H sleeps

The latest in my collection of photos themed as 'H sleeping in interesting places...'

"on the electronic range at Bisley with medals"

...of ancient trees

We liked the early record of bronze expeditions and decided to make our own cave (aka scout hut) art depicting the warrior in the ancient tree...
It's the theme for the expedition so first we checked the practicalities of the hug measure of a tree...

Like people, trees grow and age at different rates depending on where they are and what happens to them during their lifetime. But here’s a rough guide to when trees start to be of interest to the Ancient Tree Hunt, based on our hug method of measurement.

The 'hug' method for measuring trees A hug is based on the finger tip to finger tip measurement of an adult, which we take to be about 1.5m. This distance is usually almost the same as your height, and means you can measure a tree even if you forget your tape measure!

The trees below might be ancient if they measured the following:

Oak – 3 adult hugs
Beech – 2 adult hugs
Scots Pine– 1 adult hug
Rowan – one adult hug
Birch – a wrist hug
Hawthorn – an elbow hug
Cedar of Lebanon – 4 adult hugs
Field Maple - 1 adult hug
Sweet Chestnut - 4 adult hugs
Ash - 2 adult hugs

Here's an ancient puggle oak

yep - that's a four-hugger!

...and from it emerged the bronze axed hunter... 

clad in smoke and laser-light

signed by the artists

Bronze age!

an early bronze DofE expedition descended into chaos and conflict when it was realised that a pot noodle was not enough to survive on

Well certainly back to low tech as we do the expedition! Lightweight greenfield camping in sub-zero...
Here's some forms!

10

The explorers had their 10th party to coincide with the county fun day and promised that we could play with all the Beaver toys after they'd all got out from underfoot, which sounded fun so a big bunch of us went. We were the biggest group there! And we went to the fun day too as the Drum Corps has quite a few of us these days. It was great, until the Beavers went and they packed everything up!!! !!! where's our toys! no hamster balls! not fair! Oh well - the BBQ was good and just meeting up with friends from the SSGMG (Hi Callum!) and Jamboree and caving camp and stuff... The EL wire was cool too!


Here's some pics from some bits of the day - if you look carefully in the background you can't see the hamster balls that aren't there D8

We started the whole thing off...

 with Danny the CC

 and then the Bear came!

 ...briefly...

 and then it was just time to relax (nice nails)...

 ...chill...

 and glo! 8D

...chill and glo!

PS we've applied for some money to get our own hamster ball - they promised us hamster balls, and we deserve them - we will roll!!!

Expediting the expedition

We had planned to get ready for our expedition  this meeting and have the pre-expedition meeting withour assessor for those that are being assessed! However... Richard can't after all come tonight,and neither can most of those doing their assessed expedition (6th form open days etc). Finally, it's my only night available to pack for the rifles camp. 
So, it seems  sensible to bow to the inevitable and reschedule the meeting to NEXT TUESDAY 23 OCTOBER at BICTON SCHOOL from 7:30-9:30 pm. We will have big joint meeting with Bicton Explorers, have our meeting with our assessor (Richard), meet the Bicton DofE group  we will be camping with, and do the rucksac packing kit check and distribution of tents, practice eating our meal (remember not to have dinner before coming so we can see how well fed you are after your planned meal, and generally do all we had planned for the troop night.
Apologies for late notice :( - Philippa  will be phoning everyone so hopefully you will either have spoken to Phil or read this before the meeting. If not, I have organised a special activity for those that come to PGL anyway - helping prepare for camp! (i.e. helping me load the Landy!          
PS Those being assessed, don't forget to bring you complete route card (inc tick off points, times and bearings, escape options, and also be ready to talk about your aim - ancient tree survey - and how you will do your final presentation!                                                                                                               

Rifles Camp

Last minute details!
Forms - don't forget your shhoting form, camping consent and £10 final payment - there is no meeting tonight so you MUST bring you forms to your driver before you leave!!!
Transport - I will be taking the kit in the Landy, so setting off really early. The rest of you are travelling in leaders cars. There will be four scouts travelling with Matt Anwyl and he will have agreed arrangements with them; Pete and Anthony will leave from Pete's house and you should plan to get there for 5pm. Your personal gear will travel with you in a full car, so if you really need to have 3 rucksacks full of stuff (I have seen it in the past!) You will share your seat with your gear andbe a bit squashed and crumpled when you arrive...
Those that live in Bicton have an option to be collected from Bicton, so if you want to be picked up from there give Pete or me a ring and we will sort it out. Pick up from Bicton will be around 5:30pm (depending how much gear people bring and how hard it is to squeeze it all in :)
Remember, Bisley has always been COLD and it's hard to aim whilst shivering!!!                                

Another week... another camp...

Woah its busy this term! Camp 5 already... and the clocks not yet back!
We're all set for NSARC 2012 and here are the forms!

Stanley Hall

Here's a map!

See you all on Saturday! 
Don't forget - you need usual nights away kit including waterproofs, sleeping bag, kfs plate mug, change of clothes. I will provide tents and some cooking stoves, so if you want to cook snacks, bring some food! We will be provided with a BBQ and breakfast, but a pack lunch might be a good idea.
Don't forget your EL wire! And gear to wear it with! (Note that you should make sure it is switched off until we use it (if you disconnect the wire, you still have to turn it off to stop the inverter flattening the batteries (make sure it is not buzzing quietly to itself)))
Come wearing explorer shirt and Boreatton necker, but I expect we will be less formal later on. I will pay for you all and tell the marshals on the gate, so make £10 cheques and cash payable to me! You will be able to find me at the Archery stand if you can't hear me with the band or at the explorer camp.
The four whose parents I spoke to today are travelling to arrive in time to see BG. Two have told me they are travelling there themselves - I can give you lifts back. The rest need to meet me at Leaton Hall at 8:30 and we will get there for the start! The four travelling together will return to Ruyton for 9:30 on Sunday, the rest can come back with me a little later that morning - probably around 11:00, but it depends how quickly we get b'fast and tidy up!
Some of you have given me camp forms, some of you have given me camp forms and shooting forms, and some of you haven't!!! I must have your consent forms, and if you intend to shoot, you must carry your shooting form (our rifle squad forms do not apply to this event).
Phew... lots of last minute info...
See you there!

Consents, cakes and coordination

We meet at our normal (?) time and place this week and prep for the explorer party and DofE expedition!
Here are info and consent forms for the party this Saturday. I can take 10 of you in the FartSac but I am going to the funday with drum corps members and to help run the archery (you can help at that too!) so I'll be leaving here around 9:00. I'll ring around and try and coordinate numbers etc...We need to coordinate our cake, hand me the £10, and decorate our jackets/hats/... with the EL wire kits - bring needle and thread!
Our DofE expedition is on 27-28 October (in our shiny new tents!) and we will be looking at route cards for the trip. It needs to be roughly 135279-195359-227433!
Finally we need to induct old explorers (sorry - should have done this ages ago!) and give (sell actually they cost £5) them their neckers and badges (at least these are free!)
Finally finally, don't forget to pay subs (£35 cheque payable to Boreatton Explorer Unit) please.