West Lancashire Scouts have awarded 50 girls and boys ages 10 to 14 their Chief Scout Award. This is the highest award attainable for their age. The presentation took place in the new £42Million West Lancashire College in Skelmersdale. Mrs Gail Stanley MBE, JP, DL, presented the awards and Cllr Rob Bailey Mayor of West Lancashire BC offered congratulations.

The event focused on the fun, commitment and personal development the Scouts gained from the award. The award encompass the essence of Scouting, which gives young people the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities from; volunteering, climbing, hiking, rafting, kayaking and even attending international camps in places such as Sweden and Austria.

Tom, 14, Ormskirk said “Through the award I was given the opportunity to volunteer with the younger Scouts (aged 6-8) this has given me leaderships skills and made me more confidence. Scouting has allowed me to take part in skiing and overnight hiking, experience that have changed my life”

“Scouting is not all badges it’s what’s behind these awards; the fun; the friendship and the adventure. Scouting is making a difference to the life’s 10,000 young people across Lancashire and offers fantastic opportunities to millions globally.” Former Awardee and Guest Speaker on the night Harry, 16, Preston

‘As a society, we do tend to get bogged down with ‘you can’t do this, you can’t do that’ and I think it’s a shame – kids lose out on so much of the magic of the outdoors. I want kids to learn how to start fires without matches, build camps, and climb mountains. Our ancestors had these skills for generations and now we are in danger of losing them.’ says Chief Scout Bear Grylls.

Also, congratulations to the 40 Cub Scouts from Ormskirk and District who received their Chief Scout Silver Award earlier in the year. The girls and boys aged 8-10 completed a range of activities including camping, hiking and fitness trainning. The award has a strong personal challenge element that encourage the young people develop a skill or activity personal to their ability.

If you would like to volunteer with us Scouting or would like your child to join visitwww.scouts.org.uk/join or call 01995613361

Lord Wade of Chorlton who has been the President of West Lancashire Scouts for over 14 years, held his retirement luncheon at Leyland Golf Club where he announced his support and a £1000 financial boost for the Scout’s Entrepreneurial Challenge in West Lancashire.

Lord Wade said he hoped that this would stimulate other local business leaders into supporting this initiative either through funding, provision of mentoring, premises or advice and would help to foster the business leaders of tomorrow that our country needs.

The Entrepreneur Challenge aims to develop Scouts’ nature for enterprise through activities which enable them to set up, or create an idea for, a Scouting enterprise or business.

The Luncheon also marked the start of West Lancashire’s New President, Gail Stanley who is a former High Sheriff of Lancashire who recently took up her role. Gail said “She admired the work that Scouts were doing with young people and that she liked how we offered flexible volunteering and welcomed change because Organisations who didn’t adapt to the current youth culture were less likely to succeed.” Click Gail Stanley to hear why she is excited to volunteer with West Lancashire Scouts.

People wishing to join, volunteer with Scouts or offer support for the Entrepreneur Challenge should contact the County Scout Office on 01995 61336 or e-mail fun@westlancashirescouts.org.uk

Trogz Explorer Scouts from Kirkham & Wesham won this year’s evasion exercise in the Ormskirk region called Operation Moonlight 2012. They not only won the trophy for the Explorer Scout category they also won the trophy for the overall competition.

This year’s event, that has been running successfully for 24 years, had the largest ever turnout with over 500 Scouts and Explorer Scouts from all over theWestLancashireCounty, consisting of 90 teams.

On Saturday, 21^st January  at 12 noon the young people were set loose and spent the next 9 hours evading teams of catchers and navigating their way to the finish around 10 miles (16.5 km) away as the crow flies. The aim is to find their way to the finish with as many ‘lives’ intact as possible.

Scouts and Explorer Scouts probably added to the distance quite significantly as to avoid the dreaded catchers that take away valuable ‘lives’. This year there were over 90 catchers. (Catchers are also Moonlight Marshals, and whilst trying to catch as many teams as possible for the catcher’s prize they are also there to ensure the safety and well being of the teams.)

Trogz Explorer Scouts provided 2 Teams (4 Members each) this year. Jared Vann (17 years) who was the Team Leader of the winning team said right after the trophies were presented: “I’m tired, but I’m really proud of what we have achieved.”

His Team Mates were Conner Fenton (17 years), Jack Clarke (16 years) and Andrew Glenholme (16 years). Andrew said: “I am ecstatic! I can’t believe we have won this.”

The other team consisted of Rebecca Collett (15 years) who was the team leader, Thomas Carr (14 years), Nathan Brookes, (14 years) and Stefan Blackburn (16 years).

A team of Scouts from Eccleston near Ormskirk won the trophy for the Scout Section. These 11 to 14 year olds also won the trophy last year.

By Fylde MDM Marita Kirkham