Category Archives: Explorer Blog

2014-11-15 – Murder Mystery

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mysterySATURDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2014 6.30pm

Whether you’re a LADY or a TRAMP, an ARISTOCAT, A LION KING, or LITTLE MERMAID – time to be BRAVE , pick up MARY & POPP – IN to our Scout Hall where INSPECTOR GADGET needs your help.

Yes folks another chance for the whole family to enjoy a Saturday Night out together, dressed in Scouting uniform, camp clothes (onesys, tracksuits etc) or this time your FAVOURITE DISNEY CHARACTER – (prize for best costume.)

All you need for a great night out – which for our SLEEPING BEAUTIES usually finishes about 10 o’clock, is your own crockery, cutlery and drinks, and you’ll all be fed some of the 5 ths legendary Camp Food – with a 4 course meal for all.

The evening starts with a Leader getting MURDERED! (again) (not gory/non violent) then between courses you and your table of up to eight get the chance to try and work out by the visual clues – WHODUNNIT, when the story of the investigation is played out for your entertainment by the 5ths legendary players, as well as hopefully our legendary cubs and beavers.

With songs from films like Jungle Book, Toy Story, Mary Poppins and Frozen plus a raffle we hope you can all come along and join in the fun.   Tickets £10 per Adult , £5 per Child (U14) available from any leader. All proceeds to New Hall Fund.

So like PETER PAN, you never grow old of the films and songs, no need to SHRINK THE KIDS – bring them with you! You may not be FINDING NEMO but you might find the Guilty Party, and unlike CINDERELLA – you’ll be well home by midnight – it’s hardly a HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!.

2014-10-17 – Bisley Camp

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With a party of 30, the 5th Dartford Scout Group competed at NSRA Bisley for the 6th consecutive year. The teams were comprised of members from Earley-Troop, Burne-Troop, Johnston ESU and supported with many thanks by Karen and Tracy again for all our meals.  The weather was favorable and remained dry and sunny throughout the competition. I’m pleased to report that everyone represented us well and turned up for their events at the right time, with the right kit and in the right frame of mind and as a result of our continued practice and development we attained 3 bronze awards, with Nathan in the Biathlon, Chris in the Field Targets and Kay in the seniors knockout. A few pictures from the event and our scores below.Passport

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2014-10-11 – YPS Accreditation

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yps_11The final quiz and shooting competition for this years National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NSRA) Youth Proficiency Scheme (YPS) took place on Saturday the 11th October. After completing the seven week course were the participants learnt about safety, aspects of the law, sighting, breathing, trigger control and the standing position they competed in the final competition and was awarded their Proficiency standard and as detailed by the governing body NSRA.

Congratulation to all who took part, and best of luck to those attending Bisley the Scout National final on the 18th & 19th October, but a special mention must go to Chris for his score of 183, beating last years record holder by a clear 6 points!

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2014-09-11 – Mayor’s Presentation

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Paul our GSL met with Mayor Avtar Sandhu at the Civic Centre to collect the Mayor’s Cup awarded to ‘5th Dartford Scouts’ as the best charity module at this years Dartford Festival (19th & 20th July) where the fundraising team arranged Cross-Bows, Book & Puzzle sale, a one-pole bridge pioneering project where we raised funds for our new hall fund, the Dartford Japan Jamboree Scouts also joined us with the Mayor drawing the prize winners of their raffle.

A big thank you to all Scouts, Explorers, Leaders and Parents who represented 5th Dartford Scouts so well that we were awarded this prize. The large cup is now proudly on display in our trophy cabinet.CIMG1367

2014-07-26 – Summer Camp 2014

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summer_camp_small44 Scouts, Explorers and leaders attended this year’s summer camp at Butchers Coppice Scout Campsite in Bournemouth. The camp site was very good with a large flat camping field with good facilities and excellent activities. The scouts were divided in to three patrols which they names themselves (CTC, Somalia, Should of Gone to Spec Savers) and the Explorers worked as a team, dividing themselves in to groups for the cooking rota and activities.

The traveling to and from camp was problematic with Bournemouth being such a popular holiday destination leading to heavy traffic in all directions, resulting in 5:30 hours there and 5 hours back, even when diverting of the motorways and taking the TomTom diversion.

