With the Splendour of the Isle of Wight Summer Camp still fresh in the memories of the Scouts, both the Gunners and Admirals Troops commenced the autumn program of events with a District Activity Evening at Lyons Copse. The meeting’s events included rafting, assault course, traverse wall, low ropes, archery, shooting, and orienteering. The evening culminated with a well-deserved hot dog.
The following week focused upon a foundation Scouting Skill – Pioneering. After a couple of warm-up games, the Scouts displayed their rope handy work practising the Bowline, Sheep bend and numerous other knots. The intent being that with these fundamentals mastered, they would then progress onto greater projects later in the term.
Hands-on manufacturing followed with the skilful manufacture of woggles and the intricate production of Lanyards utilizing Para cord and the Cobra Stitch; a most ingenious way of producing a unique and personalized key fob/buckle attachment. Once the Leaders had mastered (!) the art of the Cobra stitch, the floor was open for works of art.
Who needs the Michelin Restaurant guide when the Scouts have a ‘cordon bleu’ cooking evening? Equipped with a fixed budget, the patrol leaders purchased the required ingredients for a banquet of omelette followed by chocolate log pudding. Needless to say, the various methods employed by some the patrols would have sent Gordon Ramsay into a foray of expletives but who’s to say experimentation is a bad thing? Conscious that the Leaders would be judging the final offerings, guidance and tips were provided to the trainee chefs. All in all, a great effort, Michelin rating 5!
A combined Admirals & Gunners evening followed; a patrol orientated Night Hike, combined with challenges en-route, followed by a Jamboree Over The Air (JOTA) joint sleepover. Tasks during the hike ranged from the traditional skill-set of stretcher construction to crisp tasting (never knew so many different flavours existed) and Morse code. Sticking with the communication theme, the weekend entailed the JOTA Jamboree. This provided the Scouts with the opportunity to establish worldwide communication (e-mail and radio) with fellow Scouts; an attempt even being made to communicate with a Space Station! Many thanks to the Amateur Radio Club.
The half-term concluded with yet another joint activity with Admirals; a Trafalgar Evening. Bereft of any reference to ‘Captain Pugwash’, the ‘Senior Service’ or, for the Leaders, a ‘Rum Ration’, the Troops proceeded to put their recently acquired pioneering skills to good use with the construction of a freestanding mast complete with flag and mainsail. In an attempt to emulate the definitive Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm Field Gun Race the patrols re-enacted this classic naval tradition accompanied by a resounding cannon soundtrack that would have put the 1812 Overture to shame! Thankfully no limbs were broken or fingers sliced with the ensuing excitement, a grand evening was had by all. A fitting celebration of Trafalgar!
Twenty two Scouts from both Admirals and Gunners Scout Troops with four Leaders went on an epic adventure for a whole week to Corf Camp (Newtown Creek) on the IOW in July.
Planning started back in January – the destination was set, transport organised and activities provisionally booked. Not a lot to be said but check out the photos and feedback received from parents.
Feedback from IOW Trip
1. Was it enjoyable for Scouts?
Yes - the activities were all enjoyable, and I particularly enjoyed the spare time at the beach. Yes!!
Yes - without doubt, *** hasn't stopped talking about it!!
*** found it very enjoyable.
YES!!!
2. Did they get something from it?
I got some good experiences like wind surfing and dinghy sailing It was *** longest camp, and he enjoyed learning how to sail.
Yes - loved the independence and adventure
Yes, *** has never been on a bus on his own and this activity has helped him learn about timetables and routes. His confidence and self esteem has grown
Loved the 'bus' activity - a bit daunting at first
3. How do you rate the activities undertaken?
All the actvities were all fun and enjoyable there was lots of variety. Great
Fantastic loved all of it especially the Freshwater Marathon, Sailing/windsurfing and the Island Bus Quiz.
Bus Quiz excellent. Kayaking/canoeing excellent. Hikes good. Swimming excellent. Robin Adventure Park excellent. Cooking competition good. Beach trip excellent. Excellent range of activities undertaken
4. How was the admin prior to the event?
Good - plenty of clear info in advance Good
Excellent only minor comment would have been to have a little more info on day to day activities before hand (for over protective mothers!!)
Good admin prior to the event. Good notice to save for the event. Emails sent with information - excellent.
5. Cost – about right or to expensive?
Good value considering the UKSA activities and ferry transport. Amazingly good value.
