Category Archives: Explorer Blog

Summer 16 – Broadstone Warren

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summer_camp_smallThis year 5th Dartford Explorers and Scouts from the their three troops (Earley, Burne & Medcalf) camped as a group at Broadstone Warren going back to basics, focusing on bushcraft and scouting skills.

Saturday 30 Jul – Arrived for lunch setting up camp, and the on to the orienteering challenge locating the 20 points with in the  camp site 400 acres which is a part of the Ashdown forest. All members refreshed their knife, axe and saw knowledge and completed a safety assessment. Dinner of spaghetti bolognese was prepared beforehand by Karen which was enjoyed by all, followed by a wide game and hot chocolate and cake before bed.

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2016-05-27 – Family Camp

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famcampOn the last weekend of May, 5th Dartford Scouts held the annual family camp at Thriftwood Camp site near Brentwood with 130 people attending. Tim the camp leader organised a great programme of activities and events so that all the family could join in together having fun.

The activities on Saturday were Climbing, Abseiling, Cresta Run, Water Zorbing, Archery, Fire-lighting, Slack Lines, mini-crossbows, tent pitching, survival brackets plus rocket launching, in the evening a quiz night for the adults and a wide game for those who wanted to. Whist on Sunday morning there was the camp base activities, tomahawk throwing plus a frenzy of activity involving cardboard and parcel tape with families creating there vessels to enter the Cardboard canoe race. In the afternoon we assembled four teams to building our own rafts, sailing them around the lake without too many pirate skirmishes with the water activities finalising with the Cardboard Canoe race with 13 creations taking part, to much amusement and acts of seamanship, a number of crafts making multiple laps. The day ended as good day at camp should, with a roaring camp fire with everyone joining in the celebration, sketches and song.

Did I mention the fishing? I think we may have a few more enthusiastic anglers!

I believe the weekend was so successful because so many people volunteered, got involved as part of the team, participating in planning, making bookings, communicating, shopping, cooking, chopping logs, cleaning the kitchen/toilets, completing training, renewing activity permits, transporting equipment, setting-up and clearing-down. I would personally like to thanks all the attendees for joining in and making the weekend a fantastic family camp, appreciating the time and effort people took planning and providing the activities. A special mention for the kitchen team who provided bacon rolls for breakfast, Spaghetti Bolognese on Saturday and the BBQ on the Sunday.

NB: Next year is the 5th Dartford Scouts centenary with us looking to hold a special family camp where we look to involve as many members and their families as possible.

Competition Winners:

Whodunit

Lots of correct answers. So drawn from the hat the winning joint family entry was the Foster & Gubby Families.

Scavenger Hunt

Again a few families with an item for each letter. However, the winning family won with one of the funniest lists I have ever seen, including (V) very smelly sock; Well done the Hickmott Family.

Scrambled Picture

Lots of entries, but one entry did very well scoring 29 out of 33. Well done to the joint family entry from the Grigg/Crockford Families.

Tent Pitching

  1. Alice – 5:32
  2. Craig – 5:35
  3. David – 5:45

Cardboard Canoe Race

  • Decoration – Sea Monster
  • Design – Bloski
  • Sea Trial/Endurance – Russford captained by Lilly

Paul Boreham, Group Scout Leader

2016-05-06 – Ntl Archery Tournament

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archery

Once again, a number of the 5th Dartford Scout Group represented us at the 11th National Scout Archery Tournament at Phasels Wood Activity Centre.  This year Delia led the camp and the team comprised of past and new competitors.  Well done to all who participated and a special mention to Matthew who took the shield in the U18 Longbow.  The full results can be reviewed here.

2016-03-25 – Easter Camp 2016

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easter_bunny

Once again the 5th Dartford massive braved the changeable elements to face ‘Easter Camp’, our ‘Back to Basics Extravaganza.’ This year, Assistant Explorer Scout Leader, Sean took the camp lead to validate his Nights Away permit and plan an activity and fun filled weekend for our young adventurers.

It was a camp of many emotions, with absent friends who have moved on, or through study and/or work commitments were unable to attend; there were also two who will not camp with us again as young people due to reaching maturity or moving away…. BUT there were NEW faces full of enthusiasm and the 5th spirit who will take their place.

