1st Madrid 2025 Q1 News Update

1st Madrid is 100% run by adult volunteers with support from parents and
young people!
In January, the group started off 2025 activities with a gentle hike in
Villaviciosa de Odon nature reserve. 1 st Madrid Beaver colony, Cub pack,
Scout troop and Explorer Unit enjoyed routes adapted to their abilities
and parents were welcome to join in.

Our second January meeting took place at St George’s School where Group
Volunteer Lead Catherine held the AGM for parents and young people did
badgework.

February saw Cubs, Scouts and Explorers heading to Tirolinas Go in
Guadarama. All ages safely enjoyed the challenges of the extensive flying
fox activity in the trees.

A residential camp was held for Beavers on February 22nd, where youngest
members of the group could enjoy a night away in the mountains while
staying cosy in the hostel at night.

A regular meet at St George School on February 22nd provided time for
badgework and Founders Day celebrations, the Scout law and human rights.
We also welcomed new leaders to 1st Madrid, transferring from Scotland
and Girl Guides.

On February 28-2 March Explorers headed up to the mountains to Miraflores
de la Sierra for an intensive Young Leaders training residential camp. We
flew over a trainer from Northern Europe BSO, from the Netherlands who
made doing 10 modules over a weekend fun and interactive. We even
squeezed in a hike in the rain, and woke up to snow on the Sunday
morning. It was a great opportunity to learn some really wonderful
transferrable skills for all the young people involved.

On March 8th, a planned bike ride was cancelled due to heavy rain. But
Scouts know how to adapt, so we headed to St George school where young
people learnt about International Women’s Day and took part in a bicycle
repairs workshop. Explorers began working on ESYL mission 1 by running
games for Beavers and Cubs.

This was also a special day for leaders, many of whom were awarded Wood
Badges by District Lead Kenny. James was awarded a Chief Scouts
Commissioner Award for all the work he has done on both a group and
district level.
Volunteer leaders met prior to the meeting with Kenny to look at
transferring the Group Lead Volunteer (previously known as GSL Group
Scout Leader) responsibilities from one person to a team, as Catherine
will be stepping down at the end of June, but overseeing the transfer
over the next few months.
Meanwhile Cubs leader Derry and his daughter represented Southern Europe
Ditrict British Scouting Overseas at the Scout Youth Forum at the Ethiad
Stadium in Manchester. They joined young people from districts across the
UK and worldwide, taking part in workshops and contributing their ideas
to the future direction and development of Scouting.

Snowzone Madrid
All sections swopped Saturday for Sunday meeting at indoor snow activity
centre to toboggan, ski bike and mess around in the snow for a few hours

Coming Up Next:
All day Hike in the mountains with guides, learning navigation and
survival skills.
Spring Camp had to be moved due to the heavy rains and risk of flooding
to the 2-4 of May
The camp theme is UN Sustainability Goal Number 6 – Clean Water and
Sanitation. Cubs, Scouts and Exploers will get involved in hands on
activities and learn about Health and clean water, build a long drop
toilet and raise money by making soap to sell in order to twin a toilet
in a developing country, in other words proving funds for a toilet to be
built in a village, advice on sanitation and the skills to build further
toilets themselves.