Survival Camp (OCTOBER 2012)

Eleanor Pettem

A.P.L of Eagles

We arrived at the scout hall at 9:00 am on Saturday 13^th October. We left about an hour later, to go to Frylands Wood. When we got there, we put up tents straight away, ate lunch, and then did some bivouac building. I was with Harry and Ava when we did our bivouac, so Harry had to instruct us as he had a broken arm. Pretty soon, it started to pour with rain, and our bivouac fell down (the small part of it that we had made fell down). I think the other groups bivouacs were a success, and I could tell Ewan’s was, as his was right next to ours.

After the bivouacs, Estelle, Ava, Matthew and I started to cook dinner, working towards our cooking badges. We made potato and meat stuff. While we were cooking dinner, some of the P.L.’s had a go at gutting and cooking a fish. After dinner (and fish), we set some traps, and then headed towards the crater in one of the fields to play some games.

We played German Spotlights, and also a new version of man hunt. This was where a few people had to go and hide, and everyone else had to search the whole field to find them. It took quite a while to find Subs, and a few people walked right past him! When we had finished playing games, we headed back to the campfire to sing some songs, and a leader from another troop joined us.

Next morning, we ate breakfast (cooked by the same people). During the night it was very cold, later on we took down the tent, it had rained overnight, so we lay them out on a sunnier campsite so they could dry out. Then we loaded the van, packed up the tents, then headed back to Streatham. Over all lots of fun was had by all.

Great River Race (SEPTEMBER 2012)

Lewis Cox

(A.P.L of Kestrels)

On the 25^th of September the forth Streatham Sea Scouts set off on a race across London known as the Great River Race, it defiantly lives up to its name. The Scouts include: Myself, Ben, Ewan, Harry, Josh J, Johnny, Eleanor, Jake R and Mowgli as the cox. 

The Explorers (Freddie, Nathan, Mitch, Liam, Xander with Sub and Trick coxing) also took part in another one of our gigs (Thames Scout).

Friday 14th September

We arrived at the scout hall the day before and drove to the boat house, where we were briefed on the tide and safety in the boat. We went to bed early to get ready for the race (the excitement of the race kept us up a bit longer though).

Saturday 15th September

An early start, woken up with a daunting day ahead of us. This was my first GRR so I was excited to see just how the event ran. We were faced with a tire that after many hard years of tugging boats, popped into a useless layer of rubber. So with even harder determination to get this boat in the water we pulled our hardest and got the boat in and we were afloat by 07:00 hours. We had a tow by the Whaley across most of London and saw some amazing sites but in only a couple of hours we would be rowing our hardest the other way.

We arrived at the starting line. We got out the boat and looked around. They were offering free face paints so we all ended up with 4^th Streatham logo and iLTG on our faces (a lot of games were lost that day). After this the tide was rising quickly so we got back in the boat just as the last centimetres of shore were left.

The Race...

With might and determination we powered our way across the starting line and gave it all we could. It was an astonishing sight- more than 300 boats all in a small section on the Thames. Because of the fact that we were an under 14 crew up against fully grown men, women and Vikings. So we had a good head start and got to Tower Bridge before the sudden mass of boats starting flowing across the Thames for the hundreds of people on bridges to gaze down on us in awe. It was hard work. The water was all over the place and water was making our boat tip and turn. No wonder that 5 boats sunk before the race had even really begun. However in our gig we were safe.

We were making good time we were only a few minutes behind our set target. Though we were being taken over by boats left right and centre everyone had high spirits after the fist couple hours. I was surprised to see so many people in boats, one time I had to shout out to another boat as they were about to ram into our stern carelessly.

People started to get tired when we reached Putney. We were alone at this time, there were no other boats near us. We kept a steady row for a while more. We reached Richmond and we were attacked by vicious PIRATES! (Two men in a canoe and some water guns). We’d been slowly approaching this Viking boat for a while when we decided to put in some strength and overtake them. So not last but very close to last.

The tide changed on us, literally. So we had to row really hard to make any way. When we got to the last hundred metres and rowed with what little strength we had left and crossed the line. There was a massive crowd of people on the bank and it was really amazing to cross the line. It was defiantly better than I imagined. We completed the Great River Race in 5hrs 30mins and 45secs. Meaning we came third in the under 14’s class!!

