Cross bows

Hi all -  Hmmm... been a bit of a gap but maybe things will get back to normal? Well if nothing changes it will become normal anyway so lets look forward to a normal 2021 however that turns out... For those still a member of an explorer unit there is an opportunity to have some fun with the county's new crossbows... here's the info from John and the shooting SASU - let me know if you want to take part!

Membership

Hi all! As you are aware we are not able to hold our regular meetings and so I am not collecting subs from you (Good!). This means however that I cannot pay capitation for you and so your membership of the Scout Association will lapse (Not good!).
In particular it means that you will no longer be covered by Scout insurance for scouting activities unless you formally join a different Explorer or Young Leader unit.
You can do this easily - I suggest Monkmoor or Rea Valley are good and I can give you contact info to get in touch.
I can still support you in DofE if you are working towards an award, and you are still registered for DofE, but be aware that the DofE insurance is through scouts so if you are still doing DofE skills/volunteering etc you should sign up with a Scout Unit.
For ongoing shooting and hiking activities you need to be in a Scout Unit.

2020 Meetings

I've had a few explorers asking if we are meeting tonight 9 January 2020. We have generally not held meetings on the first Thursday of term (you are all too excited about school/college having started!) so no meeting tonight. 

Also, our recruit-a-leader meeting attracted very limited attendance so we do not have a leader currently - watch this space for when we are able to re-start!

Bluster

Global wetting seems to have left us with a soggy rather than snowy Snowdonia so we are planning to do the next mountain group closer to home. A chance to get out and walk off some pud - with a bit of luck we'll get some bad weather to battle and beat! Book up and we'll know you are coming!

(Fancy photo isn't it! Wish mine came out this well)

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/llangollenruabon-area-sunday-12-january-2020-tickets-88403205367

Shropshire Rifles

If you enjoyed shooting and have been to Bisley - there is a new postal shooting competition we are organising through Shropshire Rifles (the county have adopted Boreatton's target shooting club as their own :) ).

This will be good for your shooting, bring glory and medals, and also be good prep for the County Shooting Competition (glory medals and chocolate!). The introductory meeting is on Monday 6 Jan at Monkmoor scout hut. Let me know if you want to come, or if you can't come but want to take part!
Here's the info letter...

End of term!

It's our end of term event - you have all finished exams by now so we should all be free to celebrate the end of term and start of hols!
Please sign up to let me know if you are coming or if you cant make it as I need to pay in advance... I will confirm times when I book but I expect it will be a slightly earlier start on Thurs at AMF Harlescott

A festive opportunity!

It's nearly Christmas and time to do festive things, make new starts for the new year and seize opportunities that present themselves gift wrapped for your delight! And what could be more delightful than the opportunity to be a Boreatton Explorer leader, and eat mince pies too!🎅

This week we will try and tempt your parents into joining us and being the next Explorer leader. We can meet at Leaton Hall and make (alcohol free) mulled wine and mince pies for all the parents prepared to come along and meet you and see what it's all about 😀
It a bit earlier and I've scheduled it for 7:30-8:30 but will take as long as we need if there is a parent keen to sign up with us!

As it involves catering I am putting an Eventbrite ticket thing so we know how many to expect - book tickets for any parents that come too!



Please also bring your subs (only had subs from half of you!) so you can sign up for our end of term bowling/laserquest 👍

Big Sleepout

OK - we are not actually part of the Big Sleepout but its the same w/e and we are supporting the same charities locally... See what everyone else is doing on their Big Sleepout website!

We will sleep in our box houses at Leaton Hall (inside the barn if its rainy and our box leaks, outside in a field if its dry or our box is properly waterproof).

We meet later than usual at 9pm on Friday 6 December at Leaton Hall in time for a BBQ supper and then we will join Leaton Church's dawn Forest Walk and Advent celebration after breakfast from 8:00-10:00 before being collected from Leaton Hall at 10:00am on Saturday 7 December

Bring Box and (very) warm sleep bag, Knife fork spoon plate and drink container for supper and breakfast, and usual stuff for a forest walk, and of course your sponsorship money and this consent form! (subs would be nice too... most of you have not paid this terms subs which were due last Sept)

Should be more photogenic than our nighthike! (Although I always enjoy photography in the dark....) so bring a phone/camera and capture the dawn!

Please book a ticket so I know how many are coming!

In search of weather

Its the next hike already! (Get some prexercise in for the xmas puds to come) - I'm hoping the leg will be back up and walking...

