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- District Launched
On the 9th April EGM's were held to formally close down the old Aberdeen Area Scout Council and form its replacement, the Aberdeen District Scout Council, as part of the new stuctures for Scouting.
- New Headquarters Email Address
District Headquarters has a new email address.
Please address all email for headquarters to aberdeenscouts 'at' tiscali.co.uk
- TEMPLARS' NEWS, February 2008
The winter season will shortly be coming to an end and Templars' staff will be re-commissioning the site for the coming season.
In fact, the site has hardly been de-commissioned this year, as we have had either campers or users of the two accommodation buildings on site every weekend so far this year.
The site has successfully hosted the Explorer Woolly Jumper camp, organised by the Aberdeen North Explorer Unit, the Activ8 camp organised by Scottish HQ, and the Aber'iginal Network Camp.
Maintenance and Site Development
Maintenance work and site development have continued throughout the winter period.
The inside of the G A Smith Centre has been redecorated, the asbestos roof of the White House kitchen is in the process of being replaced, and a new extractor fan is being fitted in the
White House kitchen (which hopefully will reduce the number of false fire alarms when cooking the breakfast bacon!) while the approach and surrounds to the Abseiling Tower are being tidied.
A meeting has taken place with the Aberdeenshire Council Planning Department with regard to the positioning of the proposed new toilet block, and an architectural firm has been commissioned
to prepare plans for submission for full planning permission.
Booking Procedures
We have been examining ways of making the booking system more efficient. The computer system has been upgraded which will solve some of the communication problems that may have been experienced last year.
All bookings for Visits, Camps, George Smith Centre, White House, Barn and Activities should be directed through Ann MacIntosh on the booking form that can be downloaded from the
Templars' Park Website or the same information can be emailed to bookings'at'templarspark.org.uk.
The Templars' Activity Co-ordinator will contact the enquirer directly as to whether or not Instructors are available for the requested activity. A minimum of 2 weeks notice is required for Activity bookings.
Environmental Issues
Templars' has not been cultivated for many years and is a haven for wildlife, with many animals and birds, including roe deer, foxes, rabbits, buzzards and woodpeckers frequently seen on site.
The area of ancient woodland along side the track to the sand dunes has not been touched for generations and is an important wildlife habitat.
Last year, a colony of sand martins, birds which are only seen infrequently, nested in a sand bank alongside the track to the caravan site.
Should they return this year, will visitors please not disturb the nesting sites and just observe them from a distance. The Stonehaven Cub Pack has made a number of nest boxes which will be installed in trees around the site.
Reception Office
The new reception office will be commissioned for the coming season. In the last Templars' News we asked groups to submit photographs of Centenary Year activities to be included in a collage to be hung in the new office, with a zilch response.
Come on guys, prove that we have not been wasting our time over the past 14 years putting out Templars' News that does not get read. Please hand in any photographs for submission to the Site Shop.
Tree Maintenance and New Activities
Planting and removing old or diseased trees at Templars' is a continuous process. The top of one of the trees along the avenue close to the George Smith Centre was recently blown down in a gale.
Fortunately, it fell on the opposite side to the Centre and missed the building, but we have to consider either removing the trees close to the Centre, or at least taking the tops out to prevent possible damage.
If we do remove the tops, we may be able to install an overhead course through the trees. We are always open to suggestions for new activities that can be introduced into the site.
Car Parking
The site can get really busy, particularly on Friday evenings during the spring and summer season. Visitors to the site will save themselves much grief if they use the top car park for dropping people off and for evening visits, as the bottom car park and track can become very congested.
The site staff and Templars' Team will look forward to welcoming you to the site in what we hope will be another bumper season.
Geoff Stroud, Chairman, Templars' Park Management Committee
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