Ship Ahoy - 1st Romsey Cubs

  

There was a pirate themed weekend of fun and frolics at Cricket Camp for the pack this March. It started with exploring the site with an X marks the spot treasure map aiming to find the most valuable coin in the treasure chest. The shipmates had a session in the smugglers cave but alas found no booty. Then there was a spot of crab fishing from the pontoon along the Hamble, successfully catching 12 but all were released back into the river. A Cubs favourite activity was to set up a fire and toasting marshmallows. After capturing the Jolly Roger wide game in the dark there was a pirate themed film. After Scouts Own and inspection on Sunday morning we all had a go at archery. 

 During the weekend we made pirate boats to race, pirate hats, balloon swords and completed a horrible history pirate jigsaw. 

  

 The final event was a chance to walk the plank over the shark invested water and throwing cannonball water bombs. Two Cubs (Jamie King and Harry Blondel) were awarded their Chief Scout Silver Award. Great fun was had by all.

 

Being a Patrol Leader in one easy weekend (3rd Romsey)

A few weeks ago all the patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders are away to brush up on their leadership skills. The whole camp had to be planed by them, which took weeks of meetings and work (who know camps were so much work to organise?!) They've got a menu, activities, somewhere to stay.  Now let's get going and have some fun!  Here's their reports of the weekend!

We arrived at the hut in Lyndhurst and we put all our bags in one corner. Then tried top make the tallest tower out of jelly babies and spaghetti. It was really tricky and the spaghetti kept breaking. However we managed to make a tower 44cm high. Then we split into groups and one group went with Tom, the other with Darren. With Tom we talked about first aid and what we would do if someone was really hot and really cold and if they had a bad cut. With Darren we did about herding sheep and one person had a whistle and the others were blindfolded and the person with the whistle had to give them commands to get them into the right place.  Now we are making armpit fudge and calzone for lunch. We had to go and buy the food ourselves. - Adam

At first we went to the shop and got everything ready for our lunch. It was using quite a lot of team work in the shop as we were allocated different tasks and we all managed to do so accurately. Then we did first aid and got ready for lunch. We started by making calzone which was good and we had to be extra cautious for Polly who is gluten free. So we had to separate everything but we managed well after a bit of confusion.Then after that we made armpit fudge with hot chocolate powder,cream cheese ,m&ms, margarine and more. After we had lunch with salad and drinks whilst Tom was saying how much he hated salad cream. Overall it was nice and I loved the armpit fudge. - James

The next activity Darren did with us was verbal communication.  We stood back to back and spoke to each other about the task we did earlier, sheep herding.  It was harder than I thought because with everyone talking you couldn't hear your partner.  Tom did CPR with us and he taught us what to do when we come across someone who wasn't breathing and was unconscious.  I think it was a really good activity and a good life lesson. - Imogen

We learnt lots of fencing techniques and how to move with one foot on the floor at all times and you have to shuffle not gallop.  We also learnt how to do a parry and how to start by putting the foil to your nose and then going on guard, you can't wear your helmet when doing that.  At the end you also take your helmet off to shake hands with your opponent. - Lara

Yum - next was dinner!  We had fajitas with salad, rice, chicken and cheese.    For pudding we had Cherry Crunch which was delicious!  We all helped to cook dinner and helped to wash up - but the eating was better than the washing up! - Kathleen

It was really nice to sit down and relax last night after the long day we had. It was time to chat, relax and enjoy our hot chocolate made by Sarah. We all went to bed at 10 after being told that we were to get up at 7.30. The next day we were all up with bed hair and sleepy eyes packing our sleeping bags and pajamas ready for our next activities.We each had cereal and then cooked eggy bread with beans. We then took turns to wash up and clean the kitchen. - Marcus

After breakfast, we cleaned up and then learnt about challenging behavior. This included low-level disruption and not agreeing to the success criteria. After this, we had a quick break and learnt about choking and asthma attacks. Now we can save people who are dying, yay!!! Soon we will be going to the park to have fun! - Jack

At 11:30 we went to the park! We went to the skateboard park and we ran up and down the ramps. There was a zip wire that we went on but it wasn't very fast! Next we went in the children's play park and James got stuck in some tires! Its was really funny! - Polly

After the park we came back to the lodge to get ready to eat our lunch. We had bacon sandwiches, and apple and a Brunch bar after that we had a Patrol Forum where we talked about how we could make the camp better next time. At the end we gathered round the flag and had Flag down, then we left. - Joe

Thanks to Joe for starting the plan, Jack, Kathleen, Polly, Imogen, Lara & James for organising the camp - and also a huge thank you to Darren, Tom, Tris & Sarah for coming along to train!

Canine Partners visit 3rd Romsey

Last week, one of our parents called Jo brought along a very special guest - Indigo. She is an adorable chocolate Labrador who is busy training to be a Canine Partner, to help make life easier for disabled people. Jo told us all about the work of canine partners and showed all the different things that Indigo has been trained to do. She can collect keys, roll over, and sit really quietly while there were lots of distractions from us! We asked lots of questions and got a chance to stroke her. She was really soft.