The Disco

So after we got the boats docked up on the side. We went to the big marquee and had fun at the Disco. Lots of crews were in fancy dress. We danced for a couple hours, before everyone was so tired and we all went to sleep in our tents. 

Sunday 16th September

We rowed back and got the boats away at the boat house. We then headed home for a well deserved rest after a long weekend.

Thanks to the leaders for making this happen!

The Video...

Below is a video that we took of our epic journey during the race.

Cubs visit Pets at Home (SEPTEMBER 2012)

All the Cubs!

On Friday 14 September, the cubs went to Pets at Home. They were shown around the store, and where told about all the different animals in the store, and what they eat, how to look after them, and what types of cages or tanks they should live in.

One of their favourite facts was that Syrian Hammers could run at 200 mile per hour! And the Chinchilla can stead all their fur if they feel threatened. The following week at our meeting they did some drawings of the animals they saw.  

Scouts Summer Camp (AUGUST 2012)

By Ben Num
Patrol Leader of Kestrels

Friday 24th August.
We arrived…. LATE and it was already raining. Mud everywhere. Torches out, Ewan guided the mini bus up to the campsite. Straight away tents were being put up and the marquee was put up. We played around a bit, as we look forward to the week ahead.

Saturday 25th August.
In the morning we did the finishing bits to our tents, built a flag pole for the flag so we could have our first morning parade and then had breakfast, after that we planned a route for the Long Hike ahead of us. Druing the hike everyone got to a different stage.  Some stopped early and returned after a few hours, but others kept going. It was really late when everyone had gotten back. We had dinner, and sat around the camp fire for a while telling jokes and stories.

Sunday 26th August.
Breakfast, Parade, we were put into 3 groups instead of our patrols and off we went to our decided first activity. My first activity was pioneering where we made a bridge, after we did climbing on the climbing wall, Mowgli showed me how to belay and let me help with the rope work for other scouts who were climbing. Finally we also did rifle shooting, which was fun, and was indoors so got us out of the rain for a little while!                      

Monday 27th August.
Today is the day that we made rafts. We walked to the lake and there was our equipment so off we went and build 3 rafts (3 groups). 3 rafts were built and in the end 3 rafts failed but it was very fun. After all the rafts were dismantled. During the rafting Mowgli brought up the 10 man Life Raft from a boat, and went through some survival at sea exercises with us, we had to do a little course of what we did if we were abandoning a ship and we had to all get into the life raft after doing different positions in the water. We wanted to sleep onboard the raft that night, but couldn't as we found there was some holes in it, once we get them fixed Mowgli says we can spend the night in it on the water!

After we were all showered and clean we walked back up to the campsite where we began to get ready our equipment for cooking in our patrols, we had to do it reastraunt style and serve some customers!!! We cooked Chinese.          

Tuesday 28th August.
Today we are woken early because we are going to aqua sports centre, where we do sailing and kayaking. Our fist activity was kayaking, we paddled around and played some games. We made chariots where you have to people and two kayaks and you put them together. Before the end of the Kayaking we did an ALL-IN  capsized drill, where everyone has to  capsized and help rescue each other, and get everyone back into their kayaks in a fast time. This was our first time at doing an all in, and we did very well, and were all back in a kayak within 10 mins. Afterwards we had lunch and it was quite cold. Then we did sailing, first we sailed up and down the lake and then we did  capsized drills in the sailing boats too, and when through what we should do if it did happen. (luckily we had wetsuits on but the water was warm as well) we went back to the campsite after, and sat around the fire for a while singing songs.

Wednesday 29th August.
Mountain biking…It was an epic day of racing around different tracks, people falling off, and going over the handle bars (me) but overall it was a fun day what ever happened, and it was so muddy too! At some point the bikes sank and were stuck in the mud. We had to cycle across this bridge with no sides and if you fell off, splash in the river you would go! Luckly no one fell off!

Later that day… it was Patrol Cooking, make your own 3 course meal with a budget of £10.
I’m not sure about other groups but my group made, tomato soup followed by Chinese chicken stir fry and for pudding a nice sponge cake. And guess who won!!! Ravens (I was in Ravens).

