Finally the day we were all waiting for arrived! On Sunday 18^th of July, the Gozitan contingent met at the Mgarr Terminal at 0300 to start their journey to Iceland. Upon arriving at the Malta International Airport we did the check in and boarded the first plane which took us to Heathrow London. After 8 hours of waiting at Heathrow Airport we boarded the second plane which took us to Keflavik in Iceland. When we landed at the Icelandic Airport we found some people from the Euro Mini Jam team waiting for us. We arrived at the Bus Station at about 0100 the following morning and there we met our fellow scouts from Liechtenstein. The camp chief greeted us upon arrival and took us on a short tour of Reykjavik before meeting the rest of the contingents and heading off to Ulfljotsvatn Scout Centre. We arrived at the scout centre at 0400 and had to pitch our tents before calling it a night and going to sleep.

Monday morning we woke up to the sound of a new song “The Euro-Mini-Jam Jamboree song”. The first activity of the jamboree was the opening activity in which all the participants and leaders got to know each other better. In the afternoon, the participants formed seven international patrols while the leaders sat relaxing on the grass talking and mingling together. Afterwards dinner was served and then the international patrols had to do a campsite project which consisted of building several pioneering projects all for different reasons. The next day this campsite project was continued after breakfast. Tuesday was the day of the hike and at noon the international patrols were given a map, compass and a GPS and each patrol set out on different routes but all leading to the same checkpoints and destination. The last group to leave was Team Awesome made up of the leaders and planning team. We arrived at the temporary campsite at 2100 and after cooking dinner and setting up the tents we set out to the hot springs for a refreshing swim and afterwards a small campfire was built and marshmallows cooked. At around 0130 everyone arrived back at the campsite and due to the exhaustion went directly to sleep.

On Wednesday we were woken up early to take down the tents and continue hiking to the next destination which was a swimming pool. We arrived at the pool and everyone went for a swim. At 1500 a bus came to pick us up and take us to the scout centre. Upon arrival some community service was awaiting us which consisted of building a campfire pit and placing a plaque on it to commemorate the first even Euro-Mini-Jam. After having dinner, the international night was organised where all the participating countries presented their traditional food and performed a song or dance. Thursday morning was the last day for the participants to be in international patrols and so a decathlon was organised which consisted of ten challenges which they all had to do. This took place during the whole morning and afternoon. In the evening a campfire was organised where the contingents present had fun singing and dancing.

Friday was the day of the triathlon where they had three challenges to complete in a certain time with their national contingent. The challenges consisted of building a catapult, transporting an egg from the top of a tower to the ground without breaking, some races and getting puzzles from the lake by using paddle boats. In the evening the host night took place where we learned some amazing facts about Iceland. On Saturday campsite activities were held in which the participants had to take down the pioneering projects that they had built and later some water activities followed. These consisted of a water obstacle course, canoeing and a water gun fight. In the evening a campfire and the closing ceremony took place. on Sunday morning the contingents who were still there took down the tents and helped in cleaning the campsite and at 1400 a bus came to pick up the remaining participants and leaders to take us back to Reykjavik where we were going to spend our last night. On the 26^th of July at 0400 we headed back to Keflavik Airport were we started the journey back home. After another day of travelling we arrived back in Gozo at 0300 the following day.

I guess you've been wondering what the Beaver scouts have been up to lately!

Well when summer came along with it came the Beginning of Summer party where all the Beavers had a chance to show their friends what two hours with us leaders is like, and then came summer camp where all the Beavers attended for some fun in the sun. everyone had a great time making crafts in the camp site, playing water games and digging in the sand!

The colony has also unofficially welcomed six new  potential Beaver scouts after eight old Beaver Scouts moved on to Cubs last April. Ten more will be moving on in October and so the six new young ones will be replacing them.

It's been two years since we started Beaver Scouts in Xaghra, and as we are beginning to see them move on it seems like yesterday we even started!

