The Scouts went geocaching around the Charlton area. Here’s what we found in our first cache. Then we split into groups and looked for others – one group found one more.

The Scouts cycled up from Hitchin, onto the ridge at the edge of the Chilterns at Offley. A bit further along the ridge, we enjoyed the long drop off the Pegsdon Hills to Pirton, and finished along the cycle path back to Ickleford and doughnuts.

The Scouts each spent half the evening rafting and half pioneering. The pioneers crossed a raging torrent (look closely at the bottom of the poles) by building a Scout transporter. After carefully testing it themselves, they decided it was safe for their leader to have a go.

The Scouts went up to a local camp site to practice fire lighting, and then have some wide games (outdoor games).

We hiked down from Offley to Hitchin in Patrols. Scouts identified various landmarks on the map before setting out, and photographed them with their phones as they reached each one.

Scouts tried their hands (and everything else) at sailing, bell boating and high ropes at Fairlands Valley in Stevenage. Previously we’ve had a dead calm and a thunderstorm; this time there was more than enough wind, so the instructors brought out the larger boats.

We went out onto Butts Close for a game of rounders.

If we’re not careful, we can do lots of activities and not realise that we have completed requirements of our Challenge Awards. Scouts spent a while in Patrols, reviewing what they had done recently and making sure that it had been recorded properly. Now we’re off to the District badge shop to stock up for a presentation!

With 19 Scouts, and a lot more Cubs and Beavers, going to the District Activity Weekend, the Troop went up to the site for the evening to pitch about 24 tents that the Group would need to accommodate everyone.