Friday 28th May saw @100 members and family from all sections of the 5th Dartford Scout Group descend on the Boyd Memorial Campsite in Henlow, Beds for our biannual Family Camp. The weather was fine upon arrival and with the advance party having already pitched the marquee and set up the kitchen, the only thing for the families to do was to put up their own tents.
Saturday’s weather was changeable, with some heavy showers, but spirits were not dampened with a full programme of activities for the weekend, which included Pioneering, Archery, Climbing, Abseiling, Target Shooting, Kayaking, Raft building, Cardboard Canoe Building/Sailing, Quizzes, a Scavenger Hunt, Arts & Crafts, Kite Flying & Boarding, Trail Hunt and Wide Games.
Sunday was thankfully dry with a good breeze, which meant all the canvas dried out and allowed Ted “Cougar” Essex to treat us to a good old scouting campfire, with some new tricks thrown in too.
As always this camp would not have been possible without the help of the leaders who put so much effort in to make it work, especially our camp leader – Tim Roscoe, but not forgetting the commitment of the parents and family of our members whoes continued support makes it all possible.
Here are some of the 400+ pictures taken and received thus far. If you have more pictures, which we can publish, please forward them to me at jason@5thdartfordscouts.org,uk and I’ll publish the best ones.
It was a grey, damp and often rainy day, which began for most at 08:30 at Sevenoaks station for the 17 mile hike back to Darford Central park on the 13th annual Jamboree On The Trail. 
Tonight GSL Paul, assisted by Eagles patrol leader Dom, invested new member Fergus and new leader Darren in to the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Earley Troop. On behalf of everyone in the Earley Troop and in the group, we welcome you and wish you many years happy scouting with us.
Today representatives from all sections of the 5th Dartford Scout Group attended a St George’s Day service in full smart uniform with the other groups in the Dartford District. We assembled in Central Park at 10:45 for the 11:00 service and then paraded around the town @ 11:40.
Following on from their success in the penalty shoot out competition during the visit to Dartford F.C. in January 2010. One Explorer (Jacob) & One Scout (Lewes) from 5th Dartford Scout Group took part in the final of the Community Penalty Challenge in glorious sunshine on Saturday 17th April before the Darts last home match against Aveley in a championship winning season.
The first ever sleepover for the 5th Dartford scout group’s Philpott Beaver colony was held tonight at 1st 
Dartford Scout Hall. 6 Beavers arrived at 15:30 for an evening themed around Dr Who, where the young people made their own T.A.R.D.I.S and got a surprise visit from “The Master” aka GSL Paul Boreham in disguise. Hot cross buns were cooked by the young adventurers over a camp fire; they prepared and peeled their own vegetables to eat with dinner and even did the washing up afterwards, albeit under duress. There were games and fun aplenty with a sleeping bag race at 06:30 and the event finished at 09:30, with the youngsters begging the question “When can we do it again?” Well Aunty Beaver, will it be soon? Do keep us posted.
Tonight, 2 of our Philpott Beavers, pictured with Aunty Beaver, were awarded their Chief-Scout bronze awards. Alas Bear Grylls couldn’t be there on the night, but everyone at the 5th Dartford Scout Group are exceptionally pleased with these two young members for working toward and achieving the highest accreditation a Beaver Scout can achieve – well done. 
At 09:00 on Good Friday, 19 Earley scouts, 3 Johnson Explorers, 5 leaders and 2 instructors set of in three groups from HQ; to cycle a planned route to the Shaws campsite in Cudham. The going was tough for some of the younger scouts as the weather and the hills were against us, but everyone made their best effort. 
Saturday was again focused on the great outdoors with the leaders walking the orienteering course with the group, then mountain boarding and grass sledging before lunch. In the afternoon we looked at woodsman skills with log gathering, sawing and timber splitting with axes. A campfire was created to cook the free range chickens, which were slaughtered for us by Richardson’s. Upon being delivered to camp by Maggie and Lynne, the chickens were plucked, beheaded and gutted by the scouts before being seasoned, double wrapped and baked in the embers, before being devoured with a fine selection of root vegetables by the ravenous scouts. 
After Sundays breakfast, there was an Easter egg hunt before Dan, one of our departing scouts presented each member of camp with an Easter egg, which was generously given by his parents. For Dan, Billy and Gareth, this was their last camp as Early troop, as they now move on to the Johnston explorers with Daniel and Jack – Good luck to you all on the next stage of scouting and we hope to see you at future group camps.
For our older members – we can keep updated on what’s going on in the group with our new Twitter Blog. Let us know your news at