Scout Christmas Outing 2009

Toboganning 19/12/09

Hi All,

On Saturday 19th December 2009 we took the Scouts toboganning at the Snowdome in Tamworth for their annual Christmas outing.

19 Scouts and 1 Leader donned their Winter woolies and hurtled down the main slope, cramming in as many runs as they could in the allotted session time of 30 minutes!

There were some spectacular crashes and lots of dodgy manouevres going on but everyone had a great time, told by the massive grins on their faces!

Before our session started we had a meal in the local McDonalds and then walked to the Snowdome, helping us to acclimatize to the cold.

After our 30 minutes on the slope, we then gathered outside the entrance underneath two snow making machines to perform an Investiture ceremony for 5 of our new Members; Jacob D, Ben, James P, Adam E & Lewis.

Welcome to the Troop!

After what seemed like an age the snow blowers eventually fired up, bringing a cool close to the evening.

So that's it for 2009.

We have had a very successful year and done loads of interesting things including; winning the raft race, qualifying for the County football competition finals, winning medals in the swimming gala, doing the Expedition Challenge, Brumventure, District camp, County camp, 1st JOTA/JOTI participation, solar party, stargazing and many other camps and events.

Check out the Group's Red Border website for a pictorial record of what we have done.

The Troop has grown to one of the largest in the Group's history and long may we continue to enrich and develope the lives of the young people who turn up every week.

I would like to wish the Scouts a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

I would also like to thank the Leadership team for all their hard work over the year, without the dedication of whom we would not have such a thriving Scout Troop.

Finally I would like to thank the handful of parents who volunteer their time and help out at many of the events, again without whom we would not have such a successful Troop. Have you ever considered taking up a uniformed position? See me for details!

We look forward to seeing you all back again in 2010, fit and well.

Our first meeting will be on Monday 11th January.

Enjoy the Christmas holidays!

All the best,

Adam

Assistant Scout Leader
6th Sutton Coldfield East

Air Rifle Shooting 06/12/09

Air Rifle Shooting 06/12/09

Hi All,

Another air rifle shooting session was held for the Scouts at the Sutton Coldfield Rifle & Pistol Club on Sunday 6th Dec, as part of their Master at Arms badge.

During this particular session the Troop had a go at shooting with pistols for the very first time.

Please click on the image above to see more pictures taken during the event.

Several of the Troop have now qualified for their Master at Arms badge and will be presented shortly.

Many thanks to Charles & Mike at the club for all their time and effort over the last year.

Autumn Camp 2009

Autumn Camp 2009

Hi Scouts,

During the weekend of 27/28/29th November 2009 we took 12 bold Scouts to Willesley Scout Camp site for an Autumn Camp.

We arrived in the dark on Friday night and pitched our tents, the garage and dining shelters plus the 1st aid and store tents, in the dull glow of the minibus headlamps!

After a few hours there was a lovely big campfire on the go and we cooked hot-dogs and made hot drinks for everyone before going to bed.

It was a cold and wet night...

On Saturday morning the embers of the fire were still burning and the campfire was soon going again, providing some warmth for the early risers.

A hot Brekkie and drinks was welcomed by all and it was soon time to explore the campsite whilst the Leaders tidied up the camp and made sure the tents would survive the weekend!

Later on some Go-Karting and climbing was organised for those who wanted to have a go, whilst others gathered and chopped wood in readiness for the bigger campfire in the evening.

Lunch was soup, bread and hot or cold drinks plus crisps, biscuits and fruit.

At approximately 3pm we all gathered in the Chapel and Invested the newest members of our Troop as follows;

Harry, James A, Pia, Jenny, Zak, Kelsey & Luke R

This was carried out in the traditional way by asking the Scouts to place their left hand over the Union & Group flags and making the Scout salute with their right hand whilst reciting the Promise.

I explained the meaning of the Promise they were about to make and asked the Scouts to provide some examples of the Scout Law, which they did most satisfactorily.

On Saturday evening we cooked spaghetti bolognese and then eventually settled down by the campfire to sing some songs, tell stories, have a laugh and roast one or two hula-hoops attached to twigs and branches!

We had a supper of chocolate biscuits, fruit and hot or cold drinks before finally retiring to bed.

It was a cold and very wet night...

On Sunday morning the embers of the big campfire were still burning despite the weather, which helped raise morale as the Scouts eventually rose from their tents to the sound of rain drops on canvas!

Breakfast consisted of lashings of bacon, sausage, beans, egg and bread plus hot drinks before starting the inaugural task of breaking Camp.

The ground was a mudbath and everything was starting to get covered in thick brown sludge, Leaders & Scouts included!

The Troop were given plenty of freetime in between taking the tents down, packing their kit away and loading up the mininbus and trailer, so that the whole of the day wasn't taken up doing Camp chores.

We eventually left Camp around 3pm and headed back to HQ to unload and put away some of the more relatively clean equipment into stores.

And so endeth the last Camp for this year.

OK, so the weather was cold & wet, the ground was boggy and we never got time to make Angel Delight.

But we survived!

And despite the poor conditions everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and make the most of the time outdoors.

It was a young and relatively inexperienced Troop who made the effort to come away so late in the year and characters were definitely strengthened.

They sometimes required a lot of coercing to get things done but they did it and for that they made me proud.

Just think Scouts, our next Camp should be in far better climes so everything from now on will be a doddle!

Well done to;

Tom, Ryan, Rahul, Jenny, Kelsey, Luke R, Pia, James A, Lauren, Harry, Jacob B & Zak

for taking part and to all the parents who helped us load and unload the minibus & trailer, hung up the tents to dry and washed up.

All the best,

The Scout Leaders

Diary Dates for Cubs

Here are some dates for your diary for December

Sun 5th - Rehearsal for the Christmas Event on the 15th - All Readers. 10am - 11am at Headquarters

Tue 8th - District Carol Concert. Pick up at 19.10 at the Empire Cinema Car Park in Sutton. Walk to the church. Return around 20.20.

Sun 13th - Rehearsal for the Christmas Event on the 15th - All Readers and Actors. 10am - 11am at Headquarters

Tue 15th - Christmas Event - All Parents welcome. The next pack meeting after this will be on the 12, January 2010.

All these details are published on the Group Calendar.