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DCs November Update 

Happy Holidays everyone. Hope you are all ready, presents wrapped, cards sent and sprouts on a low simmer. No, me neither. 

The dark nights keep most of us indoors, in the hall doing badge work, making crafts, playing games. It is a slower time of year when Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Explorers take a back seat as we all rush to the shops and decorate our trees. Not in Milton Keynes it isn’t. Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to get around as many sections as I can, to say hi, to present awards and to be amazed at the fantastic evenings you are running for your sections. I saw Christmas archery and remote-control airplanes. If you see me around come and say hi. My baseball cap is taking a well-earned rest, its Santa for the rest of the month. 

In the cold dark days after the turkey has been eaten and you can’t face another mince pie, why not do GDPR training, it only takes 20 mins. HQ has instructed us all to get this completed before the new year. The law has changed on how we use information (including OSM) and doing this training will help keep us the right side of the new rules. We are also having a big push to get us all using our @mkscouts.org email addresses. You don’t need to have in on your own computer or phone it’s a web-based service, it’s so simple even I can use it! Find yours at the web store www.mkscouts.org. 

Outside of the Groups, a lot has been going on the last few months. Dragons lifted the Explorer bowling trophy after a hard-fought tournament. Whipsnade zoo is slowly recovering from a visit by our blue ninjas, Go Beavers. The world chess championship could learn a lesson or two from the Scouts, their chess & draughts competition was over in an evening with all the tension but none of the controversy. 

2019 is going to be a huge year for us. Mission:00Bucks will be the biggest camp ever run in the County. The ADC’s are busy putting together adventures for the sections, we have Explorers undertaking life-changing experiences at the World Scout Jamboree and Kandersteg in Switzerland. There will be some exciting new additions to the Quarries and we will be opening lots of new sections so more fun can be had by more Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts. 

Merry Christmas to you. We appreciate the time and dedication you give to Scouting. May your holiday be warm, peaceful, and safe. See you in the New Year.
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Quarries Working Day - Saturday - 16th March 2019

The Quarries will have been asleep for the winter, but work will have taken place inside over this time. The site will be coming back to life and we need you either as individuals, sections or Groups to come up and help us get the sites ready for the camping season.  

 

Bring your gloves with you and if you have any gardening tools those as well.  Please ensure that everything is named.  We do have limited supplies of gloves and tools.

 

We will provide soup and sandwiches for all those booked in, it will be available on the Webstore soon or email us to let us know.
District News
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We Remembered Them
On the 11th hour of the 11th Day Milton Keynes Scouts Remembered our fallen heroes of war and we certianly did this in mass. 
Parades and Ceremonies happened all over the city and we as a district are proud to say that there was Scouting represented at all the ceremonies. 
Huge Thank You goes to all our adult volunteers for their support and the encouragment shown to the young people. 
But mostly our thanks goes to the young people and their families for supporting such a remarkable event. 
This year marked a very special year for WW1 as they celebrated 100years since the battle ended.

We received some fantastic reports from the general public about the behaviour and the support shown by the Scouts in Milton Keynes and you should all be proud of what you acheived. 

There is one thing for certain Scouting is present in MK. 

Here are some of the photos that we received from the events around the city. Thank you to those that shered there experiences with us and sorry that we were not able to use all the photos received.
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Explorer Annual Bowling Competition 2018

Nearly 50 MK Explorers took over Xscape last night and had lots of fun! There were representatives from every unit. 
And the winners - for the second year running were Dragons ESU - Well done everyone.
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Thank You to some very kind donations we now have a Defibrilator on the gate at The Quarries for the community of Cosgrove and our visitors. 
Around The Groups
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Have You Seen Our Rocks?

1st Crownhill Beavers have been raising awareness of Scouting in a very creative way by designing love rocks and hiding these in the local area for members of the public to find. 

They have been overwhelmed by how effective this method has been with many people contacting the groups to say that they had found the rocks. 

Charlotte and Forrest contacted the group to say that they had found Calums rock whilst out for a walk in the woods and asked if she could come and meet Calum and the colony behind this idea. 
Charlotte explained that Forrest was sniffing around the rock for a while and when she went to investigate she noticed the very colourful rock. This brighten up my day and made me smile she said.

The Beavers would like to thank everyone that has contacted to say they have found the rocks and we hope you were all happy with your find. 
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1st Stony Cubs Take On The Challenge

Milton Keynes Council in partnership with Arts and Culture MK have recently released a new campaign in the city called pedalling culture and 1st Stony Stratford Cubs were involved in the launch of this. 
The aim is to visit many areas of the city and complete challenges whilst your there and collect the stamps. 
Our cubs really enjoyed the evening and had fun visiting various buildings and landmarks in and around the shopping centre. 
 
If you would like more info on how you can get involved please click on the box below to visit the pedalling culture website. 
Pedalling Culture Website Click Here
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I spent the evening with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts (and some adults) playing bingo. Because of the super hot weather we had in the summer, Furzton had to cancel their fate and dog show. But they more than made up for it last week with the whole Group coming together for a night of fun, Bingo and cake. Well done to Karen and team a great time was had by all. And a special congratulations to Karen who was presented with her Award of Merit. Stuart Bailey
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From Our Charity To Yours.

When the royal mint started to issuing 10ps with the letters on we decided that we would start to collect these and play games with them and then we would dontate this money to a chosen charity.
We invited our Beaver Parents to nominate charities that we could donate the 10ps too. The leadership team then decided the three favorites and then held a log chew with the Beavers and they chose Emily Star. 
We did not manage to find many coins with letters but the Beavers did an awesome job collecting these from their pocket money and we did manage to play games from around the world. 
We managed to raise enough money to sponsor one of the Neonatal boxes that are created by the fantastic charity Emily Star. 
Katie (Emilys Mum and Founder) came along and shared with the Beavers the box and its contents that their 10ps helped to make. This box will be sent to help a family at a vital time. 
County News
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County Beavers recently visited Conkers Discovery Centre for there annual Beaver Sleepover and the reports back from this trip has been awesome. 

Lots to do during the day from Tree Top Walks to Conkerchoo and then the evening entertainment was a Disco provided by Bucks Scout Radio and circus skills with Dippy the clown. 

Broughton Beavers attended the event from MK District and they have said that they had a wonderful time. 

Even the County Commissioner was caught clowning around.

This event comes highly recommended from all the Beavers and Volunteers of Bucks.
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International Adventure
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Some of our Jamboree Team attended The Redway School to help them finish off thier wood presses which they have kindly donated to the Jamboree for selling in future fundraising events.
Milton Keynes Scouts
c/o The Quarries, Straford Road, Cosgrove, Milton Keynes
(c) Milton Keynes Scouts
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