Scout news
Find out more about what our Scouts have been getting up to!
September 2024 News Update
Amazing Summer Camp at Lake Windermere!
Over 60 youngsters enjoyed two-weeks of fun in the Lake District, with so many activities alongside lots of fun on camp living and cooking in patrols.
Week 1 involved overnight expeditions, kayak river trips and kayaking at the beach, lots of sailing, and ended with the the whole troop sailing or paddling down the lake for a BBQ. Town day was enjoyed as usual giving the chance for a swim and overdue shower, followed by the famous 'Camp Cook' competition. Week 2 saw lots more paddling, ice-cream (it was hot!), water rounders, backwoods cooking on open fires, building and sleeping in shelters, day hikes, and a fun final day regatta and so much more!
For many of the Scouts this was their first time on an extended trip away from home and we are so proud of all of them! A two week Scout Camp teaches so many life skills and these experiences will stay with them forever.
Summer term is all about time on the water, paddling, pulling and raft-building, with most of them successfully tackling the weir in their kayaks and canoes!
Lots of Scouts also had a chance to do some weekend sailing at Draycote water, with some gaining their RYA Stage 2 or 3 award
We love this action photo of our scouts going 'overboard' while canoeing - they spend as much time in the water as on it!
Over early May Bank Holiday Weekend, 13 Patrol Leaders and 4 Senior Patrol Leaders spent the weekend taking a look at our Summer Campsite near Lake Windermere and improving their leadership skills. They took responsibility for buying and preparing the food for the weekend and had some challenging team activities, including a ghost walk around Hawkshead!
In April everyone enjoyed our annual awards and AGM, alongside our traditional quiz and puddings evening! Congratulations to all of the Scouts who gained awards!
One of our Scouts, explains all about one of their recent Nautical Skills Session
'This involved learning the 'rules of the road' which is what you do when another boat is next to you (No cutting boats up and how to deal with certain scenarios). We also learned about appropriate clothing to wear; like waterproofs, and not to wear cotton as it becomes heavy when it soaks up water. Finally, we learned the difference between a life jacket and a buoyancy aid and how to strap them on properly'
Well done to our Scouts who took part in the Royal Navy Sea Scouts Swimming Gala at HMS Raleigh. It is such a great experience for our youngsters to spend a weekend at a Royal Navy training base (in Torpoint, Cornwall). Special mention goes to the U16 team, who each won a medal and were still young in their age category.
Everyone enjoyed the cooking challenges! Vanguard cooked a two-course meal they’d planned, which had to include five ingredients beginning with a letter they’d been given, whilst Vigilant were challenged to make a tasty meal using randomly selected food, resulting in some interesting combinations!
We held our annual 'Frosty Camp' in February at Rough Close Scout Campsite for our Scouts and Explorers, who did some amazing activities including climbing, caving on the 'cave bus', knife and axe skills, geo-caching, air rifles, pedal-karting, campfires, blindfold challenges, mock emergency 'incident' and so much more! The weekend finished with a fiercely competitive gun carriage race
Our scouts had a great start to 2024, rotating around some amazing adventurous activities, including climbing at the amazing indoor wall at University of Warwick and also learning archery in our HQ - which is set up brilliantly for these sessions to take place in our 'main deck'! They also fitted in some pizza making too!
December 2023 News Update
Just before Christmas we were honoured to be able to once again visit Galanos House, Royal British Legion Care Home, that offers nursing and personal care to over 90 residents from the armed forces community.
Our Scouts got in the Christmas spirit by baking and decorating some delicious mini Christmas cakes to take home to enjoy with their families!
We were proud to see so many of our Scouts helping with the Royal British Legion poppy collection and joining the group at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Warwick. We were especially honoured this year, as a Royal British Legion affiliated youth group, to be invited to parade our colours in the civic service at St Mary's church. Our flag bearers did a great job of presenting them with great dignity throughout the service, lowering them during the national anthem leading the parade.
At the start of Autum term, Scouts had sessions learning practical life skills. These included: sewing and ironing, bike puncture repair, changing a car tyre, woodwork with a band saw and hand drill, attaching wall fixings, wiring plus and knot tying.
