Cubs and scouts get preparedBy Marilyn Burrows
“When you lead an outdoor life you have to have the right gear…”
I used that opening sentence a few years ago when writing about the adventures of your local scout leader and his dog. Never was it more true than on the last bank holiday, when Lee Common Scout Group attended the County Centenary Camp at Weedon. Fortunately we had remembered our founder’s famous motto – “be prepared…” and had packed the Paramo waterproofs. Hence the leaders stayed dry on the outside, which is more than can be said for the youngsters!
A huge number of high quality activities were on offer for a huge number
of beavers, cubs, scouts and explorer scouts – over 4,000 members were on
site each day. The queues for the air rifle shooting, quad bikes and army
assault course were similar to those at the Harrods sale, but other events,
such as falconry, circus skills, crafts, wall climbing and potholing (above
ground chambers made from large metal containers, I think) were more accessible,
and very popular.Our boys camped for two nights, and then the decision was made that they should get home before the gales set in. I have to tell you, confidentially, that the Sunday night was the worst I have ever spent with my husband (in a tent or anywhere else for that matter). I didn’t get a wink of sleep. The dismantling of our camp next morning was not for the weak and feeble – thank goodness, then, that we had Justin Lewis and Jonathan Bright there to fling the wet canvas around. The group’s marquee, which had a stream flowing through it, may have dried out in time for the Church Fête and our forthcoming day camp at Longridge water activities centre.
Our beavers and cubs have just taken their families on a fundraising cycle ride along the Phoenix Trail, with contributions going to the ‘Children with Leukaemia’ charity. Our AGM is an opportunity to review the progress of all three sections in this centenary year, prior to the troop’s summer camp in Derbyshire.
The collection in the villages for our Flower Show tombola stall will take place on Wednesday 4th July; notes will be distributed shortly by scouts local to your area. We are always grateful for the tremendous support we have for this, and look forward to seeing you at this year’s Flower Show.