Farewell – for now? Friday, Dec 17 2010

For many of us, the end of term is a short break before 2011 brings a new programme full of exciting activities. However, for Ivor and I it is also the time when we will be stepping away from being part of the team running the Troop and focus on our own pursuits.

Both Ivor and I have been involved in Scouting for many years, so I don’t think that either of us will truly walk away from Scouting (Ivor still intends to be involved in Scouting in some way in the District); I believe that the Scout Promise isn’t just something you say to get some badges, it is something you agree to try to live your life by.

For myself, I first joined the 19th Harrow as a Cub – and my Akela is the same Akela that runs the 19th Cubs now! My Scout Leader isn’t the same – although I think we’ve worked out that Malcolm’s first night at Scouts (as a helper) was my first night as a Scout! Apart from a short period of 4 months I have always had some connection with the 19th Harrow; the last 21 years as a leader (even if it was unofficial whilst I held District and County positions).

I hope that in your time with the Scouts you get to have memories that you can recall in years to come. Just a few of the memories of things I’ve been able to experience – but there are many, many more :
 Sleeping in a shelter made from the leaves and sticks of the surrounding area
 Walking through a waterfall and standing in the cave behind it
 Winning the “Fastest Scout” Trophy for the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race
 Invest a Scout 20 metres in the air on a High Ropes course
 Camping in the snow
 Camping in the cold (we lined the tent with wooden pallets to get us off the ground!)
 Walking to the top of Snowdon, Sca Fell and Ben Nevis
 Sailing to France (although that was with the Venture Scouts and the London Sailing Project)
 Panicking as the minibus engine broke down and flooded the bus with smoke!
 Catching my own fish and cook it for dinner
 Beating Ash at Quad biking (but it’s a good job I’m not competitive!)
 Playing Petanque on some of the craziest ground going
 Investing a Scout abroad
 Following a County boundary on a hike thinking it was a footpath (not to be recommended!)
 Having my birthday aboard a boat going to France
 Having my birthday at the top of Snowdon (where my Scout leader had carried a cake all the way to the top!)
 Learning that you can’t connect a red gas cylinder to a cooker that uses a blue cylinder!
 Finding out exactly how strong the wind can be when it lifts an army marquee in the air
 Learning how awake I can become when I have to drive a Scout to the hospital at 1:30 in the morning
 Tasting exactly how bad things are when you put washing up liquid in the dinner instead of cooking oil (it is NOT lemony fresh)!
 That it is possible to challenge and beat your fears
 Making massive ballisters from pioneering poles
 Having a go at SCUBA diving in a swimming pool
 Being presented with the Queen’s Scout Award and the Medal of Merit.

I had a quick look through my photograph collection of scouting memories, and quickly put a few images together. I hope that you enjoy them.

Obviously I don’t know what the future holds and who knows – I could be back helping the Troop once again and I hope that my diary will allow me to pop up from time to time. However, until that time, could I take this opportunity to thank Malcolm, Ivor, Ash, Alan for their support as part of the main team – but also Nandesh, James, Alison, James, Caroline and Sue for helping the team as well. Without this starting to look like an awards speech (too late!) there are all the leaders and friends who have helped me along the way. But finally – and in no way least – I would like to thank all the Scouts that I have had the opportunity to meet and work with; no matter how enthusiastic I am, without the Scouts I would not have the Troop to run.

Thank you for reading this and can I wish you and your family the very deepest of Seasons wishes and hope that 2011 will bring you all health and happiness.

Frog
(David)

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TLW Challenge – October 1 Friday, Oct 1 2010

For this week’s challenge:

IF YOU ARE GOING ON THE PATHFINDER WEEKEND:

You must present your Key walking equipment items (Waterproofs, boots, rucksack) for review.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING ON THE PATHFINDER WEEKEND:

You must present a waterproof jacket that you would wear if you were going on the Pathfinder weekend.

Points will be awarded for equipment that is suitable for the task.  If you are not sure what equipment is appropriate, check out the guide page on purchasing camping equipment.