Click the pic!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-search-of-fun-sunday-8-december-2019-tickets-83069865203?fbclid=IwAR3spGRG8GBvtmYduq8bF9Z943aA2fXsQRshJ_BKApJ_-phfR9_zfbhYGRc

Cliffe edge

It's our night hike! We will meet at the Cliffe trig point  (SJ393205) at 8:00 and so long as you don't get lost/kidnapped/muck about we will finish at the hut at the usual time. Bring waterproofs, warm layer, head torch, compass, whistle, hat that covers the ears, walking boots, emergency rations, hot drink, survival blanket, ice ax, crampons, signal flare, satellite phone... etc - the usual hiking stuff :)

Finally, dont forget to be collecting your sponsorship for our sleep in a box

Christmas Fair

Please come and join us to raise funds for the Group.

There are still a few tables left to rent so take this opportunity to de-clutter before Christmas.  Please call Joycelin on the number above to book.

Any donations of cake, flapjacks etc to sell would be greatly appreciated.  Please leave at Explorers on Thursday.

Archery!

We'll do this!
Meet at Leaton Hall (because it might not be pugglable) at usual time 8:00 - 9:30

Damaged!

Hmmm... last time I went for a run after a decade or so off it was fine so I dont know what went wrong when I did park run last weekend! Anyway - I'm sorry I could not join you at the remembrance parade last Sunday - I was pleased to see that there was an excellent turn out! Thank you.

I am nearly mended, but our next meetings were cross-bow archery and night hike both of which promise to be hard on torn muscle so I am afraid I will have to cancel our next meeting to avoid more protracted injury... :( I hope to be mended soon and may even be up for the easy walk at the w/e. So...

No meeting 14 November


SBSMG Hike on 17 November - book here

Thank you

A huge thank you to all Explorers who came to the Remembrance Sunday Parade.

You were all immaculately turned out and hugely respectful!

Thank you.

Phil

Remember

At this time every year Boreatton Explorer Unit joins Boreatton Scout Group to take part in a solemn parade to All Saints Church in Baschurch.  We then go into Church for a service of remembrance to commemorate all those who fell in war and conflict.

This is the one activity each year that we expect all Scouts and Explorers to turn out for - put aside football and rugby matches, having a lie in or just can't be bothered - we expect you there if at all possible.  We will meet in the Doctors surgery car park at 10.00 this Sunday 10th November in full Scout uniform, to include school trousers or skirt and polished shoes.  Please bring some money for the collection as well as a poppy.

We will march through Baschurch to the Remembrance service at the church and after the service march back to Millington Close for dismissal. We usually finished by around 12.20.

There is very limited parking at the Doctors so maybe car share?

Bonfire night

We will join the scouts and cubs and beavers in our annual Group Bonfire for our meeting this Thursday 7th November at Leaton Hall, Leaton near Bomere Heath, SY4 3AP

All the family welcome! 
6.30pm to 8pm - Car Parking in Holy Trinity Church on the Berwick Road just after Leaton Hall heading towards Shrewsbury- please slow as you approach the turning and drive even slower in the car park as it is unlit. Marshalls will be at the gate. 

Hot Food on sale to raise funds for Boreatton Scout Group - please bring cash, and cake for us to sell would be most welcome.

Bring gloves for the sparklers, a torch and dress warmly.

Fare well to Jack

Tonight is Jacks last Explorer night at PGL (he'll still come to the bonfire we hope though)
We will celebrate with a BBQ and wish him well for his migration south (all puggles fly south for the winter...). Usual time and place... Come hungry :)

Razer sharp

Oops - this is late - but still time to book! Follow the link before midnight!
The next Mountain Group hike is to Snowdon - late in the year so we'll take the short scrambley route along Crib Goch... dont look down!

I want to go!

Saving the planet...

...one piece of ferro-trash at a time...

The Severn is in spate 

       so we will have to check out the magnet fishing on the Perry or a pond... Meet at the hut as normal but bring head torch and waders (if you like...)
The magnets are expensively strong - NO PIERCINGS!!!

Community service

We are not just a youth club and so our programme involves an element of community service too. It's time for our regular citizens advice work to survey the towns chip shops, recognise the best, and advise the community on where they can get their chips... (see the tab at the top of the blog!)

We will meet in Shrewsbury Market Square early at 7:30 and judge the towns chip resources. Wear some identification as a Boreatton explorer and (if you want to be bribed...) a Chipadvisor Judge badge! Finish and pick up from the square at 9:00.