The Scouts and Cubs went camping last weekend (3rd-5th June) to Linnet Clough in Mellor, near Stockport.

A good time was had by all. Check out the first batch of our pictures.

Scouts and Cubs: please write something for this web page. A few lines or a whole story about your experiences of the camp. Email to len@lengrant.co.uk and see your writing on this blog!

This from scout, Bethany Wesley:
I feel that scout camp gave me the chance to mix with other people my age that went to different scouts. It was so funny I loved it when we were all dancing around the camp fire singing ‘Jhonkanakanaka to ni ay’, it was just a great experience.
There was a great range of activities for every one to join in:
shooting
traversing wall
climbing wall
pedal cars
high ropes
low ropes
canoeing
archery
and much much more

The camp was on a big field where we were doing different activities, on the saturday morning my two favourites were when we had to put marmite on our nose and then I had to pass a chocolate button with my nose to the next person I also liked the one were you had to stick your hands in gooey mess and find pieces of red card it reminded me of I’m a celebrity get me out of here, ha.

This from cub, Ruby Porter:
I loved going camping with cubs It was brilliant. I liked all the activities except from the climbing wall because it was to high up. The shop was good to the sweets tasted nice. I also liked sharing a tent with Phillipa , Ciara, Emma and Anna. I made a new friend called Bethany. The food was lovely I hated it when it rained.


Here’s some more pictures: are you on them?

The gardens of Withington and the surrounding area should be looking much more colourful in the next few weeks as hundreds of bedding plants were recently distributed as part of the scout plant sale. Trays of seedlings were unloaded at the hut on Thursday night, collated and delivered to those who had kindly supported this annual fund-raiser. The group made a profit in excess of £400 so thanks to all involved.

"Hurry up with that camera... this is heavy!"

Just before Easter our local Police Community Support Officer came in to visit the Beavers.
He gave a talk to the boys and girls and let each Beaver try on his special waistcoat complete with radio and torch… all good fun!

A camp fire sing song; a late night movie with takeaway pizza; and a sleepover in the toasty clubhouse now the central heating has been installed… what bliss for the 1st Withington Scouts.

As part of their conservation badge the scouts then spent the next morning at Chorlton Water Park identifying wild birds, reptiles and insects. Thanks to scout, Bethany Wesley for taking these pictures…

…and a big thank you to leaders, Dan, Jason and Martin for a fun-filled adventure… everyone loved it.

This week central heating engineers have been hard at work fitting a new central heating system for our Scout Hut. Every room will now have a radiator and, in future, we will be able to set the heating so the hut is warmed up before each meeting. Bliss.

Thanks again to the Clothworkers’ Foundation for the grant which has made this work possible.

Work underway to fit new heating

Cub Scout Joshua Pate reports back from Saturday’s gala:

Proud swimmers: Nathan, Joshua, Daniel & Max

On Saturday 5th March 2011 it was the Manchester South District Swimming Gala at Stretford Leisure Centre. There were Beavers, Cubs and Scouts all competing against each other.

First it was the Beavers ‘splash’ where they swam a width of the pool. All the parents were cheering. Every Beaver got a certificate for competing and reaching the other side.

Next the Cubs and Scouts each raced one length of the 25m pool in lots of heats. The races were front crawl, back stroke and breast stroke. One of the races had a false start because the ‘hooter’ didn’t work properly so they had to race again.

Scout leaders timed the competitors and the fastest six swimmers from each event had to race in the final.  I won gold in both the cubs’ front crawl and backstroke races, and Nathan Chambers got bronze medal in breast stroke. All of our scouts, cubs and beavers did really well.

Cubs’ gold: Max, Nathan, Daniel & Joshua

The best bit was when our cubs relay team came first in the front crawl relay. We got a gold medal and a winner’s certificate to put on display in our scout hut. Our four relay swimmers were Nathan Chambers, Max Herrmann, Daniel Pope and me.

1^st Withington (89^th Manchester) cubs came second overall which is brilliant. Everyone came out with a smile on their face and medals clanging around their necks – it was a great night had by swimmers, spectators and all.

We can’t wait for 2012!!!

Thanks for the report Joshua.

We’ve been successful in yet more grant applications!

Hooray!! Here’s news of three more pots of grant money coming our way.

Pot 1. The Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund has kindly approved our application for new benches and chairs for the Group. The £1000 award will pay for folding tables and benches that can be used in the hall for functions as well as out on scout camps. Fantastic! Thank you Manchester Airport!

Pot 2. We’ve also been awarded £10,000 (yes, £10,000) by The Clothworkers’ Foundation towards the renovation of the Scout Hut. We’re going to spend the money on installing a central heating system. At the moment we only have a couple of wall-mounted gas burners that heat the hall and no heating anywhere else. Having a new heating system will go a long way to getting the hut back in shape. Thank you Clothworkers’ Foundation.

Pot 3. Manchester City Council has continued to support the group, awarding us some extra Cash Grant money for this year. We’ll be able to buy some more benches and tables and also all the fittings we need to install an accessible toilet. We’re in the process of raising more funds so we can then convert a room into a toilet for the disabled. Thank you Manchester City Council.

Some of our Scouts joined other groups from South District for an evening of bowling fun at Parrs Wood.

With strikes, spares and splits all over the place, everyone came away happy.

It seems liked a crazy idea, a walk along the River Mersey in deepest November, but it turned out to be a fantastic four hour ramble.

Last Sunday, 28th November, 26 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and their leaders and family wrapped up warm and met on Chorlton Green for the sponsored ramble. The winter sun shone and everyone was kept warm as we walked along the river, via Cholrton Water Park and Northenden, to Ford Lane in Didsbury.

Thanks to all who came along, and thanks especially to Bethany Wesley from Scouts who took these pictures.

STOP PRESS: Congratulations to all the cubs and scouts: you raised over £600!! Well Done!

As part of the ongoing Scout Hut renovation, work started today on the repair and replacement of new external drains.

We have received a Cash Grant from Manchester City Council which will pay for this work and the repair of the flat roofs and gutters. Depending on the weather, the roof work will start next week.

PLEASE TAKE CARE WHEN COMING TO THE HUT THIS WEEK.

See ‘Our Hut’ for more on the renovation programme.