The Webmaster
Just a selection of the things Chris Cottrell has been up to over the past 34 years:
11th October 1989
Joins 11th Nuneaton as a Beaver, on Wednesdays.
1990
Appointed Honorary Crew Member number 32,167 of HMS Beaver.
20th March 1991
Last Beaver meeting.
29th April 1991
Invested as a Cub Scout. Attends 11th Nuneaton Fosse pack.
12th October 1991
Part of the winning Nuneaton and District Cub Scout Challenge team.
June 1992
First Cub Camp. (2 nights)
10th October 1992
Again enters Cub Scout Challenge. Finishes 4th.
July 1993
Second Cub Camp. (2 nights)
October 1993
Again enters Cub Scout Challenge. Finishes 3rd.
13th November 1993
Part of Winning Swimming Gala team.
20th November 1993
Enters 'Frank Latchem Trophy' competition.
April 1994
Invested as a Scout on Tuesday evenings.
June 1994
Help on Cub camp (2 nights)
July 1994
First Scout Camp and first Summer Camp. Camp in Nottinghamshire, near Sherwood Forest. Go horse riding and canoeing. (7 nights)
Flim: The Flintstones
September 1994
Camps at Group Camp at Bosworth Water Park. Go canoeing, rafting and fishing in the lake. (2 nights)
December 1994
Spend weekend in a freezing barn in Derbyshire. Go winter walking (and sledging) during the day. (2 nights)
21st March 1995
Gain the Scout Award.
April 1995
Go to and win the Camping and Cooking (2nd) competition in a farmers field at Tuttle Hill. (2 nights)
May 1995
Gain Patrol Activity Award.
July 1995
Summer Camp at St. Clears in South Wales. Spend 1 day canoeing and 1 day (the hottest of the week!) walking the coast path with Macca and Owen. 7 nights in total.
September 1995
To Bosworth again for some more activities. (2 nights)
December 1995
Comes overall second in the Swimming Gala.
To Derbyshire again for winter walking and sledging. (2 nights in a barn)
January 1996
Camping in Edale with David Robinson. (2 nights)
April 1996
Help Cub District Camp at Coombe Abbey. Part of Wild West theme. (2 nights)
June 1996
This time wins Cooking and comes 2nd in the Camping and Cooking Competition at Rough Close in Coventry (2 nights)
July 1996
Patrol Leader in Kibblestone, 1996 Summer Camp. Go walking, absailing, and spend 1 night in a 'home made bivi shelter'. (7 nights)
September 1996
Gain Pathfinder Award.
3rd Camp at Bosworth Water Park. (2 nights)
December 1996
Part of winning Swimming Gala team
February 1997
Again to Edale, this time with Luke Hill. (2 nights)
April 1997
District Camp at Kingsbury Water Park. Go shooting and canoeing. (2 nights)
2nd June 1997
Gains Leadership Award.
July 1997
Langorse, South Wales. Last Summer Camp as a Scout. Go Back Packing (2 days, 1 night) in the Brecon Beacons with Shaun Storer. (7 nights)
Film: Jurrasic Park 2
August 1997
Start going to Ventures.
September 1997
Gain Explorer Award.
Last Bosworth Camp as a Scout. Spend all day in the very, cold water helping the rafting. (2 nights)
December 1997
Leave Tuesday Scouts
Venture Christmas Party, Fox Coverts (1 night)
February 1998
To Edale again, with Ian Galland (2 nights)
April 1998
To Willesley for District Cub Camp. Spend Saturday helping cubs to canoe. (2 nights)
June 1998
Invested as a Venture Scout at the top of the treehouse in Hartshill Hayes.
