5th June 2015
Dear Parents,
Finland Camp 2016 As you are aware we have been looking at the possibility of a camp in Finland next year. We emailed all the then current Scouts in January and had a reasonable level of interest in attending Roihu 2016. To camp abroad and to experience a different culture, meeting other Scouts and representing our Group, County and Country at an International Jamboree is a very exciting opportunity. Now it is decision and commitment time!
We have registered our interest in attending an International Jamboree in Finland, in Hämeenlinna, 96km north of Helsinki from Wednesday 20th July to Thursday 28th July 2016. This falls after the end of the Senior School Summer Term. I have spoken to the Junior School and they have agreed to allow any youngsters that are attending this camp to be released from school up to 1 day early if required. If your child is in year 5 or 6 and attends anywhere other than Piggott then please check with the school before committing yourself to the trip. We anticipate the cost per Scout to be £450 for the week which includes all food, outdoor activities, airport transfers, insurance, flights and some event merchandise.
Here is some further information:
Event Website: http://www.roihu2016.fi/in-english
PowerPoint Presentation: http://www.partio.fi/en/events/finnjamboree-2016
We now have the support from our Group Executive, and once confirmed will use the remainder of 2015 and 2016 to run some fundraising initiatives that could potentially offset some of the costs – but at this stage £450 is the total parental contribution. All Scouts (and their Parents/Guardians), will be required to assist with various fundraising efforts/events. This will be mandatory so we can work to offset the cost of the trip through the raising of central funds. The first event we will need your help with is at the Wargrave Festival Fete on Saturday 27th June on Mill Green, more details to follow soon.
We know that this will take a considerable amount of planning and commitment from the Scout leadership team to make such an International trip happen. So now we need a commitment from the young people and their parents so we can start planning in earnest. So, please could you complete the attached form with a £100 deposit cheque, made payable to 1st Wargrave Scout Troop, by 19th June 2015 at the latest. Your deposit will not be refundable unless we find that there are insufficient numbers for us to run the trip once this closing date has passed.
The event organisers have advised that the camp is not suitable for anyone under 11, ideally it is suited to 12 year olds and above. I have circulated this letter to all families that currently have children in the Group who are of Scout section age and who will have joined the Troop by January 2016. So this means the camp is open to all those who were born on or before 30th June 2005. The youngsters must be a current Cub or Scout and should remain a Scout, Explorer or Young Leader by the time we depart to Finland.
If you have any questions do please get in touch.
Yours in Scouting,
Nigel Board, Scout Leader, 1st Wargrave
For more information about FINLAND 2016 please visit the FINLAND BLOG.