KAOS Leader Tracy Wood, together with husband Stephen and Mel and Steve Scoulding spent last Sunday at the Detling Show Ground representing The Salvation Army at a training event for Cub/Scout Leaders.

Logos

Tracy has sent us the following report:

Sunday 16th March hosted an event that saw over 1000 Cub, Beaver, Scout and Adventure Scout Leaders, Helpers, Trustees and Scout Network members through the gates at the County Showground in Detling.

It was a day designed to equip all leaders with ideas, tools, encouragement – with every thing they needed for scouting. Exhibition stands included fund raising ideas, crafts, an ice wall, abseiling, hill walking, kayaks, ideas for trips abroad, web hosting … to name a few.

There were hands on activities, information stands and seminars.

Displays

As YPSM (Young Peoples Sergeant Major – the official title), over a number of years now, I have been involved in various cub scouting events – and this time was no exception. I was asked to take a team along as representatives of The Salvation Army to introduce and talk about FAITH. What a great opportunity!

The team: L to R – Stephen, Tracy, Steve & Mel

Our exhibition stand included:

• What is The Salvation Army – our history, our worship and how we put faith into action. We handed out in excess of 600 Kids Alive magazines, and several hundred brochures showing the work of The Salvation Army – Faith in Action etc.

A rolling multi media presentation was well received and seemed to capture leaders interest throughout the day.

• Ideas to encourage leaders to introduce the 3 faith badges – My faith, World Faiths and Faith Partnership Award. Here we were able to talk about some of the Salvation Army projects i.e. Watershed, Giving Gifts, Fairtrade, Human Trafficking and Two by Two.

The Watershed and Giving Gifts projects really captured the minds of many leaders and they have promised to follow up on these with their groups during 2008.

• Practical ideas to help youngsters understand what their promise means – the part where it says duty to God . In this, we encompassed ideas around sharing, loving each other, helping, working together and obedience.

• Ideas on being more creative in prayer times – using balloons, aeroplanes, play dough etc.

For those of you who know me well – you d be right in thinking we had loads of hands-on activities.

We were there to advise and encourage leaders in all of the above areas – and boy did we have some great conversations. Many contacts were made during the day – and I m already committed to visiting several beaver and cub packs to talk about faith and The Salvation Army.

My personal thanks to Stephen, and Steve and Mel for supporting me on the day.