On Friday 19th December all sections came together for a fun packed evening of party games and a disco to raise much needed funds for local childrens charity We Are Beams.

Party goers were able to buy sweets, crisps, refreshments, glow-sticks, flashing battons and other assorted items with all profits amounting to £155 going to the charity. A great evening was had by all who attended.

We once again celebrated our 109^th anniversary at the Methodist Church, Spital Street being warmly welcomed by the congregation and John H-B who was leading the service. Starting with all things bright and beautiful, the Scouts performed the reading of Gospel and prayers, with John providing the sermon of John the Baptise, with the Scouts sampling the delights of dried Locust and initiate ways of baptism with the use of water pistols. The Scout presentation was provided by the Scouts memories of the past year (as below), with the service ending with Jerusalem and flags being paraded back to the Scouts Hall. The activity for the afternoon was at Gravity Bluewater, with 50 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers making full use of the trampoline park.

Scout Best Bit of the Year 2025

My Favourite Scouting memory is when my friends and I went outside the hall, and we started a fire and cooked sausages. I also really liked when I got to build a bird house out of wood, as well as water colour paintings. (AM)

I’ve really enjoyed scouts so far, we get to do more fun activities and just do something new each week. Even though I’ve only been to one camp so far, I think it’s been the best part of scouts, that’s where I got invested, although I didn’t bring any swim stuff and I was the first person to fall into the lake! I’ve quite enjoyed it when we’ve all walked down to the field and play sport (I’m a very competitive person if you can’t tell). I love to cook so I find it fun when we’ve done it at scouts! I like how you give us something challenging but also simple at the same time, personally my favourite was the pasta making. As I said I really like sports, but I also like archery! I’m so glad I joined scout and I’m very happy I’ve got another three years here. (EM)

Some of my favourite moments would be when i went to camp, I made lots and lots of friends and i really cane out of my comfort zone and to be honest, even though I didn’t get selected for Poland, i learnt so much and had so much fun it didn’t matter. I also really enjoyed shooting, i was over the moon when i came second in my age group. Third i love all the parades because i love feeling professional. Lastly, i love helping with the beaver. I love the regular Fridays, especially when we go to rosemary gardens. (AW)

What did I enjoy about Scouts this year? It was a year that attempted to be a memorable while breaking the norm.

Had I ever slept in a hammock for an entire camp?

Did I go to an international Jamboree before?

Scouts is about experiencing things that School doesn’t.

Scouts is about making memories and learning skills outside the classroom. I learnt how to put up a hammock, admittedly I did not dd so well without help from the leaders. I found time to practice different skills and looking forwards to moving up to Explorers next year. (NB)

My first camp (Easter camp 2023) was an experience that made me love going scouts. When I first got to the campsite, I felt out of place and uncomfortable sleeping. But in the morning, we had breakfast and started some activities it was so much fun! we did countless activities learning new skills that brought everyone together and that night I slept well. This singular camp made me enjoy scouts and come to scouts for 3 years and many to come.

My summer camp of 2025 (KIJ) this was the best camp I have ever been to; I met so many new people and I made new friendships and also learnt new skills that I thought I’d never learn. I learnt more about my scout group every camp I go to. I was able to do go-charting, orientating, archery, trust fall jump: a jump from a high platform, teambuilding, climbing, zipline, puzzles and much more, it was a real experience. It changed me as a person and made me open to new experiences therefore encourage me to try things that I wouldn’t choose to do. I have never had so much fun. It is an experience I would want to do again. (MW)

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 – Moksha
• 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.

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…

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.