2008

 

Some quick informal but confidential feedback on the district explorer camp held on Halloween October 2008.

Attendees:

  • barton explorers (approx 8, Ian leading)
  • brocks explorers (approx 16, Dave  and Matt leading)
  • toddington explorers (approx 6, Cathy leading)
  • anomalous unit (3, David leading)

total approx 27 (6 only attended for a couple of hours)

Fundamentally this was a social event for the older explorers.  There were no prearranged activities from the other three sections, nor was there at the time to provide such or demand for them.

We three arrived at approximately 4 p.m., set up camp, and brewed up. Food much welcome, doubly so hot soup No one else arrived until nearly 6 p.m., by which time it was fully dark which made pitching tents and organising the site really rather difficult. (Walking round the site in the morning it was clear that that least two tents had been pitched inside out, and that tents from the other units had been pitched across a footpath area). Clearly arriving in the light is a fine idea in future.

by 7:30 p.m. Dave and I, with help from Ian, had put up the large white dining shelter and arranged a kitchen area to cook on.  Some Explorers were relatively helpful.  All the other old explorers rapidly settled into sitting quietly chugging back soft drinks or sitting on each other’s knees in the first flush of romance.

By 8:30 p.m. Dave and I had organised sausages and burgers, well in fact Dave organised the burgers, and Ian had lit a small fire. I had our small team sort out some wood to start that fire and organise their kit and tents for a cold night

Only once there was hot food, and the fire was already alight, did Explorers show any real level of activity – it took them a while to get out of “school mode”, and when it became apparent that the fire was possible, they finally set to with a will: collecting palets and wood.

The fire quickly became the centre of activity, and the spontaneous outbreaks of singing and sketchs provided the main entertainment of evening.

Our CESC arrived at about 9 p.m. to supervise another group of explorers doing there Gold Duke of Edinburgh award be in an adjacent field, but on seeing the fire and the activity came over, which sadly failed to yeild us any new song lyrics.

A group of Brocks Explorers had come in costume but soon found they were completely inappropriately dressed for the temperature (which had descended to minus two with ice on the ground), so they left at approximately 10:30 p.m. to get home and warm up, leaving a small group around the fire.

The leaders, including myself, went to bed at approximately midnight.  Matt and a Barton Network member stayed to supervise the fire, which they appeared to do adequately.  Accounts in the morning vary, but it appears that the fire and cooking continued until approximately 3:30 a.m., and the last ones went to bed sometime between 4:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. ; consequently, breakfast was a piecemeal affair ranging from 8 a.m. with the leaders through to nearly 11 when the last of the stragglers woke up.

People departed at various times from 10 a.m. onwards, with our brand new Explorers leaving at 11 suffering from complete exhaustion and the cold. They did however, and without prompting, say that they had greatly enjoyed themselves and made a large number of friends.

 

District Explorer Camp 2008-5

We enjoyed a mini-break with other Bedfordshire Units at Milton Bryan. It was frosty, but the fires kept us all warm, eh, Princess?

Thanks again to Brocks, Barton and Harlington Explorers!

 

Every year there are over 100 major national Explorer Events, from the sublime to the ridiculous – this is just the smallest taster of what Explorers can get up to in 2008/2009.

THEME PARK CAMP
What: The weekend involves spending all day Saturday at Thorpe Park, home to Nemesis:Inferno, Colossus, a 10-loop rollercoaster, Stealth, which gets to 80mph in 2 seconds, and loads of other spinning/soggy rides, or a nice quiet visit to Thorpe Farm on the train. In the evenings, we run discos, have a fancy dress night, bingo, karaoke, giant games, camp fires, and usually an inflatable something too.
Who: Open to Explorers, Network, and SSAGO
When: 5th-7th September 2008
Where: Within a few miles of the A3/M25 junction.
www.summitnetwork.org.uk/tpc/

