16th Bermondsey Scout Group

Half term Camp. For about 30 years we have taken the whole troop to stay in a scout hut in the Surrey woods during Feb.Half term but this year our 4 day Winter Scout Camp was in the Biggin Hill Bunkhouse. The party consisted of 16 scouts, 4 Young Leaders and 6 adults.

We all did: An all Day Hike, Orienteering,  Tent pitching, Safety of gas lamps and stoves, Cooking, Map & Compass, Using axe and saw safely, Felling axe, Knots & Lashing, Fire lighting, Talent Show, Circle games,  Movies (The Incredibles, Back to Future, Hot Fuzz) Swimming, Night Rope trail, Geocaching, Night Game and eating lovely meals together.

All the scouts hiked some of the way to the site on Wed. on a brilliantly sunny winter day but trudging through deep mud from days of rain. The 8 oldest scouts took the train from London Bridge to Edenbridge and hiked about 9 miles to the site, with a stiff 200m climb to the top of the North Downs at the very end. The boys and girls walked in two groups safely supervised by Sam Thorpe and Oran Maguire. 

 Our Young Leaders, Lydia, Joseph, Jack and Rebekah led 2 Groups of Younger scouts 5 miles along the Pilgrim Way to the site. The views out over the Sussex countryside were amazing. All 4 groups used our new Trangia gas cookers bought with a Southwark Youth Opportunities grant. On Thursday we practiced knots indoors, lit fires out in the rain and cold, then an afternoon off swimming. Friday was bright again and saw scouts outside practicing using axe and saw and doing a map reading hike and performing in their talent show.

Photo:  http://www.bermondseyscout.co.uk/gallery2/v/West+2010+Group+Comp.jpg.html?g2_navId=xc58b4987

We got toally soaked, and we mean to the skin, as we helped again at the Albins Christmas Service. But when we were at our wettest we were introduced to Princess Anne. Pictures  http://www.bermondseyscout.co.uk/gallery2/v/Albins/?g2_navId=x28ed14e6

Every single member of our troop, 21 scouts and 5 leaders enjoyed a meal of pizza and fries, with melon starter and ‘afters’ , quiz, films and a present ‘draw’ last night. Thanks to the Pls and Jade for organising it and to Giles and Jon for cooking.
We now say goobye to PLs Josh, George and Duncan who leave to join Explorer scouts. See pictures in gallery http://www.bermondseyscout.co.uk/gallery2/v/09+Scout+Christmas+Party