We are looking for new members.

We are about 20 young people, 14 to 18, male and female.

We normally meet at 7:45pm on a Thursday, in the Ampthill Scout Hut on Station Road, Ampthill

The Anomalous Explorer Unit is camping in Torqay this summer.

At summer camp, which is the week of 21 July – 28July we will be doing a few things like

• Climbing
• Coasteering
• Horse Riding
• Shooting
• Pipe Caving

We will be out and about in the local area, and will get to the cinema, hang out on the beach (a short walk away) and spend most evenings around a camp fire, where we will be toasting marshmallows, making toast and telling tall tales of other adventures.

Some of us will be doing things towards our Duke of Edinburgh Awards as well.

We do have adult leaders, but we are self-organised, and lead by young people. We chose what we want to do, and we make sure we are having fun doing it.

If you want to know more about whom we are and what we do, just ask one of our members, or checkout our website, or email one of the leaders below

We are going to need help with transport of people and of kit.

We might invite some other Units to share the space with us

Onsite activities:

• grass sledging
• pipe caving
• air rifles

Torbay Borough Scout Campsite is situated on the south coast with fantastic views. Set amongst fields and woods the campsite
has excellent  access to shops and the numerous tourist attractions of Torbay.

The Southwest coastal path passes the site and with Dartmoor only a few miles away from the site, we are provided with excellent
opportunities for both the novice walker and the experienced hiker.

Beaches are plenty around Torbay and the site is lucky enough to have a relatively  secluded beach just 10 minutes walk down the hill,
ideal for swimming or just relaxing and taking in the ‘rays ‘.

The campsite consists of two fields: the back field has a wood pile & 2 water points, the front field also has a wood pile & 3 water points

During the summer season there is a tuck / gift shop on site run by volunteers for your sweet tooth, and for the ‘knotty’ people
amongst you there are some pioneering poles available.

Public fields and wood surround the campsite providing an excellent location for group wide games.

The site has a small chapel and campfire circle both of which  can be used by visiting groups, the service team will also organize a
weekly campfire for any visiting groups that may be interested.

please share lifts and be dropped off in MB village to walk in.
Eat lunch before you arrive
Arrive between 12 and 1. Latest 2 (as I think the ceremony will be earlier than first planned)
Bring wellies / hike boots, waterproofs and something to sit on. A brolly as well?
We have activities planned under tarps

bring penknives if you have them

You can do it HERE

So far, parents have raised us £260 with just a few mouse clicks

PLAN B neeeded

torch design

The Unit will want to mark the day in their diary as we know one of the Torch Bearers.

The official timing and routes are here

You can learn more about the torch bearers here

Final details of a “supporter” event will appear here soon

If you want a clue as to who it is – try this link

Check out REI’s backpacks next time you head outdoors!

Form is online to download here 2012 Pre Booking Events

Please download – fill in and bring back with cheques ASAP

Summer Camp 2012 Outliner

2012 07 Summer Camp Scheduler

The Thinking Behind This

The first word in the name of our section is EXPLORERS
We want to deliver a camp that is different, and which ensures we have a very high standard of expedition training for all Explorers.
The traveling or travelling element can be selected by the teams: feet, bikes, watercraft or as desired to suit the area. Buses if you want. We are not forcing you to walk. The routes can be planned to take in towns, shops, entertainment or other Scouting activities during each day. We don’t want this to be a slog. We will also deliver kit, provide support and make it as much fun as we can.
This is NOT just additional DoE training. DoE training is very lightweight, and the “no adult support rules” of DoE really limit what can be taught. Instead, by making our camp around expeditions, we can deliver real value to all Explorers, and show a clear progression of experience and maturity. If you are doing DoE with School or with Explorers, you will get value from an expedition camp. If you are not, you will still gain a lot.
Expeditions are a whole life skill. You may find in 20 years’ time that things you learned on a camp like this are important, valuable and fun to be able to do.
The adventure starts with this.
The Groups
We’ve called the groups Silver, Bronze and Gold, but that is just for convenience. We would like our Unit to find their own level and balance of expedition challenge to fixed site camping, and travel with groups that will enjoy the journey. Given the slightly remote site for night three, we might recommend only older and more experienced members tackle the gold level.
Gold teams might chose to take and use full expedition kit, lightweight tents, lightweight stoves. They could chose to be tough and carry two days food and restock on morning of day 3. They would travel about 12 miles a day (which is under 5 hours)
Silver teams use mostly light kit, carry two days food, restock morning of day 3. If they want, they could have tents delivered for them, to save weight. They would travel about 10 miles a day, or under 4 hours
Bronze teams take only lightweight day kit, and can have tentage delivered along with heavier food.
All teams can have their “main camp bag” delivered to the main site by the leaders.
The Area
We want to choose areas that are interesting, have a high density of scout camp sites and reasonable traveling, without being too simple. North Downs, South Downs, Lincolnshire Wolds and Exmoor all seem reasonable. The
Surrey North Downs is used as an example, but similar patterns work in other areas
The Sites
The start location is most conveniently a railway station that can be reached from Flitwick with few or no changes. Part of the fun will be travelling as a group on a train and tube across London and remembering to GET OFF at the right station
There are then three sites: a lightweight walk in site, a main site with lots of activities “to hand”, and a smaller lightweight site or youth hostel for the more experienced groups to use
Site 1
would be a small Scout site
Leaders would probably leave most kit packed in a trailer, and just camp or hammock light. They are there for training and support only
e.g. http://www.polyapes.com/homepage1.htm or Bentley Copse http://www.surrey-scouts.org.uk/bcopse/or Boidier Hurst http://www.boidierhurst.org.uk/general.html
Site 2
would be a full service scout site, with activities laid on
e.g. Walton Firs http://www.waltonfirs.co.uk/ (conveniently 13 miles from Boidier Hurst by car, or 13 miles from Bentley Copse, or 4 miles from Polyapes)
Site 3
Would be a smaller light weight site – or youth hostel, like Tanners Hatch
http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/south-east-england/hostels/tanners-hatch/index.aspx

A helping hand
You’ll find everything you need to plan, promote and fundraise for your project on the dedicated website www.scouts.org.uk/communityweek. After registering, your Scout Community Week packs will be with you shortly, but you can also download the information booklet here.