LEMMING TRAIL MTB
The original UK mountain bike endurance challenge. First run in 1996, the two day Lemming format is unique, combining an epic enduro with a rolling weekend bikefest.
The Lemming offers so much more than a single day enduro event. You get a full weekend of top class riding with an overnight stop that has camping and hostel accommodation right on the trail. You get a big evening meal and a Sunday morning cooked breakfast all in with the price of the event, you can book a packed lunch for the second days riding. All you need to pack is a bit of lunch for the first days ride. There are extra food and drink supplies available at the support stations on route.
We also carry all your gear for you. Anything you don’t need for the ride itself (clean clothes, wash kit, camping gear) can go in our truck to be transported to the overnight stop for you and then onto the finish. At the end of the ride, we can even take you back to your car at the start. Just book a place on one of coaches and we’ll take you right back from the finish, with your bike following in the truck behind.
On the ride itself, you get all the back up you could need. Waymarked trails to keep you on the straight and narrow, guides on route to help out if you get in any trouble, regular support stations stocked with food drink and bike spares, mechanical assistance and all the facilities at the overnight stop.
The ride is a classic in it’s own right. The South Downs Way offers a tough test in the form of 100 miles of relentless ups and downs on fast flowing chalk tracks. The route is 95% off road and the views and surrounding countryside are stunning!

MOUNTAIN TRAINING
We can run [Explorer Mountaineering Taster] on demand if Hostel not already booked and we can staff the weekend. However, our course weekend in September (19-21st) would be available if that’s of any use?
Cost currently £30 to include food etc.
Geoff Morley
Yr Hafod Centre – Snowdon

BRADLEY WOOD SITE (NORTH)
On Saturday the 13th of September, Bradley Wood Scout Camp opens its doors to show both youth and corporate customers what we have to offer. We are situated near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire in the heart of the Pennines.
We offer a wide range of activities from High ropes and climbing to team building and confidence building games… our accommodation ranges in use from camping to pack holiday centres and district / county camps.
If you are free, please come along and sample our activities free of charge and take a look around.. why not make a weekend of it… call our office to arrange a stop over!
I have attached a flyer for your reference.
marketing@bradleywood.org.uk
Bradley Wood Scout Camp & Activity Centre
Shepherds Thorne Lane. Brighouse. West Yorkshire

M*E*S*H 2008 (Mixin*Explorer*Scout*Holiday)
Wild West Theme

What: Camp run by Chislehurst Network (& friends) to give your hard working leaders a well earned break after the long summer months. Full programme of onsite activities including ariel adventure, shooting, line dancing, crafts, disco, campfires, wide games, cooking, archery, rodeos, lassoing, hoe downs and much more.
Who: Open to all members of Explorers and Senior Section Guides aged 14-18. Networkers and fellowship are more than welcome to join the organisation teams.
When: 26-28 September 2008
Where: Downe Scout Activity Centre www.downeactivitycentre.org.uk
Contact: chislehurst.explorers@btinternet.com
Cost: Explorers and Senior Section Guides – £20 , Leaders – £12

RAB MOUNTAIN MARATHON
One of the major events Dark & White organise is the annual two day Rab Mountain Marathon. Run under FRA (Fell Running Association) rules and guidelines this is a classic mountain marathon/navigational challenge in the mountains for solos or pairs; all courses are set up on a score basis with a time limit therefore event strategy and navigational skill is the key to success. Competitors have to be self sufficient for the two days; there is a remote campsite on the Saturday night. Rab (www.rab.uk.com) provide a superb range of prizes for the first three finishers in each class.

http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/mountain-marathons.asp


BEDS COUNTY EXPLORER CHALLENGE EVENT

http://www.bedfordshirescouts.org.uk/new/events.htm

track for details

BEDLAM DISNEY DASH

http://www.bedlam-online.com/disneydash/

Get Involved in what is possibly the maddest “day” trip ever devised for Bedfordshire Explorer Scouts.
You can join around 150 other Explorer Scouts, Explorer Leaders and Scout Network members visiting Disneyland Paris for the day on Saturday the 11th of October.
The coaches leave Bedfordshire around 9pm on the Friday evening and will arrive in the Disneyland Paris Resort on Saturday morning in time for it’s opening. You then get the whole of Saturday to enjoy the rides and atmosphere of both the Disneyland Park and the Disneyland Studio Park before getting back on the coach around 9pm to head home, returning to Bedfordshire on Sunday morning.
The trip will cost £70 which includes travel, a two park hopper ticket and insurance. All participants should hold a full UK passport, valid until at least May 2009, and have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Don’t panic if you haven’t got these yet, you still have time to get them before the trip.
This event is currently only open to Explorer Scouts, Explorer Section Leaders, DESC’s and Scout Network Members. Places are limited so you need to book early to ensure you don’t miss out. Don’t worry if your Explorer Leaders aren’t mad enough to join in, you can still come as extra adults will be on hand to keep an eye on you.

