West Sussex Scouts

On Sunday the 7th June the Beaver Scouts held their first County Beaver picnic. The location was St Mary’s School in Pulborough. We started by playing an icebreaker game and by the end of the game the Beavers had totally mingled. We played a number of team games having to stop frequently for drink breaks, because 'unfortunately' the weather was so good, as the rain that was forecast missed Pulborough entirely. After the team games we sat down and tucked into the picnic. We rounded off the day with some quiet games and singsong. The Beavers went home very tired but happy.

Beaver Scouts from Horsham Weald and Arundel & Littlehampton districts attended the picnic. John Spickett, our County Commissioner popped in and join in with the fun games.

The Knights of the Round Table supported by 1700 Cub Scouts invaded the South of England Showground at Ardingly for a weekend in May.

Campalot 2009 featured challenges old and new. Knights re-enacted medieval swordfights which were followed by a banquet. Judging by the realistic fake wounds sported by many of the Cubs  it looked like they had been involved in the fights themselves.

Challenges on the camp kept the cubs busy through the weekend. They covered a wide variety of interests from Archery to Robo Soccer, from a miniature railway to straw bale caves.

There were so many activities that no one had to wait more than a few minutes to get on to their activity of choice. Traditional Scouting activities of aerial runways, climbing walls, abseiling towers and archery were to be found side by side with the  a cascade fairground mat slide alongside craft activities of badge making and CD clocks.

The inflatable obstacle course at over 200 feet was the longest in the country and was given the 'thumbs up' by the 1st Easebourne Cubs (top of the page) who kept going on it time and time again.

More photos can be found at www.westsussexscouts.org.uk/campalot 

The Campalot DVD is now available at a cost of £5.00 plus £1 postage & package or can be collected from the County Office. Orders close at the end of July. (Cheques payable to West Sussex County Cub Scout Events and sent to the County Office.)

William, an East Grinstead Cub Scout, has achieved the Stage 5 swimming badge. Requirements for staged badges are set to cover the age range 6 to 18, so it is rare for a Cub Scout to complete a stage 5 badge and it is quite possible that William is the only Cub Scout in the Country to hold this badge.

 

The requirements for this badge are stringent. The two timed items are

'Swim 100 metres in shirt and shorts. On completion, remove the additional clothes and climb out of the pool unaided. Time limit three minutes.' William completed this in 2 minutes 30 seconds

'Swim 1000 metres using any three recognised strokes for a minimum distance of 200 metres per stroke. This swim must be completed in 35 minutes.' William's time was 23 minutes and 20 seconds.

 

Watch out any District that is involved in a Swimming competition with East Grinstead! If William is in the team the competition will be very stiff.

 

The ‘Global Challenge’ badge requires the scouts to investigate an international issue, show an understanding of the issues involved, take some action as a result of the research and compare how the issues affect the UK and countries overseas.

Our troop decided to study the issue of ‘child soldiers’and at the same time raised over £800 to sponsor a  'War Child'. Read the full story

1st Southgate Beaver Scouts worked on the Beaver Garden as part of their Global Challenge badge. The Beaver Scouts brought over 300 bulbs, seeds and plants for the garden and grounds around the Headquarters. Rotten branches from the trees were cut and removed, the garden dug over and the seeds and bulbs were planted by the Beavers and Leaders.

This year's winners of the hike organised by Bexley District were Griffyn Explorer Scout Unit from East Grinstead. In sceond place were Excelsior from Worthing and in 4th place Matterhorn Explorer Scout Unit. The organisers were really impressed by the standards set by these three teams from West Sussex.