4[th] Tyrone Omagh Scout Group commenced in September 2023 for a new year of Scouting. Due to a successful first year back to scouting following the pandemic each section was willing to open up to new youth members.
The four sections, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Ventures offered programmes to respective youth ages. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have continued running on a fortnightly basis, Beavers and Cubs meeting one week, and Scouts on the alternate week, the programme for each section was supplemented with a weekend activity once per month. Ventures ran a weekly programme from September to end of April, due to exams and subsequent low attendance they did not meet during May and June.
All sections have enjoyed a variety of activities throughout the year.
Beavers spent a lot of time outdoors on nature trails, bat walk, astronomy evening at Dark Sky Park, learning map skills, hiking, backwoods cooking and learning about nature. They also went fishing with FROGS, joined with the County Easter trail and went paddle boarding in June. Beavers enjoyed their indoor camp in February during which many Beavers experienced their first ever camp.
Cubs have engaged in a wide range of scouting activities including Hiking, orienteering, leave no trace, backwoods skills and pioneering.
Cubs attended visits to the astronomy evening at Dark Sky Park, Bat walk with the Biodiversity Officer, Orienteering in Gosford Park and fishing with FROGS CIC and paddle boarding with Beavers in June. Cubs also enjoyed a weekend camp to Corrick in March.
Scouts and Ventures have also enjoyed a range of activities including, hiking, map skills, orienteering, night hiking, backwoods cooking and pioneering.
Scouts attended the County camp in April and have spent some time learning new skills needed for the camp.
All sections attended a summer camp in June to Cladagh Glen, again a wide range of activities were enjoyed during the camp. The camp was an opportunity for all sections to put all they’d learnt throughout the year into practice, including backwoods cooking, pioneering and camping. Beavers and Cubs went to the marble arch caves. Scouts and Ventures went gorging and cooked whole chickens in the ground!
All Scouts that attended were awarded the Cladagh Glen Challenge badge.
It is fair to say that over the year all of the Scouts have enjoyed more than their share of hot chocolate and Smores!
4[th] Tyrone also supported the local community by manning a water station at the Omagh half marathon.
Feedback from the scouts and their parents has been very positive in terms of the variety and enjoyment of the activities and programme provided. We are extremely fortunate to have the Gortin Glens so close and make regular use of the forest park.
The Scout year for 2023/24 has been very positive in 4[th] Tyrone and we look forward to growing and developing in the coming years.
Jane White, 4th Tyrone Omagh Group Leader