OSR Scout Troop having spent a couple of weeks writing prayers and choosing hymns with Karen put it all together today at St. Michaels Church for all the other uniform groups from Stoke Gifford. Scouts read, sang, collected donations, flags, helped people to their seats, gave out harvest bread and much more.
The service was fab with lots of food donations collected for Filton Food Bank with cheerful harvest hymns, thought provoking readings and thoughtful prayers. Thank you for all putting in so much effort, proud of you all.

So 0600 on Saturday 21/07/18 was time for the cubs and scouts of Stoke Gifford to form up and travel to Browsea Island the site of the first scout camp.
We took the coach to Poole Quay and then ferry across to the island, followed by a short hike and then set up camp, evening meal and then bed everyone shattered.

The next day started with breakfast then red squirrel watching and conservation. Our meals were prepared by the 23 adult leaders for the 56 young people. An evening of crabbing and then bed.
The island has a no fire policy and so to challenge the scouts and cubs a mission to build a raft to float in the sea and make a fire big enough to roast a marshmallow.
The final full day was occupied with visits to the reserve and orienteering with sleeping out under the stars in bivouacs then the last morning was decamp to start the return journey home.

What a great camp.

Fish and chips on the quay and then on to the coach.
Many thanks to all involved in the organisation and running of this special camp which all the children thoroughly enjoyed.

weekend group camp to Botany Bay Scouts from both troops and cubs attended Friday and (beavers arrived on Saturday) whilst the scouts and cubs were hiking and kyacking along the river wye from Monmouth to Redbrook and second leg to Whitebrook.
Rained a bit on Friday evening but the rest of the weekend was glorious and scouts joined in at a campfire and tried firelighting with just a flint and steel.

Tonight both troops went to st. Michaels school and dug out all the group tents, put them up and checked the poles and fabric. Then put them back in the bags and back into the container for this weekends camp to Botany Bay. Some of the older scouts taught the new members how and to be honest it’s easier with many hands.

Big well done to the 17 scouts from OSR troop for attending the Remembrance Day parade in Stoke Gifford this morning, it was a great gathering and all the scouts looked very smart with ironed neckers and shirts plus school trousers and shoes. Well done all. I know several of our scouts were at sporting events and so would have remembered the fallen before the games started. By attending this counts towards the Poppy badge which we all wear with pride

This weekend was a group camp to Woodhouse Park. The camp started for the leaders on the Friday evening where there was a chance to meet old and new faces then a peaceful night. The rest of the group arrived on the Saturday morning and after putting up their tents and sorting their kit the scouts then spent 2 days shooting, crate stacking, tomahawk throwing, axe/ knife & saw training, shelter building, a camp fire and sleeping rough under their shelters in the woods as well as gadgets, trails and general exploration of the campsite. Of course they were all fed and watered and most got some sleep.

We will be holding our AGM at 20:30 in the Old School Rooms Coffee Shop on Monday the 10th of July.
Any parents wishing to attend are more than welcome.

Wishing all the young people, their parents and siblings a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
See everyone next year.
The Leaders

The new term is almost here - time to start finding uniforms hidden on bedroom floors and sewing on any badges that were awarded at the end of last terms.

Beavers are starting back on the 1st of September
Cubs are starting back on the 8th of September
The Scouts at St Michael's School are starting on 10th of September
The Scouts at the OSR are starting back on the 3rd of September