This evening Keith had the honour of accompanying two of the Counties highest achievers, George McCarron – our current camp skills champion and Connor Pike – our National target shooting champion, both of the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Earley-Troop, to the Chief Scout’s GOLD award presentation nr. West Maling.  The VIP guest was Chris Doll, Deputy Regional Commissioner for the South East of England, wearing the Multi-coloured scarf.  The other dignitary pictured wearing a red necker (not dissimilar to our own) is Harvey Kennet our new Kent Commissioner. 

Well done to the both of you; you’re a credit to the Earley-Troop, yourselves and the whole group is proud of you. 

Today, 14 adventurers from the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Earley, Burne and Johnson sections participated in our third  Power Kiting adventure organised, as always, by the Kent Scout’s Air Activities Team on Blackheath Common.

We met at 10am on a warm, sunny, windy day – the optimum conditions for Power Kiting; and with the early morning spent getting our younger and less experienced members familiar and proficient at the sport, we progressed to larger and more powerful kites.  

As we broke for lunch the gusts became stronger and sustained so we had to drop back to the smaller kites when the session resumed and hoped that the gusts would drop back.  However, we sadly had to cut the day short on safety grounds as the gusts reached levels where personal safety could be compromised, but there was nothing but smiles and tales of “the buzz” and “Epic Fails” from the Scouts as we departed.

Today’s conditions were by far the best we’ve experienced, but let’s hope that our next time will be much the same as today, but without the gusts!

Well done to everyone who participated.

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Tonight the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Earley Troop represented the group at the Anual district Tug of War competition.  The event was, as always, well attended and with two eager teams we were ready for the challenge on what was a glorious early summer’s evening.  Both teams qualified for the main competition, with the B-team reaching the quater finals and the A-Team reaching the finals to place 2nd overall. 

Well done to everyone who attended.

This was a camp of many firsts for the 5th Dartford Scout Group. For three of the 7 Scouts attending it was their first camp as Scouts; It was the first time the 5th had competed at the National Scout Archery Competition and it was the first time we had taken a Gold medal, thanks to Burne Troop’s Matthew Buttler who won the under 12’s 20yd target competition.

The camp was held at Phasels Wood in Herts, nr Kings Langley, which is @ an hour from home.  The campsite is vast with large open fields and wooded areas, which were perfect for the field events, clout and target in which we all participated.  Paul and Jason were joined on this camp by Russ Kettley, the 5th’s Quatermaster, who looked after camp whilst we were competing and prepared all our meals.  The weather was perfect for the event, with glorious sunshine and most of all it remained dry.  Other activities, which the Scouts took advantage of beetween events included the high ropes, assault course, crate stacking and zip wire.  All the Scouts had a great time and are already looking forward to next year’s competition.  Who’d have thought that only 4 weeks ago we were missing the boss at 10 yards and our standards have improved through practice and  instruction by our own archery leaders Lynn, Debbie, Maggie and Jim to whom we offer our thanks and to Russ for looking after us.

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The sun shone for the 5th Dartford Scout Group today along with other groups, Brownies and Guide sections for the Dartford district St George’s Day service and parade in Central Park.  As always, the 5th were well represented and looked smart and well turned out.  After the parade, which took place in the park this year, The Earley-Troops George, Kyle and Henry were presented with their Kent County Invicta Challenge awards by District Scout Leader Wayne Tomkinson.

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