Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.....

Well... not chestnuts, but Marshmallows!

Last night (22 May) the Cubs were treated to a demonstration of fire making by Mike and Carl. As well as being shown how to light and build a fire, the Cubs were also told of how to be safe around a campfire (including around the woodpile), what tools they could expect to use in starting a fire (Axe, Bow Saw, Knife etc) and they also learnt the valuable lesson in not standing downwind of the fire... Smoke!

Some of them looked like this!

A bonus of having the open fire was the opportunity for the Cubs to toast Marshmallows over the fire. As well as being a delicious (but sticky) treat this also completed part of their backwoods cooking badge. Most of the marshmallows were toasty brown and gooey in the middle, some were more charcoal black on the outside! But everybody enjoyed it and went home with bits of sticky marshmallow stuck to faces, hands and clothes (sorry parents!). 

Unfortunately I did not manage to get any photographs of the night - which was a shame. But I at least have the memory of one Cub (who shall remain nameless) telling me that it was the best Cub night ever! When I asked why, the answer was "Because I like FIRE!". 
 
Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

A Cub has spoken!

When i started this Blog the intention was to involve the Cubs and Scouts as well. To get them writing reports and the like...

Ive had my first response! Luke Oliver (Cub) has drawn a picture to illustrate his Cub Camp weekend.

To view the drawing click here

Thanks Luke!

Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

Let's Cook!

February brings around the Cubs district cooking competition, so it was time to prepare.

We asked our professional Chef, Tina, to come up with our menu in line with the competition theme which this year was 'Commonwealth'. Choosing between two options - India and Scotland - we chose the curry option (after not being sure whether the cubs would be prepared to try Haggis!!).

Its preparation night!

A couple of weeks before the competition, the church hall was readied for a large group of cubs to cook a menu consisting of Chicken Korma, Pilaf Rice, Chapatti and Mango Lassi. It could have been a disaster! It wasn't. As usual all the cubs excelled themselves with their application and eagerness to prepare and cook and join in. And by the end of the night we had 4 lots of Chicken Korma to taste! And they were all very tasty... not all perfect, but all perfectly eatable! But then came the hard part - choosing our team to represent the group in the competition.

The team cooking at the competition

The team were chosen - May Davenport, Luke Oliver, Alex Gould and Amy Tapper - and off they went along with Carl and myself on the 10th February to the 306th Scout Hut in Blackley to begin the competition. 

They had one hour to prepare and cook the meal and then to present it on a table ready for the judges. And off they went.... chopping, frying, kneading, pulping and seasoning! Amidst all this activity we had two peeling accidents with both Amy and Alex deciding to peel their fingers rather than the Mango!

The Team - Alex, Luke, May and Amy.

Then it was judgement time! The table looked perfect.... now it was just up to what the judges thought. After lots of tasting and deliberation the results were out... 224th were in 5th position. The winners (for the second year in a row) were 306th. 

The judges (Boooooo!)

The team had no need to be disheartened though. They had cooked well (Carl and myself tasted the food and we are both still here to tell the story!) and most importantly they had worked as a team and represented the group in the best possible way.

Well done team.


Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

 

224th and 464th Cubs at 1st Dinting

Camping Cubs.

Finally the Cubs managed to get out on camp this year. After a few false starts we got to go on camp thanks to 464th Cub Group who invited us along with them.

The weekend started in the rain outside church.  Wasn't long before excited cubs started to arrive and by the look of the bags most were struggling with they were expecting to be away for some weeks or we're hiding stow aways.
 
After a slight delay which was caused when Jacks mum exclaimed "are they sleeping in tents" swiftly followed by "but I haven't packed a sleeping mat". Before we got any further she said I will be back in a minute and got in her car a set off like Louis Hamilton arriving back a short time later.  Cars packed we set off for Dinting about 30 minutes away.
 
On arrival we were introduced to 464th cubs who the weekend would be shared with a erection of tents began. 224th boys were allocated a tent and were left to set up camp.  Amy as the only girl bravely shared with three girls from 464th.
 
The evening started with camp rules followed by introductions and some wide games.  This was followed by supper before cubs made there way to tents to change and get ready for bed.  Having been told they could watch a film before bed it wasn't long before a range of pj's and onesies appeared most in Welles or boots covered in mud as the rain had continued with the camp site now starting to look like Glastonbury. Cubs retired to bed about 12.30 and settled quickly which was a first for me.
 
The following morning muddy looking cubs appeared for a hearty breakfast followed by wash and dressed. However judging by the look of some I think the wash part was forgotten. 