THE APEX CHALLENGE
It’s all about the adventure – and now’s the time to take part in one of the country’s biggest challenge events over a full weekend!
Who: The Apex Challenge is widely regarded as the UK’s leading activity competition for Explorer Scouts and members of the Scout Network
When:10-12 October 2008.
Where: A thrilling adventure challenge through an entire weekend in the North York Moors National Park.
www.apexchallenge.co.uk/
At every event you can expect to find yourself rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking and completing tough challenges while racing against the clock to beat the other teams

MOONRAKER CHALLENGE
The Ampthill and District Lions are organising a sponsored walk to raise money for The Bedfordshire Air Ambulance. This is taking place on Saturday 11th October from The Sea Cadets HQ in Flitwick, commencing at 7.00 pm. The walk is four miles and all participants must be over 12 years of age. Of the money raised by the walkers, 50% goes to the Air Ambulance and 50% to your own Group.
contact: Nigel Taylor

NATIONAL SCOUT RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008
National Shooting Centre – Bisley
17 – 19 October 2008
www.scouts-shoot.org.uk/nsarc2k8

WINTER MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILQUEST LEAGUE 2008/2009 – ROUND 1
Date: 19/10/2008
Duration: 3 hours of mountain bike orienteering
Event Type: Trailquest / Mountain Biking
Location: Peak District – exact venue tbc 1 month before the event – various age categories available/suitable for beginners through to experienced
Prices: Single from £12, Team from £10.5 per person
For more details or to enter this race click here

http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/trailquest-mountain-biking.asp

NATIONAL SEDAN CHAIR RALLY
Tolmers, Hertfordshire 24 – 26 October 2008
www.sedanchair.org.uk
What is “The Sedan Chair Rally”?
The Rally is a weekend camp for Explorer Scouts units, Scout Network Units, Ranger Guides and Sea Rangers. Included in the weekend are activities, team competitions, the Disco and of course the Race.
The Rally has been going, in various forms, since 1966, during most of its life it was aimed at Venture Scouts. It has been running with the current committee since 1993.
Teams members for the sports and race are in the 14 to 25 years age range. Teams entered into competitions of mixed Explorer Scout and Scout Network memebers will be treated as Network teams.
The Rally is on Friday 24th to Sunday 26th October 2008
You can arrive when ever you wish – however it would be beneficial to let us know when you expect to arrive (if not the Friday evening)
The Sedan Chair Rally is at Tolmers Scout Camp (on Hertfordshire Scouts Web pages) (Cuffley Hertfordshire- between Potters bar and Cheshunt). How to get there – Map or see instructions on Tolmers Web pages (alternatively See Streetmap.co.uk )

INSIGHT 2008
The event will run from the evening of Friday the 21stNovember through to the afternoon of Sunday the 23rd November 2008. The venue for the event is the Police Training Centre in Hutton, Preston. There will be no cost to participants although we will be unable to pay for travel costs to and from the event. The programme for this year’s event will be completely different to that of previous years as the majority of the time will be spent discussing different issues that currently face the Scout Association. Topics that will be discussed during the event will range from voting at 16 to the way we communicate with our membership to the strategic aims of the Scout Association looking towards 2018. Each of the discussion groups will be discussing a topic put forward by the participants. The feedback from each group will be passed onto the work of the relevant Headquarters working group so that it can be used to help direct ongoing and future work.
Each County/Area/Scottish Region will be able to send 2 participants, who must be aged between 18 and 25. When appointing two people to attend please remember that they will be representing your County/Area/Scottish Region. To aid in this process all participants will be sent information before the event about each of the subjects that will be discussed so that they can find out the views of other young people from their County/Area/Scottish Region.
We would be grateful if you could complete the attached application form and return it to Steven Moysey no later than the 16th September 2008. Please note that we can not guarantee a place after this date.
Steven Moysey, event logistics, or Ed Wilson, event programme.