Our Scouts got their own mini 'bonfire' making lesson that week, learning to light fires using wood that they chopped themselves, sticks and logs and a flint and steel. Along with the fire came the traditional cooking of smores & marshmallows plus nachos, bacon and sausages!
Our Scouts went on an Autumn river adventure, venturing upstream to Leamington, shooting back down the weir and along the river back to our boathouse. The cold weather didn't seem to stop them from having a great trip
September 2023 News Update
The highlight of the Summer was our annual Summer Camp at Roadford Lake!
Over 60 youngsters enjoyed two-weeks of fun in Devon, braving the wet and muddy conditions in the first week and a much dryer second week. So many activities were enjoyed, including sailing, paddlesports adventures, day hikes and overnight expeditions alongside lots of fun on camp living and cooking in patrols. Lots of special memories made that will last a lifetime.
For many of the Scouts this was their first time on an extended trip away from home and we are so proud of all of them! A two week Scout Camp teaches so many life skills and these experiences will stay with them forever.
The Scouts spent most evenings in the summer term on the river paddling, pulling and raft-building, with most of them successfully tackling the weir in their kayaks! Lots also had a chance to do some weekend sailing at Draycote water.
The rafts stayed together for a suprising amount of time!!
In June, eighteen of our Scouts had an amazing experience with the Discovery Sailing Project on the South coast.
A weekend of yachting aboard the Thermopylae and Discovery. Developing those all important character muscles; teamwork, resilience and perseverance.
More Scouts got the opportunity to spend a weekend on board a narrowboat, learning to navigate locks
Some of the older scouts from Vanguard organised a sleepover at TS Norton as part of completing one of their Scout 'Challenge' badges.
Vigilant Scouts held a Patrol Camp at Guys Cliffe to prepare for Summer Camp. In thanks for using their grounds we marshalled the car park at their open day.
Well done to our Scouts who did a river-clean up with lots of bags of rubbish collected as well as an old bike that would not fit in the bags!
A lot of the kit used was sponsored by British Canoeing as part of their Big Paddle Cleanup initiative
Over the early May bank holiday our SPLs and PLs went on a 'camp recce' trip to Devon. The weekend was jam-packed with activities including a walk on Belstone Tor, a walk along the coastal path to Teignmouth for fish & chips and finished off with grass sledging and rifle shooting. It was also a chance to check out the local area for Summer Camp.
In April everyone enjoyed our annual awards and AGM, alongside our traditional quiz and puddings evening! Congratulations to three of our Scouts in Vanguard Troop who were presented with their Chief Scout's Gold Award.
The Spring term sees us spending lots of time in TS Norton, and the Scouts took park in a three week rotation including science, archery and map skills.
Well done to the Scouts who took park in the Leamington Parkrun in February as part of our focus on health and fitness!
In February a group of our scouts attended the RN Sea Scouts Swimming Gala at HMS Raleigh back in February. It's great to see the RN events starting up again after Covid! We came home with a Bronze in the U12 and U14 Breastroke, Silver in the Scout U14 medley and silver in the line throwing.
December 2022 News Update
Just before Christmas we were honoured to be able to once again visit Galanos House, Royal British Legion Care Home, that offers nursing and personal care to over 90 residents from the armed forces community.
We have been writing Christmas cards for the residents for many years, but because of Covid-19, it's been 3 years since we were last able to visit to chat and deliver our cards in person.
Our Scouts had great fun when they visited Leamington Fire Station to meet some firefighters, learn more about what they do and also have a go with some of their kit, which involved both wearing it and using the hoses!
A group of 18 Scouts participated in a British Orienteering event at Brandon Woods and for most this was their first time competing at such an event, and even using an orienteering map!
We were proud to see so many of our Scouts helping with the Royal British Legion poppy collection and joining the group at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Warwick. We were especially honoured this year, as a Royal British Legion affiliated youth group, to be invited to parade our colours in the civic service at St Mary's church. Our flag bearers did a great job of presenting them with great dignity throughout the service, lowering them during the national anthem leading the parade.
Remembrance Sunday is always a great opportunity for a full Group photo with everyone looking very smart.
