Well it's a long time since I posted and this is because of a change in internet policy at work. ie when I used to update this during a lunch break, it's now totally blocked!
Expect more updates to come, but I've been off work due to a hernia operation so scouting has been somewhat restricted recently!
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Promotion Night
In my last post I mentioned that we were having a promotion night out of our own area to try and entice more kids to scouting.
I'm still suprised at the lack of knowledge about girls in scouting. Our troop is almost 50/50 now and judging by the number of girls we got last night (and the number telling us they'll be coming along next week) we may tip the scales to more girls than boys.
I have absolutely no feelings on whether we have more boys or girls in a troop because they're just as capable as each other. In one of the recent issues of scouting for boys, it was noted that Baden Powel would probably have introduced girls into scouting at the same time as the boys, however given the time it wasn't seen as right to do so. The closer we get to a 50/50 split the better however.
We got nine (maybe ten or eleven - a few turned up late and I didn't keep counting them) and they really enjoyed the night. Our scouts having practiced the week before knew everything about the night and because we didn't have to explain it all again to them, they ran the night not me. I just popped backwards and forwards between the groups to make sure they'd got everything. Unfortunately this meant the night ran quicker than before and we'd pretty much wrapped up with half an hour before the end.
So we ran a round of tag bulldog and Master-Mathew-Mark-Luke-John (a memory game).
In all we had about twenty five at the event including our own troop - how nice would it be if we stayed at that level!
I'm still suprised at the lack of knowledge about girls in scouting. Our troop is almost 50/50 now and judging by the number of girls we got last night (and the number telling us they'll be coming along next week) we may tip the scales to more girls than boys.
I have absolutely no feelings on whether we have more boys or girls in a troop because they're just as capable as each other. In one of the recent issues of scouting for boys, it was noted that Baden Powel would probably have introduced girls into scouting at the same time as the boys, however given the time it wasn't seen as right to do so. The closer we get to a 50/50 split the better however.
We got nine (maybe ten or eleven - a few turned up late and I didn't keep counting them) and they really enjoyed the night. Our scouts having practiced the week before knew everything about the night and because we didn't have to explain it all again to them, they ran the night not me. I just popped backwards and forwards between the groups to make sure they'd got everything. Unfortunately this meant the night ran quicker than before and we'd pretty much wrapped up with half an hour before the end.
So we ran a round of tag bulldog and Master-Mathew-Mark-Luke-John (a memory game).
In all we had about twenty five at the event including our own troop - how nice would it be if we stayed at that level!
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Getting ready for our promotion night
Whilst scouting has seen the closure of many small groups in the UK, it has opened some doors for those existing groups. Around our area are several small villages which no longer have troops but still have kids. Our outreach programme aims to encompass these small villages and if we have any interested kids, we’ll reel them in.
So how best to do this? Well our scouts are running the evening. We’re running a simple programme which should be fast and fun. Tonight we did a dry run of what we’re going to be doing.
- Tent pitching – just a simple hike tent
- Peppermint creams
- Cooking bacon over almonds
- Setting up a Trangia and cooking soup
- Simple first aid
Our kids really enjoyed it, so fingers crossed so will the potential-scouts-to-be next week!
So how best to do this? Well our scouts are running the evening. We’re running a simple programme which should be fast and fun. Tonight we did a dry run of what we’re going to be doing.
- Tent pitching – just a simple hike tent
- Peppermint creams
- Cooking bacon over almonds
- Setting up a Trangia and cooking soup
- Simple first aid
Our kids really enjoyed it, so fingers crossed so will the potential-scouts-to-be next week!
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
End of Term Night
Sometimes we open our doors during a school holiday for various reasons, this time round we opened for a games night.
Except that those who turned up wanted to do a bit of firelighting and practiced setting up a trangia.
And we played some pool. For us as leaders it was quite a relaxing night and even we got a chance to brush up on our skills.
Except that those who turned up wanted to do a bit of firelighting and practiced setting up a trangia.