GRIMSDYKE HIKES
The Grimsdyke Hykes are open to all Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Guides and Ranger Guides. There are two events, each tailored to the capabilities of the participants.
• Seniors: a two-day challenging camping hike for those aged up to 18. There are two classes:
• Open Challenge Fox’s Trophy for Explorer Scout and mixed Explorer Scout/Scout/Ranger teams of three, four or five aged up to 18
• Senior Scout Challenge Shield for Scout/Explorer Scout/Guide teams of three, four or five aged up to 15
The hikes aim to test your navigational skills. You will visit a number of control points as quickly as possible. The distance on both days is about 25km. You carry overnight kit on the first day. You leave it behind on the second! You need to be self sufficient in terms of food and equipment.
The cost of the event is £30 per junior team or £40 per Senior/Open Team, which includes maps plus light refreshments at the finish on both days.
For further information on any of the above contact Mike Taylor on mataylor@homecall.co.uk.
If you wish to participate in this event please contact Bucks Scouts on 0845 094 5526 or bucks.scouts@btconnect.com
Event Organiser:2nd Amersham Common Scout Group / Mike Taylor
Event Office: Bucks Scouts, Unit 11 Pembroke Road, Stocklake Industrial Area, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1DB

SNOWDON DRAGON
What: Fully supported walking expedition taking in the major peaks from Cadair Idris (Machynlleth) to Snowdon. There will be experienced hike leaders and support team.
Who: The Dragon is run by the Welsh Scout Council mountaineering team based in Snowdonia. The expedition is open to Explorer Scouts, members of the Scout Network and young leaders between the ages of 16 and 25.
When: 27th Dec 2008 to 4th Jan 2009
Where: North Wales
Cost: £125 for whole trip or £15 per day
Contact: dragon@yr-hafod.org.uk
More information: www.yr-hafod.org.uk/

ROVERWAY ’09 – ICELAND
What: Roverway is an event offered by WOSM and WAGGGS Europe. The event is held every 3rd year, each time at a new location. This is your opportunity to head north in 2009 to experience something new, something different within our great movement and make friends from all over the world.
Who: For Members of The Scout Association and Girl Guide UK from the age of 16 to 22 (born 1987-1993). Opportunities are available for members over the age of 22 as the International Service Team (IS team)
When: 27th Dec 2008 to 4th Jan 2009. Registration is not open until Sept/Oct ’08 but let us know that you are interested NOW and start fund raising!!
Where: Iceland // Contact: explorer.scout@scout.org.uk
More information: www.roverway.is/

Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

http://www.thethreepeakschallenge.co.uk/Yorkshire-Three-Peaks-Challenge/Default.aspx

Depending where you come from mentioning the Three Peaks, you will either be assumed to be talking about the National Three Peaks Challenge, or the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
The Yorkshire Three Peaks is most likely the first Three Peaks walk to become a regular Challenge, taking in the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, usually in this order. These peaks form part of the Pennine range, and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE.

http://www.thethreepeakschallenge.co.uk/National-Three-Peaks-Challenge/Default.aspx

The National Three Peaks Challenge is steadily becoming a well-known phrase amongst the more adventurous. This challenge involves climbing the three highest mountains in the UK within 24 hours.
Despite it’s growing popularity, no one should under estimate the difficulty of any of the challenges detailed on this website. It is very easy to get lost, particularly on the National Three Peaks and Welsh 3000s, and particularly when mountains need to be climbed in the dark or in poor weather.
The National Three Peaks Challenge is not an organised event – you can do it whenever you like. You do have the option of organising the challenge yourself, or paying to take part in a challenge organised on your behalf. This service can be expensive, and it is perfectly possible to organise your own challenge, given appropriate preparation and planning.

MALVERN CHALLENGE

http://www.sr-mc.org/srmain.htm

The weekend is for Older Explorers and Senior Section Guides (Aged 15 and over) Scout Network, Leaders, Fellowship etc to participate in a national event where the emphasis is on having fun and working together – all at reasonable cost.

