Carnival 2016 - A Scout in Space

Top 3 lamp-post design

This weekend was the annual Whaley Bridge Carnival and, once again, it was a great success. The rain just about held off and the children had a great time.

Can we send out a quick, but huge, thank you to all those who contributed to the carnival float and lamppost this year. We achieved a 1st prize for the float and a 3rd for the lamppost, these are results to be proud of and it would not have happened if it were not for a lot of effort behind the scenes pulling everything together (quite literally up to the last minute!). It was really great to see so many parents coming down to help on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Finally, thanks to the kids who turned out brilliantly dressed for the occasion - there's no point having a float if there's nobody to fill it!

Already looking forward to next year! Here are a few more photos of the day.

A salute to a Scout in Space!

Crowds were lining the streets

The winning float in all its glory

Why have no children heard of the 'Men in Black'???

Beaver Scout Garden

The Beaver Scout Pack at Taxal now have their own little garden. At the start of term all of the Beavers were given a plant pot and some soil, they each planted 4 seeds:  a nasturtium, a courgette,  a broad bean and a sunflower. They took the pots home and cultivated them for a few weeks before bringing them back to the hut last week to plant them out.

All of them had taken fantastic care of the plants and we will now watch them grow over the next few weeks. 

100 Years Cub Camp

Last weekend was the High Peak District Camp which celebrated 100 years of Cub Scouting, held at the beautiful Gradbach Scout Camp above Buxton. 

The Cubs had a fantastic time, mingling with other packs from around the area and trying out lots of new activities based on 'flight'. 

They learnt to parachute, safely rescue the injured, build shelters and survival techniques. They fired pop-bottle rockets and did archery. Flew homemade kites and paper aeroplanes and watched a fantastic bird of prey display. 

We planted 100 trees all around the site, along with a commemorative Yew Tree at the site's chapel which was blessed during the closing ceremony. 

Overall it was an exhausting weekend but fantastic fun for all involved!

A model Spitfire at the camp entrance

One of the home made kites flying high

A Harrison Hawk

Whittling wood

Lighting a fire

Tying a Highwayman's Hitch

The commemorative Yew Tree

A very tired cub!

1st Taxal Scouts' AGM

Dear Parents,

We would like to invite you to the first ever Group Presentation Night and AGM at the Scout Hut on Thursday 12th May. The evening will be a review of the many activities each section has taken part in along with the presentation of Chief Scouts Awards to some of the young people in the Group. 

The Chief Scouts Award is the highest award which can be achieved in each section and recognition of a young person completing a number of activities and challenges. If your child is to receive a Chief Scouts Award you will be informed under separate email.

The evening will commence from 6:45pm with refreshments, ready for a 7pm start. We are aiming to close the evening at 8pm. 

Please come along and see what the Group has been involved in over the last year. 

Yours in Scouting

Steve Sidebotham                                    Linda Birch
Group Scout Leader                                   Ass. Group Scout Leader

Spring time in Whaley

Well, Spring has sprung once more!!!

The daffodils that Beavers have been planting in the Memorial Park for the last two years have burst into life and look glorious in the sunshine.

Thanks to all the Beaver Scouts involved.

Paul Evans, the Park Keeper, is thrilled with the results and has invited us to plant even more in the Autumn.

Scout Carpenters?

The finished article

Just before Easter the Scouts had a go at making their very own camping chairs. Armed with basic tools and a few scraps of wood we think they did pretty well. Although, admittedly, they don't look the comfiest!

Hard at work

Creeping Toad Cubs

Gordon "Toad" from "Creeping Toad" came along one evening last term to meet the Cubs with many different types of animal skulls. The cubs then tried to identify the animals & had a lesson on how to draw a skull. 

A fantastic evening was had by all. Thanks again Toad