The day continued with a range of activities including scrap heap challenge where the object was to make a self propelled vehicle which would carry a egg. Lunch followed soon after and cubs were given some free time.  The afternoon was taken up by challenges and games before making guys for that evenings bonfire.
 
Following a Hearty tea of spaghetti  the fire was lit cubs were then entertained with a host of fireworks chocolate toffee popcorn and the sacrifice of the guys. Luke Mackey then entertained the weary troops with a song followed by the rest of the cubs with a few renditions of singing in the rain and bingo was his name.  Some were by now asking to go to bed which is always the sign of a good camp so following supper they were given the option to watch a film or go straight to bed.
Once again I think most chose to skip the wash part! The film was started but didn't get far before sleepy cubs decided it was bed time. 

After about twenty minutes I was alerted to a commotion in 224 boys tent where various items of clothing and a wash kit had gone astray. On arrival at the tent I could not see most of the inside as it was now filled with a large pile of clothes and Luke's second bag which was so big he could have set up  camp in that. Anyway we decided to fill Luke's bag with the offending pile in took it inside to be sorted later leaving the tent free to allow sleepy cubs in!

Sunday morning was taken up with reuniting cubs with clothes which had become lost and putting tents down. Once this was done we set off for the local swimming baths where the good people of glossop were suddenly inundated with what looked like half of manchester who had been in a mud shower. I did pray the cleaning system of the pool would cope with the resulting slick which it just managed to do. I swear we gained cubs following swimming as there were faces I hadn't seen all weekend (possibly due to mud)!

After lunch games were played but it soon became time for the results of cub of the camp.  Cub of the camp was to be split with a winner from 224th and one from 464th plus a overall winner for the camp. Cubs had all started with fifty points which could be added to by being helpful or having good manners. But they could also lose points for poor behaviour.
At no time were they aware of who had what points as all the leaders awarded points which were recorded on a large sheet with cubs names on it which was kept from there view.

The winner for 224th was Joseph who also shared the overall prize as both winners shared exactly the same  points.
We'll done Joseph your behaviour and keenness to help won you the prize.
 
We all arrived home a short time later tired but content.

A big thank you to 224th cubs yet again you all excelled and also to 464th for making us all welcome and for organising a excellent camp.


Carl
Group Scout Leader

 

We are the Champions!!!

Sunday 6 October saw the annual District Football Competition and as the reigning champions of both the Cub and the scout competitions we were all particularly keen to defend our trophies.

With our two teams picked and raring to go the matches got under way. Over the course of many matches in the group stage throughout the afternoon both the Cubs and the Scouts were unbeaten. As the group games finished we were left nervously wondering if we had done enough to make the semi finals. We needn't have worried. Both the Cubs and Scouts made their respective semi finals.

Henry Raynes 'battles' for the ball....

The Scouts were up first in their semi final. This was men against boys! Literally! As our team of eleven year old scouts fought valiantly against a team of 25 year olds (well they looked like 25 year olds!!!). Unfortunately they lost by a single goal. So nursing their wounds, the Scouts prepared to cheer on the Cubs in their semi final. And they won! 2-0! So the Cubs were through to the final for the thrid year in succession.

Our keeper, Amy Tapper, surveys the scene in front of her...

But who were we to face in the final? Only our old rivals from up the road - 7th (St Johns) - who we had drawn 0-0 with in our opening match. So putting their nerves aside the maatch got underway. Our cubs quickly gained a 1-0 lead. But as the clock was ticking down the final seconds... DISASTER! 7th scored! And this was how the game stayed until the final whistle. So now it would be down to the dreaded lottery of penalties.

And neither team could be split on the penalties as all members of each team took a penalty - and it finished 4-4. Tense? Nerve wracking? You bet! So now it was a sudden death penalty shoot out...

Up first for 224 - Jack Edmonds.... shoots! scores!
Next up was 7th.... Amy Tapper in goal for 224 stand nervelessly awaiting the penalty kick.... 7th shoots! SAVED!!!!
Amy Tapper saves the penalty and 224 Cubs are victorious for the third year in a row!!! 

Cue many celebrations amongst the teams and the parents who had come along to help or support.

So the cubs were champions again whilst the Scouts unfortunately just missed out. But what was most pleasing was the sportsmanship shown by our teams who never failed to shake hands with the opposition and the referee.

Well done to you all.

Our two teams - Cubs in white, Scouts in Orange

Cub Team: Amy Tapper; Jacob Chalmers; Jack Edmonds; Joseph Taylor; Luke Mackey; Sam Whitehead; Elliott Aitken-Clarke.

Scout Team: Spencer Bowker; Ben Smith; Zack Smith; Kyle Bickerton; Thomas Reeves; Henry Raynes; Joe Dobson; Aaron Collins.