NATIONAL – MOON RUN ? SUN RUN ?
Race against the clock before the sun comes up
July 2009

WELSH 3000′S WALKING CHALLENGE

http://www.thethreepeakschallenge.co.uk/Welsh-3000s/Default.aspx

More extreme than the National Three Peaks Challenge, the Welsh 3000′s involves climbing all 3000 foot plus peaks in Wales within a given time. Given the difficulty of this Challenge and the lower popularity that other challenges, there is no official set time – however, typically most would attempt the Welsh 3000′s Challenge in twenty-four hours, experienced climbers should set themselves twelve hours.
The walk should be started by camping at the top of Snowdon, and then starting with the dawn sunlight descend the Snowdon peak, via Garnedd Ugain and Crib Goch – a very exciting and potentially dangerous ridge walk.
From here you should descend to the left of Crib Goch towards the two campsites. At this point you can meet up with a support car and swap your larger pack for a small hydration pack, before heading to Nant Peris to climb Elidir Fawr, followed by Y Garn, the Glyders and Tryfan. Again at the end of this stretch, you can meet your support car, fill up with water and pick up more food.
This is then followed by the Carnedd walk, bagging Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Yr Elen, Carnedd Llewelyn, Foel Grach, Garnedd Uchaf and Foel-fras – the Welsh 3000′s Challenge is marked complete when you reach the marker on the peak of Foel-fras.

THE KENT INTERNATIONAL JAMBOREE (KIJ)
Summer 2009 – The Kent International Jamboree (KIJ) will be the place to be. Join young people from across the UK and around the world for an incredible Jamboree experience.
When: 30th July to 6th August 2009 Where: The Shaws Campsite, Cudham, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK
Over 100 groups have now booked – will you be joining them in 2009? Book now!
Want the latest information? Enter your email address in the box to the left and we’ll keep you informed. You can also register your units interest here.

CALLY RALLY

http://www.cally-rally.org.uk/upload/39C_Rally_forms_2008_2.pdf

Water Activities The watersports team have been hard at work again and will bring you a mixture of kayaks, canadian canoes, dinghy sailing, powerboating, cruising, bellboating and more as you spend half a day on the water trying out your sea legs!
Hillwalking This is a day’s hillwalk under fully qualified leaders. Weather permitting you will climb a Munro – a mountain over 3000ft
Landmark Adventure Spend the Saturday at Landmark at Carrbridge. Go on the tree top trail, the timber trail, Wild Water Coaster, Adventureland and Microworld.
Quad Bikes Try your hand driving a quad bike round a course.
4×4 Off Road Driving Under instruction experience driving a Land Rover over a course over undulating ground.
Off road Cycling Mountain biking over trails. Be prepared to get muddy if the weather has been wet.
Clay Pigeon Shooting Following a safety talk you will be shown gun maintenance and have a chance to try your hand at shooting at clays.
Archery Receive instruction in archery and shoot at targets.
Crate Climbing See how high you can build a stack of crates. You will be attached to a safety rope as you climb the stack and place the crates that are handed up to you.
Rope Bridge Build and cross a Monkey Bridge.
Camp Chief’s Surprise This wouldn’t be a surprise if more details were given!
It’s a Mystery Let’s hope the mystery works out this year!
Geocaching Compass and GPS work. Try to find the hidden markers.
Frisbee Golf Try your hand at tossing a Frisbee at targets round a course.
Cally Ha Ha As the name suggests a fun base – I wonder what we will think up this year!
Photo Orienteering Orienteering with a difference – you will be given photographs and have to find the spot at which they were taken.
Team Challenges To find out what this year’s challenges are you will need to come to this base. They could be physical or mental ones.
Craft Base See what the base leaders have thought up this year.
Climbing Wall Try your hand at rock climbing on this artificial wall

LORD AMORY FLOATING CAMPSITE AND WATER CENTRE
canoe, row, swim, sail, sink
When not in use for our programme of water activities and courses, The Dockland Scout Project is able to offer overnight accommodation on their Headquarters Training Ship, ‘Lord Amory’, for Scouts, Guides and School Journey Parties from all over the world. This service is operated as a franchise, and all booking arrangements should be made through the Dockland Scout Project. (Please refer to Contact Us section of this site) This service does not include water activities, and should not be confused with our water activities programme. On our Year 2006 Programme page, the times when this service is available at weekends are listed as Bed and Breakfast Accommodation. The accommodation available consists of 50+ bunks, mainly in 2 to 6 berth cabins. The cabins are distributed in different parts of the ship, so it is easy to segregate male and female aswell as adults/children members of the party. There are hot & cold showers and washrooms.