Our Scouts and Explorers have been enjoying their last sailing days at Draycote Water Sailing Club having managed to get some amazing Autumn Days on the water. New smaller sails for our Toppers made it so much easier for our younger scouts to learn to sail.
Vanguard cooked meals based around a certain country. Some made curries, others made kebabs and much more! We researched all about the countries the food we were cooking was from.
Another group of scouts had the chance to spend a warm weekend on a narrowboat. They learned how to go through the locks, and use lock keys to open and close the paddles.
September 2022 News Update
Scouts made the most of the Spring & Summer terms to have some great indoor adventures alongside hikes, camps, narrowboating, yachting and much more. All topped off by a brilliant 2-week Summer Camp at Lake Bala!
We started the year by learning all about Warwickshire Search & Rescue and what they do in the local area, when they came in to talk to us and explain more about their work
Vigilant and Vanguard Scouts had an amazing evening climbing at Warwick University, learning to master their very tricky climbing wall. Even the leaders had a go!
The Scouts really enjoyed their winter hike, all finished off by cooking their own dinner on the warm campfire!
Some of our Scouts had the chance to go on a sailing weekend at Discovery Sailing Project and others learnt how to navigate narrowboats.
Our patrol camp this year was held at Guys Cliffe House, Warwick, and Scouts had a great time paddling to/from the site, learning to live in patrols and even going on a ghost tour!
We were lucky enough to go up the tower in St Mary's Church to learn all about bell-ringing and even have a go ourselves.
What a weekend all our youngsters had at #GetinCamp 2022 at Ragley Hall in May when they joined 1,000s of other Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from across Warwickshire Scouts for an action-packed weekend of amazing activities put on by scout groups across the county
The highlight of the Summer was our annual Summer Camp at Bala, our first two-week Summer camp for 3 years, and it was back in style!
Over 60 youngsters enjoyed two-weeks of fun in Wales, making the most of the brilliant weather to learn to sail, go on paddlesports adventures and overnight expeditions alongside lots of fun on camp living and cooking in patrols. There was even a flypast whilst they were sailing. Lots of special memories made that will last a lifetime.
This year's camp took place in the last 2 weeks of the school holidays to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games, but next year will revert to the usual 2 weeks at the start of the School Summer Holidays.
December 2021 News Update
Scouts made the most of the Summer, getting back out on the water and running an amazing Scout Camp at Lake Windermere! They've also found time for yachting, narrowboating, sailing and lots more in TS Norton!
Our Scouts were lucky that our leaders battled against Covid restrictions to pull off the most unbelievable Scout Camp 2021!
We had originally planned a new site this year on Derwent Reservoir in Northumberland, but as was new and a long way for lots of first-time campers, plan B was to go to Bala, but with Welsh restrictions being difficult to predict; plan C was to return to Lake Windermere!
We took 2 separate groups of 30 youngsters for each of the 2 weeks, to ensure this was a Covid safe camp, and they have had the most amazing time! They stayed on site throughout with a full programme of sailing, kayaking & canoeing; building coracles, cooking on open camp fires, building dens and sleeping in them overnight; and even the traditional camp cook! Living, cooking and sleeping in their patrols has been a real chance to build key skills for life.
This year more than ever our youngsters and leaders needed to make this happen. Whilst one group were away at Lake Windermere, the others were doing an overnight Expedition from Warwick.
Thank you to all our amazing leaders, volunteers and helpers who have made such special memories that will last a lifetime for our youngsters both at Windermere and closer to home!
Some of the older Scouts were lucky to spend August bank holiday weekend onboard two large sailing yachts with the Discovery Sailing Project, one of them a former 60ft Clipper that had competed in 4 round the world races. They sailed from Hamble to Brighton, stopping in Portsmouth on return to Hamble. We are already booked to go back in 2022!
Our new HQ TS Norton was formally opened in September by Sal Montgomery, Scout Adventurer and Scouts were lucky to get to meet Sal at her talk at Warwick School and hear all about her kayaking adventures with Steve Backshall!
During the formal opening, four Scouts were awarded their Chief Scouts Gold Awards.
