Nov 04 2019
The Cubs have been busy making poppies for display in Church on Remembrance Day.
You can see the rest in the gallery.
Don’t forget you can find out about our Scouts who were sadly killed in WW1 and WW2 on our online memorial site. You can also find out about the Porthill Memorial and about the men commemorated on it.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/11/04/the-cubs-make-poppies/
Oct 12 2019
Last night the Group had a Bingo evening and the Annual General Meeting.
We had a full hall with everyone playing bingo. As well as playing for some rather good prizes, everyone had barbecued burgers and hot dogs!
During a break in the bingo, the Group’s Annual General Meeting was held. As part of the AGM the Beaver, Cub and Scout of the Year awards were presented. Congratulations to this year’s winners.
We also had a presentation by Jasmine, who told us all about her adventures at this year’s World Scout Jamboree.
A raffle was held and we made over £100 for Group funds!
Thank you to everyone who came and especially to everyone who helped with the evening and took part in the AGM.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/10/12/2019-10-11-bingo-and-agm/
Sep 29 2019
Well done to the Cubs who took part in the District’s Cub swimming gala last night. Cub Leader Sharon, was very proud of them all! Our Cubs came 5th out of 9 teams.
St Giles came 1st, Basford & Whitmore 2nd and Westlands came 3rd.
More photos are in the gallery.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/09/29/2019-district-cub-swimming-gala/
Sep 22 2019
Yesterday in Newcastle town centre, it was the annual Grow Fest (formally Food Fest) and the Drums were there to entertain the shoppers. They were there as part of the District’s participation in the event to raise money for Scouting and to raise awareness of Scouting in our local community.
As part of the day, various Scouting awards were made by our County Commissioner Jackie Brocklehurst, The Worshipful the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Councillor Simon White & Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire Mr Ian Dudson. One of these was a 5 Year Service Award to Alan Banks – congratulations Alan and thanks you for the last 5 years!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/09/22/grow-fest-2019/
Sep 19 2019
Our old friends in Potteries North District are putting on their Gang Show, Burdi Boys, in November. Our Beaver Leader Rachael and Scout Leader Paul are taking part again.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/09/19/burdi-boys-2019/
Sep 02 2019
The talented members of our Drum Corps were out playing again this weekend. They played at Eyam Carnival in Derbyshire. As usual they wowed the crowds with their brilliant playing!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/09/02/2019-08-31-eyam-carnival/
Aug 23 2019
A video of the photos and videos from Jasmine’s trip to the 2019 World Scout Jamboree in the USA and Canada.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/08/23/world-scout-jamboree-2019/
Aug 09 2019
Jasmine and Staffordshire’s Scouts visited the world famous Niagara Falls on Wednesday.
After this they travelled back to New York to catch their plane home.
More photos can be seen in the Gallery.
The trip of a lifetime to the World Scout Jamboree in the USA is now coming to an end and they are all on their way home. The next WSJ will be in South Korea in 2023. Will any of our Scouts be attending this one?
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/08/09/2019-08-09-niagara-falls-and-back-home/
Aug 06 2019
After the closure of the Jamboree, Jasmine and the Staffordshire Scouts went on to Washington DC where on Saturday they did some sightseeing and visited the Smithsonian Museum.
On Sunday, the whole of the UK contingent, over 4000 Scouts, watched the Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Blue Jays baseball game. They gained a bit of attention when they stater to cheer the fielder Anthony Santander!
We were on stand 82. We had a really good view.
More photos are in the Gallery.
Yesterday, Monday, they went on a bus to Cananda crossing over the Niagra River.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/08/06/2019-08-06-wsj-washington-dc-baseball-oh-canada/
Aug 02 2019
Jasmine bumped into someone we know on Wednesday. Our old friend (oh, and County Commissioner!) Jackie Brocklehurst!
