South Africa as well as around the World who may also be using the HamSphere software.

Being Internet based, this activity is considered as been JOTI related.

Special  QSL  (Confirmation of Contact) cards have been prepared for this event.

 

The Flight Leaders and the members are looking forward to contacting you or you contacting them.

Our call signs are 44HS250 (Spitfire) ; 44HS277 (Mirage) ; 44HS278 (Tomcat) and 44HS279 (Sabre).

Scouts visit Rand Airport Air Show

It was an enjoyable day for some of the Harmelia Gardens Air Scouts as they could see various aircraft in action at the Rand Airport Airshow.

Aerobatic displays were done by both the Silver Falcons Air Force Squadron and the Harvards.

During the airshow a Mustang took to the sky and the pilot put the aircraft through a very impressive warbird display of action.

There were also various aircraft on “static” display.

Thanks to those who attended.

"Meal on Wheels" event

Harmelia Gardens Scout Group held a "Meal on Wheels" event on Saturday 7th September in the neighbourhood of our Scout Hall.

Patrols hiked from base to base and were given the next required ingredient for the meal after completing a base activity. There were a total of 8 bases.

The wheels were a garden wheel-barrow, the meal was a "chicken potjie" and cooking medium was a lit fire.

The evening closed with a campfire.

The event was enjoyed by all and special thanks to all who participated. Also to the parents who attended and had the opportunity of tasting a meal.

Preparation was done on Friday night.

Mirage Flight earn 4th Place in District Boot Hike

Congratulations to Mirage Flight for earning 4th Place in the North Rand District Boot Hike.

The Boot Hike took place at Tswaing Meteorite Crater located about 40km northwest of Pretoria. It is a 1 946ha conservation area that is home to a meteorite impact crate and surrounding wetland.

On 20 July 2013, this area was overrun by Aliens known as skitters. Scattered groups of humans banded together to fight a guerrilla war against the invaders, but the fight has not gone well.

A command ship had crashed and Scout Patrols / Flights from various Scout Groups from the North Rand Scout District were asked to investigate the crashed ship and retrieve vital information that could aid Earth in defeating the alien invaders.

Tswaing Crater, Soshanguve, Pretoria. Photo courtesy Paul Jacobson

Well done to Mirage Flight.