Scouts ran two narrowboating weekends on the 12 berth Centenary narrow boat, travelling along the Grand Union Canal and through the Braunston Tunnel. All those that attended earned their Power Coxswain badge. Further trips planned for 2022
We were proud to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Collection again and join the Remembrance Day Parade through Warwick
Our regular sailing sessions at Draycote have continued, with a mix of weather and wind making for some good learning and lots of fun!
With the amazing new facilities in our new HQ, our weekly meetings have included a variety of different activities. Scouts have made an obstacle course using pioneering skills; learnt all about how the country is run during 'Parliament Week' and made bird and bat boxes in the workshop, some of which are now installed in the trees behind TS Norton!
Outside adventures have included a Warwick town treasure hunt, a night hike, and swimming for Vigilant (Vanguard to follow next year).
They are enjoying the build up to Christmas having made their own Christmas cakes and are currently busy writing Christmas Cards for Galanos House, the Royal British Legion Care Home in Southam.
September 2020 News Update
Scouts continued to meet via Zoom until they got the go ahead to do face-to-face scouting and it was then all systems go to run the amazing 'Camp Warwick 2020'!
Scouts had great fun meeting virtually; doing a Scavenger Hunt (twice as was such fun!), a quiz, mug cakes (making chocolate and honey cakes) and science experiments . Now they are meeting regularly; outside in small groups; having enjoyed their last sessions in the river in kayaks and canoes as well as finishing off learning about bike maintenance outside the hut! Next up will be orienteering, fire-lighting and cooking on trangias; all outside too!
'Vanguard' took the chance to have a socially distant awards presentation to present new 'Chief Scout Gold Awards'; the highest award a Scout can achieve. Congratulations to Frankie; Carys, Elisa, Carys and Francesca who all worked really hard to achieve all 9 Scout Challenge Awards!
'Camp Warwick' 2020 - 2 weeks of local fun !
We were disappointed to have our annual 2 week Summer camp cancelled this year, but as soon as face-to-face scouting was allowed again; we ran 2 weeks of Covid-19 safe local adventures for over 50 scouts. This took a huge amount of work, getting all the risk assessments in place and volunteers organised, but it was really worth it.
Warwick Camp 2020' was a huge success with a rota of small group activities being planned over the fortnight; with Scouts and leaders having great fun both on and off the water. The youngsters had paddlesports sessions (can you beat that view of paddling in front of Warwick Castle?) and went on an exciting river trip: encountering weirs, slides and a rope swing! They were out sailing again at Draycote Water; took on the challenge of a local hike; got competitive at Frisby golf and even completed a 40k bike ride too!
'Thank you all loads! Ella's had a fabulous time, for the second year running the 2nd Warwick camp, even at home, will be the highlight of her summer!'
Well done everyone who took part in our Summer 'Virtual Cream Tea' we raised nearly £2k!
Well done to Elizabeth who won the Scout 'Cream Tea' prize!
May 2020 News Update
Camp@Home
Since lockdown, the Camp@Home was particularly successful, with 42 Scouts and 9 leaders taking part – it was great to see everyone getting into the camping spirit. Great to see everyone decorating their tents, having camp fires and cooking outside.
Scouting at home
The Scouts have also sent cards to Galanos House, done badgework at home, and joined Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) and the online St George’s Day celebration.
Further activities
Group Necker Throw Challenge!
We have had to take the really difficult decision of cancelling our annual two week Summer Camp, which is usually the highlight of the year for scouts and leaders. We are hoping that if restrictions ease, we will be able to run some activities in the Summer more locally; but we will have to see how the situation develops….
Orienteering School Championship winners
In our last activity before lockdown, 12 scouts took part in the local orienteering club’s school championship at Ryton Pools. This was the first time for most of them they’d done a proper orienteering event, and they all did really well. Mai / Mair won their age category and we were 3rd overall in primary school team event. In lower secondary school, despite taking their time going round (including a suspected visit to the play area!) Libby, Frankie, Carys and Ellisa took the top prize!
We now have 3 qualified British Archery Instructors!
In early March three leaders qualified as British Archery Instructors with the aim of offering archery in the new hut and outside on camps. The course was two days full immersion in the safe coaching of archery and range setups with both a theory and practical test. The group has most of the equipment already and are looking forward to introducing Scouts and Cubs to the sport later this year.