A full English breakfast is included in the Bed & Breakfast price. Evening meals and/or packed lunches can be arranged with at least 48 hours notice. Tea and Coffee is always available. There is free vehicle parking within a secure compound adjacent to the ship. Due to the layout of the ship, accessibility for disabled visitors is very limited. There is a “Wardroom” bar for those who are old enough to use it.

LONGRIDGE WATER CENTRE
Longridge is a youth development centre that provides land and water based activities from our unique Thames-side facility, easily accessible from the UK motorway network. Our activities are designed to be a lot of fun but also to encourage young people from all walks of life and of all abilities to develop leadership, self discipline, confidence and respect for themselves and others.
We provide an array of water sport activity and courses in complete safety for young people from our magical and inspiring site. We offer a range of accommodation and some land based activities too! Please browse our site to find out what you would enjoy doing here.
Where the magic happens…

The World Scout Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI)
This is an international Scout Meeting on the Internet which takes places every year on the third weekend of october. This is an official event of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

During that weekend, thousands of Scouts from all over the world meet and communicate with each other over the Internet, using any technologies locally available, from web browsers to e-mail, chat programs, microphones, scanners and digital cameras. Scoutgroups can combine this event with the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), an event where Scouts can communicate with each other over radio amateur frequencies with the assistance of a local radio amateur crew.

Most of the communication takes place over E-mail and in a chat network called IRC, the Internet Relay Chat. JOTI allows you to build friendships with Scouts in other countries and to find out more about their civil and scouting life. Often, these contacts last for years and build the base for upcoming group trips and entreprises.

Since 1996, JOTI is an official WOSM event and has a permanent place on the Web Site of the World Scout Bureau. To get the full text of the World Scout Bureau’s Memorandum on this year’s edition of JOTI (2008), click here.

If we’ve raised your interest, just get a few suggestions from our web site and participate in this year’s JOTI.

JAMBOREE-ON-THE-AIR (JOTA)
The JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio contacts. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves.
When Scouts want to meet young people from another country they usually think of attending a World Jamboree or another international gathering. But few people realize that each year about half-a-million Scouts and Guides “get together” over the airwaves for the annual Jamboree-on-the–Air (JOTA). Modern communication technology offers Scouts the exciting opportunity to make friends in other countries without even leaving home…..
Since 1958 when the first jamboree-on-the-Air was held, thousands of Scouts and Guides have “met” each other through this event. Not only is it fun to talk to Scouts from other parts of the world but it provides also a chance to find out about other countries and about Scouting elsewhere. Many contacts made during the JOTA have resulted in penpals and links between scout troops that have lasted for many years.
With no restrictions on age, on the number that can participate and at little or no expense, the JOTA provides an opportunity for Scouts and Guides to contact each other by amateur radio. The radio stations are operated by licensed amateur radio operators. Many Scouts and leaders hold licences and have their own stations, but the majority participates in the JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs. Today some operators even use television or computer linked communications.
The world–wide Jamboree-On-The-Air is organized to coincide with the third full weekend of October each year. The event starts at 00.00 hours local time on the Saturday and concludes 48 hours later at 24.00 hours local time on the Sunday. Each station can choose its own operating hours within this period.

CAVING
The Essex County Scout Caving Team exists to provide good quality caving for members of the Scout Association, which is both fun and educational, but above all, caving that is safe.
It is the Team’s policy only to take Scouts caving after they have received appropriate training above ground. Such training to be provided sufficiently in advance to allow people to purchase any clothing required. Training days for Badge Courses are provided in Essex for this purpose. It is also the Team’s policy to welcome parents who would like to attend the training day with their children.
The Team undertakes to ensure that every person it takes underground is properly clothed and that safety helmets are worn at all times. The Team provides safety helmets for this purpose.

