For All Leaders, Explorer Scouts and Network Members

International Matters – February 2014 ………………………………………………………………………………………….…… For all Leaders, Explorer Scouts and Network members An Exhibition about Expeditions This exhibition is being mounted in the County Museum at Well End over two weekends – 15/16 and 22/23 March. It will cover mainly overseas expeditions from the 1970s, when County Commissioner Melville Balsillie led 171 Scouts to the Lofoten Islands off the west coast of Norway, right up to the recent Explorer Belt expedition to Gibraltar and Morocco. Cub Scouts, Scouts and Venture/Explorer Scouts have travelled to all corners of the globe on Group, District and County expeditions. Come and see what they got up to in Kenya, Paris, Ghana, Swaziland, the Seychelles, Port Blair, Rodrigues and many more exotic locations. You are invited not only to look back but also to look forward as there will be lots of information on planning your own expedition in the future with experienced leaders on hand to offer advice. If you cannot make the weekend dates, please give Frank a call on 07850 818600 to arrange an alternative visit time. ………………………………………………………………………………………….…… For all Leaders and Network members Module 19 - International Our next one is taking place at 14:00 on Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Well End Activity Centre, Well End Road, Borehamwood, WD6 5PR The module aims to provide participants with a global focus appropriate to their section and an appreciation of the international nature of Scouting. Topics that are covered:  International scouting  The global programme  International opportunities and  Expedition Planning There is no charge to attend and participants will receive lots of resources to help with their Colony, Pack, Troop and Unit programme planning. To register a place, visit http://www.hertfordshirescouts.org.uk/event-registration/? ee=112

If you have already attended a Module 19 but are planning to take your Pack, Troop or Unit abroad in 2014 or 2015, then you are welcome to attend the last session at 16:00 which will deal specifically with Expedition Planning. …………………………………………………………………………… …………….…… For everyone Long before Tintin appeared in 1929, Georges Hergé’s active imagination was conjuring up stories of international intrigue. During the years of the First World War (1914–18), Georges used the margins of his schoolbooks to scribble stories about a little character who played dirty tricks on German soldiers. As a teenager, he joined the Boy Scouts and began drawing a comic strip featuring Totor, an adventurous Boy Scout who would become the basis for Tintin.

Although Tintin traveled around the world, Hergé stayed in Belgium for most of his life. ………………………………………………………………………………………….…… For all Leaders, Explorer Scouts and Network members Toys for Smiles The response to our appeal for toys to give to Syrian children in the Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan has been tremendous so far.

The County collection point is at PMI Ltd. Summit House, Summit Road, Potters Bar, EN6 3ER where toys can be taken to await final sorting. It will be open from 09:00 – 17:00 Monday – Friday in the weeks 17th–21st and 24th–28th February 2014. and as a last resort between 10:00 and 11:00am on Sunday 2nd March when we will be sorting and boxing up for transporting to Jordan and distribution by UNHCR and ‘Save the Children’ staff in the camp where there are 22 kindergartens and child friendly spaces for over 60,000 children. Any queries, please call Peter Makewell on 07931 543185 or Mike Aston on 01707 658644.

Your good turn will be rewarded by a child’s smile ………………………………………………………………………………………….………For all Leaders Here are some dates and events in April which could provide an opportunity to cover one or more aspects of the Global Zone and Challenge Award for your section. Please send images and text of what you achieve to [email protected] and, with your permission, we will publicise to inspire others.

7 April World Health Day http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en

13 April Vaisakhi The Sikh New Year festival Find out more about the Sikh faith http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/vaisakhi.shtml

13 April is also Palm Sunday, the Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, about a week before his Resurrection. According to the Gospels Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and the celebrating people there lay down their cloaks in front of him, and also lay down small branches of trees. In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves, or the branches of native trees, which are carried in a procession. Any left over branches can be burned and the ashes used in the next year's Ash Wednesday.

25 April World Malaria Day http://www.againstmalaria.com/faq_malaria.aspx For more information about various faiths and their festivals, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions ………………………………………………………………………………………….……