New Year Resolution

Hope everyone enjoyed the Laserquest party.
Have you got your permission form in for the Edale Camp? Have you got all your equipment & food ready? It's going to be very cold and wet, we are providing a 24hr ration food pack, the rest is up to you! There is one shop which will probably be closed... Got a little walk planned for Saturday.
Still waiting for our DC to tell me which necker we have chosen, need some logo pictures for the back of the neckers though.
WINTER RUN-AROUND Sat 9th February 2008 Teams should be of a minimum of 4 and maximum of 7 who's up for it?
Any interest in a summer camp @ Cherrygarth with a day out at Pleasure Island

Thanx

Darfield & Hoyland Explorers had a good weekend helping out at Winter Wonderland. I'd like to thank you all, especially Arthur for coming in fancy dress (the Mud Monster from the Black of Beyond). This Tuesday remember we meet @ Darfield, Arthur asks 'not before 8pm'. Need £5 deposits on Tuesday from everyone wanting to go on the Laser Quest Xmas party on 16.12.07.
January's freezer camp is coming together, again more info on Tuesday.
Need your ideas of what you would like to do next year. I've been asked for a trip to the pictures on a meeting night?
Are you all on for a challenge weekend hosted by the fellowship next year? Not enough in our District so what about asking Central as well?
T.T.F.N.

Silverwood Scout Challenge 17th November 2007

Fitzwilliam Explorers - Hoyland & Wombwell sections held their challenge at Silverwood. Four teams of Cubs & Scouts (10 to 14 years) took part in firelighting, pioneering, tent-erecting, first aid, and a rope trail. Congratulations to Ardsley who triumphed in four out of the five challenges, and took the overall prize.

Thanks are due to the Explorers who organised and ran the event, assisted in fine style by the Fellowship who were on hand to fish people out of the boating lake, provide drinks for everybody, and to douse smouldering Cubs. Most importantly, the Fellowship were the only ones who could remember how to put up a bell tent!

Thanks as well to Tim from Central for giving his first-aid expertise: Ashley’s nasty-looking compound leg fracture (did he get it falling out of bed?) received such good treatment throughout the day that, by 4p.m., it was completely cured!

The pie & peas and hotdogs…eventually! were enjoyed by everyone and with a fantastic contribution from Kate’s brantub we almost broke even. Not to worry, because George was a terrific Master of Ceremonies at the campfire singalong, with the prize for best guy going to Hoyland’s cyborg-cum-yeti in the Beaver Challenge. The trophy for fastest sprint went to the Explorers when they were asked to perform a song.

Many thanks to Barry for the use of Silverwood’s excellent facilities and we hope to see everyone again at the next challenge!

Chris too

What's happening?

I have been asked not to mention the swimming gala, but congratulations to Mike, Denise, Vaughan, Ian, Jo, Keith and myself. Come on you Leaders! Next year what about Beavers v Explorers?

Ready for this weekend and the Scout challenge? I've not had many parental consents - no form = no stay!

Still waiting for Tamsin to book the Christmas party on the 16^th December.

Ideas for next year - what about a camp @ Walesby with mountain biking @ Sherwood Pines and the Go Ape course? http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandNottinghamshireSherwoodForestSherwoodPinesForestPark

Another thought is Cherrygarth @ Cleethorpes & the theme park http://www.pleasure-island.co.uk/

Anybody been to Xscape http://www.xscape.co.uk/snow/castleford

Update

Congratulations to the Explorers from Wombwell on their Apex result!
But will they be so strong at the swimming competition? Dusting off the cobwebs from my old bathing costume, come on you Leaders!
18.11.07 is fast approaching we have 3 teams from Hoyland, 1 team from Wombwell, but what about Ardsley & Darfield? I've still not got any parental consent forms, so come on guys if you're wanting to stay the weekend...
The next district joint Explorer meeting is Weds 07.11.07 @ Wombwell (hope you told your Leaders guys, so it isn't a shock). Need some ideas from everyone on stuff to do for next year.

Chris MOORE

Apex Challenge Results

Well done Wombwell Explorers for coming a very respectable 26th out 55 teams in this year's Apex Extreme Challenge event. The full results are now online here

The next event is the Apex Overnight Challenge on the weekend of 10th and 11th May 2008.

Kayaking

Anyone interested in kayaking? If so, let Chris Moore know an he will book some star training

District Neckers

How are the District Necker designs going? Not long until December when we have to choose one! Any chance of getting me a copy of your Explorer logo (.jpg pic’s)?