Contact: Penny Leede at Barton Scouts


AIR ACTIVITY

Air activities in Scouting range from high adventure glider flights or parascending to kite making and visits to air fields. As with Sea Scouts, Air Scouts and Air Explorer Scout programmes allow young people to undertake air activities as a specialisation whilst following the Movement’s 6-25 Programme
• Paracending
• Gliding
• Parachuting
• Flying

HMS BELFAST
HMS Belfast is delighted to offer an exciting andeducational opportunity onboard this great historic warship.
British schools and youth groups are invited to book overnight accommodationin the ship for groups of up to 52 children, with separate cabins for up to 6 accompanying adults. Children will have a unique opportunity to experience life on board HMS Belfast, sleeping in real sailor’s bunks in two of the ship’s original messdecks.


STAY IN A LIGHTHOUSE

Comfortable lighthouse B&B in South Wales. This 185 year old converted lighthouse offers cosy bed and breakfast accommodation for older Explorers. They also have B&B accommodation in a Mongolian yurt in the grounds of the lighthouse.
Other odd places http://www.distinctlydifferent.co.uk/home.htm you can stay include
• castle
• showman’s wagon
• windmills
• post office & bakery
• dovecote
• dower house & manor house
• stables
• lighthouses
• police station & gaol cells
• barns & hayloft
• magistrate’s court
• church & baptist chapel
• coachhouse
• chapel of rest
• vestry & chancel
• cowsheds & oasthouses
• milking parlour
• wool store
• forge
• ..etc, etc, etc

WINGS 2009 (1st – 8th August 2009)
Age: 10+
Cost: For a Young Person Participant (10-25 years) the Camp Fee is £165 and for Adults who are leading/supporting a participating unit the Camp Fee is £125. The Camp Fee includes the complete (day and evening) activity programme, the camp facilities (including toilets, showers, medical centre, subcamp support) and the food (your unit will need to prepare and cook it).
Info: WINGS2009 is an international experience for Guides and Scouts from all around the world. All who attend will have fun, be challenged, have adventures and make new friendships that will last.
See the photo at the top of the page for a view from WINGS 2003
Contact: Visit the WINGS 2009 Web site www.wings2009.org.uk.

Auchengillan Jamboree 2009 – Glasgow (1st – 8th August 2009)
Age: Open to members of The Scout and Guide Associations between the ages of 11 and 18 years.
What: Meet new people and take part in some great activities.
Cost: Participant fee is £125, Leader fee is £ 80, Leaders bringing children £50 per child.
Info: www.auchengillanjamboree.org.uk

NYJAM 2009 25th July – 1st August 2009
Where: The Great Yorkshire Show Ground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
Who: 10.5 upwards
What: NYJAM 2009 is an international experience for Guides and Scouts from all around the world. All who attend will have fun, be challenged, have adventures and make new friendships that will last
Cost: For a Young Person Participant (10.5-18 years) the Camp Fee is £265 fully catered or £165 self catered and for Adults who are leading/supporting a participating unit the Camp Fee is £135 fully catered or £65 self catered. Staff from 14+ camp fee £115 fully catered. More details on the website www.nyjam.org.uk

Contact: www.nyjam.org.uk

2008 September Newsletter

Important news The unit is now up and running. Application forms are out to be signed, along with subs forms and parental permission forms. Please bring them all back in signed Next Week 19:45h, Ampthill Scout Hut, Station Road, Ampthill Mushroom risotto cooking – so bring recipes, ingredients and a [read on...]

2008 How to Start an Explorer Scout Unit

2008 How to Start an Explorer Scout Unit

It is easy to start an Explorer Unit. All we needed to plan was this little list 1. obtain buy in from Unit leadership for our partnership document a. agree chain of command b. agree terms on which we will act c. agree terms on which we will cease to [read on...]

2008 Canvassing For Members

2008 Canvassing For Members

This is the letter we used to invite our very first members: We hope that you have an interest in Explorers at Ampthill and Flitwick’s new Unit. We’ve been passed your details as you have a child with Scouting experience in the Ampthill and Woburn area that is over 14 [read on...]

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