And we played some pool. For us as leaders it was quite a relaxing night and even we got a chance to brush up on our skills.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Back to normal...
Well, I say normal but it was another off the cuff evening...
The four whom are entering operation starling were off and about doing a small hike from Belchamps to our hall via some backlanes and paths. It shouldn't take much more than an hour, but they started late because two of the kids turned up at the hall rather than at Belchamps and were late at that.
The rest stayed behind and learnt a little first aid (recovery position), how to read contour lines and plan a sensible route and played several games run by the young leader.
Quarter of an hour after flag down, the four off hiking (accompanyed by leaders) still hadn't arrived back and the search team were sent out. After the third attempt they were found walking down Hall road (adjacent to our hall) and they were somewhat covered in mud, stagnant water and sweat. They were almost lynched when they walked in covering the freshly swept floor.
The four whom are entering operation starling were off and about doing a small hike from Belchamps to our hall via some backlanes and paths. It shouldn't take much more than an hour, but they started late because two of the kids turned up at the hall rather than at Belchamps and were late at that.
The rest stayed behind and learnt a little first aid (recovery position), how to read contour lines and plan a sensible route and played several games run by the young leader.
Quarter of an hour after flag down, the four off hiking (accompanyed by leaders) still hadn't arrived back and the search team were sent out. After the third attempt they were found walking down Hall road (adjacent to our hall) and they were somewhat covered in mud, stagnant water and sweat. They were almost lynched when they walked in covering the freshly swept floor.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Tree Planting Day
Our tree planting day has been a long time coming.
We managed to get 150 trees and a £100 grant from the woodland trust. We used the £100 to get 250 more trees to plant out.
Local Councillor Jim Grey came down to open our event and plant a tree. We even got a newspaper article in the local Echo News.
We had cakes, raffle, tea/coffee/soft drinks, craft stall, teddy tombola and hot sausages in buns available to all - we raised just under £200.
But the important part of the event was getting all 400 trees in and around our boundaries, in a few years time we'll have a nice big hedge which'll give us privacy, protection, wildlife, a supply of kindling and fruit.
Because there are around 15 native species in the soil, our kids will also learn the different properties and how to recognise them.
We managed to get 150 trees and a £100 grant from the woodland trust. We used the £100 to get 250 more trees to plant out.
Local Councillor Jim Grey came down to open our event and plant a tree. We even got a newspaper article in the local Echo News.
We had cakes, raffle, tea/coffee/soft drinks, craft stall, teddy tombola and hot sausages in buns available to all - we raised just under £200.
But the important part of the event was getting all 400 trees in and around our boundaries, in a few years time we'll have a nice big hedge which'll give us privacy, protection, wildlife, a supply of kindling and fruit.
Because there are around 15 native species in the soil, our kids will also learn the different properties and how to recognise them.
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Tree planting preperation #2
All the preperation for the tree planting day has been hurrying along. Today we got all the tents up, washed up the mugs for the tea for the next day (35p each from wilkinsons, bargain!) and did a bit of last minute tidying...
The afternoon saw me driving over to Woodham Ferriers to pick up the plaque we'd had made that day by a kind sole who saw us in need. I was given the chance to practice my tyre changing skills (which I'd demonstrated the Wednesday before at scouts) when I got a puncture (it wasn't the same wheel they'd changed by the way!)
See! Useful skills (and everyday adventure?)
The afternoon saw me driving over to Woodham Ferriers to pick up the plaque we'd had made that day by a kind sole who saw us in need. I was given the chance to practice my tyre changing skills (which I'd demonstrated the Wednesday before at scouts) when I got a puncture (it wasn't the same wheel they'd changed by the way!)
See! Useful skills (and everyday adventure?)
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Incident night
The incident night was on programme and was learning based on the forthcoming operation starling.
