Cubs Picnic in the Park (Update 1.30pm)

I can confirm that the Picnic in the Park will take place tonight in Sutton Park. We will be meeting by the Visitor Centre at 6.30 and finish by 8pm.

Please wear your own clothes and if you haven't paid this half terms subs please bring these with you.

Look forward to seeing you all later.

Kaa

Cubs Picnic in the Park (Update 10.30am)

So far ok!

I will make final decision at around 3pm but the weather is starting to brighten up and looking good for fun and games in the park tonight between 6.30 - 8pm!

Kaa

Picnic in the Park (Update 7am)

The Picnic in the Park is still currently going ahead.

I will attempt to keep this website updated throughout the day.

Kaa

Picnic in the Park

Hello Cubs and Parents,

We are holding our final meeting of this school year in Sutton Park.

We are meeting at the Visitor Centre (Town Gate) at 1830 - 2000. We have plenty of games and fun activites planned!

Please bring a small picnic and wear your own clothes!

Look Forward to seeing you all.

Graham
Kaa

Family Camp

This is just a quick note to say a huge thank you to all of the support from the other leader and parents who made this years Family camp a huge success and one of my most enjoyable camps!

After many sleepless nights of trying to plan all of the logistics, everything camp together like a swan to water (literally on Friday night)

Thank You All!

Graham
Kaa

Survival Camp July 2011

Survival Camp July 2011

Hi All,

During the weekend of 9/10th July, several of our Scouts spent a weekend away with the 5th Sutton Coldfield East Scout Group on their survival camp.

The Scouts arrived at Beaudesert between 1.30 & 2.30pm, some hot-foot from the raft race, and after a short safety talk they were set the task of building their shelters. The Scouts constructed a variety of bivouacs, either making use of the natural shelter around them or starting from scratch with a basic wooden frame. For the more advanced designs I showed the Scouts how to do basic lashings.

Soft ferns were used for roof & floor coverings.

Once the bivouacs were well on the way to completion, the group was given another important task with respect to survival, making a fire. The Scouts were asked to collect kindling and fuel for the fire and a chopping square was set-up to cut the larger pieces into more manageable sections.

Once an ample supply of kindling & fuel had been collected, I showed the Scouts how to lay a fire. We used cotton wool as tinder. Once the fires were lit, they were built up and then allowed to burn down to hot embers so that they could try a bit of backwoods cooking.

When the fires had burned down to embers the group tried some backwoods cooking. They wrapped potatoes in tin foil and wrapped fresh fish in wet newspaper and placed them all in the hot ash until properly cooked. They also baked stuffed apples and bananas with chocolate rammed in!

At the end of the evening the Scouts got into their survival bags and then crawled inside their bivouacs for the night.

I put up a traditional basha, using various lengths of wood for the supports and ferns on the floor. This was my bed for the night!

The weather was very mild and I am happy to say that everyone got a good nights sleep.

In the morning after bacon & egg rolls, the Scouts dismantled their bivouacs, cleared up the fires and left the camp exactly how they had found it.

They were collected by their parents at approx 9.30am.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jo Garvey and her team of Leaders at the 5th Sutton Coldfield East Scout Group for inviting us along and making us feel most welcome.

I hope to run a survival camp for our own Troop in the near future.

Yours in Scouting,

Adam

Winners - Raft Race 2011

Raft Race 2011

Raft Race 2011 - Extra

Hi All,

Guess who came 1st, again, in this year’s District raft race held in Sutton Park on Saturday 9th July?

That’s right, it was our very own 6th Sutton Coldfield East Scout Troop, making it 3 successive years in row that we have won the competition.

This year we entered another 2 rafts on the water, each of very different designs.

We held several additional training sessions prior to the event in order to get the teams up to speed with the knots, lashings and general construction.

One of our teams got their raft built in less than 20 minutes, which definitely caused a stir from those around them. You are usually given 1 hour & 15 minutes to build your raft!

Both of our teams got off to a good start and our raft design which came 1st last year soon created a decent lead, which they managed to maintain over the entire course, almost! At the turn of the last marker they were in hot pursuit by a raft from the 16th, but there was no way we were going to be caught.
It was a nailbiting finish and I believe there will be some video available shortly which shows how your Leaders encouraged both our teams to keep going and win!

Our second raft design had a much harder slog as they were a less experienced crew and their raft was severely affected by the strong winds.
They seemed to row a boat length forward only to be blown 3 boat lengths backwards by the wind!
However they all put in 100% and although they did not finish, their dedication and effort did them proud.

I would therefore like to thank the following Scouts for taking part;

Jacob B, Lawrence P, Jamal M, Liam P, Kelsey J, Jacob H, Bradley R, Harry M, Reece D, Christan B & Simon U

Matthew U & Pia K-J were our reserves and Edward C also attended on the day. They all gave their support during the event.

I would like to say a special 'thank-you' to Matthew U for 'volunteering' to help Scouts from another part of the District in the raft race.
Without Matthew's support they would have been unable to take part, so well done Matthew!

I would also like to thank Patrick, Jacob B’s cousin, for helping us out once more on the day.

Many thanks also to all those parents who offered their support and helped make this a day to remember. I would especially like to thank our Group chairman, Ian B, for helping to transport the equipment to site.

The trophy, an old wooden oar, will once again be proudly hung from the rafters of our HQ for all to see.

All I can say is well done once again, to our brilliant raft building/raft racing winners of 2011.

Best regards,

Adam, Jason & Emily

Family Camp June 2011

Family Camp 2011

Hi All,

During the weekend of 24th to 26th June, the 2nd Wylde Green Scout Group took part in a family camp.

The last family camp was held at Beaudesert in 2007 and many of those who joined us as Beavers back then, now attended this time as Scouts!

The Camp was held at the Alfrey Activity Centre, Broadwaters, near Meriden.

Approximately 60 young people, parents & Leaders attended the Camp and for some it was their first camping experience.

Lots if exciting activities were organised for the Cubs, Scouts & siblings over the weekend including; archery, air rifle shooting, assualt course, climbing and greasy pole.

A hike was organised for the parents on Saturday afternoon to keep them out of mischief!

On Saturday evening we all gathered around the campfire and had a traditional sing-song. We were even joined by Members from another District who saw what a fine time we were having!

Please click on the above image to see more pictures taken over the weekend. Further video and images will be added as and when they are received.

Good fun was had by all and we will definitely be doing another one in the future.

Many thanks to everyone who took part and for their help in setting up, washing up and generally getting stuck in!

Yours in Scouting,

The Leaders

Flower Show 2011

Please find here a link to a letter from the Group Chairman to parents regarding the Flower Show

Also linked here is the schedule