2011-12 Programme
Below is our programme of activities for young people in the Mid Herts area ( Welwyn, WGC, Hatfield, Brookmans park, Potters Bar and surroundings).
Any comments or queries to midhertsrotary@ymail.com please.
Events &
Competitions (in chronological order)
Hatfield House Charity Horse Ride, Sunday 2nd
October
Hatfield
House is a wonderful setting in which to ride a horse and this is a rare
opportunity to do so. For further
details go to www.hatfieldrotary.org
Sponsored
Dog Walk, Sunday
9th October
This
takes place on Sunday 9th October from10am onwards starting and finishing at the
Royal Vet College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms. There is a long walk of approx 8.5k and a shorter
one of 3k. The proceeds will be going to the Alzheimers Society, Orpheus Trust
Centre and the Royal Veterinary College charity, the Animal Care Trust. Details from Barbara Middleton on 01707
857173 or at enquiries@brookmansparkrotary.org.uk
Young Citizen Awards
The
Rotary Young Citizen Awards, which have been going for some 10 years, have
recently received some publicity on television as they are now sponsored by the
BBC News channel. We are keen to
recognise the achievements of your students in school or in the local
community. If you have individuals or
groups who you feel are worthy of wider recognition, please email us at midhertsrotary@ymail.com. It may be that they qualify for the national
Rotary competition, details of which are at http://www.ribi.org/youth/young-citizen-awards, in
which case we will be pleased to put them forward. Proposals are needed by Tuesday 31st
January 2012.
Youth Speaks – Wednesday 16th &
Thursday 17th November 2011
This
popular and long-established public-speaking competition has been entered by
many local secondary schools and other groups in previous years. We plan to hold two heats, one essentially for
Brookmans Park/Potters Bar, the other for Welwyn/Hatfield, on consecutive
nights, though it may be possible for teams to enter the other heat if
necessary. (We may amalgamate the two
heats if there are insufficient entries for two decent competitions.) Teams of three are needed, a main speaker, a
chairperson and a proposer of a vote of thanks.
There are two age groups, Intermediate (approximately Key Stage 3) and
Senior (approximately Key Stage 4 & 5).
The local competition winners can progress to district, regional and
national stages of the competition. This
year, teams are encouraged to speak on some aspect of “The Olympic Spirit”, but
this is not compulsory and teams will not be penalised if they choose another
topic. Details are at http://www.ribi.org/youth/competitions/ribi-youth-speaks Deadline for entries is Monday 6th
November. Further details to follow.
Young Writer
This
is another well-established competition.
This year there is a choice of title, “Olympic Spirit” or “Olympic
Dreams”. The competition runs in three
age groups, Junior (approximately Key Stage 2, maximum of 500 words),
Intermediate (approximately Key Stage 3, maximum of 800 words) and Senior
(approximately Key Stage 4 & 5, maximum of 1600 words). Further details are at http://www.ribi.org/youth/competitions/ribi-young-writer The deadline for entries is Monday 16th January
2012.
Young Photographer
Competitors
have to submit a portfolio of 4 photographs no more than A4 in size with a 50
word description of their inspiration.
This year there is a choice of theme, “Olympic Spirit” or “Olympic
Dreams”. The competition runs in three
age groups, Junior (approximately Key Stage 2), Intermediate (approximately Key
Stage 3) and Senior (approximately Key Stage 4 & 5). Further details are at http://www.ribi.org/youth/competitions/ribi-young-photographer The deadline for entries is Monday 16th
January 2012.
Young Chef
This
is another well-established competition sponsored by Waitrose and Filippo
Berio. The 2011 national winner was
also treated to a one-day cookery experience at Auberge Du
Lac. Entrants have to submit
a menu and the judges then select the best six.
These six competitors then cook their menu at a cook-off at a local
venue on a Saturday morning within a two-hour time limit. The competitors are provided with a voucher
to cover the cost of ingredients and the winner goes on to district and
potentially regional and national finals.
Details are at http://www.ribi.org/youth/competitions/ribi-young-chef The deadline for entries is Friday
20th January 2012 and the cook-off is planned for Saturday 4th
February.
Technology Tournament
This
competition has been running successfully for many years and most of the local
schools have entered. Teams of four have
to design and build a solution to a problem posed on the day. At the end of the day the various solutions
are demonstrated and winners chosen.