Thursday 30th August.
This day started breakfast and parade like normal, then we were all told we were going swimming!!!
At the swimming pool people got told off a numerous number times for back-flips and front-flips. After we played a big game of volley ball in the pool!!! And after a play in the little pool a relay!!! After swimming we went to EVOLUTION climbing centre which was sooooo cool, it had no harness but just crash-mats and an upside down wall and this tunnel that people just casually jammed in! We kept on trying to complete one of the hard routes, where you climb up the centre wall, and swing across the ceiling with out dropping to the other wall, and then climb down, we all managed to go up and across   but then all fell on the downward incline of the second wall. It was very hard, but fun to watch everyone fall off.

On the way back we got chicken and chips but while we waited we went on to some grass and played football and benched people, when It was ready we headed back to the campsite to eat it around the fire.

Friday 31st August.
Our final full day of the camp, and off to the beach we went. We went to Hastings beach. Mowgli and Subs set us a Sand Castle Challenge, knowing full well there was no sand at Hastings! But some of us found some sand as the tide went out, and started to build some sandcastles. We then visited the ship-wreak museum which had lots of stuff from boats that had sank hundreds of years ago. Later we got to all split up and did our own things in smaller groups, first of all me and my friends went to McDonalds to get food, then we went to the casino and spent all our money and practically got nothing. After we met back up we all had a fish and chips supper on the beach and then headed back to the site.

Saturday 1st August.
When we got up we started to pack our kit away, and sort out packing the trailer. We were allowed to eat all the food that was left over from the week, which is always one of the best bit about camp. We finished packing away all the tents, and then swept the sight making sure all the littler had been picked up. When everything was done we had some free time, and were climbing in this tree, when the branch brakes and Jake falls out of the tree with a crash! When we were all ready to go, the mini bus wouldn't start so with all the scouts pushing it we manage to get it to start and then we set off for home!!!

Cub Summer Camp (JULY - AUG 2012)

Miranda Van Heel 

White Watch.

On Friday the 27^th of July the cubs went to Broadstone Warren for summer camp for 8 days! First we went on a hike. It was great fun but a bit tiring. Then the beavers came to camp, but they only stayed for one night.             

This years theme was Ancient Greek Olympics, and the 4 teams were, Sparta, Athens, Corinth and Megara. 

With the Beavers we did a course on the low ropes and none of the Cubs or Beavers managed not to fall off.   After lunch we went outside to work on our Athletics badge.  We had to run 1000 meters non-stop.  My sister Claire (a Beaver) came third, beating most of the Cubs including me!

After they left we split into two groups and went rifle shooting, and we did archery.  The instructor asked us not to aim at anyone else’s head….

We went on a treasure hunt and when we came back we played a game. Later we play Push Ball, the ball was huge, bigger than any of the cubs. 

Over the week we did lots of other activities like climbing, and built Umbrella rafts, which all sank!

On one of the days we went to the Lama Farm, were we got to stroke and feed the lama’s there. They were very friendly. In the evening it was raining very hard so we couldn't play out, so instead we build catapults out of bamboo and elastic bands, with a jelly pot as the shooter. We fired ping-pong (table tennis) balls at each other for hours. It was brilliant! 

Overall the camp was great fun, and we all enjoyed it very much and can’t wait to go on the next camp! 

          

Cub Boating Day (JULY 2012)

By Finn Morgann-Murrell

On Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th July I went on my first boating weekend with 4^th Streatham Cubs. It was an amazing experience for me!

I went to the Boathouse in Putney and I loved it so much that I can’t wait to go again! I did lots of different activities on the Thames including kayaking, power boating, stand-up paddle boarding, and rowing in both gigs and coypus. 

The first day it was raining lots and the next day it was nice and sunny. However, the rain did not bother us because we still had fun. My favourite activity was kayaking and, to be honest with you, there was nothing I didn’t like.

On the stand-up paddle boarding I fell into the Thames and although it was cold, it was also fun!

Kingston Regatta (JULY 2012)

By Harry Joseph - (A.P.L. Falcons)

On Saturday 30th June - Sunday 1st July our scout group went to the National Sea Scout Pulling and Kayaking Regatta in Kingston, London.