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Pathfinder Weekend Monday, Oct 19 2009

Our largest camp for sometime… 15 Scouts headed up to Lees Wood for a walking weekend.  When I arrived, the site was already buzzing with Scouts from all over the District pitching tents on the difficult soil of Lees Wood, but all in very good spirits.  Shortly the tents were up and the Scouts were being scouts.  Hot dogs were cooked and with hot chocolate the evening passed quickly (for the leaders, the 17^th Harrow had cooked a really nice stew!)

It was a slightly cold night, but Saturday morning came quick enough and the Scouts cooked their breakfasts.  Each camp patrol had decided their own menus for the weekend and had gone shopping for it, making this quite interesting to watch as they endeavoured to cook for themselves, with the leaders just offering guidance rather than taking over. 

After breakfast – and washing up – the Scouts made their lunches and prepared to leave.  Ash’s group of older Scouts were walking from the campsite to Chalfont & Latimer, Ivor’s group were walking from Heronsgate to Lees Wood and David’s group were walking the reverse of Ash’s route – Chalfont & Latimer to Lees Wood.  Alan (the driver for the day) walked with David until we met up with Ash then walked back to the bus.

The walk was quite pleasant and interesting.  In David’s group, James “Dragons breath” Zoel manage to trip over his shoelaces (twice!) quite early on in the walk; this gave him quite a sore, grazed knee to deal with.  As David’s group was walking along the Chess Valley Walk they heard a loud splashing sound – a small herd of longhorn cows were running alongside them along the River!  David and Ash’s group met up and decided it was a suitable occasion for lunch.  After lunch, we carried on with a short pause at Sarratt for a Coke and a comfort break.

Ivor’s group took a little longer to return to site – their navigation had led them to walk a large circle early on rather than following the route!

Once all were back on site, the evening meal was cooked.  Later James “Dragon Breath” Zoel demonstrated his ability to keep a fire going; Oskar entertained us with imitations of many of Doctor Who’s cyber enemies; and Jamie demonstrated what happens if you put too much pine leaves on an open fire (slow burn, then whoomf!)

Sunday morning was at a much slower pace.  The Scouts cooked their breakfasts, washed up and the leaders took the vehicles up to Phasels Wood.  Today we would walk as a single group with 3 map readers to confirm directions, turns etc.  Unfortunately the previous day’s efforts had depleted any energy and map reading skills – and as Leaders we found ourselves walking quite slowly (average speed of 2km/h!) and waiting near footpath junctions as the Scouts wandered off in the wrong direction.  Luckily the weather was really nice for the time of year, so it wasn’t too bad.  At Phasels we got in the bus and car and headed back.

On return to Lees Wood we found that Bruce had already dropped the Scouts tents for them, so there wasn’t much else to do (the other Troops had also long gone, so it was just the leaders tents to sort out.  We loaded the Scout trailer (I loaded my bicycle trailer!) and we all headed for home.

It had been a weekend of two long, challenging hikes but the scouts had completed it.  It had been a walk with a purpose – all those attended had planned the menu and the walks; they had then successfully shopped and cooked and completed the routes without any major hitches.  It was an achievement that they should be proud of.

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Summer Camp 2009 – Come To Tolmers 2009 Monday, Aug 3 2009

As with last year, I have created a single blog post for the camp diary.  Each day was written by a nominated Scout (except Friday and Saturday, written by Ivor and myself). Pictures of the camp are on www.magpieschest.co.uk.  Where possible, I have corrected spelling and grammar (although some typos may have slipped through)

Quick update: Pictures of the camp can be found at:  http://www.magpieschest.co.uk/scoutfolder/summercamp09.html

25 July 2009

We left Wealstone at 10:00 and arrived at 11:00. We emptied the trailer and set up the District White, when we finished we had lunch.  When we finished our lunch we set up my tent.  When we finished Ivor took us around the place and he bought us an ice cream.  When we finished the tour we came back to the tents and cooked our dinner.  After we finished we went to flagbreak at which they told us about the place. After flagbreak we went to the people who worked there and they showed us where all the activities were. It was good.

(Vishan)

Ed Note: (challenging, as I wasn’t there Saturday!) Come To Tolmers is an activity camp ran by Tolmers.  This year it was attended by 800 young people and approximately 200 adults.  With the exception of Saturday and Wednesday activities are run each day around the site.  With so many people on site, Tolmers also operated a simple, but effective security system.  Everyone had to wear a coloured scarf – one colour for the young people, another colour for adults/leaders and a third colour for staff/crew.  If someone wasn’t wearing a scarf (or a visible visitors pass) they could be challenged.

