It may be a shorter report than usual, as the Sections have been – generally – closed for the School holidays … but all three – sorry, that should nearly read all four! – sections of 1st Kettering Scout Group have been preparing for the term ahead:
- our Beaver Colony is looking to start back with around 24 Beaver Scouts – which is superb, enabling the Colony to pass on 6 Beavers on their next step of the Great Adventure to the Cub Pack this term, and still keep the Colony numbers
- our Cub Pack has already started back – with an outside meeting at Woodcroft on Thursday – and felt mobbed with 27 existing and new members of the Pack there. They are setting the pace this term, having a canoeing session booked for next week, then a rafting camp lined up later this month – as well as the Remembrance Weekend Sleepover, where the Pack plans to combine with the Colony for the weekend – and to then host the Scouts for breakfast on Sunday morning before we go as a Group to the Remembrance Sunday Church Parade
- the Scouts broke cover during the Summer hibernation for a day trip to London for 10 of the older members …. even if we did return with 9. After we did the Parliament / Whitehall / Horse Guards / Pall Mall walk, we raided M+Ms for chocolate, ascended the Walkie Talkie skyscraper to look down on London from the Sky Garden, took the Emirates Airline across the Thames, had a Pie and Mash dinner in Greenwich (and yes, tried the Jellied Eels on offer, much to Cairo’s disgust!) before catching the Thames Clipper back to the Tower of London to see the Ceremony of the Keys – a great, full-on day. We have sent out our letter for the coming term, with details of events such as the Pioneers Badge, a full two-day expedition, a sleepover with a wide game, and the Swimmers Badge
- and finally! We have been trying to set up an Explorer Unit for our people for several years. We are really pleased to report the District has agreed to the 1st Kettering entering a Partnership Agreement to host our own Unit, but accepting Scouts from the town centre Troops. We are now going to find out if we can make it work, and Sharon will be leading our first gathering on September 14th, with – we think – at least 8 ex-1st Scouts coming along. Watch this space – for of all the sections the 1st Kettering provides, this is the one that would most likely provide our leaders of the future in the short and medium term