We met at the hall and packed all our equipment and personal kit into the trailer and headed off to what we never knew was going to be our BEST amazing performance yet!! We drove straight to the competition and found a nice place to sit down and watch the races.


Me and my friends Lewis and Jack were called up to do the under 12½ double dinghy heat and we won by a mile!!! We were so happy but tired and unfortunately the under 12½ gig heat with; Me, Lewis, Ben, Jake and Jack coxing us was straight afterwards. We went to the start line and started the race but as me and Lewis had just had a race and we were on 1st stroke and 2nd stroke (the 2 stronger rowers) we didn't have as much power as we should of, we could have won if we had a rest break, but we lost (Thought it was a close race). Ben Also took part in the under 12½ Kayaking heats. He came won his race and went through to the semi's as well.

The under 14 double dinghy crew was Hugo, big Jake with Stefan coxing. They did amazing and won by a mile as well!! So far a good competition for the double dinghy crews. The under 14 gig with Josh J, Ewan, Hugo, big Jake with Eleanor coxing them. They all pulled their hardest and came through with a great win! The under 14 kayak was Josh J, who unfortunately didn't win but he got through in the gig so he could still win a trophy.

After an amazing first day we drove back to our camp and pitched up all our tents and put our personal kit in them. Then with some shoes and cones we made 2 football goals and had a very long game of football and we have no idea who won. While some people were playing football some other people started to build a fire which they made HUGE!!! Meanwhile some leaders were getting us some fish and chips or sausage in batter. After eating all that we carried on to play football while Eleanor briefly died by the camp fire and we had to gather round in a circle round her while small Josh did his voodoo dance and raised her from the dead!! After a very tiring night we all went to bed and had a good nights sleep to get ready for the races the next day.

Sunday:

We woke up bright and way too early for another amazing day of rowing. The under 12½ double dinghy semi final was a breeze and yet again we won by a mile and got into the final!!!

The under 14 gig semi final was a great race and they won again and knocked Leander out of the gig section. The under 14 double dinghy semi final was another amazing win and they also made it to the final. So far 3 wins 3 finals!

The under 16 singles was Freddie and won his heat by a mile and made it through. Then in the under 16 single semi final got a great win and made it to the final, leaving the other boat far far behind again.

The under 16 gig with Freddie, Nathan, Liam, Jaz with Ben coxing but unfortunately they lost their race, but they did really well, and it was neck and neck all the way, Jaz who was 11 years old and rowing Bow Oar in their boat, did amazingly well too, to keep up with the big boys.

The under 18 single was big Josh S, who won his heat and got through to the semis! The under 18 gig with Josh S, Mitch, Xander and Ash with Johnny coxing and they won and got through to the semi final!

The under 12½ double dinghy were racing in the final but came 2nd because our boat got sabotaged and my oar came out twice, if it hadn't come out we would of won! But Mowgli and Sparks said we had perfect pulling all the way, and were very proud of us!

The under 14 double dinghy final was an amazing race and we won but the umpires said that leander won but thats a lie we won and we appealed but it didn't work and we were placed 2nd, even though everyones knows that we actually won. The under 14 gig final was another amazing race and beat them by a boats length and got the trophy!

The under 18 single unfortunately lost the semi final and didn't get through. The under 18 gig also lost their semi final race as well and unfortunately didn't get through either.

So at the end of the weekend we had three second places and one first place. It was our best ever performance ever and we got a trophy and lots of runner up certificates!!!!!

Sparks and Mowgli are so proud of all the 4th Streatham crews that took part in the races over the weekend, and look forward to next year.

Queen Diamond Jubilee Pageant (JUNE 2012)

By Jack Sharp ("Sona")

Senior Patrol Leader & Young Leader.

The Thames River Pageant for the Queens Diamond Jubilee, the first in 300 years. Organised chaos is the term I think would best describe the River pageant in all its glory, having stayed over in the boat house the day previously one might expect the baggy eyes, yawns and general bad tempers usually indicative of a night’s camp. Not so, for come morning, the 4^th were raring to go with two Home Counties Gigs, bedecked with purple bunting to get on the water.

