NEWS

1st Madrid is 100% run by adult volunteers with support from parents andyoung people!In January, the group started off 2025 activities with a gentle hike inVillaviciosa de Odon nature reserve. 1 st Madrid Beaver colony, Cub pack,Scout troop and Explorer Unit enjoyed routes adapted to their abilitiesand parents were welcome to join in. Our second January meeting took place at St George’s School where GroupVolunteer Lead Catherine held the AGM for parents and young people didbadgework. February saw Cubs, Scouts and Explorers heading to Tirolinas Go inGuadarama. All ages safely enjoyed the challenges of the extensive flyingfox activity in the trees. A residential camp was held for Beavers on February 22nd, where youngestmembers of the group could enjoy a night away in the mountains whilestaying cosy in the hostel at night. A regular meet at St George School on February 22nd provided time forbadgework and Founders Day celebrations, the Scout law and human rights.We also welcomed new leaders to 1st Madrid, transferring from Scotlandand Girl Guides. On February 28-2 March Explorers headed up to the mountains to Mirafloresde la Sierra for an intensive Young Leaders training residential camp. Weflew over a trainer from Northern Europe BSO, from the Netherlands whomade doing 10 modules over a weekend fun and interactive. We evensqueezed in a hike in the rain, and woke up to snow on the Sundaymorning. It was a great opportunity to learn some really wonderfultransferrable skills for all the young people involved. On March 8th, a planned bike ride was cancelled due to heavy rain. ButScouts know how to adapt, so we headed to St George school where youngpeople learnt about International Women’s Day and took part in a bicyclerepairs workshop. Explorers began working on ESYL mission 1 by runninggames for Beavers and Cubs. This was also a special day for leaders, many of whom were awarded WoodBadges by District Lead Kenny. James was awarded a Chief ScoutsCommissioner Award for all the work he has done on both a group anddistrict level.Volunteer leaders met prior to the meeting with Kenny to look attransferring the Group Lead Volunteer (previously known as GSL GroupScout Leader) responsibilities from one person to a team, as Catherinewill be stepping down at the end of June, but overseeing the transferover the next few months.Meanwhile Cubs leader Derry and his daughter represented Southern EuropeDitrict British Scouting Overseas at the Scout Youth Forum at the EthiadStadium in Manchester. They joined young people from districts across theUK and worldwide, taking part in workshops and contributing their ideasto the future direction and development of Scouting. Snowzone MadridAll sections swopped Saturday for Sunday meeting at indoor snow activitycentre 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 andsurvival skills.Spring Camp had to be moved due to the heavy rains and risk of floodingto the 2-4 of MayThe camp theme is UN Sustainability Goal Number 6 – Clean Water andSanitation. Cubs, Scouts and Exploers will get involved in hands onactivities and learn about Health and clean water, build a long droptoilet and raise money by making soap to sell in order to twin a toiletin a developing country, in other words proving funds for a toilet to bebuilt in a village, advice on sanitation and the skills to build furthertoilets themselves.

2022 was an action-packed year for 1 st Madrid Scouts. As part of our aim to provide a safeenvironment to take risks, have fun and learn Skills4Life, some of our top activities wereSNOWZONE skiing and sledging, horse riding and visiting a working farm in Collado Mediano,learning Morris dancing at the spring fair and being suddenly joined by Darth Vadar and theStorm troopers, creating games and activities for our young visitors from Fundación DownMadrid, going to Aranjuez for kayaking and paddle boarding, the summer all-sections waterfight, winter camp in Aranjuez with a history of energy show provided by Joe, and learningmore about electricity at the Nicola Tesla exhibition Caixa Forum.It was difficult year for many reasons across the world, but we did what little we could to help.We got to know 2 Ukrainian families personally, who had just escaped Donbas and through ourwider network, leaders and parents did what they could to help. We managed to provide themwith sufficient technology to keep in touch with family and keep in touch with schooling andwe tried to be a contact point for help. We picked them all up from the hotel they were placedin by Cruz Roja and brought them to St George´s for an afternoon.This was the same day we were doing a collection (to be distributed by Caritas Nuestra Señorade las Americas) of warm coats and fully equipped school rucksacks for Ukrainian children tostart school straight away. The 4 girls and 2 boys aged between 7 and 16 and their mothers,were able to take them home straight away. With my daughter and her Belarussian friend whospoke Russian, we took them all for a day in Madrid and a picnic in el Retiro, helping them usethe public transport for the first time. I kept in touch with them and just before Christmasreceived a message that they had decided to return home as the war doesn´t show signs ofstopping, and they thanked everyone for their kindness and wished us all a Merry Christmas.We planted a tree for the Jubilee with the British Ambassador Madrid Hugh Elliott in StGeorge´s School garden, had a Jubilee themed camp at Gredos with a 1950s style street partyatmosphere with 70 years of music, pass the parcel, musical chairs and pin the tail on thecorgi. The end of the year meant we also visited the Embassy along with 1 st Majadahonda tosign the condolence book and planted purple and white flowers around our Jubilee tree.We ended the year with a Christmas theatre event inviting all the parents, families andfriends. Each section did a sketch on stage and everyone joined in singing 12 days of Christmas.We sold cakes and mulled wine, bringing the total we’ve raised for our Explorer going to WorldScout Jamboree Korea to €850 over last term. Jordan McCullough our Southern EuropeanDistrict paid us a surprise visit, joined in the fun, and handed out a couple of awards.We hope you all had a wonderful break with your family and friends and look forward tohaving another fun filled year together. Happy New Year!CatherineGroup Scout Leader 1 st Madrid British Scouts.