Festa Scout

Over the weekend of the 16th-19th of March IHQ organised a National Displatoo at Ta' Qali. The Sliema Group attended with members from all sections. Our Group built an obstacle course which was very popular with the public and the rest of the Scout Groups and we also pitched two very old bell tents, the old 'leaders tent' and the old 'toilet tent'. These tents are a part of the Sliema Group History so it was nice to see them up and in working condition thanks to the QM and his helpers.

We also built a cool gate ( photos of which can be viewed from the Troop photo cache at www.sliemascouts.net). The Activity was quite a success; it brought the different Groups together, there was a great atmosphere and it also brought some of the Sliema unit and Troop members closer together.

The next activity in the pipeline is Easter Camp which is to be held at Ghajn Tuffieha from the 4th - 9th of April.
see you there,
Mo$es

Bike Expo postponed ... OP Back up Plan was put into action

The Bike Expo that was planned for the 9th-10th was postponed at the last minute due to bad weather but this was no problem for us because we had an intricately planned Back-up. The first phase was to meet at HQ then we headed to baystreet to meet two of the Ventures who were manning a stand for their YE team. We then had a brief NOS followed by a games night at HQ which was very entertaining to say the least. After a nigth at HQ we woke up for a classy b'fast and some of the members headed to Ghajn Tuffieha to do some grass cutting with the QM and members of the Troop in preparation for Easter Camp.

Now we just have to find time in the Programme to with in the Bike Expo!

Mo$es

M-Coy Invesiture

Following the GRADEX held in November it was time to invest the new VSs. We planned a proper invesituture and invited several guests to attend the prestigious occasion. We also had a couple of displays so that the guests and Scouters present could get an idea of what we've been up to lately.

SVS Challenge winners being awarded the Shield and their plaques

...and the winners are...

SVS Challenge 2006 (Feb 2007)

In February we held the 2006 SVS Challenge, which had been postponed. Here are some cool pix and a little summary of what went on.
The Svs Challenge was an overnight activity which began on Saturday evening through 'til Sunday afternoon. The two teams were Ian & Simon against Peter & James. The Participants had their kits weighed in (they were not allowed over 5kgs of kit excluding clothing) and the challenge began.

The Challenge began in Mtahleb where the Participants were given time to build their own shelters for the night they utilised natural artifacts to make their bivvys and not the usual poncho or plastic sheet.

Abela and his supper
After that they were supplied with rations and a fishy which they had to gut and clean and cook on an open fire (or any other type of contraption they could construct in Mtahleb).

Gutting the fish

PP and JS enjoying their food

The fish was delicious and as a treat the leaders brought out some bread dough and a massive jar of nutella so that everyone could make BP-Bread.

IA in his spacious bivvy

natural Bivvy with two Venture Scouts inside

After a good night's sleep the participants were up to a whole day of challenges the first was to follow a trail to find the next map reference. After that they were off to Fomm Ir-Rih to get breakfast. This involved a command task to retrieve it from a rock a couple of metres off the shore and then cook it on another rock by the sea. Any fuel needed to be transported on to the rock.

The Drowning Victim

The next challenge was an SVS style medevac situation with two casualties - 1 drowning victim and another victim somewhere on the hill. Rumour has it they fell out of the same helicopter which was flying away from Malta.

Co rescuing the victim using a chest tow

P&J after saving the drowner

The other casualty being rescued

The next challenge was a raft building exercise. Not just your average raft building though, the teams had a strict time limit and a very limited amount of equipment.

And after a night in a natural bivvy, cooking all their meals backwoods style, a nice walk on the west coast of malta, a nice swim in mid february, an SVS medevac and a rafting challenge the VSs still had one last challenge and this was to carry all their gear, theirselves and a rock to the top of the clay hills without going up more than once.

All the VSs completed the Activity and that in itself is something to be very proud of! the points were very close....

Mo$es