Zoooom!-ing into 2014

And we did just that! Just a couple of weeks into a new term and it's all go at Zoooom!
Having been donated a splendid brand new fish tank by the local Pets at Home store (BIG thank you folks!), it was 'photograph the pouring water/ ink-drop time, ably guided by Cameron Harris. We've still to see the results, but the project itself was tons of fun. Alongside, it is all on to get ready for our latest challenge against Oban Camera Club coming up in March. So, it's all hands on deck for editing and tweeking in advance of the competition, with Zoooom! hoping not to be second THIS time! Also - plans are afoot for a weekend trip to the Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore, so all in all it's all going on at Zoooom!

Argyll make an impact at Deep Impact

January tends to be the time of Deep Impact, the Christian Youth and Children's Workers conference at Aviemore and 2014 has been no exception. Over 350 folks gathered at the MacDonald complex for a weekend of fellowship, Christian teaching, equipping and networking. The famous five above from H2O, were joined by others from parts of Argyll including Dunoon and Seil.
The gathering were encouraged over the weekend through impacting Bible teaching from Danielle Strickland from Canada.

An amazing array of 28 workshop and seminar opportunities were available over the weekend (see http://www.deep-impact.org.uk/the-conference-2014/seminars-2014.html for seminars that were available)

The Marketplace provided ample opportunities to check out resources, hear about new initiatives, test your stamina on a bike over 1 minute (Katie) and crucially was a place to meet together, chill together, learn from others or simply spend time with God.

For those involved in Argyll youth work, Deep Impact is increasingly becoming an opportunity for young leaders and volunteers to meet each other and to grow in leadership skills and in confidence in their youth work with younger ones.
A big thank you to all who supported our participation in this year's conference and as ever, we hope even more folk from Argyll will take part next year.

It's January - It must be Hope 2 Oban's Ardeonaig Time!!

From 3 to slightly older - a fine gathering at Ardeonaig

And indeed it was a fine time for young and not-so-young to get together with director's, staff, volunteers and friends of Hope 2 Oban at Ardeonaig Lodge, one of the Abernethy Outdoor Centres.
This is an annual opportunity for H2O to reflect, review and look forward to future times. With H2O celebrating 10 years of youth work this year, it was a splendid opportunity to ponder what's been, who has been involved and to remind ourselves of the 'guests' who have joined us over the years to add something special to our work alongside young people.

A host of speakers shared with the gathering

Ardeonaig was also an opportunity to say thank you to Roy Clunie who has stepped down as 'Chair' of H2O after 7 years in the post. Roy will remain on the Board, whilst Stephen Sunderland takes over the role of Chairing Hope 2 Oban. We wish both Stephen and Roy well, and thank all our volunteers for their time and talents.

Roy Clunie