I would like to thank all the leaders involved volunteering their time, giving up a week of work, as well as the camp site team at Linnet Clough making our camp a truly enjoyable one, and not to forget our youth members good behavior and keen spirits which was a great combination for a safe, enjoyable, memorable group summer camp. A Summer Camp without tents!
2018-06-08 – Kent County Air Activities Camp
Once again the 5th had been invited by Kent County Scouts to provide archery and target shooting activities for the County Air Activities camp at Old Hay Airfield, Tonbridge, and by doing so securing a number of places for our Scouts to participate in numerous air themed activities, including piloting microlight aircraft and rocket building/launching.This gave us the oppertunity to get many, if not all of our participants through the bulk of the staged Air Activities badge, which we will look to conclude and present during the next term.
Please click here to view the Kent Scouts web page with more details and pictures from the weekend.
2018-05-12 – JoTT 2018
Saturday 12th May 2018 was the date for the annual Jamboree On The Trail. This is an International event held for the last 21 years and the eighteenth year in a row that Dartford District including 5th Dartford Scout group have taken part.
After a spell of very good weather the week before, the morning turned out to be decidedly cool and a little damp but this didn’t deter our Group turning out in force. Some Leaders
and Explorers starting from Sevenoaks at 9.30am and walking the 17 miles along the Darent River path picking up Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and their families en route and finishing at Dartford park at around 4pm.
Here we were all greeted by District Leaders young and old and given snacks and hot drinks and the much coveted J.O.T.T. Badge.
Well done everyone who participated however far they walked and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.
2018-03-30 – Easter Camp 18
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.
2018-03-25 – DMC Craft Fare
On Sunday 25th March, we are helping promote Sco
uting at the Dartford Masonic Centre for their Craft Fare. Always lots on offer so please come along.
Megan Selected for #WSJ2019
As many of you will know, our Megan from the Johnston ESU and Young Leader from Phillips Pack has been selected as one of 7 young people to represent Dartford as part of the Kent contingent, at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree in west Virginia.
Each young person attending will need to raise just shy of £4000 to cover their costs and to help those in developing countries, who do not have the same fundraising opportunities.
Dartford district Scouts, the 5th Dartford Scout Group and Dartford Borough Council have been very generous in their support of Megan’s fundraising, but there is still a way to go and all donations and fundraising opportunities would be very welcome.
2018-02-15 – Philpott Pancakes
Pancake fun for Philpott Beavers
For those Beavers that didn’t go away during half-term Philpott Beavers enjoyed a ‘Fun with Pancakes evening’ on Thursday 15th February 2018.
The Beavers worked in small groups making the pancake mixture using eggs, flour and milk. Then cooked one each with the aid of a Leader. On completion they were decorated to look like a smiling face using strawberries, banana’s, syrup, hundreds & thousands and squirty cream. The biggest smile though was on their own faces when told they could then eat them.
Next came the Pancake race (using ones made earlier by Auntie Beaver). Then a competition to see who could toss a pancake through the basketball hoop. Having found this too high for them to reach, we set the target lower Bearded Beavers head.
The evening was finished with a 10 minute food fight which seemed to be the highlight of the night.
All good fun
2018-01-12 – Winter Camp 2018
37 hardened adventures from the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Johnston ESU, Earley & Burne Scouts descended on Gilwell Park to attend the 2018 Winter Camp. Amongst our number were 6 leaders and two Ventures, Tara & Nora, from Dublin, who had linked up with us in a joint venture with Scouting Ireland. All the young people had a great time and new friendships were formed, which we hope will see a trip to Dublin in the not too distant future. 
2017-07-28 – Summer Camp Guernsey
This year, to celebrate our centenary, we ventured to Les Maingys Scout Activity Centre, Guernsey as the destination for our Centenary Summer Camp.
2017-11-25 – Co-op Community Fund
Having been nominated by staff at the Co-op in Chastilian Road, we have been awarded £4,615.60 from the Co-op Local Community Fund. Maggie and Paul attended the branch on Saturday 25 November to accept the award for our New Hall Fund and to talk with staff and shoppers alike about our plans for the future.