Today (2019-08-02) we leave site. The leaders wanted us up, dressed and packed for 6 am, this meant that we have to get up at 5 am. What didn’t help was last night we had the closing ceremony. But that was great because Pentatonix were there. We’re now off to Washington DC.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/08/02/2019-08-02-wsj-has-closed-now-on-to-the-next-adventure/
Jul 31 2019
A lot of the UK’s Scouts have been able to send video messages home via an American TV station local to the WSJ.
Sadly, their website is blocked in the UK as they’re not yet GDPR compliant(!).
However, see below!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/07/31/2019-07-31-message-home-from-the-wsj/
Jul 30 2019
Over the weekend of 12 – 14th July 2019, the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts of our Group, joined over 450 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from 13 other Groups from Newcastle District, for this year’s District Camp. This is only the third full District Camp in 12 years, so it was a special event.
The Cubs and Scouts arrived on the Friday evening, and after setting themselves up in their tents, they joined in with the rest of the camp in the opening ceremony.
Each of the Groups were given a Country to represent as the camp had an international theme partially due to the forthcoming World Scout Jamboree. The evening’s activity was a wide game for the whole camp! Following a lot of running around, it was time for supper and bed.
More Friday photos are in the gallery.
Everyone was up early on Saturday morning so we could get breakfast. This was cooked by a great cooking team in the Fox Glen. Food was served in two servings due to the large amount of people on camp, so after breakfast, our Group had a bit of free time before flag break. During this time, the Beavers arrived and just had enough time to get into their tents before flag break.
The mornings activities were based on the Groups countries. Our Group was representing France, so when we hosted the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from the other Groups, we got them to play boules! Our young people threw boomerangs, wrote in hieroglyphics, played cricket, had henna tattoos and played hockey.
Then it was lunchtime.
Following from lunch, we took part in an ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition. Our young people were split into teams and we had some Cubs from Basford join us. The competitions involved a lot of bouncy items and water (see the photos!).
Following tea, we took part in an international parade around the camp. Everyone dressed up in costumes from their countries and were led by the talented young people in our Drum Corps. The parade went over to the road to the Training Centre side of the camp for a huge campfire. Each Group performed a song or sketch. Due to Rachael losing her voice, Beth stepped into her shoes for the evening and led us and the camp in a rousing rendition of Frere Jacques!
The campfire finished and the fair opened. There were bouncy castles, slides, candy floss, trampolines, a BBQ and a live band. To close the evening there was a firework display.
More Saturday photos are in the gallery.
On Sunday, after breakfast, there was a short Scouts Own and flag break. Following this was the District’s world record attempt for the largest human Fleur De Lis (the scout symbol). At the time of writing, we are waiting for confirmation of the record!
The final event before the camp close, was a huge colour run for all the young people. They ended up covered in paint!
The camp was closed, thank you’s were said and everyone went home very tired!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/07/30/2019-district-camp/
Jul 29 2019
Jasmine has just sent through some more photos from the 2019 WSJ in America.
First, is the drawing done of Jasmine by one of the Polish Scouts last week.
Next are some pictures from Saturday (27th July) and today (29th July).
Photos can be seen ion the gallery – 27th July here & 29th July here.
Keep an eye open for more updates soon
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/07/29/2019-07-29-wsj-some-new-pictures/
Jul 26 2019
Yesterday, Thursday 25th July, Jasmine and the Staffordshire Scouts did some archery, which they all enjoyed. Later, they walked to one of the beautiful lakes on the site.
Today, Friday 26th July, has been Culture Day. Scouts from the different countries have been experiencing each other’s cultures.
When walking round, we stopped at Poland’s camp and I had a drawing done of me. Then at the USA’s camp we got hot dogs from the New York contingent. We then got chocolate from Brazil!
When we looking after our stand we gave out oatcakes, Marmite and we also played cricket!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/07/26/2019-07-26-wsj-a-quick-update/
Jul 24 2019
From Jasmine –
The opening ceremony was great. On the way down our unit was singing and we were louder than the US contingent behind us!
Some photos of the Opening Ceremony are in the gallery.
I am off site today (Wednesday 24th July) walking up Mount Jack.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/07/24/2019-07-24-wsj-opening-ceremony-todays-activities/
