Archive for the ‘Group’ Category

At this year’s Family Camp, I managed to video a few of the activities.

In the video you can see the camp site in the rain (just for a change), the Beavers and Cubs making their pirate equipment, the BBQ and finally the full camp fire.

The video lasts about 40 minutes and does take a moment or two to load when you click play, so please be patient!

There is a shorter version on YouTube – click here

Last night was the Group’s Annual General Meeting.

As well as the ‘formal’ stuff, awards were given out. It was pleasing to see three Beavers get their Chief Scouts Bronze Award and the Cub of the Year Award presented (we really need to have Beaver and Scout awards as well!).

But it was also pleasing to see a A Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service given to the Group Treasurer.

Congratulations to you all.

More photos in the Gallery

Thanks to all who came and helped out on our bottle tombola at the Church’s summer fair yesterday.
The fair was a bit quieter than usual, so we only raised £28.60.

The site has had an update with a brand new look. The previous version has been around since 2008 (see below) and it was time for an new look! This is the 5th major update the site has had since 1999! See the bottom of this page on our history site for the first two versions. Version 3 wasn’t able to be archived properly, but you can take a look at it from 2007 on the Internet Archive.

Please leave a comment, contact us and / or use the poll on the left hand side to tell us what you think of the new look!

On the weekend of 28th – 30th May the Group held its second Family Camp (our first was for our Centenary in 2008). This time we stayed at Barnswood Scout Camp, which is near to Rudyard Lake.

Everyone arrived on the Friday evening (the majority of families having put their tents up the previous nights) and we soon started the weekend’s programme. First was a walk around the campsite as many people had never visited Barnswood before. This was followed by one of Paul’s special wide games! After this chaos subsided, it was time for supper and bed – where did the evening go?

Explaining the Wide Game

Saturday morning brought the rain! After cooking breakfast for 105 people (the most we’ve ever had on a camp!), we split into two groups. The Scouts and their parents lit fires and did some pioneering, while the Beavers, Cubs and their parents went down to Rudyard to go on the Lake on Bell Boats. To say it rained a lot would be an understatement and we got wetter from the rain than the lake!

Bell Boating

After lunch the Scouts went on the lake and the Beavers and Cubs got themselves painted with pirate faces and learned how to make secret messages, how compasses work and made their own telescopes.

Creating Secret Messages

By this time the rain had stopped and we prepared the BBQ. The BBQ was a huge success and we must have cooked well over 150 burgers and sausages!

Men BBQing (Rachael supervising obviously)!

Then it was time for part 2 of the wide game, a general knowledge quiz with questions for both adults and children (can you name the Titanic’s sister ships and do you know which country Dora the Explorer comes from?) and of course a campfire. The camp fire saw fine performances from a group of the Beavers and one of the Scouts did a solo turn. The rain even held off for most of it and just came on at the end. Then time for supper and bed.

The Campfire

Sunday began a bit more leisurely and after breakfast and flag break we held a Scouts Own and then invested one of the Beavers.

Beaver Investiture

Then it was a few quick games and activities, then packing and tidying, lunch, more packing and tidying, the close of the camp and home!

More photos are in the gallery.

Many congratulations to the Group’s treasurer, Kevin, who was given his 5 Year Service Award on Sunday, by the District Commissioner.

Congratulations Kevin!

The Group is extremely grateful to Churchill China for their generous donation of plates, bowls and mugs for our forthcoming family camp.

The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have been bag packing at Marks & Spencer today and we’ve made a whopping £579.12!

Many thanks to all who came and huge thanks to Sharon who organised it and Natasha who stayed all day!

The Group is pleased to announce that we have bought a new box trailer. This will enable us to take all the equipment for camps etc. in just one trailer, rather than lots of peoples’ cars.

We’d like to thank Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Community Chest programme for a grant towards the cost of the trailer.

I’ve recently found a few short videos of activities the Group has done in the past, so I’ve put them together and here they are.

They are not that great and not to be taken seriously, but are quite funny to watch!

A huge congratulations to our GSL and his wife for the birth of their beautiful baby…what a great end to the year!!

All the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Leaders and adult helpers from 1st Porthill Scout Group would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It’s nice to be able to mention a couple of items of good news.

First of all, one of our Scouts has just completed all the requirements to gain his Chief Scouts Gold Award. This is our first Scout to gain this award since we restarted the Troop in March 2007. And to compliment this, we have another Scout who isn’t that far off gaining his as well. Very impressive!

Secondly, one of our old Scouts, who is now an Explorer and a Young Leader with our Group, has been chosen to be in the group of Scouts representing Staffordshire at the 2011 Jamboree in Sweden. This is a great honour and a really exciting adventure for the Scouts who will attend and we’re all really proud that this particular Scout is going!

All we can say is ‘watch out Sweden!’.

Don’t forget that when you are doing your Christmas shopping, if you use our shop http://www.buy.at/porthillscouts , we get a percentage of the money you pay. It costs you nothing and all your favourite online retailers are available! So please do your Christmas Shopping via our shop and raise some extra money for the Group!

We are pleased to report that on Saturday 21/11/09, at the Church’s Christmas Fair, the Group raised over £60 on its Bottle Tombola stall for the Church.

Thanks to to all who came and took part.