We started the night with a snowball fight (the idea coming from the escouts forum). The snowballs are screwed up newspaper with tape wrapped round them. I made 45. We then divided up the hall into thirds and the scouts had to defend their patch and clear it of snowballs. This means you had a large quantity of flying paper for a couple of minutes at a time. We'd then shout 'freeze', count up the snowballs and get everyone to rotate clockwise round the hall. Then started again.
This was followed by the incidents which were changing a tyre on a car, simple first aid casulty (old lady suffering from shock) and playing a game of pairs with map symbol cards.
After this we tried five different types of prepackaged hike food, scored them and finished the evening!
We started the night with a snowball fight (the idea coming from the escouts forum). The snowballs are screwed up newspaper with tape wrapped round them. I made 45. We then divided up the hall into thirds and the scouts had to defend their patch and clear it of snowballs. This means you had a large quantity of flying paper for a couple of minutes at a time. We'd then shout 'freeze', count up the snowballs and get everyone to rotate clockwise round the hall. Then started again.
This was followed by the incidents which were changing a tyre on a car, simple first aid casulty (old lady suffering from shock) and playing a game of pairs with map symbol cards.
After this we tried five different types of prepackaged hike food, scored them and finished the evening!
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Tree planting preperation #1
Today saw us working hard to prepare our grounds ready for the tree planting day. Four kids turned up to help out and we started with a little picking competition. Ten bags of litter later and the field was much, much cleaner and tidier.
We also got the kayaks off the floor and back onto the newly painted kayak trailer. We covered it with tarpulin so we can preserve them a little better and the area around our service crew hut is a little tidier.
Roll on Mothers Day!
We also got the kayaks off the floor and back onto the newly painted kayak trailer. We covered it with tarpulin so we can preserve them a little better and the area around our service crew hut is a little tidier.
Roll on Mothers Day!
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Games
Sometimes you have to just drop the usual night plans and go unplanned. Tonight was one of those nights.
I had absolutely nothing to do (it was fantastic) I just went through record cards and made sure everything was up to date. There was a small discussion with the kids about going on 'Operation Starling' the district incident hike and we got a few volunteers.
It was game after game and everyone got involved and had fun.
I had absolutely nothing to do (it was fantastic) I just went through record cards and made sure everything was up to date. There was a small discussion with the kids about going on 'Operation Starling' the district incident hike and we got a few volunteers.
It was game after game and everyone got involved and had fun.
Sunday, 8 March 2009
NSRA Training...
Over this weekend, among many non scouty things I did, one was NSRA Tutor training.
It was my opportunity to get some scout like development under my belt and get trained up in something the kids were quite keen to do - shooting!
My tutoring qualification means I can now take the kids to the range without anyone elses supervision (if I pass...) and also means I get to bore them with the safety briefing.
The course was well paced, good fun and the guy running it knew his stuff. I feel confident I'll pass, though of course I don't yet have the qualification in my hands!
It was my opportunity to get some scout like development under my belt and get trained up in something the kids were quite keen to do - shooting!
My tutoring qualification means I can now take the kids to the range without anyone elses supervision (if I pass...) and also means I get to bore them with the safety briefing.
The course was well paced, good fun and the guy running it knew his stuff. I feel confident I'll pass, though of course I don't yet have the qualification in my hands!
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Scout first aid
Well, the evening wasn't what I expected.
Originally on our programme we were going to do tag first aid (this involves several people ill, with a big tag on them saying what is wrong. The scouts don't need to diagnose as such, just treat)
Then a few months ago I attended a district leaders meeting and volunteered to show troops around the new St John Ambulance building - which is a site of excellence I must say. Usually I'm never taken up on these offers, however this time round I was. The day unfortunately fell on a Wednesday (our troop night) and I showed the building off to the beavers, cubs and scouts. I was cream crackered by the end of it but got some excellent help from the St John Ambulance cadets for which I'm forever grateful.
Rather than waste this opportunity, I got our troop to join with the touring group which meant we had a good size combined group of 30ish. Happy days...
