1st Stanstead Abbotts and St. Margaret's Scout Group

The Scout Group have been out and about in their various sections not only making the most of the Autumn and its annual Scouting activities but also discovering and exploring lots of interesting aspects of the local area and its community.

Beavers from the Woodland Beaver Colony were given an evening of Autumn themed fun at a local farm last week.  They were introduced to some special 'farm games' and activities including a walnut-in-the-water-trough game, climbing on the corn as well as making Halloween jam jars and Scarecrows which may appear in some local fields soon!

The Forest Beaver Colony’s family 5^th Nov Bonfire Party proved a hugely popular event with almost every Beaver bringing their family along. Over 100 people enjoyed burgers, hotdogs and sparklers around the fire as each Beaver invited their family and made a Guy to join in the fun.  The huge bonfire and tents helped fend off the occasional raindrops!

The Jaguar Cub Pack meanwhile, have been out and about working towards their Community Challenge Badge and the Local Knowledge Activity Badge. Two new Cubs were invested inside a fire engine during a visit to Hertford Fire Station, where the firemen gave the Cubs a fantastic time clambering over the fire engines, trying out the sirens and lights, suiting up in their uniform and getting to spray water with the massive hoses.

A guided tour of the French and Jupps Maltings, in Stanstead Abbotts, gave the Jaguar Cub Pack a rare chance to see inside the local working maltings plant and its kilns.  The Cubs leant a lot about its history, tasted the malt and tested their strength by trying to lift the huge bags of malt.  Back at HQ a Martial Arts Fun night gave the Cubs an introduction to martial Arts under the careful guidance of local expert Man Mario.

The Panther Cub Pack meanwhile have been busy completing various Activity and Challenge badges whilst having lots of fun including making volcanoes and compasses.  Five of the Cubs proudly completed the requirements for the Chief Scout's Silver Award - the highest award a Cub Scout can earn.

At Half Term the Panther Cub Pack donned their bright yellow high-visibility jackets and head torches and set off on their annual 8km night hike across the muddy fields between Hunsdon and Stanstead Abbotts. Half way through the 3 hour hike, the Cubs stopped at the disused "Mardocks Station" where the Scouts and Leaders served them with well deserved Hog Dogs and Hot Chocolate before continuing happily back to HQ.  Although tired and very muddy, many were already looking forward to next year's hike.

Half Term took the Jaguar Cub Pack to the RAF Museum where the Cubs completed their Air Activities Badge and also took part in 'The Big Draw', where they all designed a futuristic aeroplane.

Autumn Term for the Scout Troop always means lots of camping and hiking competitions to test their teamwork, navigation, camping and cooking skills against other local Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Guides Groups

The first two sessions in September had the Scouts focused on how NOT to burn food on an open fire!  A three course meal was then prepared which included a delicious Steak au poivre main course and Peach cereal crisp dessert – all cook outside and on a camp fire!.

The Scouts also had to learn campsite craft and how to put up patrol tents in preparation for 11 scouts to enter the Heavyweight Camping Competition, which took place over the weekend of 18-19th September. Of the six Scout teams, we came 3rd and 5th - so a great result. The Leaders congratulated all those involved who 'did their best!' for the troop.

There was no respite, as the following Friday all hands were drafted in (including Tim - an ex-Stanstead Abbotts Scout Leader from Devon!) to do some 'proper' night navigation - boots, torches and waterproofs were required to guide 18 Scouts safely around the Hertfordshire countryside. Working with only two Scouts per Leader they were able to gain some concentrated night time compass and map reading training.  A team building evening was then organised for the following week to ensure that our teams would work well together for the Nocturnal Team Challenge being held on 9th October - in which our 'A' team came a respectable 5th out of 11 very competitive teams from across the district. The competition involved navigating across 10km of deepest darkest Essex and carrying out team challenges at bases en-route.

The last two meetings in October included competitions traditional knots and lashings. Then as part of their Global Challenge Badge the Scouts were given a talk from the locally based charity 'Helping' who provide aid to children in The Gambia.  The Scouts learnt about the desperate situation and lack of resources in the country and particularly how the charity helps the children with food and education including three Scout Groups in the Gambia that the 1st Stanstead Abbotts Scouts, Thorley Scouts and 3rd Ware Scout Groups have jointly befriended. They then made video blogs to record their views (which we hope to put on the website soon).  The Scouts are now collecting unwanted Scout Uniforms, on behalf of 'Helping', to be sent over to these Gambian Scout Groups. Please hand any donations to any of the Leaders. Thank you.

By volunteering a Saturday morning to move earth, litter pick and sow grass seed for The Village Playground, many Scouts moved a step closer to completing their Community Challenge Badges – see the Gallery for pictures of the Scouts, parents and The Playground Committee in action with spades, wheelbarrows and grass seeds.  Many thanks to the Village Cafe who kindly provided drinks to go with the well deserved Bacon Butties!

More news coming next month....