News Archive
22nd World Scout Jamboree
Five representatives from Haslemere and District, part of a contingent of 81 from Surrey, will be off to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Rinkaby, Sweden, on 25th July for 3 weeks, making up a contingent of 40,000 young people and adults from 150 countries. The 3 weeks will include 2 days enjoying the sights Copenhagen, and after the Jamboree itself 3 days staying with Scout families spread over 18 different European countries. The Haslemere and District Scouts will be staying with families in Sweden & Finland.
Eighteen months ago, following an exhaustive selection day at Hindhead, Haslemere’5 participants were chosen, and since then they have been busy fundraising, and attending training camps and getting to know you events in Surrey and Brownsea Island in Dorset. Jamborees do not come cheap, almost £3,000 each, and a third of this was contributed from Haslemere and District’s funds.
The lucky ones are Rabbie McGowan (Grayshott); James Knatt (1st Chiddingfold); Emily Collins-Wingate (1st Fernhurst); Matthew Slade & Michael Stanley (1st Haslemere).
With just 16 days to go they attended their final briefing on 9th July.
There are few events that rival a World Scout Jamboree, held every 4 years. From its beginnings in the 1920s during the aftermath of the First World War, the Jamboree has grown to become one of the largest, most diverse gatherings of young people anywhere in the world.
There will be 89 units comprising 36 participants aged 14-18 each with 4 Leaders, plus another 772 support staff. Rabbie & Matthew are in Surrey Unit 1; Emily & Michael are in Surrey Unit 2; and James is in the Combined Counties Unit (Surrey, Kent, Hampshire & Dorset).
We wish them well and are sure that they will all have an unforgettable experience, which they are going to tell us all about on 16th November at a District gathering.
1st For Grayshott Beaver Scouts
Overnight on Saturday 18th June Grayshott Beaver Scouts spent the night under canvas outside their Headquarters. Following a recent change in the Scout Association rules allowing Beaver Scouts (6-7 years) to camp, Grayshott were the first in Haslemere and District to do so. Before the change they were only allowed to sleepover indoors.
The camp was a pirate themed camp with activities including a treasure hunt; and a pirate quiz where Beavers had to walk the plank. Games included sticking an eye patch on a pirate, mutiny on the high seas, feeding the shark, and musical islands. 
The camp fire was enjoyed by all with songs, stories, and hot chocolate. In theory lights out was 10.00 p.m. but it was 1.00 a.m. before it was quiet. A good old English fry up for breakfast including bacon, egg, sausage, and beans, finished off a great weekend.
The weather wasn't great but it didn't dampen their enthusiasm at all, and they are already talking about more camps.
Scoutabout 2011 25th June
Here are a few pictures of Haslemere and District either running bases or showing what a poineering lot we are!
Please feel free to suggest captions!
My apologies to any group I haven't snapped. Let me have a couple and I'll add them in!
Scout Muir Trophy 2011
On Wednesday 8th June at the 1st Camelsdale H.Q. and Camelsdale recreation ground, in between torrential downpours, Patrols of 6 Scouts from Troops in Haslemere District competed for the coveted "Muir Trophy". Each of the 6 activities which the Patrols rotated around, had to be completed in 15 minutes, and were very much based on team work. These included a vertical tube perforated with a lot of holes with a ball in the bottom. Using a watering can the object was to fill the tube whilst covering the perforated holes, and float the ball to the top, but some Patrols found it almost impossible and got soaked into the bargain.
Building a shelter using a tarpaulin was another activity. Then a spider's web of rope between trees with Scouts having to get through gaps without touching the rope. Each gap could only be used once. Some discovered the best way was to dive through headlong into a somersault. Then there was a mapping exercise; the building of a "skylon" complete with flag (no Scouts would remember the Festival of Britain even if the DC was actually there!); and building of a 2 wheeled cart to transport one member round a given course.
All great fun despite the weather.
1st Fernhurst were the eventual winners with 56 points and were presented with the trophy by the District Commissioner Frank Kitchener.
Other results were 1st Chiddingfold 50, 1st Camelsdale & 1st Haslemere each with 44, 1st Hindhead with 32, and Grayshott with 30.
1st Hindead Pack
During their Pack meeting on 9th May, 23 of the 24 Cub Scouts in the Pack spent the evening outside their Headquarters building a monkey bridge, a practice run for the District camp in September when pioneering will be one of the activities. All had a great time building the bridge intended to take one person at a time, but the Cubs decided to give it a real test and all got on it. It creaked a little but survived, so quite a feat of bridge building, with badges gained by all.
