Our quick run-down of what’s been happening in our Group this month ….
- our Squirrel Drey started back slightly later than the other sections, to give our 4 – 6 years old Squirrels a chance to get used to the new school routine for the first time before starting more things in the evenings, and with their 4 new members are full at 24 again. The Squirrels were busy on their first night, learning about maps for their Navigator Badge, then spending an evening learning new sports and games, before being led in a more contemplative evening of Squirrel Yoga. They are getting ready for their Nights Away tonight … but wait, more details next month!
- our Beaver Colony welcomed several new members this term, including from the Drey, taking us to 21 Beavers – after we have handed on some of our Beavers on to our Cub Pack. Our Colony started the term with an evening of welcoming the new members, and learning the Beaver Rules. They have spent several meetings learning essential life skills for the Beaver Skills Challenge – such as rolling their neckerchiefs, learning how to light candles safely, healthy living with exercise, and making toothpaste for their teeth. And on a completely mad night, for their Team Work Challenge the Beavers worked together to make a “marble run” from recycled cardboard – a great result.
- our Cub Pack of 24 returned with several new Cubs from our Beaver colony for Bagheera to share the history of Cubs, before playing several games. Preparing for a night hike later this term, the Cubs were shown how to read a map and use a compass, before finishing the month learning life skills – including Baloo showing how to set a table, the YLs showing how to make hot chocolate, and Chil how to sew buttons back on. It is wonderful how the Pack leader team seamlessly continue to deliver great Cub meetings after Akela and Raksha’s retirement earlier this year – well done, Chil and the team.
- the Scout Troop of 32 started back with 5 new members, from the Cub Pack and from outside, by undertaking a chip shop survey of the nearest outlets – M+D’s topping the table again as the Scouts’ favourite. We listened to a presentation by the six Scouts on the Canoe Exped earlier this summer, coached by our young leaders then welcomed Jon Lawson (our friendly canoe instructor) to award the Expedition Challenges, before spending a night considering our global footprint, an international issue for the World Challenge. We took our kayak fleet out to the River Nene for the last time this year, before taking the opportunity of being in the Parish Hall for Dom to lead the cooking of Welsh Cakes on trangia stoves.
- it was great welcoming over 40 to our Village Fayre and AGM at Woodcroft two weekends ago – with twist cooking, Hook Me Duck, Guess the Name of the Giraffe, and an aerial runway. Thank you for your support!
