We Survived Cub Camp!

Twenty excited Cubs, together with a group of enthusiastic Parents and Leaders camped at Ferny Crofts in the New Forest over the weekend of 18th-20th September. We were taking part in the Southampton City District "Survival Camp 2009" and were joined by over 100 other Cubs from 7 other Cub Packs.

During the day we did everything from Climbing to Shelter Building and from Orienteering to Backwoods Cooking. On Friday evening everyone took part in a Cluedo-based Wide Game that ranged across the whole campsite and on Saturday evening we sang songs around a huge campfire.

The weather was fantastic and so were the Cubs. I owe a huge vote of thanks to all the parents and leaders who made the camp happen. Thankyou!

I've put some photos here.

Kandersteg Expedition

As part of our centenary celebrations we wanted to do something special for our Troop Camp in 2009 and so we headed for the Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) in Switzerland and we have just returned from an action packed week amongst the stunning scenery of the high alps in the Bernese Oberland. There were 24 of us in the party – eight adults and sixteen young people ranging from our youngest Scout, Josh (10), whom we invested at camp, up to one of our Young Leaders, Blake (16). We went by plane from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Geneva, and from there by rail to Kandersteg. The journey was not always straightforward but we got there okay and there was great camaraderie along the way. The on-site leaders at KISC (known as the “pinkies” for their pink shirts) led our group on several hikes and activities including an overnight stay in a mountain hut, real rock climbing, ice climbing for our older scouts, and a visit to a high alpine Cheesery. We swam in an alpine lake, rode a gondola and a summer toboggan run, and participated in international get-togethers organised by the pinkies including a great camp fire on the last night. The weather was fantastic and the trip was accident-free, so we are tired but happy! 15 months of planning and fund-raising all paid off.

Sam Hoskins

Congratulations to former 14th Southampton Cub Scout Sam Hoskins who has been signed up by SFC for this year's Saints Academy. link

Beaver Loggerheads 2009

Four Fantastic Beavers from the 14th joined Beavers from eight other Colonies in Southampton to enjoy a day of fun and adventure at Wilverley Campsite in the New Forest. They did everything from tracking to cooking fish, from water fights to eating snakes!

Check out the photos here.

Raft Race 28 Jun 2009

Annual district raft race on the Itchen near the Woodmill Activity Centre...

Amazing Athletes of the 14th - Cubs Sports 2009

The 14th Cub Scouts had a great afternoon at the annual District Sports Day.

I can't quite believe it - we finished in fourth place on 25 points, only 2 points behind the 11th who were in third place. But with six Athletes, our team was half the size of each of the teams in the top 3 and we only had enough people to participate in a selection of the available events. So a huge well done to our Boys for their determination, enthusiasm and ability.

And I was really impressed with the way the team encouraged each other and smiled their way through the event - what an afternoon and what a great team :-)

Take a look at the photos here.

Brownsea Island Camp, May 2009

Seventeen excited Cubs, twelve camp-hardened Scouts and a slightly apprehensive supporting cast of leaders and parents took ship from a rain soaked Sandbanks bound for Brownsea Island on a May Friday evening. We were celebrating our Centenary with a camp at the place where Scouting was born.

Brownsea is a magical place and something magical happened to the unpromising weather which seemed to work to our advantage throughout the weekend. We had the entire campsite and all its facilities to ourselves and were able to do all our planned outdoor activities - including shelter building, archery and low ropes - in bright sunshine. It was too windy for kayaking on the sea, so we sailed instead. In the evenings we were able to play the widest of wide games - it felt like we had the whole Island to ourselves.

Please check out the photos here.

Race Night

On Sat evening 30th May 2009 a group of us went Sim Car racing at the Race Centre in Chandlers Ford.Groups of ten of us raced against one another around the original Silverstone track. Well done to our trophy winners Ethan, Nick and Jamie. For more information about the race centre visit: www.driverschallenge.co.uk

Cubs Spring Term 2009

We've done loads of different things this term. Follow the link here to see what we've been up to.

Six a Side Competition 2009

It was great to enter two Scout teams and two Cub teams into the annual Southampton City District six-a-side football competition. Here's the Scouts getting ready in their smart new kit. After weeks of training we were playing well and our A team only just missed the top spot, becoming runners up after losing to the 26th in a closely fought final.