Another year over for Caythorpe Beavers, Cubs and Scouts
Last night Caythorpe Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Young Leaders and volunteers gathered for one final time before the end of the school year at Duke’s Covert, for our traditional annual ‘Messy Night’.
With several weeks of planning already under our belts, unfortunately Anglian Water announced a hosepipe ban days before our event.
Always ready to dynamically adapt plans in the face of adversity, and to Be Prepared for last minute changes, Sam, our Scout Leader, who was organising the event as his Scouting swan song, met the challenge (with a little help from his new best friend, Chat GPT) and created a plan for a Messy Night like no other.
Leader and participant briefings, risk assessments and timeplans were shared, activities prepared, and the chaos began!
Following games on the main field whilst we waited for everyone to arrive (whilst the tiny car park was being expertly managed by our Hi-Vis heroes), our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts were split into five teams for the evening. They rotated round four activity bases:
· Tomato tennis (which became Tomato Rounders/Cricket as we didn’t have a tennis racket)
· Slacklines with sponge-balls
· Egg throwing and catching
· Baked bean safari
With a grande finale of a Colour Powder Battle – the rules of which were fairly complicated and seemingly ignored by everyone who took part.
We don’t think we need to describe the activities – they say ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ so have a scroll through the pictures below to see for yourself.
Before we knew it, the evening was drawing to a close. Led by Sam, for one final time at 1st Caythorpe & Duke’s Covert, we joined together to wish all our members a wonderful summer.
Sam was presented with a leaving gift and a few fast facts from his time in the Group:
Very nearly eight years volunteering service with the Group
Roles: Group Scout Leader, Deputy Group Scout Leader, Chair, Scout Team Leader
- Very nearly eight years volunteering service with the Group
- Roles: Group Scout Leader, Deputy Group Scout Leader, Chair, Scout Team Leader
- Instrumental in moving our meeting venue from Carlton Scroop to Caythorpe, which led to a huge rise in numbers
- 14 Chief Scout’s Gold Awards presented
- 145 Challenge Badges awarded
- ‘Hundreds’ of Activity Badges awarded
- At least 40 nights away (including a very complicated camp as Covid restrictions were being reduced, Scotland, Walesby, Melton Mowbray, Derbyshire, Dorset and Brownsea Island)
- Five Monopoly Runs in London
- A trip to RAF Coningsby
- Scouts volunteering at the World Karting Championships
- Aquaparks
- PGL Days at Caythorpe Court
Thank you Sam! We’ll miss you. You know where we are when you realise you have too much time on your hands :)
Although they weren't able to attend, it was also the end of a Scouting era for Mark and Sarah, who have worked really hard with Sam over the last four years in running our Scout Troop and making the above everts a great success, too. They have also done a sterling job as the Group Quartermasters; cataloguing, repairing, re-stocking and generally keeping all our kit and trailer in great working order. Thank you both so very much for the time you’ve devoted to the Scout Group. We'll miss you!
Wishing all our volunteer leaders, young people, parents and supporters a wonderful and relaxing summer. We'll communicate our September start dates to you nearer the time.
