I would like to thank all the leaders involved volunteering their time, giving up a week of work, as well as the camp site team at Linnet Clough making our camp a truly enjoyable one, and not to forget our youth members good behavior and keen spirits which was a great combination for a safe, enjoyable, memorable group summer camp. A Summer Camp without tents!
Category Archives: Explorer Blog
2018-03-30 – Easter Camp 18
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.
2018-03-25 – DMC Craft Fare
On Sunday 25th March, we are helping promote Sco
uting at the Dartford Masonic Centre for their Craft Fare. Always lots on offer so please come along.

Megan Selected for #WSJ2019
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.

2018-01-12 – Winter Camp 2018
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. 
2017-07-28 – Summer Camp Guernsey
2017-11-25 – Co-op Community Fund
Having been nominated by staff at the Co-op in Chastilian Road, we have been awarded £4,615.60 from the Co-op Local Community Fund. Maggie and Paul attended the branch on Saturday 25 November to accept the award for our New Hall Fund and to talk with staff and shoppers alike about our plans for the future.
2017-05-26 – Family Camp 2017
Family Camp 2017 – A Centenary of Scouting
This year family camp we celebrated our centenary of scouting at Hope Hill Campsite, Meopham. Over the bank holiday weekend we had 108 campers, plus a number of visitors through out the weekend including Wendy the second time at camp the last time being 1992, as well as the County Commissioner Dean Harding and Youth Commissioners visiting Kent Scouts taking part in the Big Night Out celebrations (https://www.kentscouts.org.uk/1181). Continue reading
2017-05-13 – JOTT 20
Ja
mboree on the Trail Saturday 13-05-2017
5th Dartford were out in force again this year for the 20th Jamboree on the Trail. Leaders and Explorers started at Sevenoaks to walk the Darent River Valley path all the way to Dartford Park.
En route at Otford, Shoreham, Lullingstone, Farningham, Westminster Field and Sutton-at-Hone some 60+ Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and their families joined in along with other walkers from the whole Dartford District. Continue reading
2017-04-14 – Easter Camp

Friday 14 April saw 1 linking Cub, 13 Scouts, 17 Explorers and 11 leaders journey to Thriftwood Scout Campsite for our annual Easter Camp. We were blessed with great weather for both pitch and strike and aside from a little rain on Friday night, remained dry throughout. Continue reading