The first full day, Sunday, we hit the ground running by visiting Christchurch beach and then in the afternoon running Ready Steady Cook. On Monday, the older Scouts and Explorers prepared for the overnight expedition with the younger scouts taking part in on site games and sports challenges. With the equipment checked, food provided and route set, the minibuses dropped the expedition teams at Corfe Castle, with the Explorers setting off first whilst the Scouts stocked up on refreshments, before heading off on the ridgeway to Tyneham and meeting up again at Steeple Leaze Farm to pitch camp enjoy a hearty meal of bean-feast around an open fire under the stars.

Tuesday saw the adventurers return at lunch time just in time to enjoy an afternoon at Spashdown Water Park with all the fun of the flumes.

Wednesday saw all members take on the challenge of the camp sites high rope challenges and actively taking part in the sites camp fire (My hands are high, my feet are low, how do you like to bungalow!).

Thursday was a full day of sailing and kayaking at Hengistbury Head water activity centre with a sausage and chip supper and then drove out to Burly, where light pollution is minimal to meet with the local Astronomy Association and enjoyed an educational evening star gazing, observing the Moon’s craters, the rings of Saturn, Mars rising and the closest galaxy system Andromeda to mention a few.

Friday, the last full day on camp, saw us utilise the climbing, abseiling, power-fan and zip-wire activities & I’m very impressed with the Explorers video, which can be found below. With the clouds slowly rolling in, we enjoyed an evening BBQ.

Saturday was a wet start and a wetter pack down, with even more rain on the road home, resulting in all the tents being aired back at the hall.

Many thanks to all the leaders giving their time knowledge and experience to make this summer camp so successful, without them it would not be possible to organise and provide such an excellent experience for our Scouts and Explorers to enjoy and learn from: Maggie & Jim Lilleycrop, Del & Ashley Hurd, Dave & Felicity Monteith, Jason & Kay O’Brien, Darren Watts, Matt Parry.

Orienteering Challenge:
CTC – 16:40 mins, Somalia – 14:00, SoGtSS – 10:40.

Over Night Expedition:
Scouts: Nathan, Nathaniel, Ben, Chris, Henry, Joe, Matt & Angus.
Explorers: Dom, James, George, Cian, Shea, Jessica, Abi, Jake & Adam.

Paul Boreham
Group Scout Leader


 

2014-07-18 – Adam Jumps for 5th

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postSince the age of 14, I had wanted to skydive. The thought of falling through the clouds looked fun and exciting, I once in a lifetime experience, unless you’re rich that is!

Unfortunately the age limit was 16 years for a Tandem Skydive, so I was going to have to wait, but when my parents asked me what I wanted for my 16th birthday, I knew exactly what to tell them. I also saw it as a chance to give something back to an organisation that had given me so many fun and exciting experiences, my Scout Group, 5th Dartford.

We had been raising money for a few years to build a new hall in Dartford for future groups in Dartford, so I started collecting sponsors.

The date was set for 15th July, after my GCSEs, and with help, I set up a fund raising page so people could donate online.

On 15th July the day looked cloudy and after a tiring drive to Headcorn, Kent, it was confirmed we would not be jumping today. Three days later and after another sleepless night, we did the drive again.

After an hour and a half briefing session and dressed in all the gear, I boarded the plane with my tandem partner, Dave.

There were 2 solo parachutists and 4 of us tandem skydivers. I was the youngest; the oldest was doing it for her 50th birthday. As the packed light aeroplane took off I started to feel a bit nervous, but noticed my right leg kept jumping and seemed to have a life of its own.

I was second to jump. I sat on the end of the plane by the door and Dave counted to three and we were off.

The feeling of freefalling through the sky was amazing and nothing like I have ever experienced before. I could hear myself shouting, hear the wind whistling around my ears as the skin of my face felt like it was being pulled back and stretched. I could see the clouds below me. I felt excited and relieved that I had actually managed to jump.

It felt like I was falling forever, until Dave released the parachute and I felt the pull of the harness straps cut into my groin!

Dave showed me how to control the straps and do tornados, spinning ourselves round and round. I took control of the parachutes and glided across the sky.

As we came into land in a nearby field, I had to make sure I put my feet up in front of me so I landed on my bottom. We were then taken back to the base. My first thought was that I wanted to do it again. Better get saving I suppose!

I have a video and photos to remind me of a great experience and also managed to raise £650 for the 5th Dartford Scouts New Hall Fund.

Adam (Johnston ESU)

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