Daventry Scouts

On Saturday, 12^th February 10 Scouts and 4 Explorers from Brixworth and Scaldwell launched an exciting new expedition training scheme – Krazy Koinonia or KK for short.

Koinonia is a Greek word that is about an association of people who share common beliefs or activities – so for this scheme it’s all about expeditions .  The idea is that Scouts and Explorers will work together to get into expeditions in a big way – planning them, taking part in them, enjoying the outdoors, getting good at the skills needed to navigate during the day or at night and in any weather conditions and learning about the right equipment to use.  It’s also about spending time with leaders who are committed to guiding Scouts and Explorers through their development…and the Krazy bit?  Well the expeditions will take all sorts of forms.  The first event was an introduction to good map, compass and navigation skills.  It was held in Fineshade Woods near Corby with but there are plans to go further afield, for example to try a canoe expedition on the River Wye.  They will also go camping in exciting places.  For this trip, they slept in Danish Shelters – see the pictures – around a campfire.  A simple Krazy Koinonia recognition scheme is also being developed that will both tie in with all the existing Scout and Explorer outdoor programmes as well as record all KK activities.

Nine Explorers from Ajax Explorer Unit (Welford), and intrepid Leaders Ant Raisbury and Dave Measures, put the 'out' in 'Scouting' when they completed a 15 mile hike along the Brampton Valley on 24th February.    They certainly chose a lovely day for it.  What a great way to spend a Thursday in the February Half Term holidays!  Well done to all!

The Young Leaders Survival Camp started slightly earlier than planned as an unnamed Scouter turned up with his young person a day early.
After this unexpected, but not unwelcome, arrival we started with 6 Young Leaders on the Saturday morning. Flag break saw the YL’s and most of the team being presented with their own handmade Survival Camp neckers. Then they started working towards their Emergency Aid stage 3 badge which they all achieved. After lunch the young people worked with Tony Bishop, the District Outdoor Activities Advisor, on various skills, including shelter building, where Tony built a demonstration shelter and the young people built their own shelters to sleep in later on in the day. Cooking on open fires was also a vital part of the exercise and the YL’s were cooking chicken and flatbreads for their main meal together with sweetcorn and baked bananas which had been cooked in a pit fire.

Hello, I am John Driver (Foggy) I am your Explorer Scout Commissioner (DESC) and I would like to welcome you the first issue of Daventry and District Explorer / Young Leader news. In this issue you will find an outlined Diary of events for the next 12 months you will see there are quite a lot of events being planned on top of your weekly meetings.

I am also looking at ensuring there is adequate provision for you to obtain your Scouting Awards and your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as well as more relaxing fun events.

Your own ideas are welcome and we will incorporate them into this years programme as well if at all possible.

Looking forward to seeing you all

John Driver (Foggy)

DESC