Originally on our programme we were going to do tag first aid (this involves several people ill, with a big tag on them saying what is wrong. The scouts don't need to diagnose as such, just treat)
Then a few months ago I attended a district leaders meeting and volunteered to show troops around the new St John Ambulance building - which is a site of excellence I must say. Usually I'm never taken up on these offers, however this time round I was. The day unfortunately fell on a Wednesday (our troop night) and I showed the building off to the beavers, cubs and scouts. I was cream crackered by the end of it but got some excellent help from the St John Ambulance cadets for which I'm forever grateful.
Rather than waste this opportunity, I got our troop to join with the touring group which meant we had a good size combined group of 30ish. Happy days...
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Pancakes
What can I say? Let there be pancakes!
The kids had a whale of a time making the pancakes and eating them. Whilst most originally opted for lemon and sugar, I was able to tempt them into trying my banana caramel sauce. This is a simple recipe which involves heating a knob of butter in a pan until melted, adding plenty of sugar then dribbling milk into it. Then slicing a banana very finely into the sauce and pouring it over said pancakes. It always proves very popular.
The kids had a whale of a time making the pancakes and eating them. Whilst most originally opted for lemon and sugar, I was able to tempt them into trying my banana caramel sauce. This is a simple recipe which involves heating a knob of butter in a pan until melted, adding plenty of sugar then dribbling milk into it. Then slicing a banana very finely into the sauce and pouring it over said pancakes. It always proves very popular.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Cancelled!
Sometimes our ideas, due to weather or ill health don't go according to plan.
This was one of those occasions. The night was 'Project Godmother' but I can't say much about it, because it's top secret.
What actually happened is I sat in a layby turning parents around and then made my way back to the hall to see things in full swing.
There was time trial relay races, map, compass & map symbol work, silly games and knots.
I was able to catch up on my paperwork!
And then, low and behold we had our last tenderfoot invested. So a successful day.
We've also discovered our new subs system has come up trumps. We churned out personalised mail merged letters from our database and sent them home with little brown envelopes for a cash or cheque return. Within a month, they've all paid up and for once I don't have to hassle everyone at the end of a meeting. Pure bliss!
This was one of those occasions. The night was 'Project Godmother' but I can't say much about it, because it's top secret.
What actually happened is I sat in a layby turning parents around and then made my way back to the hall to see things in full swing.
There was time trial relay races, map, compass & map symbol work, silly games and knots.
I was able to catch up on my paperwork!
And then, low and behold we had our last tenderfoot invested. So a successful day.
We've also discovered our new subs system has come up trumps. We churned out personalised mail merged letters from our database and sent them home with little brown envelopes for a cash or cheque return. Within a month, they've all paid up and for once I don't have to hassle everyone at the end of a meeting. Pure bliss!
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Ready... Steady... Cook!
Food poisoning? One of the many trials we as scout leaders have to brave. But not this time, this time I passed this honor to our budding young leaders. Days like this I feel fortunate!
The ready steady cook event booked in my diaries six months previously also happened to conincide with the day after a real scout ready steady cook! You can see details on the official scout website here: http://scouts.org.uk/news_view.php?news_id=156
Meantime our own ready steady cook was quite sucessful. This was the culmination of the chef badge for many but with the time constraints of a 45 minute window to get dishes prepared for 
judging.
judging.The best dish of the day was the Wolves stir fry which was tastiest, Eagles joint second on presentation alone with tigers making the most balanced meal but the pasta could have done with being cooked.
Sauces and deserts were top class, I especially enjoyed seeing how inventive the group could get with bananas and a bar of chocolate (we were hoping for fritters and chocolate soup)Sunday, 1 February 2009
Christmas camp 2009
All over now of course. It's time to surgically remove my long johns (blimey it was cold) but it didn't stop us from having a great time! First night we had fires, got settled in and played cards all evening.
Saturday morning however we were up bright and early (Graham went round with the spoon and pan at 7:30) so we could get out of the door by ten.
