Explorer Leaders Report June 2009

After another exciting year of activities, Explorers continue to flourish within the Group, and beyond! Currently we have 17 enrolled Explorers, coming from East Bridgford and seven nearby villages, one traveling more than 10 miles each week to be in our Unit. However numbers on a weekly basis is much harder to give as it varies from 4 to 17, such is the range of other activities, sports, and clubs etc. available elsewhere to our youngsters. This unknown element continues to be a problem for the leaders when planning activities and events.

During June and July, last year, the Explorers planned, prepared and delivered a campfire and wide game night for our Beaver Colony, at Hollygate Campsite, something that we hope to repeat this year. We also entered a team in the ‘It’s a knockout’ competition at the Village Show, although the last round was never played, so we’ll never know who won………

Summer camp, 2008, was held at a small Scout facility in the middle of a large Forestry Commission site. This area, located in Dumfries and Galloway, has been utilized as an excellent Mountain Biking Centre, one of seven, developed by the Forestry Commission in Scotland. Mountain biking was one of our activities whilst we were there, other activities also included, walking, a visit to a dairy, a day on the beach, a meal out, a visit to a Buddhist temple, swimming, a day a castle (complete with re-enactment of a local battle), river walking, a BBQ and a craft boat race. We had very basic indoor accommodation (a blessing because of the midges), and as part of our camp, did some site service, namely putting up several bat, bird and owl boxes in the surrounding woodland. (Nikki’s nose is much better now, but ‘if’ you see her, don’t mention it!)

In October, two Duke of Edinburgh Award groups made presentations in front of fellow Explorers, parents, and two assessors, who both commented that these presentations were some of the best they had seen. Later in October, a few Explorers went on a climbing and service camp at Barnswood Campsite in Staffordshire, where they had one days climbing on the ‘Roaches’, a renowned climbing spot, and one days service to the campsite which involved clearing a new camping area of boulders to make it easier to pitch tents there. We managed to move several tonnes of boulders, break a spade, and half bury a tractor! During the camp, Matt not only got out spooned, but out mudded as well, definitely worth a mention. (Note to self; must remember to pack the tent poles next time!)

In November we attended a district Explorer event and Hollygate Camp site, to watch a firework display. We also went on parade at East Bridgford Church for Remembrance Day. Later during the month we returned to Hollygate a couple for a wide games and hot food round a campfire. November was also the time when Alton Towers opened its gates and specifically discounted ticket prices for members of the Scout movement and their families, and although not well attended, we were represented (it was good to see you there Joe).

Better attended was our Christmas Camp (indoors!) held at Willesley Scout campsite in Leicestershire, where Explorers tried crate stacking, orienteering, and pedal carts, amongst other activities. After being well fed with a traditional Christmas dinner and pudding, we set about opening our presents from Mystery Santa, and playing charades. (Some people just take it too seriously!)

Our Grand finale for the 2008 was our ‘show stopping’ production of “Mildred Riding Hood” for the OAP’s Christmas dinner and entertainment, held in the village hall this year, a much better venue than the school. As director, I don’t know why the show kept stopping, but at least it was entertaining! Well done to everyone who took part either in the cast, or backstage, decorating scenery etc. We were also well represented during December, both at the Group Carol service and at the bag packing at Morrisons.

New Year, and after sorting out our ‘Code of conduct’ and electing a new team for the program planning committee, January continued with a ‘Back to Beavers Movie Night’, watching ‘Walle’, whilst munching popcorn and choc ices. We also entered a team of five for the NESST challenge walk, and although they didn’t winning any prizes, they acquitted themselves very well.

Towards the end of January, we had a night of alternative pioneering challenges including the tallest working newspaper light-house (over 2 meters tall). We enjoyed a game of skittles and quiz night at the Royal Oak, and were represented on the District Winter Walking weekend in Yorkshire (have those blisters healed now Catherine?).

In February activities included a whist drive, Duke of Edinburgh training/planning, and an evening of debate. March saw us ten pin bowling (winner Jamie), playing a strategic battle game (winners Ryan and Joe), having a commonwealth day cook off (winners Chris and I, we got to taste test all the food!), and then off into the wilds of Rufford park for an evening orienteering exercise (remember your coats and torches next time lads). Just before Easter we had a best decorated chocolate egg competition.

April was a quiet month due to Easter, but we spent an evening making penny arrows, and the next Unit meeting, throwing them on the park. The highlight of May was the County Hollywood Camp, where Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from all over Nottinghamshire County camped for the bank holiday weekend at Walesby Camp site, on five sub camps, each themed to a well known hit series of action films. We were on Harry Potter sub camp. We had glorious weather, and with so many activities to choose from, everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly, apart from Rab who was taken quite ill during the weekend.

Most recently we have been exploring the alternative people in the world who happen to share the same name as each of our members - the Internet is such a wondrous tool, isn’t it! We have had another training session for the D of E scheme, this time practicing expedition cooking at Hollygate Campsite, and have dusted off our bikes for a cycle ride around the Vale of Belvior.

As well as taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the activities that our Explorers complete can lead to awards within the Scouting Movement, including Chief Scout and Queen Scout awards, nights away, hikes away and first aid awards, and several of our Explorers have received these awards during the year. As part of these award schemes, nine of our Explorers have been helping to run other sections of the Scout and Guide movement, as ‘Young Leaders’ either in East Bridgford or nearer to where they live. The ‘Young Leaders’ scheme is co-coordinated at district level and requires individuals to take on formal leadership training run by the Scout Association, with particular attention paid to Child Protection and Risk Assessment.

Looking forward to our plans for this year’s summer camp, we will be attending three days bushcraft training on a bison farm in Wiltshire, followed by seven days backwards camping at a basic campsite with lots of woodland, near Winchester, putting our earlier training into practice.

Also looking into the future, and with the setting up of the new District, some of our older Explorers, with the help of Rab, have become part of a new Network Section, the next level of Scouting after Explorers. Drawing in Explorers from Flintham, Bingham, East Bridgford and Radcliffe, they have an exciting program planned throughout the summer months, and I’m sure we will be hearing more about them in the future.

Network Sections, like most Explorer Units, are not affiliated to any one Scout Group, drawing their members from a wider net of Explorer Units, as people move away from home, or go to university. Our Explorers are firmly connected to 1st Shelford and East Bridgford Scout Group, a mutually beneficial arrangement, one that I hope will continue for a long time.

As we move our older Explorers onto Network, so we have older Scouts moving into our Explorer Unit, up to nine before December this year. So the challenge to provide an exciting and varied program of activities continues for the leaders. If we match the level and variety of activities and events that we have done in the last year, I think we will have done well.

We hope to sign up a new Assistant Explorer Leader over the summer, Chris Evans (no, not that one. No, not that one either!), has been helping regularly for a few months, and is on the cusp of signing. But as the saying goes, ‘many hands make light work’ and if you would like to get involved in our challenges, activities or events, regularly, or even occasionally, then please contact one of us (details below). My apologies for the length of the report, but I feel it is important for you to know as much about what happens in Explorers through-out the year, and my report is my best opportunity to enthuse you, to continue supporting our youngsters as they develop in the Scouting family.

Yours in Scouting,

Nick Jackson.
Acting Explorer Scout Leader.

Nick. 01949 20158 07886909232 nickjackson003@btinternet.com Rab. 07929301138 rob_oatway@hotmail.com