Banstead Methodist Church

Scouts  7th Banstead

Beavers

The Beaver Scout Section has 20 Beavers.
Since last September we have being doing the Outdoor Challenge, Adventure and Healthy Eating activity badges.
Beaver meetings have included: talking about their summer holiday and drawing a picture of where they went, learning 3 simple knots, learning how to make a healthy picnic and what to pack in a rucksack for a healthy snack, making pom poms for Christmas in December and designing and making healthy eating posters.
We have done two walks.  The first a joint woodland walk with Nork Beavers. They filled in a booklet with drawings and wrote down what they saw and did, some also stuck in leaves, feathers and other things they found.  The second was a joint night hike with the Cubs near Reigate on Bonfire night and they saw some fireworks en route.
At one Beaver meeting,  Pam Hickman who is the County scout child liaison officer, visited us to tell the Beavers about the disabled little girl, Beccy, who we were collecting the bottle tops for - to raise enough money to buy a machine that would help her communicate with others.
We also went to the district camp fire in October at  Park Farm, and supported the Group Carol service in December although some readers  got stage fright and others has to step in to save the day!

Cubs

The Cub section has 23 Cubs.
Since September we have been busy completing the Animal Carer and Home Safety Badges over a number of weeks.  Other pack nights have included designing Christmas cards, a Christmas quiz, covering and filling shoeboxes, practising for the carol service and games.
In October we held a Pet Show with an assortment of small animals such as hamsters, snakes and Giant  African land snails on display, plus photo entries of larger animals, which was very interesting.
As winners of the District Cooking Competition in March our winning team was (at very late notice) entered into the County Cooking Competition Heats in November, so a number of weeks were spent practising their culinary skills under Carla Landless’s tuition.  They came second in the heat so did not make the final, but were informed that their score was actually higher than all the other heat finalists – except Reigate who happened to be in our heat.  What bad luck!
In October 12 cubs took part in the District Ten Pin Bowling competition.  We also attended the District Campfire at Park Farm, Jamboree on the Air, a joint Torchwalk in November along Reigate Hill, and the Carol Service in  December.

Scouts

The Scout section has 19 Scouts, with four additional explorers coming up to help each week
Since September we have been busy updating challenge and interest badges that were completed at summer camp.
Troop nights have included helping set up for the September jumble sale, designing Christmas cards, swimming, Christmas games and the Fire Safety Badge.  We also completed the covering and filling of 45 shoeboxes for Samaritans Purse.
At the end of October we held another Blindfold Drop and sleepover with 20 scouts and explorers taking part, including 3 from Walton Troop.
In November we collected litter on a Saturday morning in pouring rain for the Burgh Heath Residents Association.
At the end of November the scout section cooked and served Sunday lunch for church members who would normally eat alone.
Group activities have included the District Campfire at Park Farm, Jamboree on the Air, a joint Torchwalk in November and the Carol Service in December.  These activities were well supported by all the sections.

(NB. The above reports cover Sep 09 to Dec 09)
Janice Barber - Cub & Scout Leader        March 2010.
Enquiries: 01737 356201