We were off to London! Treasure hunting style... The object of the game was to answer all the questions travelling to the different points of the map. The patrol leaders used the maps to plan their journey which had to include at least one bus trip. At 3pm we made our way back to camp.
When we got back we had a ramble in the woods looking for Birch polypore - a parasitic fungus which kills trees but which can be used fresh as plasters. That's not the reason we went looking for it however, because when cut thin and dried it can be used as kindling. We also looked for birch bark which is also a good tinder when dry.
We found a large polypore as well as plenty of birch bark which we took from fallen trees. Back at camp we sliced the fresh polypore and I showed the scouts even damp birch bark can be lit from a sweedish firesteel.
As the night drew in the newest scouts were learning the use of pocket knives and after we practiced our wittling skills on bars of soap.
Christmas dinner was served around 6pm and after dinner a cream fight began.
Campfire at eight took several attempts to light, mainly because of the wet wood (hey I didn't build it, neither did I light it!) and the high winds sweeping the site, but before long I'd piled the fire high with logs and it was becoming much cosier. Graham led the campfire followed by the odd song from Bill.
As campfire burnt low, everyone retired to their bunks totally worn out.
Sunday morning was chilly to say the least. Even the scouts had to be woken again at 8am with the wooden spoon and pot again! Before long the smell of bacon was in the air (and burnt scrambled egg) before clearing out and off by just after 10!
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Trading Posts!
Started with a game of scout basketball run by the leaders followed by an evening of trading posts.
For all our sins, trading posts is a good manic game which lasts the full night and gets accross some pretty basic skills.
Like ironing and folding the worst necker in the patrol (that'd be the APLs one)
Or putting together a trangia and making tea on it, cleaning it and returning it in ten minutes flat.
Or showing your penknife carving skills without stabbing yourself. In this case, the silly face is optional. We did kind of expect our goldfish carved carrots to be less dug out and more carved, but a sea scape in a carrot is very inventive...
And just when you think it is safe to come out, the SL breaks your arm and you have to make a sling for it.
Great sucess - followed by awarding of the Patrol Award and giving out the last set of notes for those people coming to Christmas camp this weekend.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Electronic resources
Well, I'm terrible at keeping paperwork. But that's alright because we get electrons to do the hard work now! http://www.escouts.org.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=15 has plenty of online resources especially Loopyphils spreadsheet which keeps my badge records up to date.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Dampers on fires
Last night was extremely sucessful for dampers - something even I've not done over a fire before.
Spread over with Jam they were consumed within minutes!
Everyone knew what they were doing, so I had nothing better to do than try out my new Kelly Kettle (lighting it with my Sweedish Steel rather than matches) and have a cuppa!
Spread over with Jam they were consumed within minutes!
Everyone knew what they were doing, so I had nothing better to do than try out my new Kelly Kettle (lighting it with my Sweedish Steel rather than matches) and have a cuppa!
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
official first night back
Well, it seems the leafleting didn't make any impact at all - not a single call!
But that didn't stop a particularly hectic meeting!
After introducing the new look hall (see pic below) we broke for the first game of the term whilst the patrol leaders were given a heads up on what they needed to run. First activity was hot dogs on a trangia. Even though I got complaints that they knew how to use one I wasn't particularly suprised to find that they didn't actually know how to put them together. One of our newest kids who's not even seen one before put it away (obvious patrol leader material) whilst the patrol leader ambled over and asked us how it went together.
2nd activity for those who'd finished their trangias was the simple task of waterproofing matches. This comes as a result of several camps including our patrol leaders training camp. The PLAPL camp was a prime example where everyone was given a box on a fairly woodland site - next morning when I got up I found a box under the dining shelter. Damp. A box on the path to the toilet. Damp. A box by the fire. Damp. Three boxes out of five ruined, but it was a good example. With emergency waterproof matches they ought to now have a good idea on what they need to do!
