December 2022
We’ve had a fantastic year!
All sections have really enjoyed being able to meet again face to face and being back to normal scouting activities. We had great weather for our whole group ‘pirate’ camp in September. Many of our young people joined others from within the Fenland district for a weekend of camping in July complete with campfire, canoeing, shooting, hiking and much more. Our scouts and explorers were fortunate to have lovely weather for their week away in the summer holidays with lots of hiking and fun in the Yorkshire Dales.
December is a fun time at our group, decorating the scout hut with paper chains and making Christmas gifts and crafts. This year we were able to hold a Christmas party for the young people and their families to enjoy with games, food and a visit from the famous Scouting Father Christmas.
Thank you to everyone within our local community who continue to support us and a thank you to our young people who make scouting fun and finally to our group section leaders who volunteer their time to make scouting happen in Wisbech St Mary.
We wish everybody a Happy and Prosperous New Year! See you in 2023.
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March 2022
Here are some fascinating facts about Scouting:
- Baden-Powell’s Scouting for Boys has sold 150 million copies since 1908, making it the fourth bestselling book of all time after The Bible, The Koran and Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book.
- The first World Scout Jamboree in 1920 was attended by 8,000 Scouts from 34 countries as well as an alligator from Florida, a baby crocodile from Jamaica, a lioness cub from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), monkeys from South Africa, a baby elephant and a camel!
- During World War II over 50,000 Scouts trained to undertake National War Service jobs, including acting as police messengers, firemen and stretcher bearers.
- Georges Remi, aka Hergé, based his legendary comic-book character ‘Tintin’ on a Scout.
- In the past one hundred years, over half a billion men and women have taken the Scout Promise.
- Polar explorer Ernest Shackleton took two Scottish Scouts (James Marr and Norman Mooney) with him on his final expedition to the Antarctic on the RSS Discovery.
- Each day 100,000 people in the UK take part in Scouting activities – more than the capacity of Wembley stadium.
- Scout Leaders contribute the equivalent of 37 million hours of voluntary work every year – worth an estimated £380 million pounds.
‘Put your phone down and what are you left with? Just teamwork, courage and the skills to succeed.’ Bear Grylls, Chief Scout
September 2021
During the holidays our Scouts and Explorers enjoyed a scouting skills-based summer camp. Part of the group undertook a 2-day hike (including overnight camp), with full kit, covering approximately 15 miles to demonstrate their route planning and map reading skills. On their return they joined the remaining young people to brush up on knots, pioneering, cooking and fire lighting. It wasn’t all work and no play – they all made full use of our fantastic outside area to play tactical games in the dark!
We have started a new term full of enthusiasm. Scouts and Explorers have planned a full and exciting itinerary for this term. Cubs’ numbers have increased, and we have been enjoying getting to know our new young people and planning activities together.
One positive for us following the prolonged lockdowns is that more young people have discovered a love for the great outdoors and are experiencing scouting for the first time.
Scouting is a great way for young people (an adults as volunteers) to make new friends, develop new skills and most importantly to have fun. Owing to our increased numbers across the age groups we are seeking volunteers to help us as adult leaders. Can you spare a couple of hours a week? No experience required, just enthusiasm. Full training will be given.
2021
At the time of writing this (early April) the Scout and Explorer sections have returned to face-to-face scouting at long last. They have enjoyed catching up with each other and in the tradition of scouting they have already had campfires and begun to plan their summer activities.
Cubs are about to return with plans for exciting tasks to practice and improve our scouting skills following the lockdown from cooking and fire lighting to pioneering and hiking.
Scouting is a fantastic and inclusive opportunity for all young people age 6 years and upwards.
2020
Happy New Year from us all!
The group have had a very busy final few weeks of 2019 finishing the term with our annual Christmas party. The young people and their families joined us for a fun afternoon filled with traditional party games, party food and a visit from their favourite festive guest – Father Christmas himself!
We are all looking forward to the Spring term bringing lighter evenings and the opportunity to take our activities back outside.
Why not give Scouting a go in the New Year.
2019
Beavers and Cubs were very excited to receive a visit from ‘The Animal Experience’ who came along with a selection of their rescue exotic animals. We saw reptiles, stick insects, and our favourite – a meerkat.
Cubs have been challenging themselves to learn a range of knots and lashings for their pioneering badge and have been investigating braille and semaphore as forms of communication. Fire lighting in the dark was a great hit especially toasting marshmallows!
The Scout section have begun to practice their compass, route planning and map reading skills in preparation of their summer expedition. Scouts have also been brushing up on their knots and lashing techniques ready to begin pioneering projects in the lighter months.
2019
The group’s most prominent event during November was to attend the Remembrance Service at Wisbech St Mary Church, it’s a very important date within the Scouting calendar and we were proud to support our local community at this poignant time.
Beavers have been learning about how to use sparklers safely, how to be seen at night by trying fluorescent clothing on in darkness and using a torch to see the difference from normal dark clothing and how important it is to be seen during the winter months. Beavers had fun making friendly ghosts on Halloween.
Cubs had a games evening in October for Halloween, with fancy dress, pumpkin bowling, rescue the spiders from the slime and pumpkin carving. We spent an evening early November making Remembrance lanterns whilst discussing the importance of the date and what we are remembering and why we wear a poppy. We currently have vacancies in our Cub section, so if your child aged 8-10 ½ years is interested please contact us via our website.
Scouts have been continuing with their skills challenges with and indoor pioneering challenge to build a tower, learning to cook camp breakfasts without burning the bacon (oops) and learning to sew on buttons neatly. Scouts being scouts had to spend an evening outside getting extremely wet and muddy playing wide games, the most fun at this time of year because it is very dark and easier to hide.