Thanks to Jo and Canine Partners for coming along.

Sarah Beaman

3rd Romsey Scout Leader - Ashanti Troop

1st Romsey - half term Challenge Camp

The start of the half term saw the keenest youngsters from 1st Romsey out and about, sharpening their mapping and camping skills.
 
The event started with a hike form the Romsey HQ to the campsite in Lockerly largely via the Test Way, up to Mottisfont and then via HAtt farm Lane and the north woods. 

 The tracks in Squab wood proved a bit of a test for our supposedly more experienced map readers who had struck off ahead, and they reached the lunch time rendezvous about half an hour after the rest of the group. The story of the tortoise and the hare comes to mind. Still with the aid of VHF radios and tracking equipment, no one was lost for long. The going was quite muddy and a very intimidating pheasant blocked the path at one point, but once everyone had arrived, tents were pitched and a fire prepared for dinner of curry with rice to be cooked. 

A cooked breakfast in the morning and the camp  essentially divide into two - one group building a mud oven (more about this later) and the other group building a monkey bridge - a good chance to make use of block and tackle and ground anchors. Everyone who wanted to do so had a go on it, including a couple of dads who turned up in plenty of time, though had we been staying longer I think we would have made a more complex one..

Chicken for lunch was fully cooked in the oven, but given the time and rather wet state of the firewood, the decision was taken to cheat a bit and use the oven in the hall to kick start the jacket potatoes and crumble, - all learning  recipes and techniques that were new tricks for many of the scouts. 

Once up and running well the tin plate chimneys on the oven roar reassuringly, like a small jet engine, though fine temperature control is an art.

After lunch it was time to strike camp, and with very welcome parental help to get kit into cars and so forth, however, before we left we had one last extremely important event, as our yougest camper was formally invested before closing camp.

Then homeward to baths and beds.

Many thanks again to those Leaders and parents who made it possible, and of course to all those Scouts who came, and I hope enjoyed it.


Mike P_J (ASL 1st Romsey )

PS If anyone from another group or section fancies borrowing the kit of parts for building the oven to have a go themselves, please contact Mike Page-Jones at First Romsey. (Though a donation of a couple of quid to cover the inevitable deterioration of the steel  would be appreciated .)

Romsey District Founders Day Walk

A walk to celebrate Founders Day, and a pub lunch before the heavy rains came.

Beaver Party

On Saturday 31^st January, the Beavers party took place at Crosfield hall, Romsey. Upon arrival, the Beavers were greeted by some very smiley and enthusiastic Beaver leaders all ready for an afternoon of fun and games.

The event started with some games whilst everyone arrived. Once all were there, the Beavers were led by Sue, District Beaver leader in singing songs with actions. She was helped by Kerrie, 21^st Leader and the young leaders.

The Beavers then were split into teams and played several games lead by Kate, 15^th Leader aided by all other leaders.  All the children enjoyed themselves and even the young leaders joined in.

The Beavers then went on to have food and drink which went down really well, during which Bertie the Beaver, the District Beaver Mascot paid a visit to see what his friends were up to.

After finishing their food, the Beavers were treated to a Marionette puppet show about a missing reindeer and a circus. The children were so engaged with the show we could hear their shouting in the other room. Even the leaders who sat at the back enjoyed it.

During the afternoon the Mayors of Romsey and Test Valley came to see what the beavers were doing. Both really enjoyed their time with the Beavers.

As part of the event, the Beavers were asked to bring along some food items which they did in large amounts. This was part of their community badge and was for the local food bank.

I would like to thank all the leaders who helped at the event running games, making the drinks and getting the food ready as well as helping to tidy up at the end and load all the food into my car. 

Tony Moles
ADC Beaver Scouts

3rd Romsey Scouts Parents Pancake Party

 

After weeks of planning - tonight was the night!  Invites had been written & sent, responses received.  Menus had been discussed, changed, amended again and then finally agreed on.  Sketches had been (quickly) rehearsed.  Shopping had been done.

The hall was full of Scouts & parents waiting to sample the delights of the PPP!

We appreciate the parents & siblings coming - it was lovely having you there - we hope you enjoyed it.

 

Thank you to the Scouts for doing what needed doing and being good about it!  A huge thank you to Shona & Tris who had the unenviable task of being in a very hot kitchen supervising the Scouts make 4 different toppings, cook over 100 pancakes - and topping the pancakes successfully!!  Lastly thank you to Alex & Joe, my Young Leaders, for keeping the squash flowing and taking/counting the votes.

 

Well done to Eagles & Kestrels who were joint winners of the competition for the best filling - all voted for by the parents.  The evening was slightly manic - but good fun!

Usually we ask a Scout to write the report for the evening, tonight it was written by a parent volunteer.......

An enjoyable evening with sumptuous pancakes and a truly mouth-watering experience with rip roaring skits – going home on a sugar rush and not feeling guilty because I had my 5-a-day!

 

THE MENU!

 

 

Sarah Beaman

3rd Romsey Scout Leader - Ashanti Troop