Kingswood 2022

This year’s group camp event took place at Grosvenor Hall, Ashford which is an outdoor activity centre.   The event was subsidised from a Co – op Grant we had received during lockdown.  The camp is a great way to strengthen the bonds between the sections of the group and for the first time our new Explorer Unit was able to take part.

Kingswood who ran the event are able to provide a number of challenging, fun and high adrenaline activities which encourage teamwork, team leadership and problem solving skills.   Over the course of the weekend, all sections had a good mix of these and many of our members challenged themselves and overcame fears and proudly achieved things they never thought possible.

The Beavers and Cubs were introduced to Fencing as a new sport whilst the Explorers spent an afternoon on the water using their pioneering skills and building a raft and playing team games until it was time to return for hot showers and hot drinks.     All sections had problem solving and team building exercises including tower building, making bridges to move your team across without touching the floor and the scouts put their pioneering skills to the test by building buggies and playing skittles in them.       The Beavers and Cubs had fun in the lazer zone and crate stacking, many achieving a personal best on height before the stack comes crashing down.           Cubs, Scouts and Explorers also took part in High All Aboard, being another tricky climbing activity involves 2 people climbing a telegraph pole to reach a platform at the top and completing challenges whilst up there, not an easy feat on a windy day.   I think all enjoyed the zip wire and the scouts and explorers enjoyed the 3G swing, encouraging leaders to have go, enjoying a good scream on the way down.      

It is refreshing for the leaders not to have to plan and run the activities, however the camp remains a marathon ensuring that their charges are in the right place at the right time and have all been fed and watered.  Independence is a key element and this starts immediately on arrival.  What was lovely to see  this time was our explorers stepping up (without being asked) and assisting the beavers and cubs to put on their duvets and make their beds, helping at meal times by assisting with drinks and finally bedtimes, also encouraging the younger members to go to sleep.  

Thank you to the staff of Grosvenor Hall for making our weekend, enjoyable and catering for our many different needs within the group.   

Beavers

Cubs

Scouts & Explorers