Group Camp this year is across the weekend 27-29th September and we will have a pirate theme
Scouts Summer Camp nr Corfe Castle
The scouts have returned from their summer camp at the Burnbake Campsite near Corfe Castle in Dorset.
The journey down there went without incident, save the traffic jam near Ringwood, with us arriving just after 14:00. At one point we thought that the Tesco deliveryman was going to be there before us!
After unloading the trailer, the scouts set about pitching camp and then set about cooking dinner.
Saturday was spent getting things straight while the leaders cooked the traditional roast beef & yorkshire puds. In the afternoon we took a dip in the sea in Studland village to cool off.
Sunday saw us set out on a bike ride from the cycle hire shop at Norden Station, right up into Shell Bay in Studland at lunch time, before cycling to the ridge above Corfe Castle itself and enjoying a tremendous panorama over the escarpment on either side.
On Monday, after some navigational challenges in the minibus, we walked part of the South Dorset Coastal Path from the great globe in Durlston Head Country Park to the coastal observation station at Aldhelm’s Head. It was another scorching day up to the point we got completely soaked by a heavy shower near the end of our walk. We took shelter in the coastal observation station where the very nice NCI watchkeepers explained what they did and allowed the scouts to take a look at the shipping through their super binoculars. Thank you very much!
We were back to the same shore line the next day after a morning’s archery session at Burnbake. We abseiled down the cliff at Dancing Ledge, before climbing up again (several times). All of the scouts did really well, with all of them going over the edge. Thank you to Tom at Brenscombe Outdoor Centre for taking care of us.
Wednesday saw us in next to Wareham Quay. In the morning we built ‘traditional rafts’ and paddled them upstream under the bridge. In the afternoon Brenscombe Outdoors took us kayaking further upstream (Kelly and Aiden this time). The damp environment meant I only took a few photos of the morning session.
We finished the day on Wednesday with the Camp Cooking Competition. Both teams produced good meals – Foxes’ meal was significantly more timely but Bulldog’s meal was judged by our neighbouring Guide Leaders to be the tastiest.
We took the ferry from Poole to Brownsea Island on Thursday, to visit the spiritual home of Scouting. Highlights of the trip included the tree climbing trail, paddling on the beach, the trading post and BP’s statue. The programme for the first camp on the island made interesting reading – including the 1 hr 15 mins of silent rest after lunch…
http://youtu.be/6ho5XzLuEAQ
We left Burnbake neat and tidy a little later than planned and got back to the scout hut in time for dinner.
Thank you everyone for making the summer camp such a success again this year and Sheila in particular for all her organisation.
Where we went and what we did – a year in pictures
Featured Events
- Summer Camp in the Wye Valley (Summer 2013)
- District Beaver Camp featuring “a year in a day” including snow! (Sept 2013)
- Family Camp (Oct 2013)
- Plender Hike (Autumn 2013)
- County “Ministry of Food” cooking competition (Autumn 2013)
- Halloween Party (Oct 2013)
- Remembrance Sunday including investitures (Nov 2013)
- Christas Camp at Bears Wood (Dec 2013)
- Community Day clearing the Mill Pond (Feb 2014)
- Cubs Cooking (Spring 2014)
- Mouse powered cars (Spring 2014)
- Night Hikes (Misc)
- Balls of Fire – trebuchet (Spring 2014)
- Spring Quiz (Spring 2014)
- District Cooking Competition in Knole Park (Mar 2014)
- St George’s Day (Apr 2014)
- 7 Mag 7 – District Camp – 525 young people and 250 adults! (May 2014)
- Chief Scouts Award Ceremonies – Bronze and Silvers (Spring 2014)
- Scouts 34 mile bike ride from Groombridge (Jun 2014)
- Beaver’s Junk Boats (Jun 2014)
- Scouts Bivvi build and sleepover (Jun 2014)
- Archery (various 2014)
- Backwoods cooking with the cubs and scouts (Jul 2014)
- Cubs games night (Jul 2014)
- Volunteer Days (various Summer term 2014)
Backwoods Cooking Night
Last week they planned their menus, this week they cooked and consumed!
The four menus were:
Pumas
- Barbecued corn on the cob
- Naan-bread pizza
- Homemade cherry lemonade
- Smores
Eagles
- Pasta salad
- Cola
- Burgers
- Homemade biscuits
Wolves
- Cheese-stuffed roast peppers
- Bangers and mash
- Eaton mess with fresh strawberries
Cobras
- Snack sized jacket potatoes with bacon and cheese
- Chicken kebabs with rice
- Pancakes
We will be announcing the winners at next week’s meeting.
