Since the last report we’ve had the Scout Car Race, Canoe Tests and Summer Camp! I am pleased to report that the following Scouts achieved their BCU 1 Star Standard: Nick Jefferies, William Ford and Rob Sadler; Michael Gostling, Nick Jefferies achieved the BCU 2 Star. Well done to them all! Then it was off to Dovedale for Summer Camp. The week’s programme was as follows: Saturday and Sunday - travel and establish the campsite including patrol kitchens and a raft race using the river onsite. Monday and Tuesday - activities; climbing, canoeing and mountain biking. We also undertook the Pioneers Badge for all attendees. Thursday - Day Hike, Friday - swimming and break camp, Saturday - travel home. The Patrol Leaders also undertook a 36 hour expedition and this went well despite a storm on the first afternoon. The highlight of the week was the Pioneers Badge as each Scout has to learn how to whip the end of a rope and how to splice a rope. This is not easy but all found it interesting with some moving on to attempt more complicated versions of these tasks. Some of you may remember this as part of your Scouting. In September Jack Warner tried to defend the Troop as holders of the District Fishing Competition trophy but was unable to do this single-handed. The Troop is planning for the Night Hike and will be undertaking a camp at the Scout Centre at the end of the month.

Since the start of the year we have entered two District competitions, the Scouting Skills, coming fifth and the First Aid, coming second. Well done to the team of Alex Ackland, Jack Warner, Michael Gostling, Mark Woodrow, Edward Carruthers and Tom Guyatt. The Troop also entered Scout in the District Cross Country Run, coming second, well done to Alex Ackland, Jonny Vivas and Edward Gladigau. We welcome four new recruits to the Troop, Alexander Tretow-Busellato, Mark Kelly, Dominic Jefferies and Jack Noble So, what do the scouts think of the new Scout Centre? Well, they certainly had an enjoyable Pancake evening the other night, utilising the fantastic kitchen facilities. One scout wrote the following about the new centre: “It is one of those projects which you think will never happen, it’s just an idea. I pass it every day on the way to school and I still do not think of it as a Scout Hut but more of a house, not a junk yard where boys come and play.” “I went to see our new Scout Centre for the first time, no wallpaper flaking off - instead crisp, new, modern wallpaper pasted on, no cracks in the walls, spacious rooms for storage, a balcony for parents to watch their children, and the grounds are huge - perfect for camping and WIDE games.” “The new Scout Centre has not only improved our facilities it has also improved our scouts, more people are coming to the sessions which are more enjoyable, more vibrant and enthusiastic. The building has helped to regroup the scouts of Claygate for the better." Hugh Gostling,  Scout Leader