Scout Report 2010
We've run an interesting and varied programme over the last year - hopefully the scouts agree! We've done two camps, the Sodbury Challenge and the usual mix of wide games, badges and the all-favourite flaming arrows. However numbers have declined dramatically after a worry we had a couple of years ago that we'd have too many scouts! Hopefully this is just a cycle that occurs within particular school year groups, but do let us know if you think anything is going awry. Anyway, we're down to 14 scouts, which although it is a fraction of the worrying 40 we once predicted, it does make running evenings much easier and more fun.
The Sodbury Challenge (a night hike competition) was well attended, with 3 teams entering from 2nd Alveston. We came second in the Junior competition - well done to Tim, George, Ed and Sam Mo. Our other junior team who were new to the competition also did well, and made a very reasonable score - again, well done to Tatsuki, Tom and Sam Ma. The senior team finished 4th on the 8 hour event- with the serious pressure of defending our title not making their job easy!
We went to a site near the Malverns for Summer Camp last year, with great weather right up until packing up day, when it poured and poured. Many thanks to all parents who dried out tents afterwards - it was much appreciated. We walked the Malverns, assaulted British Camp under a starry sky, canoed down the Wye and rock climbed at Symmonds Yat. All classic scouting stuff.
We recently did a “survival camp” at Glenny Wood (a site near Easton Gordano), in absolutely scorching weather. The agenda was building shelters and sleeping in them - which most completed successfully. Several deer were seen by scouts, and much other wildlife was encountered, particularly ticks! We are now quite experienced at finding and removing them.
Earlier in the year we ran a climbing course up at the Warehouse climbing centre in Gloucester. All participating scouts got their climbing badges, and came away with great confidence in tying on, belaying eachother, falling off safely and of course, climbing.
With the recent fine weather it's easy to forget the cold of the
recent winter. But after an overwhelming vote, we went night-time
sledging back in January - definately great fun for all: the bruises
have just about vanished now 
As ever, we are always interested in new ideas, energy and enthusiasm, so if any parents out there want to join us for whatever level of commitment, then do just let us know: we want you! Whether just for a night at a camp, to join in with a weekend walk, or to restart canoeing in the troop (we do have canoes and a trailer!) please come and join us.
Jon Buckingham Julian Eatock Mick O'Shea John Steele Kieren O'Shea
