Scouts are the third section of the Scouting movement. From the first
experimental camp for 20 boys in 1907, the movement now has an estimated 28
million members worldwide, and in the UK alone there are over 499,000 boys and
girls involved in Scouting. An increase in adult volunteers means that more and
more young people are now able to take part in their own big adventure.
Changes, Comings & Goings
Lindon and Michael will be Senior Patrol Leaders after Easter. They are going to start helping at Beavers and what with school exams coming up and finishing off their Chief Scout’s Gold, they will be busy enough this summer. Anyway, some of the others need some leadership experience.
We will have two new Patrol Leaders, Sarah H and Charlotte and two new APLs, Alfie and Tara. I hope we will not have to do too much re-arranging of patrols but that is a job for next Friday.
I anticipate that they will all have re-affirmed their Promise and have the new badges on then we meet after Easter.
Friday Nights have been confusing. We missed one meeting on the night before the Jumble Sale because it was ridiculous to go out and get wet on a wide game, just for the sake of it, so we had a night off and postponed our trip to Claygate Common for a week. It was rather drizzly on the night we did go but the Scouts had the choice of whether to brave the elements or not, so we went.
We played Prohibition which is based on 1930s Chicago with rival gangs trafficking illicit alcohol and the police trying to stop them. It was all good fun but, unfortunately, our bottles were only filled with water but it could have been gin or vodka, couldn’t it? Then John organized Lighthouse, a favorite game usually played in the dark in the Hall with the Scouts attempting to creep up, hiding behind up-turned tables, to grab the prize. Unfortunately, they had trouble grasping the concept of creeping up outdoors and hiding behind trees instead. Sometimes it seems to be a battle to maintain the old Scouting skills in the 2lst century. Where did I go wrong?
Finland Meeting
We held a Parents & Scouts meeting to talk about our plans for going to Finland in the summer of 2014. We talked about what we did in 2009, what we want to repeat and other ideas we have had. It was good to have with us a few of the Cubs who will be in the Troop by next year, to find out too. We talked about fund raising and lots of the parents have got some really good ideas for getting that going. We will be holding a fund raising meeting very soon.
If you were not able to join us on that night, you haven’t missed out yet. We don’t have to commit to anything until around the summer break. Just talk to any of the Scout Leadership Team and we will “bring you up to speed!”
We are holding a Logo Competition to devise a logo for use on T-shir1s, paperwork, fund raising etc. Entries need to be in by the time we are back after the Easter Holiday so get busy during the break from school. Again, just ask us for details.
County Night Exercise
Our performance in this annual county event has not been fantastic in recent years but this year we had two experienced team leaders who were determined to give it a real good shot.
The event was based at Boidier Hurst, near Box Hill. There were activities to be tackled at each of the 8 checkpoints, as well as the route to be navigated and walked as quickly as possible. Eloise was leading our “1st Tolworth A”, with Aaron, Gina, Peter and Guy. “1st Tolworth B” was lead by Lindon, with Alfie, Dafydd and Hyun Jun.
As usual, 1st Tolworth was well represented on the organization of the event. John was checking people’s mapping skills before they went out and Stuart was taking photos of the teams before they went out, to go onto the certificates. Robert was directing the teams so they at least started by walking in the right direction (!) Graham picked up Scouts in the minibus who felt they could walk no further, helped by Stuart. when he had finished taking photos.
Craig and Sam were out on Checkpoint 6 and I was on the radio helping to co-ordinate the whole event. There were lots of others from across Royal Kingston and GLSW out there making the Night Exercise happen. We need to thank them all. Graham even cleaned the mud out of the minibus on Sunday morning – an accumulation from Winter Camp, the Wide Game and lots ol people in and out on the Night Exercise. Thank you so much. Graham. (Lets hope Richard is happy now!)
And the Results – at the time of writing, they had not been published. We know that Lindon’s Team were
quick and Eloise’s Team less so – they were okay until Checkpoint 8 but they went round in a circle before eventually arriving at the base again. We might have to wait for the next edition for their exact positions.
So, coming soon …
Results of the Night Exercise
Wardens at Polyapes
St. George’s Day Parade and Scout of the Year
Caroline Marsden
Scout Leader