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

The Woodland Colony celebrated the Year Of the Rabbit for Chinese New Year by making Rabbit puppets, tasting some Chinese food and playing a game trying to use chopsticks; meanwhile the Jaguar Cub Pack learnt about the animals in their Chinese Zodiac, made a Chinese ‘noise maker’ and also tried a variety of Chinese food.

The Panther Pack Cubs celebrated Burns Night in traditional style with a taste of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties after a Tossing-the-Caber competition.  The homemade indoor newspaper cabers were a lot easier to toss than the real thing, but just as much fun according to Cub Leader ‘Akela’ who said “It was a great evening – we all learnt a lot about this very Scottish tradition, including me! It would have been fun to get a Piper to come along in all his finery – maybe next year?”

Meanwhile the Scouts came 3rd in the Ware and District Cooking Competition. Their £18 ‘Local Produce’ themed 3 course meal for 4 was cooked on 2 gas stoves in 2 hours and served to the judges before being enjoyed by the cooks themselves. Amongst the local ingredients used were Foxholes Farm Pork, Royston Cider (for the sauce) and malt extract with its French & Jupps origins.

For many, the Scouts’ trip to The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead was their first time on skis, including one of the Leaders. With ski instructors Louise and her ex-Scout husband Warren kindly giving the Beginners Group their first ever lesson, it didn’t take them long to get to moving. The more experienced skiers had great fun skiing together for the first time.

The Forest Colony tried their hand at Tie-Dying, producing some fantastic T shirts. “It’s just amazing what they manage to do in the time they are there!’ said one delighted parent.

Jaguar Pack Cubs have been working on their Swimming Badges at the John Warner Pool in addition to building spaghetti and marshmallow towers as part of their Creative Challenge Award.