Euan Thomson | 2016 September

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY BADGE

During the summer holidays I went to America and celebrated the 4th of July with my mum and family there. It is to celebrate the day America became free from England. Americans have a BBQ to celebrate and that’s me helping to cook some burgers and grilled corn on the cob. They shoot off fireworks which is to celebrate the battles that happened during the Revolutionary War. My family set off fireworks and I ran around with sparklers. It stormed though and we had to go inside after a short time.

My mum told me that during the Revolutionary War there were around 100,000 Scots living in America and a lot of them helped the American colonists to fight against England. The American Navy was founded by this Scottish guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones

A lot of Scottish dudes also signed the American Declaration of Independence.

During the day on the 4th of July we also had a family archery contest. I came 2nd. During the 4th of July, some Americans play outdoor games like throwing horseshoes or archery.

We also went to see a Blues Duo during our stay, and they played a lot of rock blues songs. They were able to play songs from memory and on request.

Rock and roll and Blues comes from America and Americans invented Electric Guitars.

September 15, 2016/by Rose Thomson

Cub Scouts

ASTRONOMER ACTIVITY BADGE

I went to NASA Kennedy Space Center during my summer holidays and got to see the real Atlantis Space Shuttle which went into space!

We also went on a ride that simulates what Astronauts feel when they’re launching into space and got see the real mission control room from the Apollo missions.

I learned that when in space the shuttles could go 17,500 miles per hour and they have no engines so can only land but not take off like airplanes can.

There’s lots of different parts to space rockets too.

Here’s me in front of a service module.

While in Florida a lot of nights the sky had heat lightning, which is lightning that jumps between clouds and doesn’t come down to the ground. It was very stormy and covered the stars most nights.

From Florida you can see Mars through a telescope and the Orion Nebula.

From Scotland we can see the star Cygnus and the Andromeda Galaxy during the summer and autumn. Constellations seen from Scotland are The Plough, Taurus and Orion.

The moon has lots of craters from asteroid and meteorite impacts and rotates around the Earth. The moon affects our oceans tides. Sometimes the moon crosses between the Earth and the Sun to cause a solar eclipse. You must never look at the sun directly because it can damage your eyes.

The main difference between a planet and a star is whether or not they burn hydrogen in their core as a nuclear reaction and their size. Stars are much larger than planets are and are very hot because of natural nuclear reactions. Also in the way that they form.

A good place to go for more information on star gazing in Scotland is: http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/

September 13, 2016/by Rose Thomson

Cub Scouts

NAVIGATOR STAGE 1 BADGE

That’s me in front of Hogwarts Castle at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure in Florida.

My family went there during the summer holidays and theme parks are so big that they have maps. My mum and dad gave me a map and I got to help navigate to all of the rides I wanted to go on. One of the first things I wanted to do was go to the Harry Potter rides. It was important to find out where we were going so we could get to the first Harry Potter ride before it got too busy! We went on the new King Kong ride first though and worked out how to get there on the map before the park opened. My mum taught me that I had to find out where I was first so I could see where I needed to go next.

We went on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey after King Kong and I felt so sick after.

I also went to Walt Disney World and helped to navigate there. My mum and dad took me on Space Mountain but forgot to tell me it was a roller coaster in the dark.

It was scary!

It was also really hot so I had to wear shorts and t-shirts and trainers to do a lot of walking in. We wore sun cream and sun hats.

My mum taught me that a compass will help you find North and you can also use it to find South, East and West. I learned that our garden is South facing so gets a lot of sun. I bought a compass from the Cairnie Fruit Farm shop so now I’ll have one for my next hike.

Here’s a map of my little town:

September 13, 2016/by Rose Thomson

Cub Scouts

TIME ON THE WATER STAGED BADGE

While on my summer holidays I went to Florida and got to spend a whole day paddle boarding and sea swimming. It was a lot of fun spending the day on the beach. My family went to New Smyrna Beach.

To stay safe we setup our beach chairs and parasol next to a lifeguard station and my mum told me about dangers in Florida. She would know she grew up there!

