News and Info for the whole Group
Chapman troop built themselves trebuchets so that they could have a water fight.
I think everyone would agree that they learnt from the experience and that they will make even better trebuchets next time!
Continue reading Chapman Troop Trebuchet Water FightOur planned microlighting session during camp unfortunately had to be cancelled. After a quick reassessment of our weekend, we decided to relocate the camp to Hamlet Wood scout campsite near Maidstone.
The camp was a patrol camp, with scouts doing just about all the catering for the whole weekend, including cooking for leaders!
We tried a somewhat different menu for a change.
We did manage to squeeze some activities in-between the cooking and eating – we threw tomahawks, ran a catapult shooting gallery (only tin cans and chickpeas were hurt) and ran some wide games.
We have masses of photos and videos – there are a sample below but you can view them all in the shared album
Continue reading Scouts Camp at Hamlet WoodIt is our 2022 AGM this Friday
Download the AGM pack and read the details here!
We are very pleased to announce that Jo has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Jubilee honours list for all the work she did for young people during the pandemic.
Well done Jo!
I would like to thank all for your support. Without all who volunteer your support and your enthusiasm, Scouting would not happen at the 4th, Seal or in Sevenoaks.
In my youth I was a Guide achieving my Queens Guide award, then a Venture Scout. The adults that supported me, of which there were many, inspired me to be the person I am today.
Scouting has had a profound impact on my entire life and all I wish for is that we all are able to have the same impact on the young people we care for and of course I hope, to ensure all of us adults have lots of fun as well, as find reward for yourselves along the way as I certainly have.
Jo Brookbank
In addition to being the Groups Scout Leader at 4th Sevenoaks (St John’s) Scout Group, Jo is Joint District Commissioner for Sevenoaks District Scouts.
Chapman Scouts hiked their way from Otford and Kemsing to our Scout HQ
They managed to go via a shop for a cheeky ice cream (and other treats – don’t tell the parents!).
Having started in two different villages, the two groups bumped into each other just at the point where the routes joined together.
Perfect timing!
Swift troop went searching for chips on Friday.
On a beautiful May evening, 35 of us went for a stroll across the fields and woods to the West of Sevenoaks with the promise of deep fried potatoes as a prize. Groups started from different locations and converged on Tom Bells Chip shop in Station Parade.
Most of the scouts took a turn navigating, and all arrived with enough time to queue up for their prize. A couple of the groups were so quick they even added on a bonus loop!
The scout troops spend the weekend camping at Hammerwood Scout Camp, on the edge of the Ashdown Forest near East Grinstead.
It was a back-to-basics camp with the scouts cooking all their own meals over wood fires.
Menu for the weekend was
The scouts managed a good number of activities into the weekend when they weren’t cooking.
Our first 2 night outdoor camp in over 2 years took place at Mill Lane last weekend. The older Beavers, soon to become Cubs, joined us on the first night, sleeping indoors and enjoying a hot dog and chocolate around the campfire.
We focused on camp skills over the weekend, cooking twice on fires, pizza wrap for lunch and foil vegetable and meat parcels for supper as well as dutch oven Jambalaya. We used saws and axes, making mallets and fire strikers.
The Scouts from both troops have been trying their hands at Sales, Marketing and Product Development…
They took part in an Apprentice-style challenge to design a new flavour of crisps, to develop it, and market it to the rest of the troop.
Finally, Sir Jason and Sir Emily Sugar made their final pronouncements and decided on winners.
We are not sure that we have found the Next Big Thing, but we did come to the conclusion that cinnamon flavoured crisps aren’t as unpleasant as they sound, and hot-chocolate powder doesn’t go with anything, and definitely not Cajun seasoning…
(Click any photo to open a bigger version that you can scroll through)
Should you want to try this with your troop, it was based on this OSM activity
Scouts from the 4th (St John’s), 9th (Seal) and 15th (Otford) went on a night-hike on Friday.
45 Scouts in seven separate groups spent the evening walking the footpaths of Otford and Shoreham on a night-time navigation exercise. Despite the weather trying its best to discourage everyone, they all set early on Friday evening.
Scout teams walked one of two courses, and each course could be clockwise or anti-clockwise, and with or without a leader. We also had a secondary start point at Shoreham Station to give us some more capacity
The main course included Otford, Romney Street, Shoreham. The other one was a little flatter that missed out Romney Street but went further towards Farningham.
All of the navigation was done by the scouts, although the groups with leaders did have someone on hand to make sure decisions were actually being taken an scouts weren’t ‘just following the path’.
The scouts did really well. All the groups finished, although we did have a couple mid-course retirements and one of our (unaccompanied) groups showed itself to be ‘navigationally challenged’ (compare to the actual routes at the top of the post). In the end they walked further than anyone else!
Some of our scouts had a mid-hike sing-song
The night finished with a hot-dog (or two), a mug of hot chocolate and a cookie before bed. 🌭☕🍪🛌💤
