Thanks to all the parents who got back to us about camp – your feedback is appreciated.

Chevin conservation: 9.30am – 12.30pm Sunday 12th February

Thanks to everyone who's volunteered to take part in the Chevin day tomorrow – Liam, Kieran, George, Douggie, Oscar, Ben TW & Daniel H, plus assorted parents. I'll text final details to their parents. Because it's so wintry, we're just volunteering in the morning and will do another future session to make up the 6 hours voluntary effort that Scouts need to qualify for their Community Award.

If your Scout still fancies taking part, Chris Grain is meeting Scouts and parents at 9.30am at the Chevin Quarry car park (the one on the right as you go up the hill up East Chevin Road), finishing 12.30pm at the same place. Let us know if you're coming!

March fossil camp cancelled...

Unfortunately, not enough Scouts are able to afford the March Fossil camp to make it viable to run, so we have had to cancel the booking.

...so we're doing a ghostly night hike! 7.15pm Friday 24th February - £5

Now that the hut's got heating and – mmm – inside toilets, we can start using it a lot more. Spare Chris is hatching devilish plans for a ghostly night hike, ending up with a sleepover at the hut. We'll make sure that Scouts have something warm to come back to and bacon butties in the morning, with pick-up at 10am on the Saturday.

Dear all

My apologies if any of this information is slightly later than you'd want it to be – as many of you will be aware, Stu & I are expecting a baby in mid-June, so Scouts is being administered through a hormonal fuzz! We're planning a gradual handover of admin tasks to other leaders, so don't worry that there will be a sudden disruption to services in June – it's all under control.

Firstly, thanks to the Scouts and parents who helped out at the recent working weekend – the new extension is far closer to being useable. If your Scout took part and doesn't have their Community Challenge award yet, all their hard work counts towards it.

Here's the latest update – a lot of information, but I've tried to keep it as short and snappy as possible.

Meeting Tues 18th Oct, no meeting Wed 19th – joint meeting with Parish Scouts, 7.30–9.15pm

Hope you had a lovely holiday break. Scouts resumes this Wednesday at the usual time, 7.30 – 9.15pm

Hard Core camp 16-18 September

This camp was really popular last year, with almost the whole Troop going, so we're hoping for the same again. Axes, saws, fires, woodcraft, building & sleeping in shelters – it's a real back-to-basics camp. Just what Scouts need to let off steam after a couple of weeks back at school!

I've attached the nights away information form for the camp. Please try to return the form to us this Wednesday, or next Wednesday at the latest.

Otley carnival, Saturday 18th June

It's carnival time again and, as usual, 2nd Otley's got a float. Last year we had Christmas in June, so this year we're extending the theme – Halloween in June! Ghosts, ghoulies, zombies – all are welcome. And our new roof-box is planning to double-up as a coffin on the day.

The carnival float will be prepared on Saturday morning and any help that can be provided by parents and Scouts from 9am onwards will be gratefully received, meeting at the Scout hut.

Thanks to all the Scouts who represented 2nd Otley in the Torch Race on Friday. We came 3rd (not 2nd as I originally thought), but a damned close 3rd, just behind Burley (the winners for the last heavens knows how many years). It was a really good run and everyone did us proud.

As I write, I'm munching on a cup cake from Saturday, when Jimmy Savile unveiled the new Scout Hut foundation stone. I've attached John Morgan's photos of both events and hope that you enjoy them. The remaining cup cakes went to the folks at Teal Beck House round the corner and were much appreciated.

It's been a busy month for Scouts, so you'll probably be relieved that there are no extra events for a while... until June!

It's the Easter holidays, but there's quite a lot planned for the next month or so. You can get some dates in your diaries, while we frantically pack for Easter camp!

Next Scout meeting – 7.30pm, Wednesday 20th April

We usually finish at 9.15pm when we move onto British Summer Time. However, in deference to the poor old year 7's, who are enjoying their first week of exams this week, we'll finish at 9pm.

Meetings will finish at 9.15pm from Wed 27th April onwards.

St George's Day Parade – 12.45pm, Sunday 17th April

The annual St. George's Day parade will be taking place in Addingham on Sunday 17th April. Although we always enjoy supporting the St George's Day parade, this one falls at a bad time for us – we're just back from camp, the Year 7's start their exam week the following day, and the majority of our leaders are at work (most of our leader team work weekends). For that reason, none of the 2nd Otley Scout leaders are able to attend, with the exception of the redoubtable Peter Young. However, any Scouts who are able to attend the parade will be supervised by Cub leaders. Scouts will need to be wearing their uniforms with smart trousers and shoes (preferably). They will be meeting in the Swan Car Park at 12:45. The service will be held at the Parish Church on Main Street and will finish around 2pm.

It's parading time again! Addingham, 12.45pm Sunday 17th April

If you missed last year's St George's Day parade, you can see the videos that some parents made at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxtAuEbQChk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQGR6Cl_65E.

It was my first parade and was surprisingly good fun.

We had a great turn-out from the Scouts last year and would like as many as possible to turn up, as (unlike other troops that are more church-based) it's the only one that we do.

We've been asked to give numbers by next week, so could you let me know if your Scout is intending to come?

Thanks,

Emma