1st St Andrew's Porthill Scout Group

Scout Camp

Nick Wood — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:14:11 +0000

This weekend some of the Scouts are on camp.
So far today, the Scouts have done their knife and axe and had a paddle in the stream.
As usual it’s raining and the Scouts are standing round poking the fire!
After lunch they will be making shelters to sleep in tonight.

Posted from the campsite!

Scout Hike & Camp

Nick Wood — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:56:51 +0000

The Scouts have recently completed a backpacking trip. They set out and hiked to their campsite, a farmer’s field, and then hiked back the following day.

This means that all who attended have now earned their Expedition Challenge badge!

More photos in the Gallery.

Family Camp Video

Nick Wood — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:08:26 +0000

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

2010 AGM

Nick Wood — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:06:35 +0000

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

Church Summer Fair

Nick Wood — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:17:27 +0000

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.

New Look to the Site

Nick Wood — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:29:35 +0000

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!

Our 2nd Family Camp

Nick Wood — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:30:03 +0000

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.

Lots of Activities

Nick Wood — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:36:20 +0000

All three sections of the Group have been busy recently.

The Scouts spent an evening a Kidsgrove Group’s climbing wall.

The Cubs spent an evening investigating Westport Lake.

And the Beavers spent an afternoon playing football.

You can see photos of all these activities in the Gallery.

A Well Deserved Award

Nick Wood — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:27:30 +0000

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

Congratulations Kevin!

Visit by Oxfam to Cubs for Global Challenge Badge

Nick Wood — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 18:21:38 +0000

The Cubs had a visitor from Oxfam so they could complete their Global Challenge badge. They learned about what Oxfam does and who they help and made a totem pole to illustrate all of Oxfam’s activities.

All the Cubs have now completed this badge – congratulations to them all.

More photos in the gallery

Forest camp and Dragon Boating March 2010

Paul Hickton — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:45:40 +0000

This camp was the first time Porthill Scouts have been to Forest Camp site in Cheshire and I would like to thank Basford Scouts for inviting us. We all arrived safely and got the tents up, made a fire, played a wide game and then went to bed.

In the morning we could see how beautiful the site was, with its pine trees and peat bogs. Unfortunately, one of our leaders on their first outdoor camp has an allergy to pine trees.

We had a great day of activities which in the picture gallery and enjoyed some good food. We had an early night due to the fact the clocks went forward and we needed to be off the site by 9am, which we did and headed to Chester for the Dragon boat fun day.

The fun day was extremely fun, but very competitive. Even as complete novices, we managed to win one race, which got us into the final, which we won!!

A great day and fantastic weekend was had by all. A huge thanks to all the parents for getting up so early Sunday morning to collect the Scouts to take them to Chester.

A Generous Donation

Nick Wood — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:58:17 +0000

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

Dragon Boat Racing

Nick Wood — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 04:05:46 +0000

The Scouts recently spent the weekend camping and racing Dragon Boats in Chester with our friends from 14th Basford Scout Troop.

We are pleased to say that our Scouts won! Well done to all who took part.

Photos are in the Gallery. More photos are on Basford’s site.

Bag Packing

Nick Wood — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:54:26 +0000

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!

New Trailer

Nick Wood — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:25:21 +0000

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.