Activities on this camp included, but were not limited to, Fire lighting, Backwoods cooking, Kayaking, Water-Zorbing, Whittling, Survival bracelets, Fishing, Wide-Games, Easter Egg Hunt and above all…. Making new friends and team building.

Thanks again to Sean for a faultless plan, and the leaders and parents on camp who made it all possible and the parents who assisted with the muddy unload back at the hall.

Passport

Below are a selection of pictures from our weekend to give you but a taste…

2015-12-26 – Boxing Day Footy

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2015 was a year no different from previous years when the 5th faithful came out under the guidance of manager Phil Hannah, to dust off the turkey cobwebs, and participate in the annual ‘5th Boxing Day Footy Match‘. This annual ‘All in‘ match has been an annual fixture in the group’s program, for all current and previous members, for longer than most would care to remember and for the last few years has been held at the Glentworth Club on Lowfield Street, Dartford.  The score was irrelevant, but the participation memorable, so well done all who were able to participate.BoxFootball15

Dave Monteith – Marathon Fundraiser

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DaveTo all my friends and colleagues thank you for taking time to read this.

I have decided to run the London marathon on behalf of two charities; 5th Dartford Scouts’ ‘New Hall Fund’ and the Multiple Sclerosis society, as they are both very close to my heart with a Scout hall slowly breaking in half and with my wife Fliss being diagnosed with MS in 2013.

I know money is tight for everybody at the moment, but if you could dig deep just for a few pounds, even just to watch a fat boy try and run 26.2 miles. My donation page is Virgin Money Giving: DaveMonteith1

Yours David Monteith

2015-10-16 – Bisley Rifle Championships

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badgeThis weekend saw 7 Scouts, 11 Explorers and 11 Adult members represent the 5th Dartford Scout Group at NSRA Bisley for the 39th Annual National Scout Rifle Championships. The weather was favourable and dry under foot, which meant we had an easy pitch and strike. Catering was once again looked after by Karen and Tracy and as usual, we couldn’t have managed without them.  A big well done to all our young competitors for being in the right place, at the right time and in the right frame of mind, but despite our best efforts, only Jason’s bronze medal in the knockout to add to our collection, although there were some noteable near misses, with Chris coming in 5th in the Biathlon with the 2nd fastest time and 1 target off bronze and James 8th on Fullbore, just 0.2 off bronze.  The edited results, both individual and by event/class are available to download below.Passport

 

http://www.5thdartfordscouts.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/downloads-manager/img/icons/pdf.gif download: Bisley 2015 - Group results (17.38KB)
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http://www.5thdartfordscouts.org.uk/wp-content/plugins/downloads-manager/img/icons/pdf.gif download: 2015-10-18 Bisley 15 Results (43.19KB)
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2015-10-10 – NSRA YPS FINALS

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yps_11Over the past 6 weeks, Leaders from both the 5th Dartford Scouts Group’s Scouts and Explorers have been instructing our scouts to become proficient in the sport of air rifle target shooting. The course concluded with an exam, in which a minimum of 70% must be attained before progressing to the shooting part of the test. We are proud to announce that every attendee passed the theory exam and progressed to the shoot off. The “Shoot off” consisted of a practice card upon which as many “sighting” shots could be fired in a limited time period, in order for the participants to familiarise themselves with the rifle they had been allocated. Thereafter, a further 4 cards were issued where 5 pellets were shot at each.

In order to grade the participant’s capability, the NSRA created the following grade bands.

50 to 109 – Skilled Shot
110 to 149 – Marksman
150 – 174 – Expert Shot
175+ Master Shot

We were pleased with the level of competence we saw this year, with many scouts hitting excellent scores, but a special mention to Jess and Joe who achieved “Master Shot” – The highest possible grade within the NSRA’s YPS scheme which only a three of 5th Dartford Scout Group has attained previously.  Jess is now our high record holder, beating our previous holder, Chris, by 9 points. Thankfully, both these scouts and almost all who attended the course will be representing Dartford at this year’s annual National Scout’s Rifle Target Shooting Competition at NSRA Bisley next weekend

rESULTS