2018-05-12 – JoTT 2018

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Saturday 12th May 2018 was the date for the annual Jamboree On The Trail. This is an International event held for the last 21 years and the eighteenth year in a row that Dartford District including 5th Dartford Scout group have taken part.

After a spell of very good weather the week before, the morning turned out to be decidedly cool and a little damp but this didn’t deter our Group turning out in force. Some Leaders

and Explorers starting from Sevenoaks at 9.30am and walking the 17 miles along the Darent River path picking up Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and their families en route and finishing at Dartford park  at around 4pm. 

Here we were all greeted by District Leaders young and old  and given snacks and hot drinks and the much coveted J.O.T.T. Badge.

Well done everyone who participated however far they walked and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.

2018-03-30 – Easter Camp 18

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With the advance forecast looking somewhat inclement, it was decided that we would switch from our usual pitch at Thriftwood to ‘The Village’, comprising of a large permanent marquee with refrigeration, gas range, lighting and running water, together with 5 x 6 person bunk sheds and 1 x 4 person, the extra cost was well within contingency and given that it included all the gas we needed and saved us the fuel to transport all the tentage, tables, benches etc., was money well spent.  The bunk rooms accommodated the Scouts, leaders and for the first time, 4 selected cubs from the Phillips Pack.  The Explorers braved the elements in their tents, but with the experience they have gained from years of camping, they were snug as a bug.

Activities included a pioneering project, raft building (and piloting) and fishing on the well stocked lake.  All the young people, Cubs included, cooked a Friday evening meal of sausages, mash and beans, Saturday morning, again cooked by the YP was an ‘English Breakfast’, lunch was prepared centrally between activities and in the evening everyone cooked Paella, with homemade garlic bread done in the ovens. Everyone ate their fill and the meal was a great success.

With a pirate theme for the camp, there were frequent shouts of ‘Arrrggghhh’ at roll call etc.

Alas not too many photo’s taken, but a few to get the flavor of the camp. However, everyone had a good camp, made even better with a swift strike and very little wet kit to unload and hang out back at base.

Megan Selected for #WSJ2019

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As many of you will know, our Megan from the Johnston ESU and Young Leader from Phillips Pack  has been selected as one of 7 young people to represent Dartford as part of the Kent contingent, at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree in west Virginia.

Each young person attending will need to raise just shy of £4000 to cover their costs and to help those in developing countries, who do not have the same fundraising opportunities.

Dartford district Scouts, the 5th Dartford Scout Group and Dartford Borough Council have been very generous in their support of Megan’s fundraising, but there is still a way to go and all donations and fundraising opportunities would be very welcome.

2018-02-15 – Philpott Pancakes

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Pancake fun for Philpott Beavers

For those Beavers that didn’t go away during half-term Philpott Beavers enjoyed a ‘Fun with Pancakes evening’ on Thursday 15th February 2018.

The Beavers worked in small groups making the pancake mixture using eggs, flour and milk. Then cooked one each with the aid of a Leader. On completion they were decorated to look like a smiling face using strawberries, banana’s, syrup, hundreds & thousands and squirty cream. The biggest smile though was on their own faces when told they could then eat them. 

Next came the Pancake race (using ones made earlier by Auntie Beaver). Then a competition to see who could toss a pancake through the basketball hoop. Having found this too high for them to reach, we set the target lower Bearded Beavers head.

The evening was finished with a 10 minute food fight which seemed to be the highlight of the night. 

All good fun

2018-01-12 – Winter Camp 2018

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37 hardened adventures from the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Johnston ESU, Earley & Burne Scouts descended on Gilwell Park to attend the 2018 Winter Camp.  Amongst our number were 6 leaders and two Ventures, Tara & Nora, from Dublin, who had linked up with us in a joint venture with Scouting Ireland. All the young people had a great time and new friendships were formed, which we hope will see a trip to Dublin in the not too distant future. 

 

 

2017-09-30 – Joydens Wood

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Joydens Wood Revisited by Philpott Beavers

On Saturday 30th September 2017 Philpott Beavers paid a return visit to the woods at Joydens Wood for an afternoon of fun after a fifteen month break. The intention being to see the woods in the Autumn months as opposed to the summer months.

We all had two and a half hours of fun, mini beast hunting, climbing trees, bark rubbing and finding chestnuts, acorns and fungi. The large empty bomb crater was ideal for running down one side and then back up the other. When the Beavers tired of this they collected logs of dead wood to make a ‘Beaver Lodge’ in the hole.

Half way round the circular walk through the woods we stopped for drinks and cakes and the inevitable kick about with a football.

Luckily for us the weather was kind which helped make the day most enjoyable.

The only downside to the day was the absence this time of the carved statues that had delighted us all on our last visit. All except the aeroplane had completely gone which was a real shame.

Auntie Beaver

2017-10-26 – Beavers Halloween

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Beavers Halloween Party – Thursday 26th October 2017

Our annual Halloween party for all three Beaver colonies of 5th Dartford  was a great success once again. We also invited parents and siblings to dress up and join in which resulted in well over 40 spookily dressed people turning up.

Teams of Beavers and parents started the games off by Space hopping up the hall then getting do-nuts off the line with just their teeth. Next was Halloween Bingo a picture matching game for children only. Then the Halloween story game in which everyone in the room was involved. Ooh Spooky!!

After a short break for refreshments washed down with Witches Brew, everyone got back in their teams for the traditional Apple bobbing and trying to retrieve a sweet from the plate of icing sugar, strictly No Hands Allowed.

Much to the relief of all the parents a game of Musical Bumps for the 28 children only finished the evening off and all departed with a Goody bag each.

Many thanks to my team of Leaders for helping the party run so smoothly

Auntie Beaver