We have had a mega busy Autumn Term at Scouts. Following our September start with ‘Pancakes, Geocaching & Navigation‘, we held a traditional ‘Scavenger Hunt‘ on the village green which involved finding and collecting unusual objects – including several creepy crawlies that were put back into the wild after the count-up at the hut! In October we had a ‘Table-Top Pioneering’ night which counted towards the Creative Challenge badge. This was an indoor patrol-based team challenge involving straws and string to assemble the tallest tower!
A ‘One-Pot Cooking’ night followed where several tasty delights including mushroom risotto, french onion soup, sausage savoury rice, and a spicy chorizo risotto were cooked and eaten. The focus was on learning some new useful, simple and rather delicious recipes which could be prepared quickly with minimal ingredients. The ‘Autumn Survival Camp‘ at Dorneywood was a particular highlight of the term, and was greatly enjoyed by 14 boys and 3 leaders. A range of activities were undertaken including backwoods cooking on an open fire, building and sleeping in bivouacs in the woods, the obligatory pancake making. We also ran a Jamboree On the Air ‘JOTA’ radio station talking to Scouts across the UK, in Germany and in Holland.
Later in the month we celebrated Halloween at the hut with our ‘Fright Nite’ evening, playing apple bobbing, torchlight games and then sitting down to watch a scary pumpkin movie complete with popcorn and drinks! At the start of November the Troop held the annual Wargrave village firework display and bonfire, an important community event and fundraising evening which is always popular and well supported.
On a sunny autumn morning in early November our beavers, cubs and scouts joined a large number of former and current servicemen and women for the Wargrave Remembrance Parade. After a service at St. Mary’s church, respect was paid to villagers who had paid the ultimate sacrifice over the two world wars at the village war memorial on Mill Green. Lest we forget.
At the Hobbies and Interests night we discovered our passions for collecting things and enjoying activities outside of scouting. We found out that not everyone is into computers and electronic gadgets! We learned about Tom’s carp fishing techniques, Jos’s Warhammer painting and role gaming, Jamie’s guitar strumming, who could forget James and his hamsters, Ollie and his footballing skills, Christopher’s clarinet playing, Daniel with his interesting assortment of rocks and crystals, and finally Arjun and his collection of Batman memorabilia. We had a super fun and fascinating evening; one we aim to repeat for the other half of the troop in early 2015.
During the term we also competed in two Loddon District events which enabled us to score points towards our entry in the 2014-15 Murray Plate Competition. In October six of our younger scouts (George, Jos, Jack M, Jacob, Fenn and Joseph), took part in the ‘Great Breakfast Chase’ a complex night-time navigation exercise between way-points where the scouts had to complete tasks. Despite getting lost several times and walking some distance off-course, 1st Wargrave achieved joint 14th position out of 25+ teams and collected all of the required items to enjoy a well deserved cooked breakfast! Well done to all those that took part and also to John and Paul from our cubs and beaver sections, who provided leader support for the event. In November we also fielded a team in the 10-Pin Bowling Match collecting more points towards this years tally. Last year 1st Wargrave came 8th out of 13 troops in Loddon District, and we hope to compete in the other events planned in 2015 which include a Cooking competition (7th February), 5-a-side Football (29th March) and the Big Camp (2nd-4th May).
2014 has certainly been a year of trying out new things, and in late November we held the first part of our ‘Bake-Off’ activity, involving making Christmas Cakes using half-sized baked bean tins! In December we held part II which involved cake decorating – with both evenings counting towards scouts earning their Craft Activity Badge. If you would like to repeat this activity at home please see the Baked Bean Tin Xmas Cake Recipe and Cake Decorating instructions!
On a clear and unusually warm November’s evening we held our Autumn Night Hike, walking from the Seven Stars in Knowl Hill up and over Bowsey Hill and back through Bowsey Woods to the Centenary Kissing Gate at the top of Purfield Drive. The Scouts enjoyed spectacular views of the London skyline to the east, as well as finding some large funghi, jumping streams and getting very muddy on some of the footpaths that were rather waterlogged! Throughout November and early December we collected chocolates and sweets for the ‘Almost Christmas Show‘. The troop also helped sort and deliver Xmas cards locally within the village. This annual event provides an important service to local residents every year and raises additional funds for the troop. Finally, at the end of term we held our Christmas party which involved lots of games and then various savoury and sugary treats served up by the leaders, washed down with cups of pop!
Here’s wishing everyone a relaxing, peaceful holiday break! Seasons greetings to you and your family. Scouts restarts 7.15pm on Monday 5th January 2015 at the hut:
5th January: Inside and Outside Games Night, Patrol Leaders to run
12th January: Japan-In-A-Box Evening
19th January: Traditional paper making from pulp!
26th January: Burns Night Supper & Singing
We have some great ideas for new activities to try next year and a provisional itinerary for some interesting camps – see you in 2015 for even more action packed fun!