Despite poor forecasts ahead of our AGM and Activity Day on Sunday, June 17th, the weather was spectacular for us, all the activities were up and running ready for the 11am start and quite a few families arrived early to make the most of all that was available. Being Father’s Day, it did not take too much encouragement to get the Dads joining in with their kids.  

Dartford’s Mayor, Ann Allen and escort Miss Kim Cooper arrived shortly after the start, visiting all the activities, meeting and speaking to the leaders and instructors and taking time to speak to our young members about their scouting experiences. 

The activities were suspended for the duration of the official AGM, which included reports from the Chair, Treasurer and GSL and the formal accounts were ratified by all in attendance. Parent representatives to the Executive Committee were elected and promised that they would be made very useful during the year. 

Minutes of the AGM, all of the various reports and the financial statements will soon be available from the download area of our website and the financial statements and an annual report are also lodged with the Charity Commission. Our registered Charity Number is 303370 and you can search for us at www.charity-commission.gov.uk 

Ted Essex ‘Cougar’ was elected to a unique position as the new President of 5th Dartford Scout Group. Ted has over 40 years of service in the Scouts, starting in Deptford in 1969, moving to Dartford in 1981, fulfilling leadership positions in Cubs, Scouts andVenture Scouts and has now accepted a Group position, providing insight and experience to young leaders and promoting scouting to the wider community.

The Group’s Head of Fundraising, Karen Hannah, provided an update of the many activities that have taken place over the year, including the 777 Challenge and thanked Lyn Medcalf, Lesley Bauckham and the many other people who have helped with fundraising for their considerable efforts. We were delighted to welcome some guests to the event who made donations to the Group including John, Stuart and Piers from Dartford Freemasons for £425, raising their contributions to £1,000 for this year and Rags & Av from Amar Hall,who handed over £296 raised at a recent Curry/Disco evening. 

The Mayor congratulated the young members and leaders of the 5th Dartford for their achievements over the past year and also pledged £500 for our New Hall Fund. District Scout Leader, Wayne Tomkinson congratulated the Explorers, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers for their commitment and involvement in Scouting over the year and thanked the parents for their active support, bringing their children into the Scouting movement.

Activities continued through to 3pm, with leaders making sure that everyone who wanted to, got to take part inthe activities on offer, which included Abseiling, Archery, Ice Climbing, Climbing, Bouldering, Rifle/Pistol Shooting, Face Painting, Fake Wounds, Bracelet/Necklace making, Puzzle making and Burgers. And thank you must also go to the helpers who provided Tea, Coffee, Cold Drinks, Home-made Cakes, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and the ever-popular Chocolate Fountain. 

Our AGM and Activity Day, was a wonderful way to celebrate Fathers Day with the whole family, andprovided an insight into some of the activities that Scouting offers. The official business of the AGM gave the wider 5^th Dartford family a chance to see how the Group is being managed and was still completed promptly within 45 minutes.  If you have any suggestions for the next AGM, please let me know.

Paul Boreham – Group Scout Leader

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Exhausted and full of tales of adventure is probably the best way to describe the state of the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s young members as they returned from the Dartford District Diamond Jubilee Jamboree (3DJ2) at Walton Firs Activity Centre.  Over 700 district Scouters attended, most of whom slept under canvas and with 80 odd being from the mighty 5th. 

Some old friends were missed on this camp, but many new friends were made and old friendships rekindled.

Activities, which were all run by the the leaders from within our own district, included Archery, Target Shooting, Caving, Crate Stacking, Climbing, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Backwoods skills and cooking and much, much more.  The camp record for crate stacking was set by one of our own Leigh-Pack cubs at 26 crates and for the third consecutive time, we retained our dominance in the cardboard canoe race with a very convincing victory in a craft designed by Paul, fashioned by Brett Funnell & John Butler and captained by Explorer Jack “Duracell Bunny” Hannah.

Having sucessfully linked, Joseph was presented with his Chief Scout Silver Award by GSL Paul as he left the Leigh-Pack to join the Earley-Troop as a Scout.

We can’t avoid the fact that the weather on this camp was wet and horrible, but the set-up and strike were favourable and with sufficient leaders taking time off work to get everything ready before the young folk arrived, there were no issues or surprises.

As with all camps, the focus was on the kids, but it can’t be done without the leadership team and none more so that those who run the kitchen and fuel the kids adventure. On behalf of everyone attending camp we thank Karen, Liz and Kay for preparing and cooking over 800 meals, serving over 300 pints of hot chocolate and for pampering the leaders and allowing us to crack on with the activities.  Ladies, we thank you!

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Quiz Night Saturday 3rd March 2012

Great fun and a little mental stimulation was had at our annual Quiz Night on Saturday plus we managed to raise £252 of which the £80 raffle monies and a donation at the end of the evening of £10 will go to the New Hall Fund and the rest of the monies to the normal running costs of the Group.

The competitors had to name the Dartford pubs from black & white photos of the doors. Tell us the names of the fresh herbs supplied. Spell correctly a list of Poisons and name the song & artist in the ever popular music round. Along with these a good mix of general knowledge made the evening go well and the team made up of The Elliotts, Griffins, Goodes & Friends won the event for the second year running but by a very close margin. Many thanks to the team who came last for entering into the spirit of the night and became our ‘Cadburys Fruit & Nut cases’.

It was great to see so many former parents still supporting us but it would be even nicer to see some new faces next time. If you have never been to a Quiz Night there is no embarrassment caused as all questions are answered as a team, written down on paper and we do try to make them fun rather than intellectual. So watch this space for the date of the next one.

We’re now collecting the Sainsbury’s Active Kids & Tesco vouchers and you’ll find our collection box in the Scout hall foyer.  For both the last two years, the parents and friends of the 5^th Dartford Scout Group have collected over 15,000 points, which have been converted to invaluable equipment for our young people.

Please do what you can to collect as many of these valuable vouchers from your own shopping or from friends and relatives.