I had to learn about riptides, sharks and following lifeguard instructions. I had to keep putting suncream on so I wouldn’t get burnt. I wore swim shorts and a vest top to protect my chest and back from the sun.

In Florida they have a purple flag they use to show that sharks are in the water and people need to get out. We were having a great time until a shark showed up so we had to pack and leave at 4 pm. I got to spend about 6 hours paddle boarding though.

Florida has bull sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks and hammerheads. My mum also told me that there are barracuda’s, eels, and stinging jellyfish.

You can track different types of sharks here: http://www.trackingsharks.com/

September 13, 2016/by Rose Thomson

Cub Scouts

PADDLE SPORTS STAGED BADGE

During the summer holidays I had some paddle sports days with Ancrum Summer Adventures.

For each day we met at Ancrum Outdoor Centre and rode a mini-bus to different places. We wore wet suits, life jackets, water sports helmets and after a safety talk and demonstration we got to have fun! I really enjoyed learning how to steer & stop a raft, canoe and powerboat. It was a lot of fun meeting other kids. We worked as part of a team to carry our boats and paddles to and from the water, and launch.

July 20 – White Water Rafting Day

My friend Rhys Black and I were both on this day and spent 5 hours rafting in Perthshire. It was very wet! I learned how to stand up properly in a raft and what to do if I fell overboard.

July 25 – Canoe Day

I spent 5 hours paddling a canoe along a gentle river. 2 other boys I met from Dundee were also in the canoe with me.

August 4 – Ancrum River Trip

Rhys Black and I were both on this day and we spent 5 hours paddling a boat along another river, enjoying the scenery.

August 5 – Powerboating on the River Tay

I really enjoyed this day the most of all. We got to ride in and have shots driving a powerboat along the River Tay for 5 hours, after setting off from Broughty Ferry. I was nearly close enough to wave to my Grandma!

Some great places to go kayaking, or canoeing are Monikie Park, the River Tay or Loch Tay.

Some places which teach kids how to do paddle sports are:

http://www.ancrum.com/

http://www.monikie.org.uk/cntryprk.htm

September 13, 2016/by Rose Thomson

Cub Scouts

MUSICIAN STAGE 1 BADGE

I’ve been playing guitar for around 3 years but started going to lessons around January 2016. My guitar tutor is Ann Hamilton. I go to Ann’s on a Wednesday after school. I started to go to other lessons that started at Easter at Bell Street. At Bell Street my tutor is Susan. I go to Bell Street on Thursdays after school. So I go to 2 lessons a week.

Ann teaches me more about notes and how to read music as well as how to hold the guitar and how to move my fingers correctly. Susan teaches me more about chords.

Some of the songs I’ve learned are Cool Cat, Mary Had a Little Lamb by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Big Blue Bear. I also really like Smoke on the Water. I’ve learned to play simple songs by sight from sheet music.

Before the school summer holidays in 2016 I gave a guitar concert at Bell Street with my other guitar classmates and Susan. I practiced a lot for the concert and was confident I could do it but was still nervous. I’m looking forward to the concert in June 2017.

I enjoy playing the guitar because its fun. I like the sound that it makes. My favourite type of music is rock music. I own 5 guitars. 2 full size acoustics, a 3/4 classical, a 3/4 electric and a full size electric Fender. The Fender guitar is my favourite one.

I like to play a video game called Rocksmith too! That teaches you how to play a real electric guitar.

My favourite band is Muse. I also like the Eagles, Queen, Biffy Clyro and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

I have also fixed up a couple of guitars with my mums help like the one above.

Recently I passed my Guitar Grade 1 exam with Anne’s help.

I’ve also been helping with the 49th Beavers Dundee unit to help them get their Musicians Badge and enjoyed performing for them and explaining how guitars work.

If you’d be interested in taking lessons I’d highly recommend Anne: http://schoolofeverything.com/teacher/annehamilton

September 11, 2016/by Rose Thomson

Archive for month: September, 2016