A look back on the year just gone

We've recently been asked by the District Commissioner to report on what we've been up to over the past year-and-a-bit ahead of the district annual general meeting (AGM). It made us step back a bit as we realised just how much we've got up to. Here's some of the highlights

Activities have included
May 2019       CS Platinum / Bronze DofE practice expedition in South Downs
                         CS Diamond / Silver DofE (team 1) qualifying expedition in Black Mountains
                         Kayaking at Godalming
Jul 2019         CS Platinum / Bronze DofE qualifying expedition in North Downs
                        Gilwell 24
                        Visit to Sayers Croft
Aug 2019      CS Diamond / Silver DofE (team 2) qualifying expedition in New Forest
Sep 2019       Took part in Scoutshoot ’19 at Bisley
Nov 2019       Survival camp
                         Pine Pull at Farnham Heath Reserve
Jan 2020        Night hike
Feb 2020        Survival camp
From March to end of July 2020 we went online, meeting every week. During this time we did a number of quizzes, had a wild food/foraging evening, had three virtual campouts in our back gardens, met online twice with an Explorer Scout Unit from Switzerland, had an Art Club, heard from two guest speakers (a BBC journalist and someone who had taken part in the Marathon Des Sables), invested new members, awarded DofE and Chief Scout certificates and the Explorers also ran several sessions on an international theme to work towards their Chief Scout awards and built their own websites as part of their digital citizen badge. We have had so much good feedback and gratitude from parents for keeping going throughout the summer, many saying that it was the highlight of their son/daughter’s week.
 
Aug 2020    Started back with face to face meetings, with two campfires a local walk and two kayaking sessions at Godalming
 
Badges & awards given
DofE bronze award x 2
DofE silver award x 1
DofE gold award x 2
Chief Scout Platinum award x 3
Other badges awarded included: survival skills, hill walking, hikes away, nights away, paddle sports and time on the water
 
Young Leaders
We also ran 2 Sunday morning sessions opened up to young people across the district and covered more of the modules for Draca Explorers. 5 Draca Explorers received their Young Leaders module A badge.
 
We are very chuffed that we’ve been able to achieve so much for the young people.