2014-07-26 – Summer Camp 2014

Posted on August 7, 2014 by George

summer_camp_small 44 Scouts, Explorers and leaders attended this year’s summer camp at Butchers Coppice Scout Campsite in Bournemouth. The camp site was very good with a large flat camping field with good facilities and excellent activities. The scouts were divided in to three patrols which they names themselves (CTC, Somalia, Should of Gone to Spec Savers) and the Explorers worked as a team, dividing themselves in to groups for the cooking rota and activities.

The traveling to and from camp was problematic with Bournemouth being such a popular holiday destination leading to heavy traffic in all directions, resulting in 5:30 hours there and 5 hours back, even when diverting of the motorways and taking the TomTom diversion.

The first full day, Sunday, we hit the ground running by visiting Christchurch beach and then in the afternoon running Ready Steady Cook. On Monday, the older Scouts and Explorers prepared for the overnight expedition with the younger scouts taking part in on site games and sports challenges. With the equipment checked, food provided and route set, the minibuses dropped the expedition teams at Corfe Castle, with the Explorers setting off first whilst the Scouts stocked up on refreshments, before heading off on the ridgeway to Tyneham and meeting up again at Steeple Leaze Farm to pitch camp enjoy a hearty meal of bean-feast around an open fire under the stars.

Tuesday saw the adventurers return at lunch time just in time to enjoy an afternoon at Spashdown Water Park with all the fun of the flumes.

Wednesday saw all members take on the challenge of the camp sites high rope challenges and actively taking part in the sites camp fire (My hands are high, my feet are low, how do you like to bungalow!).

Thursday was a full day of sailing and kayaking at Hengistbury Head water activity centre with a sausage and chip supper and then drove out to Burly, where light pollution is minimal to meet with the local Astronomy Association and enjoyed an educational evening star gazing, observing the Moon’s craters, the rings of Saturn, Mars rising and the closest galaxy system Andromeda to mention a few.

Friday, the last full day on camp, saw us utilise the climbing, abseiling, power-fan and zip-wire activities & I’m very impressed with the Explorers video, which can be found below. With the clouds slowly rolling in, we enjoyed an evening BBQ.

Saturday was a wet start and a wetter pack down, with even more rain on the road home, resulting in all the tents being aired back at the hall.

Many thanks to all the leaders giving their time knowledge and experience to make this summer camp so successful, without them it would not be possible to organise and provide such an excellent experience for our Scouts and Explorers to enjoy and learn from: Maggie & Jim Lilleycrop, Del & Ashley Hurd, Dave & Felicity Monteith, Jason & Kay O’Brien, Darren Watts, Matt Parry.

Orienteering Challenge:
CTC – 16:40 mins, Somalia – 14:00, SoGtSS – 10:40.

Over Night Expedition:
Scouts: Nathan, Nathaniel, Ben, Chris, Henry, Joe, Matt & Angus.
Explorers: Dom, James, George, Cian, Shea, Jessica, Abi, Jake & Adam.

Paul Boreham
Group Scout Leader

2014-07-20 – Chief Scout Bronze

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Jason

Chief Scouts Bronze Award Sunday 20th July 2014

At 3pm on Sunday 20th July four Philpott Beavers were presented with the highest award that can be achieved as a Beaver. The event was held at St Marys Church Greenhithe and the boys were presented with their certificates by Jacqui Wilkinson A.D.C. for Beavers. It was a very hot humid afternoon but the boys still managed to look cool and smart. Well Done Lucas, Jake, Thomas and Rocco

2014-05-23 – Family Camp

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Jason

Family Camp 2014 – Thriftwood Scout Campsite, Brentwood. An Excellent camp, with many new families taking part in the Scout adventure with our young members. Just a few photos to member what we did.

2014-05-02 – Edinburgh Chase

Posted on May 27, 2014 by George

This year’s Edinburgh Chase was just as popular as previous years and had a number of teams consisting of 5th Dartford Explorers and Leaders taking part, ranging from the Junior to Veteran categories.

This year was one of the more challenging routes that this event has offered, but this didn’t stop all of our teams from completing in very respectable times.

A special mention to 5th Dartford Leaders team 72, who completed the course in 6hrs 18mins and also passed through both of the surprise checkpoints. This meant that they were awarded 1st place in the veteran category.

Thanks to the organisers for making such an enjoyable event possible and also to the 5th Leaders who did not take part in the hike, but instead gave up their time to provide hot dogs to teams after completion. I hear that there are already people in training for next year’s event…

Full results from this year’s event can be found here.

2014-03-23 – Cheif Scout Bronze

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Jason

On Sunday 23rd March 2014 at St Marys Church Greenhithe 5 Beavers from 5th Dartford who had completed all the work for their Bronze Award were presented with their certificates. This is the highest award available in the Beaver Section so very well done to Thomas and Ben from Peacock Colony and Joseph, Peter and Jamie from Philpott Colony.

Jacob from Peacock Colony also attained the badge but unfortunately was unable to attend the presentation.

2014-05-14 – Philpott Pets @ Home

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Jason

On Wednesday 14th May 2014 Philpott Beavers visited Pets at Home in Crayford as part of their Animal Friend Badge. So at 6pm 15 Beavers could be found sat on saw-dust bales passing around an adorable 12 week old small black rabbit. Some of the boys loved to cuddle and stroke it whilst some remained much more sceptical. Next were two Guinea pigs of different colours and Dave our expert for the evening told us many facts and answered numerous questions.

Then after cleaning our hands we headed off upstairs to meet James and his menagerie of Bearded Dragons, Snakes and Geckos. What a treat being able to touch feel and watch these creatures.

An hour and a half later we left having had a brilliant experience.

So very many thanks to the Manager Darren for arranging the visit and Dave & James for their patience.

2014-05-10 – 17th Int’l JOTT

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Jason

17th Jamboree On The Trail

On Saturday 10th May 2014 despite the weather forecast hundreds of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Network and Leaders walked from various start points along the Darent Valley Path for the 17th International Jamboree On The Trail all ending up at Sutton-at-Hone Football Ground.

5th Dartford were well represented by all age groups and although a few showers en-route gave us a bit of a soaking spirits were high and a good time had by all.

At 4pm as we all crossed the finish line we were well catered for with drinks and snacks and big smiles when all participants were presented with their badges.

Thank you especially to all the family members who took part for the very first time. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

2014-05-09 – Scout Archery

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Jason

Following 9 weeks of practice, our team of 24 competing archers plus Pauline and Tim supporting, arrived at Phasels Wood Activity Centre for the 9th National Scout Archery Competition. We had a clear run on the journey to camp and were fortunate in securing a good pitch and set camp in favorable weather conditions.

Alas the weather turned wet, with heavy rain and gale force winds gusting, and mud everywhere, but the team’s spirits were not dampened as our shooting detail times could not have been better.

Everyone represented the team well, but a special mention to to our two Scouts, who between them took silver in the under 11s field targets, silver in the under 14s 20yd targets and bronze in the under 14s overall.

Full results will be posted once available.