About right considering all that they did and good value compared to school trip
Good value considering its a week and all the activities you provided and the equipment/transport too
6. Location – was it OK?
Excellent - lots of space to play around, but too many wasps! Yes - not too far to travel, but fun going across to the IOW
Great
*** liked the location of the camp especially the view of the river. (Close enough if there was any problems, but far away for *** to feel he was on holiday and learn to be independent - Mum)
7. Transport – was it OK?
The minibuses were newer and better than last year
Yes
Good
Minivans were good. (Excellent transport arrangements - Mum)
8. Equipment on camp – was it OK?
All OK (but a dish washer would have been good!).
Yes
The only comment I got from *** was that his cooking shelter was "odd" something to do with poles of different lengths!
Equipment on camp excellent. Good facilities at the campsite, especially the tuck shop! ( *** comment).
20 Scouts from both Admirals and Gunners Troops took on the challenge of a Scout Survival Camp at Brandy Blunts Copse in July 2011.
As dusk approached they were given the task of making their own shelters (some looking decidedly dodgy see below) for the night and were given plastic sheeting to help keep it watertight (next time we will have to try it without the plastic). All slept in shelters that night and made it to the next morning.
The Scouts have been keeping fit over the last few weeks with a series of active evenings. First they had an indoor games evening with a variety of games including “chalk rugby”, the aim of which is to draw a chalk cross in the opposing team’s square. After much running around, the Scouts then exhausted themselves further by playing table hockey - not a nice gentle game on a table similar to table football, but another energetic game in which a member of each team has to stop the hockey puck from striking their upturned table in one corner of the Scout Hut, whilst attempting at the same time to score a goal by striking one of the other team’s tables in a different corner.
The following week, having recovered from indoor games, the Scouts ventured out to Wickham Common to play wide games. A strong favourite of the evening was Thor’s Hammer, a game in which the attacking team have to try to get the hammer into the base of the defending team. The defending team have to stop them by tagging their opposition and can win the game by capturing the hammer. And all this happens in the dark of the night, with the defenders trying to track down their enemy in torchlight.
Finally, having failed to exhaust the Scouts on those two evenings, the Leaders organised a night hike and sleepover. On a very foggy night small groups of Scouts set out with maps and torches and hiked from the Scout Hut along to Brooklands Farm and then continued to Upham via Winters Hill. They then trudged back to Bishops Waltham through the mud via Ashton and Northbrook. Having arrived back tired, wet and muddy, he Scouts warmed themselves up with hot chocolate before settling down for the night in the Hut.
All of that healthy exercise deserved a reward and what better reward than pancakes dripping with maple syrup, golden syrup, sugar, lemon…..makes me hungry just thinking about it, although I’m not so sure about the multicoloured pancakes – yellow? Yes, that sounds quite normal, but blue, green or pink? I’m not so sure! However I am assured that they tasted delicious!
Twenty eight Scouts from both Admirals and Gunners Troops took on the challenge of Winter Camp at Ferny Crofts in early March. Fortunately the weather was very good. Unfortunately the coach service from Denny's Wood car park (late change of arrival location) was a bit hairy as 660 Scouts (yes, I did say six hundred and sixty) from all over Hampshire descended on one location to get on one coach between 6pm and 7pm in the evening.
From then onwards things got a lot better and the Scouts were able to enjoy themselves with the large variety of organised activities, including Sumo Wrestling, Human Demolition, Laser Tag, Human Gyroscope and Air Rifle Shooting.
We did notice we had a few fire starters within our number and quite often found ourselves sitting around a warm camp fire. The Scouts all returned home having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Admirals Own Scout Troop Update
We have had a great few weeks! Camp cooking and then some!!! The Scouts cooked rabbit curry a couple of weeks ago, from scratch! And chapattis and chutney!! We had a great night!
Our Engineering Challenge saw the Scouts building a structure to light a candle on the other side of the room!
Scout news from November: woggles and frostie challenge
Gunners Scouts had an evening creating woggles for their scarves. There was a selection of materials available including resin, white metal, modelling clay and rope or wire. The modelling clay woggles were extremely colourful, with some even glowing in the dark! The Scouts particularly enjoyed melting down the white metal before pouring it into moulds.
Scouts from both troops attended the penultimate “FrostieChallenge Camp”. This was held at Lyons Copse where the Scouts spent the evening playing wide games in the woods.
Camping, quizzes, hiking, jamborees and lighting fires
The Scouts have had a busy term with a variety of activities including camping, quizzes, hiking, a 48 hour jamboree and of course, an old scout favourite, fire lighting.