From the 8th/12th Ivor, Ash, Vishan, Oskar, Jamie and Mason headed out on the Saturday.

26th July

At first we waited for at least an hour queueing up and Jamie got angry at bowling this afternoon.  Mason and Vishan were on the climbing wall while Jamie was talking with his friend.  Mason, Vishan and Jamie signed up for the inflatable assault course, the vertical walls and the bowling.  Luke just came at 8 o’clock and Luke and Oskar [signed up for] Mountain of Air, the Slippery slope and now we’re eating dinner.

Until tomorrow, goodbye.

(Mason)

Ed Note: Luke and I both headed out on Sunday.  The camp started every morning with a flagbreak and after this, the queueing Scouts had an opportunity to sign up for up to four activities – two in the morning and two in the afternoon.  However, some activities, such as Bowling, Sailing, swimming were “double session” activities as they were off site.  Ivor and Ash signed up to be coach marshalls for the Bowling, so they went bowling that afternoon, whilst I walked round the site getting a few pictures.

27th July

First we had breakfast – fried egg, sausage and mushrooms.  Then we went to flagbreak, after we went to pick the activities; me and Oskar did the inflatable assault course, Mountain of Air, Gladiators and Human Table Football. Vishan and Mason went to Laser tag, Mountain of Air, Big Slide and Coconut climb. 

At tea we had Broccoli & Stilton soup (Mason got sick), Mash potatoes and Steaks.  David bought us some pegs to write messages & peg other people. At night we had hot chocolate, then we went to sleep.

(Luke)

Ed Note: Jack joined us today and was able to get onto a number of activities (you couldn’t sign up for “your friend”).  The pegs were a brilliant fun game.  You wrote a message on a wooden clothes peg (such as “you’ve been pegged by Frog” – or in some cases, phone numbers!!) and tried to peg someone’s scarf without them noticing.  In some cases though it was a case of straight swaps, or just handing one over.  On my scarf I now have a collection of 8 pegs! 

A camp newspaper was produced everyday; a fun item that was read avidly.  I particularly liked the jokes – my favourite for the day “What’s Yellow and Smells of Bananas?” “Monkey sick!!”

28th July

First we had breakfast and cereal. Then we went to flagbreak. After that, we signed up for activities. Me and Oskar did Quad biking, inflatable assault course, Human Table Football and Bungee Run.  After that we had flagbreak.  Vishan really wanted his girlfriend’s group (Gummi Bears) to get through but they didn’t.  After that we played football and threw water balloons.  Then we went to bed.

(Jack)

Ed note: Favourite joke for today: “What goes Ho-Ho-Ho-Plop-Plop-Plop?” “Santa Claus on the toilet!”

Anyway, as part of the evening’s flag down activities was “Tolmer’s Got Talent”.  Very well hosted by Mr.C.,  each evening showcased the top three acts from that day’s talent show.  Each act was reviewed by three Tolmers Crew – although I suspect Mrs Wembley was more fierce than she let on! – and then the fourth umpire – the audience – would cheer for their favourite, the winner going through to the final on Friday.

AND – how could I forget – Ivor, Dan (from the 27th Harrow) and I had a lovely cream tea in the Leaders area; we were joined by the Lady Mayors from Hatfield, Welwyn Hatfield and Roxbourne! Their company was very enjoyable and it all felt very down to earth!

29th July 2009

Firstly we had breakfast, after Ivor woke up – we had to hurry our breakfast so we could get to the coach.

On the way to London we saw a chromed Audi.  After we passed a posh hotel we saw even better cars, but we weren’t allowed to go to them.

The walk was long.  Soon we came to the Thames.  Luckily it was low so we could go down the steps to the sand. Soon we met street performers and a huge flagpole made from one tree?

Soon Ivor was getting annoyed with the Scouts because no-one (repeat, no-one) was paying attention to where we were going.  Later we visited the portrait gallery and saw some amazing paintings.  Soon Mason said “I need a drink!” Ivor replied “Same”.  We we got to the shop I kept shouting “Doughnut!”

