When one scouting year ends, another is just around the corner, the one gone has truly been an epic one for the Mitchelstown Scout Group.

Coming a close third at the North Cork County Shield; earning a place at The Phoenix Challenge 2015, winning the rafting competition at the North Cork Challenge Weekend, a brilliant summer camp in Portlick, Co. Athlone and achieving gold at The Phoenix Challenge 2015, all while a scout and leader from the group joined 40,000 other scouts from around the world for the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan, the adventure of a lifetime.

Aside from this, the group shall be opening with 2 Beaver colonies, 2 Cub packs, a growing Scout section and will establish a Venture section to complement the existing Rover Crew who successfully gathered over 120 sleeping bags for The Simon Community while helping with their Tent Pitching Service at the Indiependence Music Festival. All in a years scouting, providing fun, adventure, friendship and challenge for the boys and girls of Mitchelstown from the ages of 6-26 years of age.

GOLD STANDARD

The group wishes to congratulate their scouts who successfully achieved Gold Standard at this year’s All-Ireland Campcraft Competition - The Phoenix Challenge. They represented North Cork along with Rathcormac and Charleville Scout Groups. This success was hard earned and well deserved, the scouts and their leaders dedicated a lot of time to training and preparing for the competition during the summer.

The Phoenix for non-scouts has been described as a cross between The Hunger Games and an All-Ireland hurling final. Over 800 scouts, 100 patrols having qualified through their county competitions, compete over four days, examined on every aspect of their scout skills, they pitch a campsite with everything they require to be self sufficient, taking part in various challenges to see who'll be crowned champions. It's as much a test of teamwork, leadership and endurance as it is skill.

Mitchelstown's scouts tackled each challenge with good humour and a strong team bond, it was apparent to them and others that they were doing well. However, cautious optimism was required as results were revealed. Only 25 Golds were earned this year, Mitchelstown led the North Cork pack. A great result and excellent validation for an epic summers scouting.

In the coming weeks the programme sections will return for another year of exciting scouting. If you wish for your son or daughter to join scouting or you as an adult would like to get involved, please contact Willie Ahern, group leader on 086-0585695 or e-mail 2930cork@gmail.com or check out the group’s Facebook page to see what it’s all about.

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