Scout Night Exercise – Frylands Wood

 I have been invited out to the site for an early look at some of the 20 bases that will provide the entertainment for the evening. Teams of four Scouts attempt to follow the trail around the site and visit each base. They must visit each base and show their approach, their teamwork some leadership and their success at the activity. They are trying to get the most points so they can win The Tate Shield.

This year there are 20 teams taking part from across the District so there was a great deal of work to do by the organising team to set up. The weather was not always helpful to them,but as usual it was all ready when the first teams registered.

The team running registration were in place and waiting to check equipment. I had my waterproof so I was cleared to go and have a look at the map to locate the bases.

This was the first one I found called Minefield.

There was a big block puzzle to solve, but you had to get all the piece  through the maze without hitting any cans. I bet this will be very muddy by the time the last Scout crawls through this base.

Then it was follow the yellow reflective trail to another base. This was the Ditch hopping. You had to walk up the pole and grab the upright from one side then swing the beam round to the other edge of the ditch. Not as easy as it might look especially in the dark.

Now it is off through the undergrowth to the next base.

I hope nobody eats too much dinner if they have to get through all of these tyres on ropes. I did have to have a look though and for me it was a long way down.

The next base could be found by following a trail of Hi viz jackets. I think they may be a bit frightening in the dark  

Look here I am again tangled up in some sisal attempting the spiders web. I finally got free and found some more ropes the bungees.

Not sure I am strong enough to make this one work, but I suspect the Scouts will have a great time. The final base I got to look at was the Mug Trees I had to tip water from one cup to the next all around the course. Some would not reach, but I found one that did. 

What a great night all the scouts must have had and it must give our Cubs reading this a great incentive to move on up to their Scout Section so they can give it a go.

Sixers and Seconders Camp – Frylands Wood

31 Cubs signed up to experience a Scout camp.

 

In Patrols erecting their site, cooking their own meals and clearing up. All this to prepare for their transfer to Scouts.

A tent, A dining shelter, A grid and A Patrol box. Lots to learn all under the watchful eye of a Scout Leader and a Scout or Explorer.

A Patrol Tent, Troop Tent and modern Tent

Now for the cooking Area.

A Mini Night Exercise of 6 bases kept them busy until bed time.

Morning arrived and Breakfast of Bacon and Eggy Bread on a wood fire. What could be better?

 

Then for a pioneering project with ADC(Scouts) Leslie Button.

Balista Building.

 

 

 

 

Now we have to find out if they work. Are the lashings tight?

Will they withstand the tension?

 

 

Well Here Goes

 

 

 

 

 

The Cubs seemed to find the range, but not quite my target thankfully

 

 

 

Thank You to all the Leaders, Explorers and Scouts who gave up their time to give the Cubs a fantastic weekend.

 

 

 

Gilwell Reunion

Hover mouse over picture to pause auto-display.

Ruskin Explorer Unit – Summer Adventure.

I have been invited to join Ruskin ESU on their trip to the Peak District. Everybody is very kind to me and we are camping at Gradbach Scout camp site on the Staffordshire Border.

 

My first duties were to go shopping with the Leaders who obviously had devised a wonderful menu for the camp as can be seen in the trolley. then I inspected the fish section of the freezers.

The weather has been questionable to say the least and we had to abandon our pioneering activity due to wind. I have to say that the signal for sending messages is not too hot either. Back to the old method of communication when at camp.

Weather has now improved and we went to Carsington Water where they were able to do some rafting, but I managed to get tangled up so stayed on dry land to keep my fur dry.

 

 

Now we are going hiking so I hope some of these big Scouts have some room in their rucksacks as I will struggle to keep up. Their feet and legs are so much bigger and stronger than mine.

The next activity in this exciting week is is climbing and yet again I seem to have got myself involved with the rope, but look I have also found another helmet.

 

A day out at Alton Towers is planned for today so I have jumped in with the phone, so I do not miss out. Yet again it appears that when I get near things they get tangled. This time it is the wires, but the view is good.

Who can email me with the answer?What ride am I on?

The rides were all very big and scary, but I have finally been on the water. Thank you Explorers.

Then they allowed me to join with them for lunch as I was quite hungry after the adventures on the rides.

 

The pizza was delicious and was a brilliant special treat for me.

Now back to camp for a good nights sleep for this tired wolf Cub and the Explorers. Tomorrow will offer more challenging activities I am sure.

 

I was so right it is a bike ride to Bakewell, but it means I get to have another helmet. It is about 20 miles away

 

Bakewell is situated on the River Wye and in the middle of the Peak District.

It grew up around several thermal springs and was originally called Badequella in the Dooms Day Book. meaning “Bath Well” It is now more famous for its Bakewell tarts

 

After a fantastic week with the Explorers of Ruskin ESU it is time to come home and I have some souvenirs of the trip too. Thank you for a great trip

 

 

 

15th Wallington Summer Camp

I have had a special invite to a summer camp this year. It looks like amazing fun and thanks to all the Leaders I am allowed to have  a go on things I have not done before.

 

It is a very special whistle, but it gets everybody’s attention.

 

Then they let me make a rope that was brilliant. Thank You David.

 

The rain was threatening, but we had a wide game. That covers a large area and my little paws were a bit tired, so I then enjoyed a sit down at the campfire.

 

After a nights sleep we were ready to receive some visiting Beavers thanks to Pirate Amy

 

Then it was on to adventurous muddy tunnels.

 

 

I cannot wait for what is next.

 

 

Onto an Ashdown adventure that Simon said was brilliant.

5th Sutton – Training Camp

We have thirty Cubs taking part in this training camp with lots of Leaders to support us in the many activities shown on our programme for the weekend.

We were off from flag break to prepare our tents for Inspection to ensure we had not lost anything.

I decided I would find out about the washing up and see what still needed to be done, but I tried to check if all the plates had been washed, but kept losing count.

 

I went off to do some inspecting and found that the Cubs had taken off their Wellington boots as the grass was now dry.

 

 

The tent did not look too bad either, as they had completed their kit preparations. Now it was time for the traditional teeth cleaning Exercise to make sure all the Cubs had cleaned their teeth.

The Cubs all line up in a straight line and get out their tooth brushes and put on the toothpaste. Akela gives them a cup of water and they all start brushing  for two minutes.

 

 

 

Now for the activities

Knotting – Clove Hitch and a Sheepshank

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was tracking

 

 

Having followed the trail to find the six had gone home I moved on to watch how to light a fire.

 

 

 

 

Fire Lighting allows us to cook some very nice bananas.

My ADC likes Rocky Road Bananas so I thought I should get in first.

It was time I left 5th Sutton to continue with their camp and I hope all the Cubs slept well after all their training. Thank you to all the Leaders who were providing so many activities. Cubs is so exciting

 

 

1st North Sutton Activity Day

A very Sunny Saturday saw us out at Park Farm for  a Family Activity Day.

The first activity was how to put on a climbing harness.

Just buckle up the Carabina with all the straps,then find a helmet. I like different helmets

 

 

 

Now to face the wall. I just have to place my paws on the green footholds and I would not fall because I was lighter than the person holding the belaying rope.

 

Having reached the top we had to walk backwards down the wall.

 

All this going on and what did Mrs Grigg do? Have a Coffee.

Well her duties were to come as the driver for another activity later.