24th Hastings Scout Group

Scout Troop

Summer term
In May we spent several weeks working for the Creative Challenge and preparing for the Group Open Night. During the rest of the term, as well as the usual summer camp preparations, we went to the Quarry for a wide game and the School Farm for an evening lighting fires and cooking sausages and burgers. We went down to the beach at Pett Level for a barbecue and we did some small-scale pioneering. We made a start on tidying up the Copse.
Eight Scouts went to Bowles to do some rock-climbing, but a planned day out zorbing had to be cancelled because of a health and safety embargo.

Summer Camp
This year we decided to head for Cranham, near Gloucester. Those who were in the Troop before the war will probably recall their previous visit to this part of the world. It was very wet in 1939, and it was very wet again in 2009. The camp site is situated in a valley enclosed on three sides by wooded hills, and after several days of rain we found ourselves digging drainage ditches to keep water from flowing through the tents, and using large amounts of wood chips and sawdust to keep from slipping over.
The activities included horse riding at nearby stables, archery and air rifles on site, and a splendid assault course just over the road. We took advantage of the large camp fire circle and enjoyed some excellent singing and guitar playing.
There was an outing to Pershore for kayaking on the River Avon, but the planned activities at Waterland had to be cancelled because of the weather and were replaced by a visit to the local Bowling Centre.
The rain didn’t prevent the Patrols from preparing the usual variety of tasty meals. This year’s selection:

• Spaghetti Bolognese
• Meatballs in curry sauce with rice
• Spicy chicken paprika with pasta
• Gammon joints with potatoes and broccoli
• Cider sausages with potatoes
• Harrira (Persian lamb stew)
• Beef Stroganoff with noodles
• Chicken and chorizo casserole
• Minted lamb chops with potatoes and green beans

The favourite desserts were syrup sponge pudding, apricots & custard, and cheesecake.
Less badge work than usual was completed, because of the conditions, but even so Outdoor Challenge, Outdoor Plus, Camp Cook and Quartermaster badges were completed or nearly so.
The use of mobile phones again caused unnecessary difficulties and we are looking at ways to tackle this problem.
Thanks go to my team of adults: Dave Thompson, Dave Rogers, Graeme Stoodley and Clair Harvey, who all worked hard to ensure the success of the camp. Chris Pelling and Steven Corbett, both former Scouts, drove the Troop to camp and back in minibuses, with help from Tracey Pelling and Peter Charlton. Chris Rogers helped with pioneering and various other tasks around camp.

Autumn Term
After camp we were forced to say goodbye to nearly half the Troop. The intention is that once the Scouts reach the age of 14 they should move on to Explorers, but many who would happily spend another year in the Troop as PLs or SPLs are unwilling or unable to make a fresh commitment to a new Section at this point in their lives and are lost to Scouting. Of the 26 Scouts we had in July, only 14 were young enough to return in September. One of these passed the age limit (14½) during the term, and we only recruited three new members, so the Troop now numbered 16.
The new PLs decided to concentrate on basic Scouting skills, and we spent a lot of time on map & compass work, knife, axe & saw, stoves & cooking, ropework, and first aid. Three members of St. John Ambulance came and helped everyone gain the Emergency Aid stage 3 Badge.
We also found time for another excellent Hallowe’en party, again organised by Clair and Graeme, and a chip survey. We held a treasure hunt on the School fields on a cold, damp, dark night in December; and the term finished with the traditional Christmas party. The Bish Byrom Badge Shield was earned by Miguel with 8 badges gained during the year.
During the Christmas break we ran a two-day Chef Badge course at the HQ, enabling five Scouts to gain this award.

Spring Term
We started with a games night, and this was followed by a series of training evenings – ropework, first aid revision, and simulated cave rescue.
The Troop Leadership team had long discussions about how best to integrate the Community and Global Challenges into the Friday programmes without making the resulting meetings seem too much like school.
After half-term Clair and Graeme took the Troop ice-skating at Gillingham and on their return we slept over at the HQ. We tried our hand at fire by friction, there was a further evening of Patrol cooking, and Graeme ran an old favourite, the Trading Post.
For the 26th year in a row (ever since its inception) we helped by staffing the Ridge drinks station for the Hastings half-marathon.
Our table sale on March 27th raised £180 towards the new boiler we need.
We entered a team for the Overland Hike competition, which was held on the Downs near Brighton at the end of March. Some practice days, way finding, hiking, etc. took place, and after a lot of kit preparation our Scouts, George, Miguel, Harry and Barney nearly completed the first day, but unfortunately ran out of time and had to be withdrawn. I know they enjoyed the experience and are keen to try again next year.


Badges and Awards
Challenges were gained as follows:
Adventure 5; Creative 13; Outdoor 6; Outdoor Plus 4.
Staged badges: Emergency Aid stage3 12; Nights Away - lots.
Activity badges: Camp Cook 5; Chef 7; Quartermaster 5; Communicator 1, Snowsports 1.
Activity plus: Camp Cook 4.

Roger Plumb

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