Then we hurried off to the coach and went back to the campsite.

(Oskar)

Ed Note: I love the way Ivor seems to be the sleepy head here! Actually, Ivor had to wake both Vishan and Mason twice.  I also feel the need to publish this quote, relayed to me from last night:  “I thought that something had pooed in my tent last night; but it was part of my sleeping mat”.  Apparently, this phantom animal had also managed to wake the leaders up from the next pitch!

Today there were no onsite activities.  Options were to be part of an organised incident hike, go to Thorpe Park, head into London – or do your own thing.  We decided to head into London and follow part of the Jubilee Walkway, which went past many of London’s landmarks.  Dropped by Wellington Arch, No.1 London, we walked to Buckingham Palace, through St James’ park to Parliament Square; along the Thames to Lambeth Bridge where we crossed; walked East along the Thames past Lambeth Palace, The London Eye and County Hall, Festival Pier to Gabriel’s Wharf where we had lunch(and the boys went onto the sand).  After lunch we went passed the Oxo building to the Tate Modern, across the Millenium bridge to St. Pauls, along Fleet Street, passed the Royal Courts of Justice and around to Covent Garden.  We then dashed through to the Portrait Gallery (more in a mo), then passed TrafalgarSquare up to Piccadilly Circus then along Picadilly and back to Hyde Park where we got the bus back from near the Dorchester.  A fair trip!

We made a special effort to get to the Portrait Gallery as one of Harrow & Wealdstone’s Scout Leaders was successful in getting his portait of Harry Patch ( a WWI veteran) displayed there.

Thursday 30th

First we got up at 7:30 and went to the bathroom and then we had breakfast. Then we washed up. After that we went to flagbreak at 08:30. at 09:00 we went to sign up for activities.  After the activities we had dinner I can’t remember what. After dinner we washed up and at 7:30 till 8:00 is flagdown then there is an evening activity till 10:00pm and then lights out 11:00pm

(Jamie)

Ed note:  Although this seems quite “nothingy” this is the format for each day!  The boys signed up for the following:

Jamie: Rock (indoor climbing wall), crazy golf, Jump mats, Laser clay

Vishan, Luke & Mason: Bowling, Rope-a-phobia, coconut climb

Oskar & Jack: laser tag, laser clay, Gladiators, Bungee trampoline

Luke and Jack also went home today.

Just in case you felt that the leaders hadn’t been doing anything – Thursday evening was Quiz night in the Leaders area!

Friday 31st

AM. Only four Scouts but Malcolm (leader) now here do 4 leaders. Wasn’t easy to get up by 7:30am as Ivor found boys had not set their alarm clocks!! Mason still fussy about eating his breakfast – scrambled egg on toast – but ate half when told he would not eat until the evening meal.  Everyone happy that the weather report looks good until Saturday afternoon.  Boys have selected the days bases with Oskar & Jamie choosing swimming PM, which Ivor & David are coach marshalls.

Lunchtime was upset by Vishan and Mason turning up late but they made up for their error by being helpful to the leaders.  In fact this camp Vishan has been very good.  The afternoon activities entailed David and Ivor being coach marshalls for the swimming and were joined by Oskar, Jamie and 41 other young campers (mostly girls).  Evening meal’s stew was well received but Mason was up to his usual trick and surprisingly Oskar took ages.  Scouts were allowed free time at 6:40pm when jobs were completed and they had showers in preparation for the camp disco that night. Mason entertained us by walking in his underpants through the field from the shower to his tent.

(Ivor)

Ed note: The camp disco was for the young people only – all leaders were excluded.  To make up for that there was a live band in the leaders area.  Mason’s decision not to change in the shower area is made even more brave when you realise that to walk from the showers to our pitch you have to walk past two Guide camps and three mixed Scout Group sites!

1st August

Last morning. After breakfast of bacon sandwiches (chosen to minimise the numbers of plates used – and still we didn’t succeed) we went up to the flagbreak for one last time.  We had to be off site by midday so that the next round of campers could come on site (CTT is a two-week event at Tolmers).

The weather managed to hold off, so we were able to drop, dry and pack all the hike tents and the District White.  Malcolm took some of the unused tentage in his car; the minibus was loaded up once more as was the trailer.  By 11:30 we were fully packed and ready to leave – just as it started to rain.