Details are at http://www.ribi.org/youth/competitions/ribi-young-technologist This year’s local competition will be on
Tuesday 6th March 2012.
Sponsored Swim, Saturday 10th March
Held
at Furzefield Centre, Potters Bar, teams of 5 swimmers try and swim as many
lengths as possible in a constant relay within 20 minute slots from 5.30pm
onwards until about 8pm. This is open to young people and adults to enter teams. More information from enquiries@brookmansparkrotary.org.uk
Welwyn Hatfield Rotary Walk, Sunday 29th
April
This
event is open to all individuals and groups who wish to raise money for a
charity through a sponsored walk, an ideal way of raising money for your own
project without the hassle of having to organise the walk yourselves! There is a choice of 7-mile or 11-mile routes
starting at Campus West car park in Welwyn GC and following a gloriously scenic
route through Sherrardswood, Brocket Hall park, bluebell woods and along the
River Lea. 25% of what you raise goes to
Rotary charities and 75% to your chosen project. Why not organise a group to come and take
part? An excellent social activity as
well as a fund-raiser. Or perhaps a
warm-up hike for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?
Details at http://www.welwynhatfieldrotarywalk.org.uk/walkdetails.shtml (The date of the walk has recently been changed
to avoid the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday – this is the correct date.)
Young Digital Artist
This
is a purely local competition now in its third year. We are looking for digital artifacts (still
pictures, movies, web pages or complete websites) that have that touch of
artistic flair as well as demonstrating technical skill. There are three age groups, Junior
(approximately Key Stage 3), Intermediate (approximately Key Stage 4) and
Senior (approximately Key Stage 5). It
is quite acceptable to enter coursework though the assessment criteria will be
different from public examinations. As
well as gift voucher prizes, we hope to be able to offer the winners the chance
to work with a local graphic design company.
The deadline for entries is 31st May 2012. Details at http://midhertsrotary.blogspot.com/
Rotary
Young Leaders Award, a weekend at the end of June or beginning of July 2012
A weekend “Outward Bound”-type experience
run by the RAF Regiment at RAF Henlow for 18-30 year olds sponsored by their
local Rotary club. Perhaps you have
students or ex-students who would benefit from this? Let us know at midhertsrotary@ymail.com.
All-Year-Round
Activities
Youth Exchanges
Rotary
offers many opportunities in a wide range of countries. For further information
go to http://www.ribi.org/youth/youth-exchange
Filling Aquaboxes
Aquaboxes,
as the name suggests, are boxes designed for treating and storing water and are
shipped into disaster areas when needed.
They are filled with a defined list of supplies to help people in the
immediate aftermath. Our clubs are happy
to provide a box (£50) for your students to fill. Better still, maybe your students could raise
the cost of the box as well? http://www.aquabox.org/intro.asp
Supporting End Polio Now
Rotary
has been working with the World Health Organisation and others over the last
20-odd years to eradicate polio. From
millions of cases worldwide in 1980, we are now down to a few hundred last year
and we are working to raise funds to eradicate the disease completely. Further details can be found at http://www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life/the-fight-against-polio If you have ideas to help, we will be only
too pleased to collaborate.
Shelterboxes
Shelterboxes
provide a tent to accommodate 10 people and essential supplies to help them
survive the aftermath of a disaster. The
boxes are stockpiled in readiness for the next disaster and can be shipped at
very short notice anywhere in the world along with a team of volunteers to
distribute and help set them up. Each
box with its transport costs is about £500 and there is a critical need at
present as stocks have been run down by a series of disasters. More information at http://www.shelterbox.org/
Interact Club
Why
not set up a school Interact Club? These
are groups of students from the age of 12 upwards, who share the Rotary aims of
serving the community and promoting peace and international understanding. We will provide a Rotarian mentor to work
with a member of your staff and the support you need to make the club a
success. More information at http://www.ribi.org/youth/interact
or contact us at midhertsrotary @ymail.com
Rotarians supporting Insight Into Industry
Conferences and similar activities.
We
have members who can act as advisors/mentors for these sorts of
activities. Please email us at midhertsrotary@ymail.com if
you would like help.
School Projects
Do
you have a school project that we might be able to help with? If so, contact us at midhertsrotary@ymail.com
