30th Reigate Scout Group

There was a bright light over Reigate on the evening of March 4^th, with not a single Shepherd in sight! The reason - as part of our Advanced Skills Program, those taking part in the "Survival Skills" took the opportunity to let-off a Distress Flare from the road in front of the Scout Hall. The result was a great "whoosh", a lot of smoke and the flare rapidly ascended to a height of about 400m. It then slowly fell to earth, giving off a bright amber light, slowed by a small parachute. We anticipated some of the reaction by informing the Police, but were surprised that they then told us we had to also inform the Civil Aviation Authority, due to our nearness to Gatwick!

Last weekend the 30th held their second "Moving On Camp" for the Scouts who have joined the troop in the past 12 months. The main aim is to give the new Scouts an introduction to camping with the 30th. Scout's arrived on the Friday night, put tents up in the dark (first challenge), played some team games and settled into their patrols for the weekend.

On Saturday morning they took part in a series of bases - learning knots for lashings, turks-head woggles, friendship knots for scarves, making rope out of toilet paper!, picture orienteering, pitching a canvas Patrol tent and square lashings. In the afternoon, using their newly learnt knots and lashings, the Scouts took part in some large scale pioneering. A "swing boat" and a low ropes course were made. It was great to see the Scouts putting their new skills to practical use. The structures held out so their lashings must have been good!