Apr 292016
 

With thanks to Leanne Carter, Account Manager, Tricker PR.

Glen Tanar Tower O’ EssGlen Tanar Estate on Royal Deeside will welcome over 570 Scouts from all over Scotland during the May Day bank holiday weekend as they pitch their tents for The Highland Adventure Camp.
The four-day event is the largest camp held in Scotland for Scouts, and the estate will be used as the backdrop for activities ranging from rafting to circus skills.

The camp will be set up  next to Glen Tanar Visitor Centre from Friday, April 29 through to Monday, May 2 and will involve hundreds of tents being pitched over the weekend to create a mini-village inhabited by Scouts aged 11 to 14, along with adult volunteers.

During the adventure camp, which rotates in location each year from the Highlands to Lowlands and the Islands of Scotland, the youngsters will be encouraged to take part in many different activities, including backwoods cooking, crafts, zorbing, archery, grass sledging and even movie making.

They will also have the opportunity to participate in geocaching – a fast-growing activity which Glen Tanar Estate has helped to pioneer on Royal Deeside – where participants try to find ‘treasure’ in the landscape.

There will also be the opportunity for Scouts to learn about the management of the estate and the wildlife to be found in the countryside near Aboyne, and help the Glen Tanar Charitable Trust Rangers on a special project.

Estate owner Claire Bruce says everyone at Glen Tanar is looking forward to welcoming the youngsters.

She adds,

“We feel incredibly lucky to be able to call Glen Tanar our home, and we are thrilled to be able to share it with such a large group of young people.

“We actively encourage people to get out onto the trails and hills of Glen Tanar and enjoy what it has to offer, and the fact that the Scouts are going to be enjoying such an incredible range of activities while they are here is fantastic. It just goes to underline how many different activities can be undertaken in the glen.

“The camp will take up quite a large area near the Visitor Centre but other than that, there will be no restrictions on visitors and we hope that everyone from walkers and cyclists to horse riders will be in the great outdoors enjoying the glen and its scenery over the May Day bank holiday weekend.”

The camp is organised by Bishopton Scouts and has been running annually since 1989: it is the biggest event of its kind in Scotland.

Colin Dair, the camp chief, adds,

“Not only do the camps give Scouts the chance to meet and camp with other Scouts from all over the country, it is an opportunity to experience a wide range of exciting activities.

“As well as the many volunteers in Scouting who make this event possible, we are very grateful to the Estate for allowing us to camp in the grounds.”

Glen Tanar Estate near Aboyne is set in the heart of Royal Deeside within the Cairngorms National Park and offers a wealth of activities and attractions from fishing and walking to adventuring on estate safaris. Glen Tanar Estate’s grand ballroom is available to hire for functions, including corporate events, weddings and conferences and the estate has a number of self-catering holiday cottages.

For more information visit www.glentanar.co.uk

May 242012
 

Scouts from across NE Scotland celebrated as Chief Scout Bear Grylls made a guest appearance at the Bear Hunt 2012 camp, held at Templars’ Park. Taking in the Aberdeen Scout campsite on a whirlwind tour of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Bear was greeted by over 1500 Scouts of all ages. Thanks to Eoin Smith of Mannofield Explorers.

Bear entered the campsite via the 9th Aberdeen Scouts’ traditional canvas tent site and was met with a Guard of Honour.

He was subsequently shown around the park to experience the numerous attractions and activities, including a cycling base run by the 14th Aberdeen Scouts.

He then delivered an inspiring speech before checking out Templars’ Park’s new campfire circle on his way back to his helicopter, high-fiving as many Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers as he could on the way.

One Explorer Scout Unit received a massive surprise, when Bear arrived wearing one of their hoodies.

The Mannofield Explorers had sent this to Bear earlier in the year to thank him for inspiring their Scouting, but little did they realise that he would wear it on his whole tour. Upon finding the Unit attending, Bear chatted and posed for photos with the group of enthusiastic and understandably excited 14-18 year olds.

Explorer Calum McRobb, 16, said,

“It was a real honour to meet Bear Grylls. We’re all big fans, and to see him wearing one of our hoodies was amazing.The whole Bear Hunt has been fantastic.”

Craig Allison, 27, Explorer Scout Leader at the Mannofield Explorers, added,

“We were delighted that Bear chose to wear his hoodie this weekend. It was a real shock when we saw him step through the trees.

“We sent it earlier this year to thank Bear for all he has done for Scouting since being appointed Chief Scout in 2009 and also for inspiring us to be as adventurous as we can at Explorers.”

In a time where over 30 million Scouts have taken their Promise worldwide, Bear Grylls is certainly playing his part in keeping British youths enthusiastic about being a part of the Scout Movement.

Assistant Explorer Scout Leader Eoin Smith, 21, concluded,

By wearing our hoodie around the UK, we hope that Bear has been able to spread the word about Scouting in Aberdeen. There are so many exciting opportunities and experiences to be had in Scouting, and adult volunteers are doing a fantastic job providing everyday adventure for over 1,500 young people in the city.”

 Photo credit: Craig Allison