A pity then perhaps that the larger part of the morning was spent waiting for the elusive boat inspectors to arrive. The scene at the slipway though was enthralling, boats everywhere of all different shapes and sizes, gigs, dragon boats you name it and it was probably there. It was at this point that we split up with the other scout group, Netley, who had been staying with us for the night and perused the mystery man who was meant to be inspecting our boat. Eventually finding him and then having been given the all clear we found out that we couldn’t put boats on the water for another 2 hours!

Bored to tears waiting around, a satisfying pastime came out of the blue. Television reporters seemed more than happy to give a few of us a quick interview Lights, camera, action everybody, fame and stardom awaits. Or not, for some reason the only thing the reporters were interested in was the frankly terrible fashion disaster of several people wearing 3-D glasses (mentioning no names of course!) not exactly our passport to fame but good fun all the same!

Then, after a long and drawn out 2 (3 and a half) hours we finally launched onto the water, and became a part of the pageant, of course not, no, in actual fact we had to row another two miles just to get to the start point! Minor exhaustion setting in before even reaching the start point hadn’t been planned but all the same, the atmosphere was amazing even before the start, the bridges were lined with people waving and cheering, if you wanted motivation there was no shortage in supply.

 Of course this wouldn’t be the start point. No apparently there was a muster point and a start point. Thoroughly confused, brain food (sandwiches, crisps, chocolate etc.) was handed out. Still none the clearer from our meal we were eventually told to move on to the start point, talk about hidden charges!   Having reached the start point and watching in awe at the magnificent sight of the royal boats, Gloriana and the spirit of Chartwell, the puckish gods of weather saw fit to attempt to dampen the occasion, quite literally. The skies opened and the rain fell like the angry, childish chorus of MPs debating which their favourite brand of beer was. As if to add to the din, the orient express turned up and spent quite some time it seemed trying to get into the perfect position for the cameras, before finally sounding its horn and setting the pageant underway.

Nothing however was going to dampen the spirit of the 4^th! Oh no our two teams of plucky rowers kept on valiantly pulling. A rhythm was found and we started to pull on. I must say enjoying ourselves greatly at the onslaught of cheers kept the pace going. Soon enough we were hopeful and got up to the point at which the spirit of Chartwell was moored tossing oars respectfully as we went past, we even had a little conversation with prince Charles who apparently could think of nothing better to ask us, the shivering blue lipped crew if it was “a little chilly” “errrrrrrrm yes?” in the grand scheme of royal lines Kate managed to trump him with a simple "hello", and William even wished us luck for the rest of the day it really makes you feel good to know that people can be polite!

Although eventually the boats had to be taken into tow due to some frankly awful mathematical calculations somewhere (yes, funnily enough if you have boats going at 4 knots they are going to be overtaken by boats going at 8 knots) and the freezing cold starting to set in towards the end. The day in general was enjoyed by all with plenty of support from everyone it was a great feeling everyone wants you to succeed.

As the final boats passed under Tower Bridge they let off fireworks from the top, which we missed as we were at the front of the flotilla but never the less would have been amazing to see! There was also lots of talk about the Jubilee Bells, which were afloat, to which we never saw or heard, due to the same reason of being at the front. Gee, we rowers just got all the best bits of this one!

By the end, a cold and rather bedraggled 4^th set of back to Streatham with the spoils of the day that were; jubilance and the need for a hot cup of tea. 

 It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a great experience. Everyone who saw us said it was magnificent and I know it’s not something I’ll forget in a hurry.

The two crews for the pageant were:

"Thames Scout":
· Derek M (Sparks), - cox,
· Roy M. (Flags),
· Freddie K (Baloo),
· Nathan N (Rann),
· Jack S (Sona),
· Ewan B (Ko),
· Hugo C,
· Joshua J,
· Johnny P,
· Jake R.

"Marie Louise":
· Narden M, (Mowgli) - cox,
· Barbara P (Akela),
· Alex B (Trick),
· Jordan T (Sub),
· Huw F (Jaunty),
· Frankie P (Mysa),
· Alexander S-K.

