Category: Scouts

County Scout Expedition Challenge 2010

   |   By


>

IMGP1600.article

The County Scout Expedition Challenge is an annual event for teams of between 4 to 6 Scouts from the same District. This year the challenge was held from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd May and the ten teams, including a team of 6 from 2nd Guildford scouts, completed 2 hikes of about 18km on the Saturday and 9km on Sunday.

Scouts work hard to complete the challenge. Apart from hiking, they pitch their tents each evening, cook all their meals on lightweight stoves, and each evening they complete their route plans for the walk the next day. On Saturday and Sunday mornings they cook their breakfasts, pack up their tents and other kit and set off on the hike.

Competition teams carry their food, stoves, tents and sleeping bags and walk without a leader between the checkpoints. Mobile phones are used if they get lost or are late to arrive at checkpoints. Training teams have a leader with them and only carry their lunches and emergency kit.

This year’s route was circular starting from St John’s Seminary in Wonersh, to Bentley Copse for Saturday night and back to the seminary on Sunday. At the end of the weekend teams were hot and tired as they inspected their feet for blisters and cooled off under the trees.

Father Jonathan gave a guided a tour of the seminary including the library and chapel. Richard Shortman, the County Commissioner, presented with teams with their certificates. The 2nd Guildford team got a silver award again and is already planning how to get extra points and a gold next year.

Cyclo Cross 2010

   |   By


>

cyclo_cross_02On Sunday 21 March, Scouts and Explorers took part in the 28th annual Surrey Scouts Cyclo Cross competition at Ranmore camp site. This year, eight Scouts and two leaders from 2nd Guildford entered the competition.

Each year the course seems to get longer and this year participants were challenged by the addition of a hairpin bend as well as the uphill finish. As usual the course was soft but the weather was fine so spectators were not as wet and muddy as the Scouts and their bikes. All enjoyed themselves and Jack even dismounted mid-race to pose for a photo.

As with all Scouting activities, it is taking part that is important, however winning is very satisfying and Craig, Tom and Elliot were delighted to win medals presented to them by Paul Iverson, the new Assistant County Commissioner for Surrey Scouts.

District Scouts Activity Camp

   |   By


>

2009_district_camp_8.inlineThe Scouts used to attend an Autumn camp on a regular basis (the county-organised Interlink) but this has not been held since 2004 so a District Scout activity camp was held at Bentley Copse over the first weekend in October.

The camp was well attended by 57 scouts from all 6 groups in the District and 15 adults including all of the Scout leaders (although unfortunately one had to leave for another Scouting event after helping to set up camp).

Paul Frame and Jonathan Gasson lead the pioneering activity. Over Saturday, other leaders, helpers and Scouts constructed A-frames and transformed them into a circular obstacle course by the addition of ladders, beams and ropes.

Scouts also enjoyed archery, air rifle shooting, go-karts, orienteering, a camp fire and a wide game as well as exploring Bentley Copse and making new friends.

Richard Cant kept everyone fed with 180 eggs, 140 sausages, 2 vats of Bolognese, mounds of pasta and piles of other stuff loaded into 3 supermarket trolleys and wedged into a car on Friday. He commented that he should be awarded his camp cooking badge and asked who was cooking at next year’s camp – any volunteers?

K9: Surrey Scouts expedition to Kandersteg

   |   By


>

k9_02.inlineAt the end of August 2009, Scouts, Explorers and leaders from Normandy, Stoughton and 2nd Guildford were among 450 Scouts, Explorer Scouts and leaders on Surrey Scout’s international expedition to Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland. Expedition planning had taken two years and the coach journeys there and back ranged from 18 to 23 hours but it was well worth it.

A core team of county leaders spent two weeks providing food for two groups (one each week) of over 200 Surrey Scouts, Explorers and their leaders. They also arranged all activities and transport including booking tickets and organized a camp bank so there was no need to carry large amounts of cash. The media team kept us amused with daily newsletters containing jokes and articles from groups and useful information such as the fact that the kitchen had used 99kg of yoghurt, 52 kg of butter and 25.5kg strawberry jam. They also updated the website and K9 blog (all still on the Surrey Scouts website for those who want a look).

k9_01.inlineScout groups spent a day rafting and swimming in the river Aare from Thun to Bern including one exciting bit where we went through a wave and had to paddle hard and then dive into the middle of the raft. Older Scouts and Explorers had to work harder on the more challenging Simme.

Another day was spent on the high ropes at Kandersteg or the zip wires and high ropes near Adelboden where there were fantastic views of the mountains and the river 140 metres below the highest zip wire.

Explorers walked for two days on a high-level route, spending a night at a mountain hut. Scouts spent two separate days walking on a high-level walk and a low-level walk (relative to starting at 1200 metres above sea level). 2nd Guildford walked from Selden to the top of the Gasterntal valley back to Kandersteg following the river Kander which changed from a stream to huge waterfalls through some fantastic scenery.

k9_05.inline

On their day in Kandersteg, many walked up to Lake Oeschinensee to swim in and row on the lake, enjoying tobaggan rides en route.

Apart from these core activities, each group chose an excursion or activity of their own. 2nd Guildford decided to visit the thermal pools at Brig via a train through the Lotschberg tunnel to Brig and a bus to Brigerbad. We also had time to explore Brig. The pools were amazing with views of the mountains, a long slide and a river section that alternated between moderate and very fast.

During the rest of our visit, everyone was kept busy completing a 36-task K9opoly challenge (including seeing how many people could be fitted into a Swisscom telephone box) and evening activities such as fondue and an international camp fire on the last evening.

St Nicolas 9th Guildford – 1st Scout Meeting

   |   By


>

9th_scouts_01.inlineFor ten years, Cub Scouts from St Nicolas 9th Guildford have been moving on to other groups or leaving Scouting due to a lack of Scout leaders.

A parent volunteered to run the Scout Troop but was unable to hold meetings on evenings during the week, so unlike other troops in the District, they meet on every third Saturday, either for the afternoon or for the weekend.

Nine Scouts were at their first meeting in September at Bentley Copse campsite where they enjoyed a sunny afternoon learning how to use axes, bow saws and lighting fires for backwoods cooking.

Their programme for the rest of the term includes the District Scout activity camp, a night at the Spike followed by a church parade to celebrate their centenary, caving at Merstham, hiking and a December survival camp.

On top of this busy programme, the new Scout Leader is also attending weekend training courses aiming to get his Wood Badge by Christmas.