While I am typing this email, a/ ASL Sabrina Portelli is celebrating her scouting spirit with scouts from all over the world at EURO MINI JAM 2010 which is taking place in Iceland. Below is a photo of her with the Maltese Contingent. We hope she enjoys her last days at this international experience and that more scouts from our group may have the opportunity to do so in the future.

Click on this link http://www.eurominijam.com  to view live updates from the EuroMiniJam 2010 event!

1^st May 2010 – Games

Today’s meeting consisted of physical activities and games. We began by playing a game of stop so as to warm up a bit. After a few minutes we went to an open space which is situated near our headquarters to play a wide game. 

8^th May 2010 – Communication

Today’s meeting was about communication by Frank Muscat. We began with an ice-breaking game so that everyone gets to know each other better. Then we played a game where one of the scouts had a piece of paper with drawings on it and he had to explain to the others what was drawn on the paper. Afterwards the leader told a story to one of the scouts and everyone them had to tell the same story to the next one to see how the story ended. 

15^th May 2010 – First Aid

Mr Mario Saliba from the Red Cross was invited to show us some first aid tricks. The meeting kicked off with a short power point presentation about bleeding and how to treat them. Then Mr Saliba showed us how to apply bandages and each scout was given the opportunity to bandage and to be bandaged. The meeting finished off by a table tennis tournament.  
 

22^nd May 2010 – Crafts

Today’s meeting consisted of making a woggle with some rope. Mark Muscat gave the instruction and helped the troop to make their woggle. Those who are fluent in knots helped the others who are not that good to finish their woggle. Afterwards a game of stop was played. 

29^th May 2010 – Cooking

Since the troop will be cooking lunch for everyone during summer camp, a meeting about cooking was held. Spaghetti with white sauce was prepared. Two scouts prepared the spaghetti while the others chopped the mushrooms, ham and onions. After mixing everything together and adding the white sauce everyone began to eat.

4^th - 6^th April 2010 – Easter Camp

On Easter Sunday morning, the troop arrived at the campsite at 8.30am and the flag break took place. Afterwards, an instruction about knotting was done and everyone practiced the knots that they had been taught. An instruction about tent pitching was also held on Sunday and the troop pitched two ridge tents, one to sleep in it themselves and the other for the leaders. After the tents were pitched and everyone was settled in their tents, inspection was done so that no food or electronics were in the tents. In the evening, after dinner, a game of match 4 was played with the troop leaders and scouts taking part.  

On Monday morning, another inspection was done by the troop leaders. After breakfast, we set on a 2 hour hike to Marsalforn. After this hike, a pioneering project was held. This consisted in creating a gate to place in the entrance so that unwanted visitors were kept away from our campsite. In the afternoon a mapping instruction was held and some preparations for the campfire which was to be held in the evening. After dinner, everyone gathered around the campfire and an hour of singing and skits took place where everyone had a lot of fun. 

On Tuesday morning, an inspection was done and the troop packed everything in their bags to be ready to go back home in the afternoon. At 9am we set on a hike to Ramla where we played volleyball and dodge ball. On our way back to the campsite we passed from a valley unknown to many of us. As soon as we arrived back at the campsite we had lunch and soon afterwards the parents began to come to pick the troop from the campsite. Everyone was so exhausted but happy that this camp was another success =D

10^th April 2010 – Going up Ceremony

Today was the day when Herman Hili, Matthew Camilleri and Owen Theuma left the pack and became part of the troop. During this ceremony they said their goodbye to their fellow cubs and the cub leaders and they were welcomed by the patrol leader to form part of the Eagle and Tiger Patrols.  
 

17^th April 2010 – Axe, Knife, Saw and Hatchet

During this meeting an instruction about safely using knives and hatchets was done by the leaders. After the brief instruction on how to take care of this equipment the troop had the opportunity to do some practice. The troop was divided into patrols and each patrol was armed with hatchets and wood. The meeting finished off with a game of stop.  
 

24^th April 2010 – How to wear the Uniform

Today everyone came in full uniform and an explanation was held on how to wear the scout uniform the correct way. After this explanation the troop formed a single line and the leaders checked every single uniform to see that it was correctly worn.