We had a very pleasant lunch by the flagpole – Ash had brought a selection of salads to enjoy.  He had also brought some pasties – but had unfortunately misread the packet of “3 Cheese and Onion pasties” (it was a pasty made from three different cheeses); fortunately only three people wanted them!

On leaving the site, we made good time getting home and unpacked.  Mason’s dad was very helpful in getting the kit and equipment away and we finished over half an hour before our earliest estimates.

 

It had been a fun camp.  There had been less Scout activities than in previous years (and we didn’t find out until later in the week that some of the activities would go towards badges – so we couldn’t encourage the Scouts) but it had been a very successful camp in that all campers, both leaders and boys, had made new friends or strengthened friendships that were already there.  From our perspective, we have a new location option for our cycle trips – but we also spent quite a while getting to know the leaders from the Roxeth groups and 27th Harrow groups that were also on site.

Next year is planned to be kandersteg, but 2011….?

(David)

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February Camp – or “I’m a Scout at Winter Camp, Get me Out of Here” Wednesday, Feb 11 2009

Whilst I consider myself a seasoned camper, this was another one of those excellent moments when you find yourself learning all over again.  With the heavy snows the week before, I was wondering what sort of weekend we were going to have – if at all.  However, the decision was made to go ahead.

Friday night we drove to Phasels – and the first order of the day (being a winter camp) was to get the fire going.  This would have been fine, if it wasn’t for the foot deep snow that covered everything! Luckily, after shifting a few pallets we found (relatively) dry wood and we could get  the fire going.  Also, the snow made everything much more light (even at 9pm) so putting the tents up was fairly easy!

I say easy – we started with 8 Scouts, but before the first tent was pitched two decided that winter conditions weren’t for them, so they went home (good job we were close to home!)

Saturday morning and I woke up – a little cold – but to a beautiful sight –

The Scouts had already got up and had got the main fire going – which was good news (less good was that it had taken them 2 matchboxes, half a box of firelighters and half a bag of dry kindling to do so!). Still we got an altar fire going and eventually got breakfast cooked (we also found that the temperatures had played havoc with the camping gaz, so the cookers were almost useless!).  Lunch was then next, so the potatoes were wrapped in foil and deposited in the ashes.  Unfortunately one of the Scouts had smuggled his mobile phone onto camp and we found that this had enabled another to phone home and make arrangements to leave Saturday afternoon.  In resolving this, our fourth less-than-happy camper also decided that he wanted to go home.

We had only brought enough food for breakfast and lunch – so we took a hike to the local supermarket to buy the evening meal and Sunday’s breakfast.  Surprisingly for the time of day the supermarket was heaving with people catching up on lost shopping!  Still we got away with what we wanted and returned to site.

Before we started the evening meal, the Scouts had a go on the Rolling Wall – an indoor revolving climbing wall which will challenge even the most adventurous Scout – and being only a few feet from the ground at any time means that you won’t need certification to let Scouts have a go (Phasels have put this into a room that they are also building a traversing wall, providing activities that campers can enjoy even into the evening).  On the wall we invested Luke and Alastair – another “unusual investiture” under our belts.

The evening meal was Cowboy Stew – a foil packet containing veg, meat, and stock and cooked in the embers – followed by Bananas and Chocolate.  Still a little peckish, Ivor and David then had apples, brown sugar and currants whilst the Scouts toasted marshmallows and bread.

Given the lack of sleep last night, the Scouts were quick to retire Saturday evening; by 10:30 nothing could be heard across the camp.

On Sunday morning the altar fire was quickly started and breakfast dispatched.  Being a short camp, we then struck camp (although the cold had slowed up the Scouts… well, that’s my reasoning) and soon after lunch we went home.

It was a camp like no other – we couldn’t have planned for it; and for those that lasted all the way to the end of the camp I don’t think that they will ever forget it either!

 

The other thing I tried over the camp was the use of the micro-blogging website twitter – www.twitter.com – posting regular updates on how the camp was progressing.  This enabled parents to follow the camp as we got on.  To see the blogs, go to www.twitter.com/frog_scout – but note that these are in newest post first, so you will need to scroll through to read them in the “right” order.

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