(If you don't know how to waterproof matches, just dip the heads in molten wax and leave to dry - even run under water they will still light, though it's recommended you use non-safety matches as damp strikers don't work, but non-safety work anywhere)
After the next game we then did bag packing. Armed with all my gear from the past fifteen years including some totally inappropriate gear for hiking, we asked each patrol to put together a list of what they would take.
It was absolutely amazing to see what went through their minds and we ended up with duplicate knives (like taking a 8.5" sheath knife, penknife and a leatherman for good measure - perhaps a good idea for a trek across the amazon, but not a one night hike in the UK) and no tent/sleeping bag.
I'd understand if we'd had a bivvy bag or tarp, but I feel they still need some education.
After each, we weighed a member of the patrol with and without the backpack to get an idea in KG what would be the best. The heaviest patrol bizarrely hadn't packed the tent or sleeping bag, but had felt it necessary to take a trangia, pocket rocket with gas, full camp cook set and a solid fuel hexane stove.
Nevermind.
We had to do a flagbreak at this time because we'd somewhat overestimated how long the activities would take - we missed out on 'food hygiene' which isn't really something I want to rush with them having seen how the last patrol camp went!
Below: Pic of newly refurbished scout hall
But that didn't stop a particularly hectic meeting!
After introducing the new look hall (see pic below) we broke for the first game of the term whilst the patrol leaders were given a heads up on what they needed to run. First activity was hot dogs on a trangia. Even though I got complaints that they knew how to use one I wasn't particularly suprised to find that they didn't actually know how to put them together. One of our newest kids who's not even seen one before put it away (obvious patrol leader material) whilst the patrol leader ambled over and asked us how it went together.
2nd activity for those who'd finished their trangias was the simple task of waterproofing matches. This comes as a result of several camps including our patrol leaders training camp. The PLAPL camp was a prime example where everyone was given a box on a fairly woodland site - next morning when I got up I found a box under the dining shelter. Damp. A box on the path to the toilet. Damp. A box by the fire. Damp. Three boxes out of five ruined, but it was a good example. With emergency waterproof matches they ought to now have a good idea on what they need to do!
(If you don't know how to waterproof matches, just dip the heads in molten wax and leave to dry - even run under water they will still light, though it's recommended you use non-safety matches as damp strikers don't work, but non-safety work anywhere)
After the next game we then did bag packing. Armed with all my gear from the past fifteen years including some totally inappropriate gear for hiking, we asked each patrol to put together a list of what they would take.
It was absolutely amazing to see what went through their minds and we ended up with duplicate knives (like taking a 8.5" sheath knife, penknife and a leatherman for good measure - perhaps a good idea for a trek across the amazon, but not a one night hike in the UK) and no tent/sleeping bag.
I'd understand if we'd had a bivvy bag or tarp, but I feel they still need some education.
After each, we weighed a member of the patrol with and without the backpack to get an idea in KG what would be the best. The heaviest patrol bizarrely hadn't packed the tent or sleeping bag, but had felt it necessary to take a trangia, pocket rocket with gas, full camp cook set and a solid fuel hexane stove.
Nevermind.
We had to do a flagbreak at this time because we'd somewhat overestimated how long the activities would take - we missed out on 'food hygiene' which isn't really something I want to rush with them having seen how the last patrol camp went!
Below: Pic of newly refurbished scout hall
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Posters up!
Following on from our poster campaign we managed to get one poster out and about in our local community noticeboard - thanks Michelle!
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Leafletting
It's been a long time since we did a set of leaflet drops out and about our local town. During the evening some 300 leaflets were delivered in approximately 45 minutes around the housing estates neighboring our scout hall. Only time will tell on what effect it will make on the membership!
We retired (after a visit to the kebab van on the way back) to the scout hall to admire the new floor being laid and to have a fire in the campfire square.
We retired (after a visit to the kebab van on the way back) to the scout hall to admire the new floor being laid and to have a fire in the campfire square.
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