This weekend some of our senior scouts completed the hard part their Expedition Challenge
Since the scouts were technology free and walking on their own, there are no photos of them in transit. But they looked fairly happy when they arrived
Eight groups of scouts went out exploring on Friday evening, with a night navigation hike from locations across the district to Sevenoaks Weald.
Walking parties from 10th Sevenoaks (Weald), 9th Sevenoaks (Seal) and both Chapman and Swift troops from the 4th set out from locations stretching from Westerham to Shipbourne and navigated their way to the scout hut in Sevenoaks Weald.
Cubs from the 4th & 9th hiked from Shoreham. They took in the view from Meenfield wood and then went on to meet Beavers at the Otford Solar System.
Next they stopped for chips on their way to Mill Lane followed by a campfire! Everyone slept outside with many Cubs hammocking or bivouacking for the first time all under our fantastic outside shelter. Many first nights away were achieved.
Five teams of scouts navigated their way to a cookout on Friday.
Teams started from Weald, Bough Beech, Toys Hill, Sundridge and Dibden and made their way towards Ide Hill
Our intrepid scouts all managed to sniff out the campfire and arrived in time to cook their treat. Scouts brought a good range of things – we had kebabs, burgers, sausages and even a chocolate banana
Continue reading Cookout HikeTen of our older scouts undertook their Expedition Challenge at the weekend.
To complete their challenge they have to plan an expedition, including destination, means of travel, routes / itinerary, food planning and then carry it out. They only thing they don’t have to do is carry all their camping equipment with them.
Both groups successfully planned their journeys and navigated their way from Sevenoaks to Malling District’s campsite at Comp Wood.
Chapman Scouts hiked their way from Otford and Kemsing to our Scout HQ
They managed to go via a shop for a cheeky ice cream (and other treats – don’t tell the parents!).
Having started in two different villages, the two groups bumped into each other just at the point where the routes joined together.
Perfect timing!
Swift troop went searching for chips on Friday.
On a beautiful May evening, 35 of us went for a stroll across the fields and woods to the West of Sevenoaks with the promise of deep fried potatoes as a prize. Groups started from different locations and converged on Tom Bells Chip shop in Station Parade.
Most of the scouts took a turn navigating, and all arrived with enough time to queue up for their prize. A couple of the groups were so quick they even added on a bonus loop!
The scouts have returned from their summer camp at the Burnbake Campsite near Corfe Castle in Dorset.
The journey down there went without incident, save the traffic jam near Ringwood, with us arriving just after 14:00. At one point we thought that the Tesco deliveryman was going to be there before us!
After unloading the trailer, the scouts set about pitching camp and then set about cooking dinner.
Saturday was spent getting things straight while the leaders cooked the traditional roast beef & yorkshire puds. In the afternoon we took a dip in the sea in Studland village to cool off.
Sunday saw us set out on a bike ride from the cycle hire shop at Norden Station, right up into Shell Bay in Studland at lunch time, before cycling to the ridge above Corfe Castle itself and enjoying a tremendous panorama over the escarpment on either side.
On Monday, after some navigational challenges in the minibus, we walked part of the South Dorset Coastal Path from the great globe in Durlston Head Country Park to the coastal observation station at Aldhelm’s Head. It was another scorching day up to the point we got completely soaked by a heavy shower near the end of our walk. We took shelter in the coastal observation station where the very nice NCI watchkeepers explained what they did and allowed the scouts to take a look at the shipping through their super binoculars. Thank you very much!
We were back to the same shore line the next day after a morning’s archery session at Burnbake. We abseiled down the cliff at Dancing Ledge, before climbing up again (several times). All of the scouts did really well, with all of them going over the edge. Thank you to Tom at Brenscombe Outdoor Centre for taking care of us.
Wednesday saw us in next to Wareham Quay. In the morning we built ‘traditional rafts’ and paddled them upstream under the bridge. In the afternoon Brenscombe Outdoors took us kayaking further upstream (Kelly and Aiden this time). The damp environment meant I only took a few photos of the morning session.
We finished the day on Wednesday with the Camp Cooking Competition. Both teams produced good meals – Foxes’ meal was significantly more timely but Bulldog’s meal was judged by our neighbouring Guide Leaders to be the tastiest.
We took the ferry from Poole to Brownsea Island on Thursday, to visit the spiritual home of Scouting. Highlights of the trip included the tree climbing trail, paddling on the beach, the trading post and BP’s statue. The programme for the first camp on the island made interesting reading – including the 1 hr 15 mins of silent rest after lunch…
http://youtu.be/6ho5XzLuEAQ
We left Burnbake neat and tidy a little later than planned and got back to the scout hut in time for dinner.
Thank you everyone for making the summer camp such a success again this year and Sheila in particular for all her organisation.
