Our annual caving trip with Marek and Harry, six excited scouts went in to Goatchurch cave system and luckily all came back out one and a half hours later. The scouts still had smiles on their faces so it couldn't have been too bad.

So for the next 3 weeks the troop are divided with half at ASDA taking part in the Toolbox about healthy eating and the others at OSR covering the electronics badge with Nick Windows. First we needed to cover safety and the basics, also showing the scouts the analogue circuit and the digital circuit they will be making. We also took the opportunity to change a light bulb as per the skills challenge award.

Tonight was all about tackling the circus skills activity badge and Claire Maggs and a team of support came into OSR. The activities included Diablo, Skipping, Plate Spinning, Juggling, Mime, Hand eye coordination skittles, Making juggling balls and finally Clown face decorating biscuits.
The scouts had a great time some naturally took to things and others had to work on the things we were taught but everyone had a skill and showed them off during the session. We need to go and watch a circus performance now hopefully on the Downs during the summer.

Monday evening 8 of the troop attended Badminton school to experience scuba diving. This taster session was free for the scouts as Esme Gibbs Meritorious award grant was used. When the scouts werent scuba diving they were snorkelling and when they all eventually emerged from the pool with massive smiles on their faces they all confirmed that they had enjoyed the activity and would do it again. Well done to all, the instructors were very impressed!

Tonight was our first night back after the christmas break and we conducted no fewer than 13 investitures......What I hear you all say.......Yes thats right 13. There were a lot of chances for error but the scouts did great. Then we set up our new patrol called Merlins and after a quick inspection where they all looked very smart in their shirts we had a fun night run by Larah and Harry with a little help from the other 6 leaders!

For the end of term treat as in previous years we attended the Bristol Hippodrome to watch the performance of Cinderella (on Ice ish) with Torvill and Dean. What a great evening and the scouts did us proud all being very well behaved and enjoying the show enormously. The parent helpers were well behaved to.