A big thank-you to our Sevenoaks Active Support judging team!
Bivvi Night
The scouts went bivvi building on Friday!
Sunday’s Volunteer Day a success!
We were blessed with perfect weather for the last Volunteer Day of the Summer term.
Can I say on behalf of everyone that uses the scout hut a huge thank you to everyone that gave up some of their Sunday to help.
Between us we have
- Mowed
- The main field
- The camp site
- The campfire circle
- Behind the trailers
- Strimmed
- The alleyway between us and the flats
- Around the Adventure Trail
- The edges of the main field
- The campfire circle
- The camping areas
- Patio and drive
- Weeded patio and the steps
- Tidied the edges of the driveway
- Swept the patio
- Weeded and painted the planters on the patio
- Cleared
- Cleared some of the undergrowth behind the Adventure Trail
- Felled dead trees near the air rifle range
- Cut back the trees and bushes overhanging the paths in the wood
- Cut back the trees and bushes around the camping areas
- Cleaned
- Cleaned the ovens and the cooker
- Cleaned the wire oven shelves
- Tidied the cupboards in the kitchen
- Swept and washed the minibus floor
- Painted
- The rear fire escape doors
- Trailer
- Jet washed the outside
- Rubbed down
- Primed all bare metal
- Replaced the lighting connector
- Fixed the rear indicators
- Tidied
- Found the floor in the store room
- Thrown some things out (this is harder than it sounds)
- Tidied up the store room (a bit)
- Put some of the equipment back in the loft
Just in case anyone has any free time – the jobs that still didn’t get done include:
- Prepare and paint the garage windows
- Rub down and paint the main hall door
- Build a roof to cover the army oven
- Install the army oven near the camping area
- Paint the garage door
- Clear the gutters
- Install the new radio in the minibus
Email the group if you would like a shot at any of these – we will come and help too!
Scouts Cycle Groombridge to Worth
A group of nine Scouts cycled all the way from Groombridge to Worth and back on Saturday.
It was with some trepidation we set out in the minibus and horse box in steady rain with a grim weather forecast ahead of us for our cycle trip. However, the weather gods must have been looking out for us because as soon as we pulled into the car park in Groombridge it stopped and we had beautiful sunshine all day.
The trip was very straightforward; We followed the Forest Way from Groombridge to East Grinstead and then the Worth Way all the way over the M23 to the village or Worth. The only tricky bit was negotiating the traffic and pedestrians in East Grinstead town centre.
After a break at St Nicholas’ church in Worth, we pedalled back for an ice cream, returning to the scout hut for dinner (thanks Jo). We rounded the evening off with a campfire / marshmallows and popcorn (never made popcorn over a camp fire before!) and then slept under the stars. It was the last thing we had expected given the damp start to the day.
Somehow we managed to miss Stefan, Andy and Paul from all the photos – sorry!
View 2014-06-07 Groombridge to Worth Route in a larger map
Total Ascent: 281 m
Total Descent: 281 m
Start Elevation: 46 m
End Elevation: 46 m Elevation
Min Elevation: 41 m Gradient
Max Elevation: 135 m
Distance: 51.8 km 32.2 miles, although the cycle computer said 34 miles!
Scouts Complete Night Hike
Our newest scouts completed a night hike around Otford and Shoreham last week. The scouts took a while to get their bearings and work through their route cards, but once they were off there was no stopping them. They even remembered to use the compass skills they practiced the week before!
We had perfect weather, with a clear sky and a full moon. It was warm as we started although it was definitely jumper weather by the end. We stopped half way round for a hot chocolate and both teams finished within five minutes of each other.
Well done everyone.
View 2014-05-16 Night Hike Otford and Shoreham in a larger map
Vital Stats:
- Total Ascent: 311 m
- Total Descent: 311 m
- Start Elevation: 63 m
- End Elevation: 63 m
- Min Elevation: 53 m
- Max Elevation: 211 m
- Distance: 13.2 km / 8.2 miles
Mag 7 This Weekend!
St George’s Day Photos
The sun shined down on us on Sunday. This year’s St George’s Day went really well this year.
Lots of you took photos and sent them in (thank you!) – plus there is a link to the Newslink photographer’s photos right at the bottom of the post. Scroll down for a great photo of Akela too!
It was particularly good to see Richard back and looking so good. Here is a nice photo of him with the 9th Sevenoaks and their award.
There are lots of great photos taken by the Newlink reporters here