New Year, New Home, New Adventures!

So that's it! Our first day of meeting together in our new home has been completed. And what a day it was too!

The day started with our youngest sections and their parents and guardians were invited to join us for a Scavenger Hunt. This meant that not only did it get them looking for details, but it gave them the opportunity to see just how much space we have now.

Welcome home!

Poppy, Kyron and Hedgehog set off to put out quiz answers

Exploring our home

Scavenger hunting

What's in the Keep?

Checking out one of our indoor meeting spaces

After some exploration, the Squirrels spent some time with a story, creating suncatchers and learning facts about the creatures their section gets its name from ahead of Squirrel Appreciation Day.

The Beavers had a "Log Chew" which is a Beaver Scout name for a sit down together and talk about what they'd like to see happening in their Colony. They discussed what they liked and about games and activities they'd like to see on the programme for the term ahead.

Squirrel story time

Exploring all the space, enjoying the echoes

Hedgehog and Jake chat to the group

Leading the way

Once the youngest sections went home, it was time to prepare for the older sections to arrive.

The Cubs and Scouts also had a Scavenger Hunt, this time set by Charlie, one of our Scouts. They and their adults explored their new home, just as their Squirrel and Beaver counterparts had. Their hunt included some challenges, such as hug a tree, find a unique stone and get a selfie with one of the volunteer team. Working together, they spent time finding and achieving everything on the list!

Scavenger Hunt: Hug a tree

Checking out the Haxo

Checking off a hunt item

Scouts exploring

Up on the ramparts

Scouts descending

After the Scavenger Hunt, the Cubs and Scouts also had other activities to do. In this case, it was partaking in one of the more exciting opportunities our new home enables us to do: fire lighting!

Using ferro rods, everyone had a turn at lighting a fire while a main fire was tended by them in a fire pit where they were able to toast marshmallows. A Kelly kettle provided the group with hot chocolate as the last hour of our meeting rolled round and the temperature started to drop. Their time ended by the Cubs and Scouts splitting up to discuss what sorts of badges and activities they'd like to see on their programme this term.

Jonathan masters fire lighting with Skip

Waiting for the fire to be s'mores ready

Keep it burning!

Oliver's turn to try the ferro rods

The general consensus from all the young people and their adults is that our new home makes us probably the most exciting group in the country, definitely in our district! Who else meets where there is this much space and surrounded by as much history as we do?

Next week (24th) is our Open Day, 10am to 12pm, and we'd love to see you there so feel free to come along! Whether you're interested in signing up a young person to join one of our sections, looking to volunteer some time to a worthy cause or maybe a bit of both! Whatever your reason for coming, we can't wait to see you.