Christmas Party

We're planning an Explorers Xmas party , Sunday 16 December. Laser Quest @ Sheffield followed by a Chinese eat as much as you can Buffet. Details to follow (as soon as Tamsin lets us know).

Swimming Gala

Swimming Gala, Wombwell Baths Sat 10 November. The gauntlet has been thrown down! Explorers v Leaders. Get those Leaders dusted down, scrubbed up and ready for racing the Explorers in a 4-length relay. Losing team to perform 10 press-ups on the bath side!

Offers

From time to time the Scout Association teams up with other organisations to provide special offers and discounts. You can find details of the latest offers, including for example, 10% discount at Millets, here.

Latest Explorer Supplement

You can download a pdf version of the latest Scouting Magazine Explorer Supplement from here

Scout Challenge

November 17^th is fast approaching! As you know, the Explorers have invited older Cubs and Scouts (10 to 14 years old) to a series of challenges @ Silverwood Scout camp, commencing 10am, finishing at 5pm. Groups are invited to enter teams of five persons at a cost of £1 per person. Additional persons may make up a ‘district team’ to avoid disappointment.

I need completed parental consent forms from anyone wanting to stay over as crew, available from here . Please return completed forms to mooresoft@hotmail.co.uk ASAP.

Scouts having attained the age of 14 years are invited to come and join the Explorers in running the event; we have asked the Fellowship to help also.

Cubs and Scouts will need their own packed lunch; free hot drinks will be provided throughout the day.

Not many groups have replied with the number of 10-14 year olds, who will be attending the Scout Challenge on Sat 17.11.07. Can you please ask your leaders to let me know, so I can work out how many activities to prepare!

District Bonfire

Also on 17 November, and following on from the Scout Challenge, everyone involved in Fitzwilliam Scouting is invited to a District bonfire event starting at 6pm the same date. Hot dogs and hot drinks will be for sale. Groups will be expected to perform a campfire stunt/song and may put on a stall etc, the sale of any goods going to that group. A trophy will be given to the Beaver group that brings/makes the best Bonfire Guy. (The Beaver Challenge Trophy)

Fireworks will not be allowed, in compliance with Health & Safety. Sparklers will only be allowed under careful adult supervision.

No groups have yet told me what tables they hope to put on at the District Bonfire to raise funds. Hope the Beavers are getting those Guys made!

Hi

For some strange reason I have agreed to do the job of DESC. What's that? Someone everyone else complains to and asks's for help... For those of you who don’t know me yet I’m Chris MOORE T:07881511550 e: mooresoft@hotmail.co.uk. I used to be a cub, scout & venture @ Thurnscoe, I then had a break from scouting to concentrate on work and start a family, and now through my own 3 children, have been dragged back into scouting.

Scouting for me is about having fun and doing ‘stuff’ that you wouldn’t otherwise get chance to do. I’d like to make this blog an information centre, link to useful sites/info and calendar of forthcoming events.

02.10.07 7pm @ Elsecar Heritage - Explorer/Fellowship meeting

05-07.10.07 @ Hesley - Explorer Camp/Climbing

10.11.07 evening @ Wombwell - Swimming Gala

14.10.07 midday @ Silverwood - Cross Country

11.11.07 - St Georges day parades

17.11.07 - Scout Challenge & Bonfire @ Silverwood

December 07 Explorer Xmas party

31.12.07 New Years Eve Disco/party

Spring 08 Fellowship Challenge

We need to know what ‘stuff’ you want to do, to start planning a yearly calendar.

Apex Extreme Challenge

We're looking for teams of four Explorer Scouts to take part in the Apex Extreme Challenge on 12-14 October 2007. This is a not-to-be-missed event and places are limited. If you're interested in taking part let us know as soon as possible, even if you can't get a full team together. Visit the Apex Challenge website for more details.

Update, 20 September: There is less than one month to go now until this year's Apex Extreme. Teams are entering daily. More than 200 Explorers and Network members are expected at this year's event, which takes place on Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire.

For the first time this year's Apex Extreme will feature several activities from a British Army regiment, including tough commando-style assault courses, a rotating climbing wall, and other incredible challenges.

Welcome to our new Blog

This blog is dedicated to Explorer Scouting in Fitzwilliam District. It's a forum for you all to use to pass on news and swap ideas with other Explorers in the District. You can use the Blog to tell us about any activities you're planning, or about things you've already done. Each post has a comments link so you can add your own thoughts.

To start blogging, you just need to request an invite by entering your email address in the 'Get Email Updates' box in the sidebar.