A Great Start to the Year

It’s hard to believe that we are actually into March and heading towards the Easter break.

All of our sections have been delivering an enjoyable programme of events.

Explorers presented a ‘best chippy’ award to the chip shop in Polbeth. 

Cubs have been learning all about – and practicing – archery. 

Beavers have been orienteering and code breaking in the West Kirk grounds.

We welcomed some new volunteers.

Penelope and Eilidh are young leaders from Livingston Explorers and they are helping out with Beavers.

Maddison (currently training to become a primary school teacher) has a made a welcome return to scouts as an assistant (in the making).

Talk to your section leader if you are interested in helping out.

Keep the Date….

Saturday 15th June@ West Calder Community Garden

Group Fun Day

·   camp fire

·   barbecue

·   and lots of fun activities for our children and young people

There will be an open invitation for parents/carers and families to come along to the fire (be in good singing voice) and barbecue.

You can help…

We are a charity and by law require a Board of Trustees.

Trustees help us to :

·   manage our funds

·   keep our young people safe

·   advise on fun programmes

·   and spread the word in West Calder about the great work we do

Training (online) is provided.

There are up to two meetings a year, plus our Annual General Meeting (our 2023 AGM was a great success).

Jim, our Lead Volunteer; Duncan, our Treasurer; and Paul, our Chairperson will be members of the new Board.

We are looking for up to six volunteers to become Board members, including a replacement for Paul.

You can find out more about being a Trustee at https://www.scouts.scot/news-events/news/introducing-trustee-board/

Or drop Jim an email: 18thwestlothian@gmail.com.

Fundraising & Grants…

We are always looking for ways of raising funds for your group.

Most of our funds come from member subscriptions (and we are looking at a small increase from August of this year).

Every ‘penny’ we bring in or raise is spent on our young people and the fun programmes that each section run.

If you have any ideas for fundraising events or grants that we can apply for, get in touch.

Scout Photography Activity Badge

By the time you read this, the scout section will have been out and about around the village on a Photographic Treasure Trail – finding the locations of old photographs of the village and taking a photo from the same spot.

Scouts are working on their Photography Activity Badge. This involves:

·   producing 12 colour or 6 black and white photos

·   editing those photos

·   explaining the different parts of a camera or smartphone camera

·   describing why and what to do when a photograph ‘goes wrong’

·   showing how to care for a camera or smartphone camera

Local photographers have volunteered to help the scouts.

The scouts are also planning a Saturday day hike along the Shale Trail.

This will give them a chance to improve their hiking and photography skills at the same time.

Our village