Founder's Day Activities 2012

On February 22 nd, the Scouting Movement worldwide celebrates the birthday of its founder, Lord Baden-Powell. To commemorate this event, the district of Gozo will be organising two main activities:

• District Activity: A joint activity between the Victoria and Xagħra Scout Groups will take place on Saturday 25th February. The activity will officially start with a hike at 1230hrs near the church at Ta' Ħamet and finish at 1730hrs at Ramla.
• District Parade and Mass: A District Parade and Mass will be held on Sunday 26th February at Taċ-Ċawla chapel in Victoria around 1030hrs. The mass starts at 1100hrs.

Founder's Day Dinner

On February 22nd, the Scouting Movement worldwide celebrates the birthday of its founder, Lord Baden-Powell. To commemorate this event, the Victora Scout Group will be holding its annual Founder's Day dinner at the Scouts' Headquarters on Saturday 3rd March 2012 at 1930hrs. Tickets are available from the Scouts' Headquarters.

Prices:

• Adults: €12
• Children (up to 12 years): €5

Closing date: Wednesday 29th February 2012

Original Flyer

Group Meeting – December 2011

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
29th December 2011

During a group meeting held at headquarters on Thursday 29th December Cub Scout, Nicholas Formosa and a friend of his – Eric Grech – delivered the boys' sermon during mass celebrated by the group chaplain, Rev Dr Joseph Farrugia. This mass was offered for the repose of the soul of Scouter Vincent Cassar—Vincent's wife Marlene and daughter Denise attended the mass.

Later four Cubs from the Seeonee Pack: Romualdo Attard, Anton Cremona, Luc Galea and Jerrod Xerri were invested. Another investiture ceremony for Scout Max Scerri followed. Refreshments were then offered to those present.

Packs' Christmas Party 2011

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
28th December 2011

The two Packs held a joint Christmas party at the headquarters on Wednesday 28th December 2011. Lots of games, good food and a special visit by Father Christmas who distributed the presents made it an evening to remember.

Venture Camp 2011

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
27, 28, 29th December 2011

This year's winter camp was characterized by inclement weather. However the Unit went ahead and was ready to face any challenges which awaited them. The weather was cold, windy and wet. Though it was still the Christmas season the nights were anything but silent with lightning and thunder crashing all around them. As a result of the heavy rainfall, the valley below the campsite was flooded. A torrent of clay-brown water marked its way through the valley from the area near the freshwater pond right to the Inland Sea, which was dyed the same colour as that water. In certain places the depth of the water was knee-high. There was even a waterfall over the cliffs!

In spite of these adversities, the Unit members enjoyed this camp with a difference and will not easily forget what they experienced during those three days at Dwejra.

Venture Rally 2011

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
Sunday 27th November 2011

This year the Unit sent two teams for the Venture Rally which was held on Sunday 27th November 2011. However, only one team was competing while the other was merely participating. In all there were 16 Units who took part. For weeks before the event, the Ventures met to prepare themselves for the challenge which lay ahead of them.

The expedition took the Ventures around Qrendi, starting from the area near the prehistoric temples of Ħaġar Qim, then on to the rural side of town and finished in the main square of the village.

When the results were announced, it was found out that while the competing team made it to the 8th place, the participating team landed in 4th!

Well done to all!

Packs' Sleepover 2011

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
Saturday 26th November 2011

Another joint activity for the two Packs at the Victoria Scout Group was the sleepover which; was held at the headquarters in November. The Cubs arrived at HQ on Saturday evening. The meeting started off with some games which brought on quite an appetite to the Cubs. Thankfully dinner was next on the agenda. This was followed by more games and an indoor campfire. A film show was later projected in the Packs' den. When the film was over, the Cubs were invited for a cup of hot chocolate in the kitchen. However a surprise awaited them; one of the Cubs was celebrating his birthday and his mum had brought him a birthday cake to share with his friends. It was a complete surprise for George, the birthday boy, as well as the other Cubs. After celebrating the event, it was time to settle in the sleeping bags and settle down for the night.

The next morning's wake-up call was extra special and extra loud! Musical instruments such as a bugle, a drum and a pair of cymbals substituted the usual alarm clock. The Cubs woke up, had breakfast, packed their kit and all too soon it was time to return home.

However the Cubs seemed to have had a good time because they are already clamouring for a repeat!

Troop Activity for Halloween

Report by CSL Anita Muscat
Saturday 29th October 2011

Towards the end of October, on the occasion of Halloween, the Troop dedicated a meeting to activities connected with this theme.

Forty Kg of pumpkins were carved into different Jack o' Lanterns by the Patrols. This was followed by games such as the Frankenstein race, the mummy wrap and the gooey skeleton puzzle. The race involved balancing acts as well as speed. For the mummy wrap, a Scout was transformed into a mummy by covering him in toilet paper. The puzzle activity consisted of retrieving parts of a skeleton by dipping their hands into different boxes containing slimy, sticky and slippery substances such as red jelly and boiled pasta and trying to reconstruct the whole skeleton.

Naturally it was great fun for all those involved!

Minister for Gozo visits
the Victoria Scout Group

Report by CSL Anita Muscat

In connection with the project carried out at the Scouts Headquarters, which project was subsidised by the Ministry for Gozo under the Eco-Gozo Action Plan 2010-2011, the Minister for Gozo the Hon. Giovanna Debono paid a visit to the Victoria Scout Group headquarters.

The minister met the Group Scout Leader, Mr. Lorrie Saliba, the leaders and the members of the Group Council. She addressed the Scouts and encouraged them to attend the activities held by the Group as these help in the formation of their characters. She also reminded those present that the year 2011 is the European Year of Volunteering and that the European Union is promoting active citizenship through volunteering. She remarked that volunteering in an integral part of the Scout's life and that the group is well known for its commitment to help others. The GSL replied by emphasising that duty to others is part of the Scout Law and Promise, that the goal of Scouting is to develop young people as responsible citizens and that the mission of Scouting is to educate young people to play a constructive role in society. This is done by involving Scouts in projects where they help others.

The Group Scout Leader together with some Group Council members described to the minister the various phases of the project undertaken at the headquarters to build the underground reservoir in the headquarters' yard. The work on the reservoir is almost complete. The minister was then taken around the various halls and section rooms with the Scouts' Headquarters.

Before leaving the headquarters she added her signature to the Group's visitors’ book.

JOTI 2011 

Report by CSL Anita Muscat

The two Packs within the Victoria Scout Group recently participated in the Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI). During this activity the Cubs had the opportunity to contact other Scouts from all over the world including Sweden, Greece, Philippines, Zimbabwe and Mexico.

The Cubs also took part in activities linked to the themes of Peace and the Environment which were suggested for the occasion by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM). 

As part of the Peace topic, under the section "Disabilities – Challenging Prejudice", the Cubs took part in the game "Who are the lucky ones?". This game revolves around everyday situations faced by people with disabilities. The Cubs were, at random, given cards describing a particular disability and were encouraged to imagine the difficulties they would encounter in their daily lives.

They were reminded that we are all responsible for our environment and our actions should reflect the words of our Scout Law and Promise "We will do our best!" as regards the environment. In this way we can all contribute to safeguard our local, national and global environment.