Month: October 2019
Scottish Scouts Selected
A huge congratulations to Emma Johnston and Sam Payne, both from Aberdeenshire, who have just joined the ReQuest2021 project team to represent Scotland!
During October 2019 the Kent Scouts ReQuest2021 project steering committee have been carefully selecting these two Scottish Scouts to join the project team and follow in the footsteps of Scouts Marr and Mooney who went on the original Quest Expedition with Shackleton back in 1921. There were 23 Scottish expressions of interest, 12 full applications submitted and finally these 2 were selected to go.
Emma is currently studying towards a degree in Genetics and Immunology and she is in the process of applying for a postgraduate course in primary education. She has an infectious energy and is clearly able to keep spirits up in the hardest of times which should ensure her role in the team is valued.
Alongside his university studies as a geography student, Sam also volunteers with the Royal Geographical Society as a Student Ambassador, presenting to secondary school and sixth form/college students about geography, why they should take it as an optional subject and where it can take them.
So, the ten strong #ReQuest2021 team will now be made up these two from Scotland aged between 18 & 25 and of the eight more already selected from Kent (four over 25 and four between 18 & 25). All the project team are dedicated to raising awareness of Scouting’s strong links with Sir Ernest Shackleton and Antarctica. Each team member will also have to undertake their own Antarctic Research Project.
In just over two years’ time, on 27th December 2021, the Kent Scouts #ReQuest2021 Antarctic Research Project team will be sailing from Ushuaia in Argentina to Antarctica. To that end they have partnered up with the Bark Europa, a hundred-year-old sailing vessel and the only tall ship with permission to enter Antarctic waters.
To account for the additional fundraising required the overall project target has now been amended to £110,000. To date the team have raised around £32,000 – so, they still have a huge amount more to raise during 2020! Find out about all the many different ways you can become a penguin supporter and support the expedition on www.ReQuest2021.org.uk/support
Good morning Scotland!
Good morning Scotland! Kieran / Emma / Laurie / Alex / Sam / Daniella / Christopher / Casey / Calum / Lachlann / James F. / James G.,Thank you so much for stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself forward for ReQuest2021.The Kent ReQuest2021 Team of 8 are really excited that 2 from Scotland will now be joining us on our incredible adventure.There are 12 of you who have submitted full applications as follows – I think the last one I received was at 23.55pm last night!
SS01 Kieran Morren ABSL in Aberdeen District
SS02 Emma Johnston BSL/SAS/Aberdeen Network
SS03 Laurie Todd ASL 89th Stenhousmuir, Falkirk District
SS04 Alex Maciver Explorer Scout Perth & Kinross
SS05 Sam Payne Gordon YL/Lancaster SSAGO/ISSU Member
SS06 Daniella Holder Leader St Andrews Scouts / Networker East Fife
SS07 Christopher Monachello YL Edzell Cubs / North Angus District
SS08 Casey Barrett Explorer Glen Albyn, Highlands & Islands Region
SS09 Calum Milne 1st Kemnay Explorers, Aberdeenshire. Applying as AESL
SS10 Lachlann Lightfoot SL, Hawick Scouts
SS11 James Ferguson Networker / West Lothian
SS12 James Gibson Explorer Leader / Edinburgh Networker
Managing expectations and doing the basic maths that does mean that 83% of you will be disappointed.The two finally selected will therefore have an extra obligation to the other 10 applicants to do them proud for Scotland.The ReQuest2021 Steering Committee, along with Andrew Sharkey (Chief Commissioner of Scotland), will be reviewing your applications carefully during October.The captain of the Bark Europa – Leentje Toering – will also be asked to review your Research Project ideas.Sharkey may decide to contact you ‘locally’ for a meeting or chat as part of the process.We will announce the final two representing Scotland on, or before, 31st October 2019.Without wanting to get too ‘Political’ at all – in a time of deep divisions in the UK, and globally, I personally hope that this strong partnership project between England and Scotland will be a shining example and symbol of unity to the world via Scouting.Having come up with the concept of this project over 5 years ago now, inspired by James Marr of Aberdeen’s book, it will be a real dream come true for me for us to have two Scottish Scouts on board!In the meantime you can follow the project on…
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReQuest2021/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/request2021
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/request2021/
All for now!
Yours In Scouting,
Alan