Camp - Beaudesert

26th, 27th and 28th Sept we went with 14 Scouts to the Beaudesert camp site.

The Scouts were split in to 3 patrols with each one having it's own fire and food prep area.

This was also the first camp we have done using proper old patrol tents rather than lightweight hike tents.

It took a while for some of the Scouts to realise that they need wood for a fire, or at least to realise that they keep needing more wood and that once lit a fire won't just keep burning.

On the Saturday we had the Scouts (most of them!) gut a fish for their dinner.  The screams and noises they made were quite amusing, but a few of them really fought their fear and did brilliantly.  A few of them seemed to enjoy the experience just a little too much.  We also had them walking on Cannock Chase.

Sunday was better with the Scouts finally seeing what was needed and understanding that putting in the effort to get things sorted meant that they, and us, had a much better time.  Lunch was potato, carrot and mince cooked in cabbage leaves and wrapped in foil and cooked on the hot coals.  This was enjoyed by most Scouts far more that Saturdays fish dinner.

Overall we had a good time and hope that the Scouts did as well, as well as learning a few skills they may be able to use on a later camp.

Leaders slept in hammocks

Just normal night ware!!

The best wood collector on camp - a real fan of fire!

Proper tents

Two new Scouts invested

The winning patrol

Catapults!

Autumn Programme 2014

This is the plan for the main activities for the 2014 autumn term.  Although things might change the current programme looks like this...

9th Sept 2014	Catapults, Castles and Tubers.
16th Sept 2014	The Brain Game
23rd Sept 2014	Camp skills
26/27/28 Sept 2014	Camp - subject to confirmation
30th Sept 2014	Flash Bang Wallop, what a picture
7th Oct 2014	Chef - Part 1
14th Oct 2014	Mod Rock Masks
21st Oct 2014	Entertainers Badge
28th Oct 2014	Half Term Break
4th Nov 2014	Bonfire - may move to the 5th
11th Nov 2014	Night Hike
18th Nov 2014	Chef - Part 2
25th Nov 2014	Life Size Dummies
2nd Dec 2014	Troll sticks and para-cord
9th Dec 2014	Christmas tree preparation
12/13/14 Dec 2014	Camp at the Scout Hut - Chef Part 3 and fun stuff
16th Dec 2014	Casino and Cocktails - Christmas Party

Unless specifically stated we meet at 7pm on a Tuesday at the scout hut in Meriden.
For more information about when and where we meet please click here.

Malvern Challange - The Results

The results are in and we are very happy.  Some teams have been doing the challenge for years and many have older scouts and explorers taking part so it was always unlikely that we would actually win.  Last year we took 3 scouts and they finished in the mid 300's.

This year there were 401 teams entered in total.  We entered 3 teams.

Team A
Dan H
Eloise
Jamie
Phoebe

Team B
Ellen
Abby
Cleo
Chantai

Team C
Peter
Dan L
Olivia
Maisie

And the results were....

In no particular order....

Actually in reverse order....

Team A - 86th place - Really good effort.

Team B - 63rd place - Even better effort.

Team A - 25th place - Outstanding effort.

Well done everyone.

Malvern Challenge - 2014

27th - 29th June saw 12 Scouts join the other 5000 Scouts at the Malvern Challenge.

On the Saturday the Scouts complete an 8 mile Activity Hike, with 8 bases to complete spread along the route.  This year the bases were

1. Water Slide
2. Animal Quiz
3. Giant Jigsaw
4. Abseiling
5. Mini Olympics
6. T shirts and Rockets
7. Wacky Wheels
8. Shooting

The leaders don't get off lightly though.  We spend 8 hours on one of the bases helping 5000 scouts complete the task and earn their points for their team.  It is a fun day, but my feet are killing me!

In the evenings there is music, bands and other entertainments.  On the Sunday, as a reward for working so hard on the Saturday, there is there a loads of activities and fair ground rides for the Scouts to enjoy.

Apart from 45 mins of torrential rain and thunder on Saturday we were very lucky with the weather and, as far as I can gather so far, they all loved it.

Unfortunately, due to the land owner wanting to use his farm for farming in the future, this was the last Malvern Challenge.  However there are already plans for a similar event, in a different location, run by some of the same team, so as soon as we hear more about it we will let you all know.

Just a small area of the camp site

PW in the action at a volley ball game

Quiet night out with 5000 scouts

Stavros Flatley came to entertain.

Waiting for the fire act to start

Fire torches

Clever LED batons

More fire dancing

Really looked good in the dark

The quiet of a Sunday morning

Ruff Diamond street dance group

The giant slide

CMH and EL battle it out at land zorbing

At the bottom of the Mega Dance

At the top of the ride

At the end of the ride - thankfully still smiling!

Panorama of the Sunday site.  I think if you click this it will get bigger.  I hope.
From left to right...
F1 simulator, pedal carts, mini quad bikes, climbing walls, giant slide, our camping field in the distance,  The Sizzler, Mega Dance and then the dodgems.  In the background all sorts of other inflatables, games etc.

Archery

Thanks to a leader from another local Scouts who brought the equipment along and showed the Scouts what to do.  The results varied!!