There have already been two camps; the first, in September, was a quick overnight camp just outside of Bishops Waltham. For the older Scouts, the October camp combined two hikes with an overnight stay at Marwell Activity Centre. A small group of Scouts hiked from Bishops Waltham to Marwell, where they joined up with the leaders and younger Scouts and camped overnight. The hike took a little longer than planned owing to a heavy downpour of rain leaving big muddy puddles along the route. The following morning the Scouts set off towards Winchester, with the older ones hiking in small groups (as part of their Hikers Badge) and the younger ones walking as one group with a leader. The older Scouts made very good time, with one group reaching their final destination ahead of the check point leader.
In the middle of October the Scouts and a few of the Cubs took part in the annual JOTA/JOTI event. This is a worldwide jamboree which allows Scouts from across the globe to chat to each other, either by radio (Jamboree on the Air) or by internet (Jamboree on the Internet). The Bishops Waltham Scout Group makes this a full weekend of activities, with the Scouts beginning with a night hike to the Scout Hut. The Scouts and Cubs then use the Scout Hut as a base, combining a sleepover with a night of socialising with each other and meeting new friends across the world. This year they chatted to Scouts from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, Philippines and Malaysia (and possibly some others I didn’t hear about), and the Scouts are going to have an evening using these countries to create cuisine from around the world; I hope I’m invited to the tasting!
Other activities this term have included a quiz, with rounds including “the movies”, a picture quiz and general knowledge, interspersed with games (such as “knock the other team’s tower down with a Frisbee” and “head it/catch it”) to earn bonus points. The Scouts also painted firework pictures to decorate the Scout Hut for the Junior School’s fireworks display at the end of October.
The Scouts started November with a bonfire night event which has become a tradition over the last few years: “Flaming Catapults”.
This activity is a particular favourite, which requires teams of Scouts to design and build a projectile launcher from pioneering poles, a metal legged chair, rope and a bungee. A lit arrow is then shot at an unlit bonfire and the team who cause first ignition is the winner. Unfortunately, this year none of the groups managed to light the bonfire via catapult, although one team did get close, with a number of their arrows landing on target, but bouncing off before the fire could take hold. Better luck next year!
Scout Summer Camp - Isle of Wight 2011
2. Did they get something from it?
3. How do you rate the activities undertaken?
5. Cost – about right or to expensive?
7. Transport – was it OK?
Scouts Winter Camp at Ferny Crofts
Twenty eight Scouts from both Admirals and Gunners Troops took on the challenge of Winter Camp at Ferny Crofts in early March. Fortunately the weather was very good. Unfortunately the coach service from Denny's Wood car park (late change of arrival location) was a bit hairy as 660 Scouts (yes, I did say six hundred and sixty) from all over Hampshire descended on one location to get on one coach between 6pm and 7pm in the evening.
We did notice we had a few fire starters within our number and quite often found ourselves sitting around a warm camp fire. The Scouts all returned home having thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
There have already been two camps; the first, in September, was a quick overnight camp just outside of Bishops Waltham. For the older Scouts, the October camp combined two hikes with an overnight stay at Marwell Activity Centre. A small group of Scouts hiked from Bishops Waltham to Marwell, where they joined up with the leaders and younger Scouts and camped overnight. The hike took a little longer than planned owing to a heavy downpour of rain leaving big muddy puddles along the route. 
The following morning the Scouts set off towards Winchester, with the older ones hiking in small groups (as part of their Hikers Badge) and the younger ones walking as one group with a leader. The older Scouts made very good time, with one group reaching their final destination ahead of the check point leader.
In the middle of October the Scouts and a few of the Cubs took part in the annual JOTA/JOTI event. This is a worldwide jamboree which allows Scouts from across the globe to chat to each other, either by radio (Jamboree on the Air) or by internet (Jamboree on the Internet). The Bishops Waltham Scout Group makes this a full weekend of activities, with the Scouts beginning with a night hike to the Scout Hut. The Scouts and Cubs then use the Scout Hut as a base, combining a sleepover with a night of socialising with each other and meeting new friends across the world. This year they chatted to Scouts from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, Philippines and Malaysia (and possibly some others I didn’t hear about), and the Scouts are going to have an evening using these countries to create cuisine from around the world; I hope I’m invited to the tasting!
The Scouts started November with a bonfire night event which has become a tradition over the last few years: “Flaming Catapults”.