Scouts and Cubs Indulge In a Day of Adventurous Activities
On 1 June, the 1st Caythorpe and Duke’s Covert Scouts and Cubs were invited by the PGL Activities Centre at Caythorpe Court. We were so lucky to have been given the opportunity by this local, community spirited centre to undertake a number of challenging and fun activities that are normally the privilege of an organised school residential or a private family holiday.
We split the large group into smaller teams and rotated around several activities throughout the day. An action-packed programme had been arranged by the PGL team, including Joe who also happens to be one of our volunteers.
We were treated to activities on the giant Stand-Up Paddle Board where we managed to get an entire team on one board. Learning how to control the board and work together as a team saw the groups paddling across the lake and having to lay down, to allow them to pass under the low bridge. The finale was an opportunity for the Scouts to ‘walk the plank’ into the water, building their physical courage so that they could wilfully jump into the less than warm water.
Also on offer was the giant swing. This really is a giant swing where up to 3 young people are harnessed onto the swing seat and the rest of their team raise them up to a height, dictated by the participants before one of those seated pulls a rope to release the swing. Again, an opportunity to build physical courage whilst controlling their own destiny and ultimately experience the reward of freefalling toward the ground before settling into a nice, if not excessive swinging motion.
The zipwire was another favourite, launching from a high tower, along approximately 150 metres of cable whilst suspended in a sit harness. Such was the perceived challenge, it took a couple of the Scouts a few attempts to pluck up enough courage but geed along by their peers, all succeeded.
PGL did not disappoint with their expert instruction on the climbing wall. With state-of-the-art safety equipment, the instructor expertly encouraged our Scouts up the climbing wall with many breaking their own personal record and getting higher that they had achieved in previous years. Again, with differing perceptions of challenge and fear, many of our Scouts took the well natured encouragement from their peers and leaders alike to meet their own personal goals.
The whole event gave the Scouts and Cubs a fantastic day. A massive thanks to PGL for letting us come and play on your equipment, providing excellent instruction and having a picnic in a fantastic setting with amazing views out across the Trent Valley.

