Virtual Scouting has been a fantastic adventure, with camps, experiments, escape room, cooking and crazy challenges. We have enjoyed it so much over the past year and expanded on running so many different activities. Even with all this, we know that interacting face-to-face, being outside and having adventures is all so important.

We can now meet back face-to-face, and on Tuesday, we had our first meeting face-to-face in twelve months. The excitement and nerves beforehand were just like the anticipation of Christmas Day and feelings of Christmas Eve. I wasn’t sure who was most excited, our young people, parents or Leaders. Leaders and our supporters have been working behind the scenes for months, getting us ready to return like a coiled spring. Parents had a series of emails, with a link to our website walking them through our changes, a chance to see our risk assessment to make sure they knew we had all base covers finally, a short video to visualise the arriving and pick up steps.

The first night was simple, a few bases to get everyone back, complete some challenges, and enjoy some Spring sunshine. Our young people had a great time, and we all wanted the session to run that little bit longer.

The five bases:

  • Ping pong head to head, get your ball into a cup on the table after it had bounced.
  • Tie a reef knot, and then do it behind your back.
  • Big Kim’s game spread across the field.
  • Scout bowls, nearest to the pin.
  • Cookyourself some smores.

With our first session only an hour, it was crazy, getting everyone around the bases, which added excitement. We are so proud of our young people. They followed the rules and took everything in their stride. As we said goodbye until after Easter, each of our young members took home their Easter Egg for taking part and asking when the next session was running, I know everyone like myself was excited to be back and can’t wait until we meet again. It feels a shame we now break up for Easter.

Can you help?

We are expecting to have many new members wanting to join in our adventures in the next few months, and we are looking for a little help to make that happen. You don’t have to be Bear Grylls, some spare time and want to help, and we can help with everything else. Get in touch to find out how you can join our adventures.