3rd Billericay Scout Troop

Leading Patrol Points: tba

22nd July: End of term, Scout Skills (continued)

Tonight we switched around and the Bulls and Cobras practiced tent pitching. Meanwhile, the Kestrels and Seagulls were fire lighting.

Kestrels are Top Patrol, Summer 2011

It's the end of term, and the top patrol was announced. The Kestrels are this terms winners by a good lead. Well done Kestrels!

• Kestrel: 742
• Cobra: 593
• Bull: 620
• Seagull: 633

15th July: Scout Skills

The Bulls and Cobras practiced firelighting. They built a simple reflector fire and lit it using firesteels.
They cooked sausages on green sticks and had a fine time.

The Kestrels and Seagulls practiced pitching Patrol Tents. They showed great teamwork, and Skip was very impressed.
We had a few birthdays to celebrate this week, and so we did our traditional toss up into the rafters.

8th July: Wide Game - Flag Raiding with Cameron B's Extensions

Our wide game tonight was a variation on flag raiding. Cameron came up with some good ideas and we introduced the idea of different classes. There were Heavy Infantry, strong in defence. They are invincible in their home territory, but highly vulnerable in enemy territory. Marines are all rounders and can fight both at home and in enemy territory. Scouts are limited, only three per side. They are vulnerable, but they are the only players allowed to capture the flags. They really need a marine escort to be effective.

The game was won by the Sea-Bulls - a group made up of the Seagull and Bull patrols.

Badge Awards

1st July: Canoeing

We had a night of fun on the canoeing lake at Barleylands. The evening was run by the District Canoe team, and we played lots of games in the kayaks.

This weeks challenge, for 10 points

It's another crazy canoe challenge. The Scout in the green canoe wants to get out, but his path is blocked. Can you figure out a way to clear a path for him?

Move the canoes backwards and forwards to free the green canoe
 

Congratulations to Jerome and Cameron T for completing the puzzle.
10 points each for Seagulls and Cobras.

24th June: Target Practice

Tonight we had an evening of practice at the sport of target shooting with air-rifles. It was the first time for many of the Scouts, but they all did pretty well, and we have some budding future olympic champions in the Troop.

Badge Awards

17th-19th June: Giga Camp

Thirteen Scouts, one young Leader, Skip and Bosun had a very long shower this weekend at Giga Camp. It started raining on Friday, and the Scouts arrived at a campsite reminiscent of the trenches of the Great War. Luckily, the rain held off during the activity sessions, but came back with a vengeance during mealtimes. The activities included Laser Quest, circus skills, zorbing, slack lines, canoeing, climbing, caving simulation, pioneering, zorb-football, cork-guns, a talent show, karaoke, disco, assault course, gladiator duelling, bungee run, total wipeout, quad bikes, crafts, archery, bouldering and others. I think the most popular activity was 'washing-up' because the Scouts spent more time on that than any other activity!
Sunday was dry and we were glad to strike camp with fully dried canvas, and despite the wet weather, we went home with a bit of sunburn.

Edward of the Bulls earns 10 bonus points for working hard on camp.

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10th June: Group AGM

Tonight was the group AGM. Before the meeting we set up some stalls to raise money for the Little Havens Childrens Hospice. The Bull patrol made use of the cooking skills they have learned on camp to make and sell top quality hamburgers, while the Kestrels ran a catapult stall and the other patrols sold rides around the field on our scout-built sleds. They even gave a ride to the District Commissioner! Sadly, no photos for this one. Skip forgot the camera - doh!
Inside the hut, the Cubs and Beavers ran several more fund raising stalls. The weather stayed good for us, and we all had a good time.
It was also a special night for Skip and Bosun. They have now completed their Wood Badge, and were presented with their beads by the District Commissioner.

In total, we raised £80.50p for the Little Havens Hospice.

Badge Awards

27th May - 4th June: District International Camp, France

Over the half term break, 10 Scouts from our troop along with Skip, Bosun and 89 other members from the Billericay and Wickford district spent a week in the south of France.
The weather was great, the activities were fantastic and the company was excellent, as it can only be when Scouts get together.

We had a full programme, including activities such as rock climbing, hiking, caving, high ropes, canoeing, swimming and much more. It was a great adventure and everybody had a really good time.

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