Scouts News – November 2014 November 24, 2014 | By Alexis Shirtliff Although we are still small in numbers we have grown a little with two new members from outside the group, two new members from cubs, and one cub about to be invested. We have continued to have regular weekly meetings. Activities have included woggle making, cooking, outdoor challenge and map reading working towards the guide badge. 10 of the scouts along with leaders attended the Guildford West district camp on the weekend of the 18/19 October at Bentley Copse camp site. The scouts had the opportunity to try climbing, air rifle shooting, archery, and the Bentley Copse assault course. Good fun was had by all and all returned home a bit wet and bedraggled after a great weekend. One patrol took part in the district backwoods cooking competition and came a creditable third place, well done to them. On the evening of 22nd November Josey was presented with his Chief Scouts Gold award at the county presentation evening well done Josey.
TechNoChallenge 2010 Report April 28, 2010 (updated June 2, 2014) | By Alexis Shirtliff There were six parts to the challenge: Beauty Parade There were varied interpretations of this from a milk float, to a red pig and a space age scene complete with music. One very adventurous device even went with a bang, the fire extinguishers didn’t have to be used as the car was quickly carried outside!!! 1st place Normandy Explorers “B” Great T(egg)chno race After complaints at last years event that using cream eggs meant there was no challenge and mess real eggs were used. Luckily whilst there were a few cracks there was no spillages!!! The methods of placing the egg over the wall varied from remote control tippers to ram the car into the wall and hope the egg flies (and lands). 1st place Normandy Explorers “A” Technosult course The cars had to negotiate skittles, tunnels, ramps, jumps and more. Every car completed the course but only 2 without incurring penalties. 1st place Normandy Scouts “B” Techno drag Pure speed, about the only event where it did matter what the base car was under the covers. 1st place Normandy Explorers “A” Techno push – The vehicles had to capture then push a football into goal. Sounds easy but most teams found it quite tricky. 1st place Normandy Explorers “A”. Techno Sumo The only event where the vehicles are put head to head literally. They had to push each other’s car out of the Sumu ring. Size was not the answer but agility. 1st place Wood Street Scouts. Overall results 1st Normandy Explorers “A” 2nd Normandy Scouts “B” Joint 3rd Wood Street Scouts & Normandy Explorers “B”
District Activity Camp October 10, 2009 (updated June 2, 2014) | By Alexis Shirtliff 13 Scouts from 1st Normandy joined forces with Scouts from Guildford West District for an activity camp at Bentley Copse from the 2nd to 4th October 2009. A great time was had by all Scouts trying pioneering, go karting, shooting and archery, as well as a campfire on the Saturday evening and wide game on Sunday morning. More information and pictures are available from the Guildford West Website
Kanderstag 2009 September 7, 2009 (updated June 2, 2014) | By Alexis Shirtliff On the 22nd August 2009, 6 Scouts from 1st Normandy returned to Guildford along with 200 others from all over Surrey from the first week of the Surrey Scouts K9 Summer Expedition to Kandersteg International Scout Centre, Switzerland. All six Scouts had a great time taking part in mountain walking, rafting, high ropes challenge and an International Barbecue and camp fire. The weather was excellent and all the Scouts took every opportunity to swim in the mountain lakes and enjoy the fantastic scenery and international friends on the camp site. On the last day of the camp the Scouts took the 3 hour train ride up the mountains to the observation centre at 3500m just below the summit of the Jungfrau the highest Mountain in the Swiss Alps. The Scouts were able to walk out on the glacier snow field, sledge and visit the ice caves. A great week was had by all – a camp the Scouts will always remember. Skip Kanderstag Gallery For more pictures from Kanderstag see the Normandy Scouts Kanderstag Photo Gallery Additional Links Kandersteg International Scout Centre Surrey County Scouts K9 Diary
Scouts Report – 2009 AGM June 4, 2009 (updated June 3, 2014) | By Alexis Shirtliff We have continued to provide a varied activity programme throughout the year for the Scouts including, canoeing, caving, climbing, sailing, tree planting, camping, hiking, fun and games, and Scout skills training. We joined Scouts from all over Surrey for Scoutabout in June, an activity camp for 3000 based at Ardingly show ground. We had our annual week end camp to the Forest of Dean over the first May Bank Holiday weekend: An event which is looked forward to by all as a great starter for the summer. Six Scouts joined the Explorers for our annual summer camp at Stoughton, West Sussex. All Scouts were able to canoe, sail, cycle, mountain board, and have a slot car racing evening competition. As well as camp fire Bar-Be-Que and on site activities a good time was had by all. In September we went to Runways End for the district activity camp and scout cooking completion which one of our Patrols lead by Scott L managed to win “well done all” We took part in the district ‘Techno’ challenge afternoon with Scouts and Explorer Scouts from the district. (Ask our explorers who had the best car?) In March, we had 4 teams in the District night hike which was enjoyed by all with Scott’s Team again coming out on top. Numbers have been steadily increasing through out the year and we are now at 20 scouts in the troop the highest number for several years which will increase again September. 8 Scouts and myself are looking forward to the county expedition to Kandersteg in August which we shall report back on next year. My thanks to Bill and Chris for their support running the troop through out the year. And all others who have helped in any way.
Scouts Report – October 2008 October 1, 2008 (updated June 3, 2014) | By Alexis Shirtliff The Troop had a successful summer camp at Stoughton, just outside of Emsworth, along with the explorer scouts. Although only a small number of Scouts went (five) all had a good time and were able to try sailing as a new activity, mountain boarding, long distance cycling, hiking and canoeing. We had a Scalextric evening and fun day on site. The weather was probably the best week of the summer holidays and really made the week. We have presented cycling and Scout adventure and adventure plus awards to all who came to camp. We have started back, at the beginning of September, with several new young people joining the troop. We now have 19 scouts plus the twins who are now moving on to the Explorer section. Nine Scouts went to the District activity camp at runways end and all had a good time. Scott’s team won the district backwoods cooking competition on the Sunday afternoon. Again we were blessed with very god weather for the whole weekend. We have sent in our returns for the Kandersteg Expedition next summer 8 scouts along with my self intend on going. We are now moving into a autumn /winter programme with planned activities including making torches for bonfire night, a Chinese cooking evening, night hike and possible swimming trip into spectrum. Our next planned camping trip will be the County frost camp at Bentley copse on the weekend of the 18th Jan 09
Scout Report – November 2007 November 6, 2007 (updated June 3, 2014) | By Alexis Shirtliff The troop at present has 16 scouts. We lost four scouts at the end of the summer term. The troop had a successful summer camp in August returning to Plymouth. During the week the scouts went hiking, sailing, cycling and sea fishing. We even managed to catch loads of fish to barbecue in the evening. The weather was very good, one of the most enjoyable activities was the water fight and soap slide the scouts made up on the site. We held our own sunrise ceremony at camp around the Flag listening to the national event broadcast from the Jamboree site. As always scout camp had its own dramas and this year was no exception with the outbreak of foot and mouth having a direct effect on our travel arrangements. Since September we have been consolidating the things learnt at camp and making sure all the scout record books are up to date. I have now completed this exercise and will be making sure the scouts have all the correct badges. Two cubs have recently been invested into the troop. At the end of last time we had two canoeing sessions, and over night hike and campfire on site. We are now starting to look towards many of the 13-14 year old scouts moving on to explorer scouts. This coming week 5 scouts are going to Snowdonia on a walking and climbing activities as they start to share activities with the explorer unit.