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This is a section for write-ups by scouts on activities we’ve done. Will count towards Creative challenge badges.

• Harry's article

• Detailed Activites page
• Current programme

• A slightly fraught start with car breakdowns and difficulty finding the Sodbury scout hut meant we had to swap some of the teams around. However it all ended well on beautiful moonlit night...
• The senior team won! Well done Pete J, Pete S, and Frank A.
  • Trophy will be awarded after half term when it is engraved.
• Junior team “C” came 4th (165 points) - Matt J, Chris B, Tim M, Ed B, Ben G
• Junior team “B” got into some “difficulties” and ended up having to be picked up . Never mind - good lessons were learnt for next year!
• Junior team “A” (all first timers from year 7) managed a very creditable 107 points.

(sorry, I only took one picture in the end!)

Team C returns

• Cobra
• Wolf
• Bulldog
• Eagle
• Tiger

Patrol scores

On My Honour
I promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen
To help other people
and to keep the Scout Law

1. A Scout is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout is friendly and considerate.
4. A Scout belongs to the world-wide family of Scouts.
5. A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
6. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
7. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

Troop numbers, past, present and predicted...

As new-ish leaders, we feel that over 20 is a larger than ideal number for us, so the troop is full, and sadly we can accept no scouts other than through cubs at present.

Andrea and I project numbers rising to 36 by the Autumn term of 2009. They will probably stabilise at that.

Why is this happening?

• Because we’re taking in around 10 a year, and losing 5 (or less) a year to explorers.
• Net gain about 5 a year till Autumn 2010.
• Basically this is because of a wierd age bunching that’s gone on.
• Thereafter we probably plateau at 35-ish.

I don’t see how we can run scouts with so many as we currently are. So here is a partial proposal:

1. Beavers (and cubs) to guarantee no more than 10 new members per year overall.
   • Ideally LESS!
2. No scouts taken in other than through cubs (though this is very hard on newcomers to the village)
3. Scout nights will be split into two generally, by age or patrol.
   • This will require at least TWO more ACTIVE leaders.
   • ACTIVE = organising programme, booking everything that needs booking, taking all necessary responsibilties etc.
   • TWO makes leader total SIX - enough to run two groups even when one or two are absent.
   • But even this is impractical really cos the hall only practically accommodates one group. We cannot guarantee one group being outside through the winter. Mmmm.
   • The only option then is to split into two Troops on different nights, which is probably quite a big deal (particularly regarding leaders).
   • Or alternate weekly, which is really naff.

(1) and (2) are long term solutions, and don’t solve our problem of the huge influx over the next 18 months.

Without a solution to this I will have to close entry to some cubs coming up. And I do not know how to do this without it being horribly upsetting to all concerned!

The trouble is, this is the only solution that works for me.

• What do you think?
• Any other better ideas?
• Any good ideas for ACTIVE leaders (not just warm bodies ?

• Ventolin Inhaler