Particular thanks to our coach - Darren Bowker and his assistant Kevin Smith.


Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

 

A Guiding Star!

On Thursday 26th September, the cubs were visited by an honoured set of guests - Katherine and her guide dog, Bea.

In order to give the cubs an insight into the life of a blind person and their guide dog we invited Katherine to come along and tell us all about it. Along with her helper Caroline, Katherine brought her very special canine friend and assistant Bea. 

With all the cubs sat in readiness on the floor, Katherine went on to explain her blindness and how Bea makes her life so much easier, including how Bea has possibly saved her life on a number of occasions!

The talk was scheduled to last about 30 minutes. But thanks to the cubs countless questions and obvious interest in Bea the talk went on for about an hour! It went on so long that the cubs had no time for any games that evening - and they did not even seem bothered.

As a thank you to Katherine and Bea for coming along to speak to us, the cubs subs were added to a donation from the group and £50 was given to Katherine to raise funds for more Guide Dogs. 

Our letter of praise from Katherine!

On the night, Carl and myself were very pleased with the behaviour and atiitude of the cubs towards Katherine and Bea. But even better was the letter we received from katherine praising the cubs! Praise like this is always welcome and the cuibs deserved the praise.

Phil
Assistant Cub Leader 

Sleep(!!)-over time

The Scouts get up to many exciting things. One of the most exciting is when they get to sleep out overnight. Whether that is at a full blown camp or just, like this one, a one-night stay at our local cricket field.

So on Friday June 14th, 14 scouts brought their fully packed rucksacks to the cricket field for the start of their stay. Some neatly packed into one bag... others with various plastic and bin bags bringing along extra gear! 

Sleeping (!) facilities are up

Things got underway with the putting up of tents! Three tents, two for the boys in the troop and one for the girls in the troop, were soon put up (well done to the girls for being the first tent up - despite their being fewer girls than boys! Maybe the phrase is true about too many cooks spoiling the broth etc!) and the rest of the night's activities could begin.

First up was to get the fires lit! That's right - fire! That attractor of all scouts! It's strange how in all my years of Scouting the attraction of fire to scouts has never diminished! They all want to stand around it, stare into it, prod it with a stick or put bits of rubbish on it! But with the fires lit it was time to start the 'Camp Doughnuts'. With a recipe that will remain a secret (you will need to come and help on camp if you want to know the secret!), the scouts quickly mastered the art and were soon tucking into jam or chocolate camp doughnuts.

Scouts and fire! Cooking the camp doughnuts.

Camp Doughnuts on the go...

Then, still licking the sugar off their fingers, the scouts had a quick 'wide game' before the next part of their camp cookery - a demonstration of cooking in hay! A pot of porridge was prepared and slightly started, and then the pot was placed inside a box of hay and covered and then left overnight. I'm no scientist and I would struggle to give you the finer details but basically the porridge cooks from the heat generated by the hay. 

Then, after a quick drink, it was time for the scouts to go to bed. Now, usually on a camp the scouts are very excited on the first night - so a little bit of late night chatter is accepted. But this night was different! At about 3.45am, (some of!) the leaders were woken by a couple of scouts stating that that they were going home!!! Bags packed... all ready to go! And virtually every other scout awake as well!!! At 3.45am!!! Once they had been sent back to bed, the leaders were now wide awake! So fuelled on a diet of coffee, they kept sentry, making sure every scout stayed in their tent until the required get up time of 7am! 

When morning came, it was time for breakfast. But this was to be no ordinary breakfast for the scouts. It was to be a 'backwoods' breakfast. In scouting, 'backwoods' is a term used for cooking on a fire when you have no utensils or pans etc. So the scouts were cooking sausage, bacon and beans in tin foil envelopes place in the embers of the fires from the previous evening. And they all seemed very pleased with the outcome! And then it was time to try the hay cooked porridge.... hmmm... not as warm as it could be. But it was certainly cooked!

Porridge?! Cooked in HAY!!!???

Then it was time to drop the tents - trying to avoid the oncoming rain (it's a nightmare having to dry tents before we put them away!!)! With tents quickly dropped, their was still time for a spot of pioneering. So, in groups, the scouts made their own camp tripods (that can be used for holding kettles or pans over a fire etc) using hitches and lashings. 

"So that bit of rope goes under here... and then over there..."

As 11 o clock neared, it was time for parents to pick up their tired scouts. And with them all gone - it was then time for the leaders to finish clearing up before heading home. Most of those leaders spent the day either dropping off or struggling to keep their eyes open!

Phil
Assistant Cub Leader

www.224manchesterscouts.co.uk