Here’s a quick run-down of what’s been happening in the Group that you support in October:
- our Squirrel Drey had their first camp fire and experience of cooking s’mores, an evening of Squirrel Yoga, and another night making and running around an Obstacle Course. The Drey welcomed Cairo, our Beaver Scout Leader, to a night when the Squirrels made blanket forts – hopefully they will all get to meet and know her before too long when they go up into the Colony. The Drey is going so well that the Leader Team thinks it’s time to plan to expand from 16 to 24 members from the start of next year … but we will need an extension to the welcoming Squirrel Lodge – the current one isn’t big enough to get them all in!
- our Beavers have welcomed the first three of our Squirrel Scouts to link to the Colony, the first of so many. The Colony finished the Stage 1 First Aid badge – teaching our Beavers what to do in an emergency, before having an evening to start the Beaver Teamwork Challenge. We spent another night learning about other’s disabilities – so we know why and how to treat others with respect – as well as holding an indoor camp fire around Marabar’s brilliant camp fire.
- the Cub Pack was welcomed to the beautiful Parish Church by Mrs Pearce for a night visit – and having the chance to explore it with no service going on. The Cubs worked hard to earn their Communicator Badges – spending two nights learning how to use walkie-talkie radios properly, how to pass clear instructions so someone listening could make the same Lego model, then how to write and send emails. Akela said goodbye to the Cubs for half term giving them the “flourishing fivers” – and they’ve raised … sorry, you’ll have to wait until next month’s report!
- the Scout Troop welcomed Mr Young – a PE teacher from Bishop Stopford School and the dad of one of our Senior Patrol Leaders – to lead the Skills Challenge fitness part with a series of high intensity work-outs. The more veteran leaders needed to pick themselves up to lead the next week, using Trangia stoves to make kartoffelpuffer (German potato pancakes), and challenged the Scouts to beat the leaders over six mental puzzles … i think the honours ended up even. We ran the indoor bit of the Astronomers Badge at the start of the half term, which then condemned the UK to three weeks of cloud and rain as we needed a cloud-free evening to complete the observations (and yep, we’re still awaiting for the skies to clear). Our last night was indoors as JLC was fit only to plant rice in the night we were to be there, instead making bucketball stands and playing this fast and exciting game properly.
- our Kraken Explorer Unit has welcomed another three of our former Scouts – strengthening our links we have with them. The Unit took part in the County Explorers’ Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold Expedition Weekend in Wales, and held a Glendon District-wide Explorer party to celebrate the 51 years of Woodcroft.
November will be another busy month – the circa 40 Beavers and Cubs are to be visited at their Remembrance Sunday Sleepover by another 15 of the Squirrel Scouts, whilst the Scouts are having a quieter day exploring around London, visiting any attraction that is free. We then join up for a Group Breakfast before attending en masse the Remembrance Sunday Parade where we will celebrate awarding 12 Chief Scouts Awards to our hard working Beavers, Cubs and Scouts – you are most welcomed to join us at the Parish Church, 10.30, Saturday November 13th. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait a month for more details!
