Over this weekend, members from the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Phillips-pack cubs visited Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury, for the Kent Scout “HOWL” day out, which was attended by hundreds of young people from all over the county.
Category Archives: Beaver Blog
2012-03-24 – Redwood Beavers Climb Wall
Today, on a gloriously sunny Saturday morning, 18 young adventurers and their leaders from 1st Dartford Scout Group visited the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s HQ for a climbing session on our wall. For most it was their first climb, but with their zest for adventure and our instructors experience and encouragement a good half a dozen of them conquered the wall and abseiled with confidence.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and we look forward to seeing them again.
Anyone wishing to book a climbing session should complete the form at the bottom of our climbing page or email wall@5thdartfordscouts.org.uk
2012-03-17 – District Cross Country Run
Canada Heights Swanley was the venue once again this year, but instead of last years glorious sunshine, it was wet. However this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the boys and girls from 5th Dartford with plenty of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts all taking part and doing their best with several certificates won in differing age groups.
A special mention for Jack, Ted & Sean all from Collins pack who took First, Second and Third place in their age Group (10 yr old cubs) and this was the fifth year running they achieved this. It started when they were six running as Beavers. What an achievement! Hopefully Burne Troop will benefit from them next year as Jack & Ted (The Twins) get invested as Scouts next week.
Well done to everyone who took part and completed the muddy course.
Wendy
2012-03-04 – Chief Scout Bronze Awards
Chief Scouts Bronze Award
On Sunday 4th March three Beavers from Philpott Colony and one from Peacock Colony received their Chief Scouts Bronze Award at a presentation held at St Marys Church Greenhithe.
These were presented to the boys by the new County Commissioner for Kent Harvey Kennett in front of their parents followed by refreshments courtesy of the District Adult Support Team.
Congratulations to Clayton, Jonathan, James & Ryan on achieving the highest award obtainable by a Beaver.
Well Done!
2012-03-03 – Quiz Night
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 Collecting Sainsbury’s & Tesco’s Vouchers
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 5th 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.
2012-02-26 – District Beaver Fun With Food
Sunday 26th Feb 2012- District Beaver Fun with Food Day
Peacock Beavers and Philpott Beavers took 18 boys to this years District Fun with Food day at Fleetdown Community Centre for 4 hours of tasting, creating and touching various foods.95 Beavers from across Dartford took part with each colony providing a different base. These included touching the eyes, mouths, fins etc of raw fish. Decorating iced biscuits with all sorts of different shaped sweets, tasting different exotic fruits from around the world, potato printing, making edible necklaces. Mini sandwiches of ham, chicken, tomatoes etc.Chocolate cake made in a mug in a micro-wave. Potato cakes, mini-pancakes, guess the crisp flavours, rafts from breadsticks & mini-rolls lashed together with strawberry laces that floated and the ever popular chocolate fountain.
At 1 o’clock we stopped and played a few ‘Food Themed’ games to use up some of their excess energy before heading home with their food boxes containing anything left that they had made (which wasn’t a lot as most of it had already been consumed).
A really good day of fun.
2012-02-23 – Philpott Beavers Welcome Nancie
PHILPOTT BEAVERS WELCOME NANCIE THE GUIDE DOG
For the last three weeks Philpott Beavers have been discovering what it might be like to have a disability of some type. Firstly what it would be like to have no hands and playing lots of games involving feet only and painting a picture with the brush between their toes. Not Easy!!
Week two they couldn’t hear. So a quiet night playing games using their eyes rather than verbal commands and learning some ‘Maketon’ sign language. Thankyou Big Beaver.
Week three we had a visit from Peter Smith and his Guide dog Nancie. Peter lost his sight at the age of 60 and to keep his independence had to learn to live with a guide dog to help him. Peter gave a very good talk to the Beavers about everyday life for him now. Answered the Beavers questions, let them stroke Nancie and gave them all a very good story book each called ‘Pippa takes the lead’ A story about a puppy who dreams of becoming a guide dog. The Beavers also raised just over £20 to donate to ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’. Our thanks go to Peter, Nancie and his manager who provided the transport for such an interesting and informative evening.
Auntie Beaver
2012-01-19 – Philpott Beavers visit Pets at Home
Philpott Beavers visit ‘Pets at Home’
Thursday 19th January 2012 Philpott Beavers descended on ‘Pets at Home‘ in Crayford as part of their Animal Friend badge. As we were such a big group we were divided into two, one set going upstairs to see the reptiles and fish and the second staying downstairs to meet the animals and then swapping over half way through.
Many thanks to our hosts Ben & Kerry who were extremely knowledgeable and answered all the Beavers questions. We were able to play with the rabbits, guinea pigs and even a rat and were allowed to handle the reptiles or in Tommy’s case let one crawl over his head.
What a wonderful experience we had! Thank you ‘Pets at Home‘ for making us so welcome and teaching us such a lot.
Auntie Beaver
A Snippet of our History………
In the December 11 issue of the Gravesham Scout Bulletin, Debbie Pearce – ADC Beavers (Gravesham), tells of how her Scouting career began at the 5th Dartford Scout Group way back in 1984 as an Assistant Venture Scout Leader under the wing of former GSL Dick Medcalf.
So how did you start in Scouting?
This was the question asked by Paul the other day – well if you sitting comfortably then I shall begin.
Many moons ago back in 1984 when I was but a mere young whipper snapper (hmm) and had just started my career in the London Probation service, my mum was also working for Probation but as a Community Service Officer in Bexleyheath and her boss was Dick Medcalfe (from whom I learnt some very dodgy drinking games whilst on various camps), who was the GSL at 5th Dartford – he happened to mention to my Mum that his Venture Scout Unit needed a female AVSL – my mum told me and the next step is a bit of a blur but I then suddenly found myself with an AVSL warrant and with a brilliant bunch of Venture Scouts in Dartford.
I took the reins as VSL in 1986 but was then drawn to the new and mad world of Beaver Scouting – always wanting to have been a primary school teacher this fulfilled lots of personal goals so I defected. I stayed at the 5th as an ABL until I moved to Bexleyheath in 1989, which I knew very well having spent all of my childhood living there and had attended the Methodist church Sunday school and went to Brownies and Guides at the 7th Bexleyheath attached to this church. Somehow when I was at church news got around that I was a BSL in Dartford and again the next is a blur as I then found myself starting the first Beaver Scout Colony at the 7th Bexleyheath (still going strong today hurrah) later in 1989. Having to learn 24 boys’ names in one stage was no mean feat I can tell you and when the Beavers were all invested including myself and the 2 ABL’s this was a night to remember. This was also the era when hats were part of the Scout uniform; I still have some very attractive photo’s!!! I stayed at 7th until 1995 when I moved to Cliffe and it became impossible to fit work, and a 5yr old daughter at school in Higham into the equation. I was always itching though to get back to scouting. Then one night in 2005 having then moved to Gravesend I was gazing out of one of my office window which looks over Woodlands Park ( no I am not a dodgy stalker ! ) and chatting to my daughter when I saw a colony of Beavers in the playground – (Sophia was 15 by now) you have never seen my legs move so fast I was out of the house and chatting to that leader in a flash – the colony were from Swanscombe and the leader suggested that I contacted the Gravesham DC via the Kent Scout website – I sent an email the next day and then Keith rang me and as they say the rest is history.
Scouting is now so in my blood that I cannot envisage it ever not being in my life and the roles that I have I am so very lucky to be supported by absolutely fantastic leaders and parents.
Happy Scouting – Debby