• The 1st Kettering has now been given permission to start the first Squirrel Scout Dray in the Glendon Scout District – this will be for 24 members aged between 4 to 6 years old. Whilst we still have a few more hurdles to clear from the National Organisation, we hope to start the Dray at the start of June. Our best wishes to Hannah and Tom in this new venture – and watch the June update to see how we got on with our first meeting! If you know of any 4-6 year old who wants to be part of this, please email squirrels@1stkettering.co.uk.
  • Over 40 of the Group took over the John Lowther Centre on Good Friday to give it some TLC – burning off piles of brash, tidy up the wood store, burn off some old alder trees we cut down, and to re-plant some 180 oaks, rowans, walnuts and silver birches as our part of The Queen’s Green Canopy. We fielded Cubs, Scouts, Young Leaders, Parents, Friends and Leaders (and an ex-1st Kettering ”Scout Master” from 1968!) who were well-fed on baked spuds and chilli beans at dinner time. We got an email from the JLC Management which said “What your small army have created would have taken the regular work crew many weeks to achieve the same – thank you”. Well done, 1st Kettering Small Army! The attached has the photos from this day;
  • Over 65 of the 1st Kettering paraded with Glendon District at our St George’s Day Celebration – the Group Photo is also attached. We were pleased as anything to see our ex-Beaver, Cub, Scout and current Young Leader Alfie Bedford being presented the Andi Bull Trophy, given in memory of a fantastic young man to “a young person who brings their A game to Scouting, is a joy to be around, works hard at life is inspirational and supportive to all and who lives the Scout Promise and ethos”. Well done Alfie, we look forward to seeing your exploits as a leader in the Scouting Movement;
  • Cairo (Rachel) and Dom attended and passed the County Scout Bell Boating Helm course, and will be going afloat tomorrow to put these skills into practice;
  • Our Beaver Colony started the month with a visit to the Elm Bank Care home, to present their planters. The Beavers kicked the term off with a Fair Trade Night – trying some goodies that have been made in a fairer manner – before spending an evening in playing Beaver Wide Games, then the last meeting learning about safety – about the emergency services, and about home safety;    
  • Our Cub Pack started back in time-honoured fashion with a night of Cub games and learning, followed by an evening preparing for their Night Hike by learning about maps and compasses (more details in the next 59 Club Report);     
  • Three members of the Scout Troop were taken for our Easter Expedition to North Yorkshire – and nearly climbed all of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, being blown off Ingleborough by a sleet squall – then taking two members to Kinder Scout to find the Kinder Gates in a 2 square miles moor. We prepared for the St George’s Day with marching practice with an ex-Royal Marine dad John, had a Zoom Call with our friends from the Gifted Hands Scout Troop from Kampala, Uganda after the St George’s Day Parade, spent an evening learning about the law and how to use knives and axes safely, before spending an evening at JLC to practice with them and finish off the tidying up;  
  • Our Kracken Explorer Unit finished last term with a mass wide game at the East Carlton Park, and have started their Summer programme with three more former 1st Kettering Scouts having transferred to the Unit – it is great that these links between our Troop and what we now consider “our” Unit are as strong as they are.