On 24th July, eight scouts from the 1st Iwade and 4th Milton Regis troops travelled to Old Hay Airfield near Paddock Wood to try microlighting.   

We arrived at the airfield just before 10 am in time to see the Microlight being prepared and then taken on a test flight.  After that it was our turn.  Robyn was brave enough to go first and show the boys how it should be done.  After that there was no backing down and everyone was keen to have their go.  It was a lovely day with pretty good visibility and once airborne, you could easily see the North Kent and Essex coastlines. 

Kent Scouts have been operating Microlight flights for over 20 years so have a wealth of experience and the Pilots are very knowledgeable.  During the flight they pointed out areas of reference like the South Downs, Canary Wharf, the O2 Dome and the Isle of Sheppey.  More details regarding the Kent Scouts Air Activities team can be found here.

We would like to extend our thanks to the team for a really great experience.  The huge grins on everyones face (scouts and leaders) as they stepped out of the aircraft were a testament to the trips success.

Kevin Grimshaw - ADC Scouts

Over the weekend of 21-23 May we ran our annual District Camp. 

Scouts from 10 of the 14 groups in the district came along to have a go at the activities that had been  selected...These included old favourites like Archery and shooting through to some newer activities like powerkiting and powerboating.

Everyone seemed to have a good time, including those leaders who also had a go at some new activities.

As ever, my thanks go out to all those leaders and members of group executive committees who were willing and able to attend  and help with the running of the camp and the activities.  I would especially like to thank the 4th Milton Regis (St Mary) and 1st Newington groups for providing  the equipment and personnel used to cater for all of the scouts.  Without their help we would all have been very hungry.

Roll on 2011!  - Kevin Grimshaw (ADC Scouts)

On 13th March, some of our Scouts an explorers hiked or cycled from Bexon Lane to “The Barn” at Grange Farm, Sandling.  They stayed overnight and then travelled back to Bexon Lane.  In total the hike distance was over 40 km!

Once again, a big thank you to everyone who helped to organise and run the event.  Without you it would not have happened.

On the 5th of December, four of our Scouts attended a ceremony organised by Kent Scouts to recieve their Chief Scout Gold Award certificates.  The Certificates were awarded by the UK Chief commissioner Wayne Bulpitt.

Photograph is courtesy of John Hunt from the Kent Scouts Media team.

The first “Paul Austin Night Trek for Scouts” (PANTS) took place on Saturday 21st November.  The turnout was disappointing but given the prevailing weather conditions, was as well as could be expected.

Five teams from 3 groups (1st Iwade, 1st Newington and 4th Milton Regis) took part and after 4½ hours of hiking through torrential rain and very strong winds, we had a draw with two teams finishing the contest on equal points.  Both teams had Scouts from more than one group in them.  Team Three (the girls team containing Scouts from Newington and 4th Milton Regis Troops) and Team Five (Scouts from Iwade and Newington Troops) both finished the competition on 24 points.

A big thank you to all those Leaders and Parents who braved the weather and who made the event possible.

JOTA (Jamboree On The Air)

On 17th and 18th October, scouts from 5 groups around the district came to Bexon lane to take part in JOTA.  The scouts managed to talk to people in Melbourne Australia, Maryland and North Carolina USA, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Portugal, Turkey and Tenerife.

On 19th September, 87 Scouts and Explorer Scouts took part in our sleepover at the Nuclear Bunker at Kelvedon Hatch in Essex.  

The Scouts took the train to London and then travelled by underground to Theydon Bois.  From there it was a 14km hike to the bunker.  The weather was very good and made the hike more enjoyable than it might otherwise have been.  

Once at the bunker, the scouts took part in archery, shooting and abseiling.  After a loud, late night some very tired Scouts hiked back to Theydon Bois and then caught the train home