WSJ Selection – Poland 2027

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Jason

We are pleased to hear that Dartford District has chosen one of our Johnston Explorers to represent us at the next Word Scout Jamboree – Poland 2027

Ollie, pictured right, has been a member of 5^th Dartford Scout Group, through from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and now Explorers, we wish him every success in his international explorations, looking to support him and the other successful World Scout Jamboree participants in their fund raising and preparation going forwards. Ollie follows in the footsteps of number of our previous Scouts attending World Jamborees: West Virginia-USA, Japan, Netherlands. With many of our former Scouts working and living all around the globe.

Out of this World fact – Out of the 312 pilots and scientists who travelled to the Moon at least 207 astronauts worldwide have been identified as having a history in scouting, representing over two-thirds of the astronauts selected since 1959. Of the 24 individuals who have travelled to the Moon, 20 were Scouts, including 11 of the 12 who walked on its surface.

2025-10-11 – 5th Dartford Scouts AGM

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Jason

The group held their annual AGM on Saturday 11^th October, with all members, family and friends invited to get involved.

To give parents an insight into the activities that Scouts get involved with, we held an open Target Shooting Competition before the AGM providing an opportunity to have a friendly competition, with the following winners being presented with chocolate prizes:

Best Bullseye – Prabin
Best Grouping – Moshka
Air-Rifles – 1^st Adrian, 2^nd Moksha, 3^rd Ayla
Advance Air-Rifles – Tony P
Junior-Rifles – Aiden
Pistols – Maisie

The AGM followed with Russ leading us through proceedings detailing the governance of the Trustee Board, Finance Report provided by Karen detailing the cost to date of obtaining planning permission for the new hall as well as ongoing running costs. Paul provided an update on Scouting activities with the honour of presenting Maggie Lilleycrop her well-deserved 25 years, long service award. With Neil (District Lead Volunteer) concluding, thanking all those involved, encouraging all to get involved and have fun.

AGM Minutes available here from our web site download page

As 5^th Dartford Scouts is a registered charity (303370) the Trustee and Financial report are uploaded and available from the Charity Commission web site here.

2025-09-20 – Masons Donate Climbing Equipment

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Jason

On Saturday 20th September, Paul and Jason attended the Loyalty & Remembrance lodge in Sidcup to meet with Worshipful Master Greg Rawlins. Greg is the father of two of our former Scouts, so when asked what charity he’d like to support he generously thought of us. The funding is to replace out of date climbing equipment, which we hope to have available for use for our upcomming AGM.

2025-06-27 – Collins Cubs Escape Jumanji!

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Jason

With just three lives each and a mountain of tasks and challenges to overcome, our cubs had an amazing camping experience in Thriftwood Scout Campsite.

In teams, they used navigation skills to discover cryptic clues and challenges. Knots were learnt to build rafts which, when tested on the lake, held together for an eyebrow raising amount of time. Then came a kayaking lesson with hair-raising stunts and some very soggy cubs!

One evening, we learned a new repertoire of campfire songs when we joined with hundreds of other members of the scouting and girl guiding community at the communal campfire.

On the final morning our intrepid cubs tunnelled into the cave bus, navigating their way in the dark, around corners and tight spaces.

Between Jumanji challenges there were fun quizzes, games of rounders and plenty of Paul’s famous porridge. But how did they finally escape Jumanji…? By rockets of course! The teams used water bottles and plenty of air pressure to launch themselves out of the game, just in time for their parents’ arrival. “It has been the best camp ever!” Enthused one cub, “I want to do it all over again!”
Will there be a sequel? Watch this space…

Tash

St George’s Parade 2025

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Jason

Group festive fundraiser

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Jason

On Friday 20^th December, 5^th Dartford Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers came together to enjoy a Christmas get together as well as to raise some monies to those less fortunate than themselves, with Beams being chosen as a local children’s support charity.

The leaders arranged a few party games to start with, such as pin the red nose on Rudolf, cup snatch etc with the sale of burgers being along with the sale of canned drinks, popcorn and flashing disco lights with music finishing of the evening.

A total of £120 profit was made and presented to Beams…

Jamboree on the Trail / TrailJam 2024

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Jason

Saturday 11th May 2024 – Was the inaugural ’TrailJam’ event by new organisers after 25 years (1998 – 2023) of ‘Jamboree on the Trail’ as participated by numerous other Scouts all around the world https://www.facebook.com/Trailjamday/.

With the great weather, good company the Darent Valley Path which is one of Kent’s greatest hidden treasures of fine walking suitable for all the family was undertaken. With six Adult Volunteers, one Scout and one Explorers starting at Sevenoaks train station starting at 9:30 the procession begun, collecting other members alone the waypoints, finishing at Dartford Central Park at 4pm, 18 miles later.

By the end we had 14 adults, 1 Explorer, 5 Scouts, 8 Cubs and 10 Beavers from the 5th Dartford Scout Group.

Congratulations to all those who took part, with a special commendation to both Leo and Neil walking the whole route.

2023-12-03 – Birthday Parade

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Jason

This year we celebrated our 107th anniversary with our Birthday Parade on Sunday 3rd December. We converged at the hall at 10am where we formed up, and sorted out our colours to be presented, parading with our flags from the hall to the URC Church in Spitall Street, were we where warmly welcomed by the congregation.

The service given by John was fun and informative as well as celebrating the first week of advent, with a lesson given by John donning a Professor hat and teaching the Beavers and Cubs how to build lego towers on firm foundations with the power of pray. Leo and Alex providing the readings, with the Explorers collecting the offering and the prayers. Paul the Group Volunteer Lead said a few words , thanking the church congregation for their warm welcome, the leaders for their time and effort, the youth members for their energy and enthusiasm, recognising the ones who had achieved their Chief Scout Award over the past year as well as Keith for his leadership service of the past 20 years with a ’Thanks’ badge. John kindly gave a free gift of a prayer stone as a reminder to all at the end of the service, along with a biscuit and a drink, then we had to say good bye and return to our hall to be dismissed in order to get lunch and changed.

The afternoon activity was at Gravity, Bluewater were all participants was provided with jump socks and juice to keep them going for all the ups and downs of the trampoline park. After the limbs were weary, face flushed and fun had by everyone it was time to go home reflecting on the past year of Scouting and planning for the next.

2022-04-22 – St George’s Parade

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Jason

After a two-year hiatus a good many of our members were able to proudly parade our colours with other groups from the district. Meeting smartly at the hall, we paraded down West Hill and through the town centre, without impaling any shop signs or pedestrians, before joining the district and taking our place by the bandstand. The weather was very kind to us and after the formalities, we joined the parade around the park, receiving the grateful applause of flag waving parents and public; something our young folk have missed out on.

2018-03-30 – Easter Camp 18

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Jason

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.