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.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