HMS BRISTOL CAMP (JUNE 2012)

By Joe Collar

In half-term I went on a Sea Scout camp to HMS BRISTOLS, a Royal Navy training base situated in Portsmouth.  HMS Bristol is a decommissioned destroyer built in the mid 1960s.  It saw active service during the Falklands war.  It weighs over 7000 tons and can carry a crew of 397.


I have been a member of the 4^th Streatham Sea Scout group since May 2006 (I’ve been going for over half my life!).  I’ve learnt lots of skills- many of which came in handy on this trip. Harry, Ben, Lewis and Ewan also came on this trip.

When we arrived at the base we saw the HMS Bristol for the first time.  This was to be my home for the next week.  I was struck by how big it was compared to all the other boats in the harbour.  We were split into 6 “divisions” with Sea Scouts from all over England and Wales. We were assigned a “mess” which we would sleep in for the nine nights. We had lockers, and using my skill that I learnt from school, I organised all my kit into my locker. We each had to make a bed, and every night officers would inspect our rooms to make sure we were living under organised conditions and weren’t messy.

We were woken up on the first morning at 6:30 am, and I remembered I had been sleeping on a ship; the beds were surprisingly comfortable. The beds where also triple bunk beds! I made my bed the best I could to make sure I could have a good night’s sleep again.  We then had to get dressed into our uniform before we had a filling breakfast on the base, ready for the day’s activities.

Throughout the week, activities included:

• Kayaking on the Solent,
• Dingy Sailing, where I learnt to ‘catch the wind’
• Off Shore Yacht Sailing
• Codebreaking,
• Climbing (on a fancy mechanical treadmill-like climbing wall),
• Ropes,
• Power Boating on RIBS
• Navigation and Chart work at sea on one of the two "Fast Motor Launches" called Blue Swan and Black Swan
• A gruelling 9-mile expedition along the South Downs
• A reaction-testing device (you had to kick targets dotted around a room).
• A Trip to HMS Illustrious (a Invincible class light aircraft carrier)

My favourite was power boating; I even got to drive all the way over to the Isle of Wight! I felt responsible and was keeping my fingers crossed that I wouldn’t destroy a buoy or the boat itself!!!

My least favourite activity was the expedition. We were driven into the Hampshire countryside and had to navigate a course and answer questions about the surroundings and other things in general. We were given “ration packs” to carry all day which were about the size of a box of tissues, containing food that needed to be cooked over a stove, so we had to eat the revolting “pork sausage and beans” and other items cold. They also contained snacks, and people were gobbling Teriyaki beef jerky and Oreo cookies like it was the end of the world. On return to the base I climbed to my bunk with a gigantic sigh of relief.

Living on the ship was fun, and also quite challenging at times. It was difficult to sleep with air-conditioning pointing at me on the first night, so I adjusted it to dry laundry.

On the Friday morning the ship was swaying because of an aggressive storm (blowing a Force 8 on the Beaufort Scale), so aggressive that the gangplank to shore had to be closed off temporarily. That Friday night, we had a end of camp Disco.

The HMS Bristol summer camp was a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity, which I would love to re-experience in the future.

ShelterBox Scavenger Hunt (MAY 2012)

By Luca Morris & Dylan John

Green Watch

On Saturday 19th May, 22 Cubs and 11 Scout from the 4th Streatham joined 378 other Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from across the country in the Shelterbox's London Scavenger Hunt.

I thought that the scavenger hunt was loads of fun because wherever we went we had a picture taken and I liked the quiz.

WE EVEN SAW PELICANS!!!!!!!!

We went to Buckingham Palace, the Mall and Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, and Leicester Square, and finished in St James Park. Dylan, Nathaniel Adam and Andrew were in my group. Mowgli was our leader. Our team came 13th out of 38!

IT WAS GREAT FUN! I liked running round London & carrying our green flag. I liked the quiz too.

About Shelterbox...

Shelterbox aims to provide emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters, at the time when they need it the most.


In the 11 years since ShelterBox was founded, they have responded to almost 200 natural or manmade disasters in over 75 different countries and provided lifesaving aid for well over one million people. 


Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and filtration equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items. 


Find out more on their website: http://www.shelterbox.org/