Boys, girls and adult volunteers are all welcome at Scouting taster session

Two years after Scouting returned to the town after a brief absence, the First Millbrook Scout Group has already outgrown the community centre and is moving in to the town, in response to growing demand.

The start of the new Scouting year is imminent and next Friday (September 7) the local group will host a taster evening at the new base in the hall of the Old Presbyterian Church of Larne and Kilwaughter at Meetinghouse Street.

It is the ideal introduction for boys and girls aged between six and 14 years who are interested in joining the Beavers, the Cubs or the Scouts, and an opportunity for potential leaders to see if Scouting is for them.

Friday 7 is also registration night for parents of existing members: Beaver Scouts at 6-7pm, Cub Scouts (6.30-8pm) and Scouts (7-9pm).

“We are an open, non-sponsored group and will welcome any young person or adult who would like to get involved,” said the group.

“Upcoming planned events for this year include a Night Hike, football, camps, a challenge hike, quizzes, badge work, a visit from the local PSNI, Fire and Rescue Service as well as a visit to the RNLI station,” they added.

In the past year, the Beaver Scouts (6-8 years) took part in activities including a visit to Belfast Zoo, the District Beaver Olympics and a Beaver Rally Day at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre, where they met the Chief Scout, TV survival expert Bear Grylls.

Cub Scouts (8 to 10-and-a-half) took part in a District Night Hike at Woodburn forest, district football at the Valley Leisure Centre and the Northern Ireland Cool To Be A Cub event held at Cultra, which Bear Grylls also attended.

Scouts (10-and-a-half to 14) attended district competitions in first aid and football, as well as a Bear Grylls Survival Night held at Clandeboye, where they built their own bivvies.

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, parents and leaders took part in the UK Scout Community Week (formerly Bob-a-Job) with a litter picks at Millbrook, Willowbank Business Park and Larne Railway Station in association with Larne Borough Council and Tidy NI.

To find out more, call Karan (Beavers) on 028 2884 1713 or Derek (Cubs and Scouts) on 028 9039 6967 or look at www.scoutsni.com or www.scouts.org.uk

There are spaces available in all sections and the group would like to hear from volunteers who could help the leadership team to run the weekly meetings or go on trips away.