The six older scouts from Earley and Burne Troop approaching their 14th birthday/moving up to Johnston Explorers were provided with training to get them fully prepared for their Expedition challenge. These training sessions were part of the regular scouts evening as well as some additional sessions over a number of evenings: Badge requirements, Navigation, Route card, Menu planning, Shopping & food storage, Cooking, Expedition tent pitching, First-Aid and emergency procedures, Personal equipment, Packing a ruck-sack, Highway code, Countryside code, Risk assessments review.
2023-12-03 – Birthday Parade
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.
2023-10-20 – NSRA Bisley Camp
The advance party arrived at our pitch @14:30 and despite earlier rain our allocation was favourable and the weather was kind to us for setting up camp even if squelchy underfoot. More leaders and 15 young people, 6 of whom were first timers at Bisley, arrived after dark and stowed their kit before a team briefing where everyone was given a lanyard, map and an aid-memoir to help them to be in the right place at the right time for their events.
Summer Camp 2023 – #INTENTS# Thriftwood
With ourselves enjoying at last year’s #InTents# at Thriftwood so much we rebooked again for this year. Having great memories of last year’s hot summer, we were over optimistic investing in an inflatable pool and new BBQs in preparation, which now seems a good future investment for the group’s events. With six leaders and 24 Scouts and Explorers fully prepared and roaring to go with our new site #4 which has an electrical hook up and adjacent to the archery field, close to the action.
Air Camp 23 – The Best Ever – 09-11 June
After 10 months of planning and preparation the weekend finally arrived Air Camp 2023 – The Best Ever. With a total of 106 Scouts and Explorers, 22 of them representing 5th Dartford, descending to Old Hay Airfield, Paddock Wood. The weather forecast was for a heat wave, which was accurate for a change. There was unfortunate accident on the A21 causing road closures and some a 2 hour delay in their arrival time, along with many parents discovering the wonders of the app WhatThreeWords/// as opposed to post codes and car SatNavs.
Easter Camp – 31-03-2023
Once again we booked the tented village at Thriftwood Scout Campsite and with the weather upon arrival and throuought the evening we were so glad that we did> However, the rain and the mud did not dampen what was once again a great camp with loads of activities including axe throwing, High all aboard, archery and a hike.
Birthday Parade December 2022
Celebrating our group’s birthday has always been a big event for the 5th Dartford Scout Group and this year was no exception, with a good number of young people attending the church service in the morning, which had us rolling with laughter, then tea and biscuits with the congregation before dissmissing and regrouping after lunch for a session at Ninja Warriors.
Scouts Going for Gold
Well done to Kaden, Oscar Dilan & Fenn who all completed the expedition element of their Chief Scout Gold Award before recieving their certificates and moving on to Explorers.
NSRA Bisley October 2022
After a few years off, we assembled a team of 5 Scouts and 8 Explorers who had completed the NSRA YPS target shooting course to once again compete at the National Scout Rifle Championships at NSRA Bisley. We were once again blessed with good weather and a good pitch location. Below are a few pictures from the weekend.
Summer Camp 2022 – #INTENTS# Thriftwood
With COVID19 lockdown memories fading, although still evident cautious guidance by TSA, the leaders agreed to keep this year’s summer camp close and easily manageable for all concerned. Hence when one of our local campsites Thriftwood advertised it’s set week’s summer camp with all the camping, activities plus day out to an adventure park, it seemed ideal for all concerned.