HMS Raleigh - RN Swimming Gala
Outside the regular evenings, in January we had a team of 6 Scouts travel to HMS Raleigh, Plymouth to take part in the Annual Royal Navy Swim Gala, which was a great experience for them.
District Shooting competition
In February, many of our Scouts took part in the annual District shooting competition. On a combined rifle and pistol score, Joey was the top Scout in the whole district – well done! Six of our Scouts were selected to compete at Bisley in October, although unfortunately that has since been cancelled.
Vanguard Sleepover
In March, five of the older girls organised a sleepover for Vanguard, planning the food & activities and even completing the risk assessments! This was one of the last requirements they needed to achieve their Chief Scouts Gold Award, the highest award for Scouts. Well done!
After returning in January, Scouts had a busy programme of activities on Tuesdays and Friday evenings, which included:
Building cardboard bridges
Various problem solving activities
Watching the WAGS gang show
Map and compass work
Night Hike around the area of the Greenway in Kenilworth
Indoor pioneering – who could make the bridge that could carry the most scouts!
Learning about importance of exercise & diet
January 2020 News Update
Learning Life Skills
Our scouts have been learning some great skills over the last term - from mending a bike puncture, changing a plug, drilling, plumbing, ironing to even learning how to change a tyre on a vehicle!
Thanks to all our leaders who can share all their amazing expertise with our youngsters!
Galanos House
It was an honour for some of our youngsters to visit Galanos House in December to meet residents and help write Christmas Cards.
Galanos House is a Royal British Legion Care Home in Southam and is home to 91 ex-servicemen and women and their dependents.
Cooking Skills
Our Scouts have been cooking up a storm as they cooked delicious meals over gas burners.
Some of the food was even edible!
Bridge Building
It seems appropriate as the building on our new HQ progresses that Scouts have a go at building themselves!
They designed some bridges to see what weight they could hold with mixed success. Probably good they haven't actually designed our new scout HQ!
Christmas Party
The Scouts loved their Christmas party at Jump In this year. The leaders joined in the fun as well.....
November 2019 News Update
Royal Navy Soccer Sixes - runners up in the plate competition!
Tradition has it that the last weekend in September is the Royal Navy Soccer Sixes competition when Royal Navy recognised Sea Scout Units from around the country compete at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth. Our team of scouts stayed on board the Type 82 Destroyer Hms Bristol Whale Island Portsmouth and enjoyed Navy catering in the junior rates mess!
With over 150 competitors, 2nd Warwick Scout team faced some stiff competition from Sea Scout teams around the country. Saturday morning saw our team play 9 matches. Ben was a safe pair of hands in goal, whilst Sam was solid in defence. Josh and Kareem dominating midfield with Abigail and Francesca as a lethal combination in attack and they managed to qualify for the plate semi-final on the Sunday!
Saturday night was spent watching a film after the evening meal and recreational time onboard HMS Bristol. A good night’s sleep was abruptly halted by ‘Call the Hands’ at 6:30am!
Our 3 goal win over Colchester put us in the final of the plate competition against Streatham. Unfortunately, we lost the final, despite dominant play around their goalmouth and shot after shot from the Warwick strikers and came runners up in the RN Soccer Sixes Plate.
Well done to our team who showed great tenacity, sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the event; and should be justly proud of the way they represented the Group!
Scout Section Opening Evenings
Both Scout sections ran open evenings in October, which gave parents an opportunity to see some of the activities that the Scouts get involved with. Each patrol ran a base, which included making pancakes from a camp kitchen, toasting marshmallows on an open fire, a first aid incident, rigging a sailing dinghy, kayak capsizes on dry land and wood engraving burning.
The evening also included a presentation, particularly for the new Scouts and parents, on the annual two week summer camp. The Scouts who went to the 2019 camp in Wensleydale particularly enjoyed watching a slide show, reminding them of the many fun activities they got up to. You can view the slide show here
A group of parents closed the evening by performing Colours, much to the amusement of the Scouts and their own children. They actually did a really good job, getting everything done in the right order!