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Next Event – Saturday 2nd May at Alsop-en-le-Dale – interested in joining ring Mandy on (778)

All sections of the 1st Derbyshire Dales Cyberscouts were made most welcome in the stunning grounds of Chatsworth Estate for their April meeting. The day was opened by Group Scout Leader, Tim Polkinghorne, with the now routine Investiture and Moving Up ceremonies followed by badge awards in recognition of new skills and/or knowledge gained by members. The event was filmed by the Scouting Association with a view of showing footage of the day’s activities across the country to other scouting groups. The intention is to raise awareness of how traditional scouting can be achieved and delivered in a different way to weekly meetings, as Cyberscouts meet only 9 times a year on a Saturday at various locations across Derbyshire.

The Beaver section (ages 6-8) were fortunate to have an outdoor art workshop organised which was led by Mr Lewis Noble, who has spent the last year working in conjunction with Chatsworth to develop a body of work in response to the many varied aspects of the Estate. Large scale studio paintings in addition to smaller paintings completed in the landscape around Chatsworth have created the exhibition titled “Chatsworth Reflected”. Strolling up through the Chatsworth hillsides, the group found the perfect spot for experiencing charcoal sketching and textural rubbings. Once settled into the activity, the Beavers were so engrossed in their compositions even the deer wouldn’t have noticed their presence! Certainly, the Beaver Leaders have never known them so quiet!!! A huge fallen tree trunk made a fabulous site for lunch (and climbing practice of course) after which the Beavers headed off to the Chatsworth Farm and Adventure Playground where normal volume levels were resumed!!! The Leaders would like to congratulate the Beavers for raising £92.35 for Marie Curie Cancer Care through participating in the annual Mini Pots of Care event.

The Cub section (ages 8-10) completed a track and trail activity which led them into an area of the Estate where deer were grazing. Their mission was to track Easter Eggs … of the paper kind! Luckily, the Leaders’ pockets were laden with real chocolate or there could have been mutiny! With lunch and windmill making back at base, a trip to Chatsworth Gardens followed. The Head Gardener demonstrated the sheer power of water by turning the Emperor Fountain off and then back on. Chatsworth generates all its electricity from the water and this demonstration linked well to the work around energy consciousness completed by the Cubs at their previous meeting.

This was a special event for the Scout section as they erected the Group’s new Icelandic tents purchased with funding from the National Lottery. Their task was to erect the tent as a team, without instructions, and only the Leader’s tent to walk around and learn from. The finished article looked the part and it was certainly hard to drag the Scouts out from inside even if it took three times as long to accomplish as planned! Fortunately, the Scouts will have plenty of time on their week long camp in the summer to put up tents, even if it means sleeping under the stars for a few nights!!!

The event closed with a reminder that Cyberscouts will be celebrating St George’s Day in Parwich village on Sunday 26th April and that all flags are to be dedicated in Parwich Church on this day.

Tim Polkinghorne and his team would like to thank all the parent helpers who supported the sections, _______ at Chatsworth House and Lewis Noble for making the event so memorable. The Chatsworth Reflected exhibition will be on display at Chatsworth House until 30th April and then opens in London at the Hart Gallery, Islington on 7th May. If you are interested in viewing any of Lewis’ work, please visit http://www.nobleart.co.uk

The next meeting of Cyberscouts will take place on Saturday 2nd May at Alsop en le Dale. Cyberscouts meet nine Saturdays a year 10am – 3pm and fees for attendance are £15 per meeting. If you are interested in joining Cyberscouts either as a leader/helper, would like to reserve a place as a young person in a section or would like to sponsor the Group, please contact tim@reachnirvana.co.uk  or 01335 348444. More information regarding each sections’ programme can be found at http://www.cyberscouts.me.uk/.