Welcome to the Scout Section

Scouts aims to build and develop young people’s confidence, sense of adventure and outdoor skills, as well as encouraging them to explore their beliefs and attitudes and be creative.  It offers them the independence to put these skills into practice at camps and even on international trips.

Scouts are encouraged to work together and take the lead on all sorts of projects, from community based work to planning games and activities for their meetings.

The Scout Troop is the third section in the Scout Group, above Beavers and Cubs. The Scout Section is for young people aged between 10½ and 14 years.  There is core flexibility in the age range:  young people can join from age 10, and can move to Explorers between age 13½ and 14½.

Structure
A Scout Troop is divided into small groups called Patrols, each headed up by an older Scout called a Patrol Leader, and often with an Assistant Patrol Leader.

Activities
Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme including traditional Scouting skills, such as camping, survival and cooking, as well as a wider spectrum of adventurous activities, from abseiling to zorbing. Participation rather than meeting set standards is the key approach, and there are a number of badges and awards that Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements.

District Scouts Scrapheap Challenge Camp

On the first weekend of October Scouts from  seven troops attend the District scrapheap challenge camp at Thriftwood. The aim DSC 1015was to achieve parts through a range of challenges from wiring a plug to retrieving axels from a forbidden zone and rescuing wheels from high up in the trees. Once all parts had been successfully obtained, the Scouts were on their way to building their karts. Saturday afternoon saw 13 teams build their karts with the evening being spent on customising to their own design using various materials and spray paints. The evening finished off with an Explorer/Young Leader led campfire and a movie before heading off to bed. Despite the heavy rain Saturday night and into Sunday morning, the races went ahead through mud and fields. Apart from a couple of karts returning to the pits for urgent repairs, the races were a huge success. Thank you to everyone who helped make the weekend a success and the leaders at  8th Hornchurch for spending countless hours ordering, planning and preparing the karts in advance. Thank you especially to Rob Saleh for spending several days ensuring we had all the equipment we needed to ensure the camp was successful for everyone.

Here’s to our next event, Laser Tag at Stubbers on Saturday 30th November!

Dean Claxton

ADC Scouts (Events)

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Scouts Hiking Marathon 2019

See the pictures from the Hiking marathon.

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District PL Weekend

On the 26th April 15 Scouts from across the District came together for a Patrol Leaders (PL) training weekend at Thriftwood. The DSCF7945weekend started off very wet and windy but being Scouts, everyone was prepared with their waterproofs. Roger Huggett organised the weekend and programme to ensure the Scouts gained as much knowledge as possible. The Scouts started off learning about being a Patrol Leader and the skills, knowledge and experience required to run a patrol. After a short piece of theory work on running a patrol, planning a camp, including menu and activities, it wasn’t long before the Scouts were in teams and carrying out practical skills. Starting off with knots & lashings, lamps & stoves, bearings, first aid and using axes the Scouts had a full morning of activities. Following lunch they started work on compass points, fire lighting, problem solving and building a stretcher for their casualty.

After a busy start there was a short session on patrol forums, the Scouting structure and moving on to Explorers. The fun didn’t stop at dinner time as the Scouts worked together in several wide games when the leaders ‘lost’ them in the woods. They successfully navigated their way back to site for a campfire and a couple of games of Uno.

Sunday was just as busy with teams working together to build a floating raft that could support a lit candle. After packing away, everyone was presented with their Team Leader challenge award and a certification of completion.

Thank you to Roger Huggett for organising such an action packed weekend for our PL’s of tomorrow. My thanks also to Marc and Sarah-Jane Scarce for catering over the weekend. Not forgetting Gerry Merritt, Allyson Cheung, Dean Holden, Jessica Scrace, John Reed and Marc Scrace for running various bases and activities. Thank you all for the hard work and dedication you’ve shown to the Scout section. Here’s to our next event, the District Hiking Weekend on the 29th – 30th June.

Dean Claxton
ADC Scout Events

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