July 1998
Summer Camp, Sheffield. 1 overnight camp (with Luke Hill +Tom C) camping in Edale, and get back to slashed tent. Not happy. (7 nights)
Film: Dr Dolittle
September 1998
Bosworth Group Camp. Spend day in water helping the rafting/canoeing. (2 nights)
December 1998
Barn Weekend. Bloody Cold. (2 nights)
February 1999
Edale. New tent just for me. Saturday wet, Sunday cold. (2 nights)
April 1999
Becomes official Webmaster of 11th Nuneaton Scout Group after launching Group Web Site.
To Willesley for District Cub Camp. Spend Saturday helping cubs to canoe. (2 nights)
April 17th 1999
NIKE! Complete HELL! (1 night-ish!)
June 1999
Cub camp, Fox Coverts (2 nights) (Sat at work)
July 1999
Summer Camp, Llangorse. 1 overnight hike (with Steven Moyes + Shaun) Got VERY lost! Did canoe expedition and climbing. (7 nights)
Film: Star Wars Episode I:The Phantom Menace
September 1999
Bosworth Group Camp. Spend day in water helping the canoeing. (2 nights)
October 11th 1999
10 years in Scouting !!!!
November 1999
Butterton Barn again. 2 days of walking. Reasonable weather. (2 nights)
December 18/19th 1999
Fox Coverts. Venture Christmas party. (1 night)
December 31st 1999/January 1st 2000
New Year, Decade, Century and Millennium party at the Scout Hut.
February 18-20th 2000
Edale again, but now at Cooper's Campsite. Kinder Scout, Low and Downfall on Sat, Mam Tor on Sun. Joint camp with Ruth Shorter's Group from Cardiff. Ventures Andy, Chris and Kathrine with leader Owen (+ Ruth) stay for weekend. No rain at all, but very cold Sat night. (2 nights)
May 20th 2000
Group's 50th Birthday Party at the Scout Hut. Group Photo and rain.
June 16-19th 2000
Group camp, this time in June! Gorgeous weather! Spent the day helping the Absail tower. Watch the England V Germany Euro 2000 game on a portable Tv, then a Barn Dance in the evening. Very sunburnt! (2 nights)
July 22-August 5th 2000
Canada 2000! (14 nights, 3 in Haliburton tent)
September 15-17th 2000
Special weekend activity camp at Broadwater campsite. Went shooting, played football and learned Sign Language. Visited by the Chief Scout, George Purdy on the sunday. ( 2 nights)
October 11th 2000
11 years in Scouting
February 9-11th 2001
Edale again, back at the National Trust campsite. Got to the trig-point of Kinder Scout from a compass bearing on Saturday, and walked up Mam Tor on Sunday. ruth's ventures again came along, but had to split group into many smaller groups for safety. Cold Friday night, wet and cold on Saturday, very wet on sunday. Campsite very muddy! (2 nights)
June 9-10th 2001
Cub Camp again at Fox Coverts, just for the Saturday night. Played in wide game. (1 night)
June 22-24th 2001
Group Camp at Blackwell Court. Spent the day canoeing with Matt Price. Very hot again! (2 nights)
July 21st - 28th 2001
Summer Camp at Kingsdown Campsite, Nr Dover. Went rafting, climbing, grass sledging, swimming in the sea, visited the beach at Broadstairs, when to the funfair with all the 18+'s. Also day trip to Ostende, Belguim. Slept out on last night under the stars. (7 nights)
Film: N/A due to belgium trip
September 14th-16th 2001
Camp at Dolgam, Capel, with Tim, Gareth, Shaun and Macca. Climb the Carnedds on Saturday and Tryfan on Sunday. Sat eve at Plas-Y-Benin Big Wall talk. (2 nights)
October 11th 2001
12 years in Scouting
January 2002
Complete Queen Scout Award
April 2002
Queen Scout Presented at Scout Hut
Take part in Windsor Parade.
June 28-30th 2002
Group Camp, at Blackwell Court again. Go up early on friday to help setup, help canoeing saturday morning, around site on saturday afternoon. Bivvi out both nights in Venture Village. (2 nights)
July 20th - 27th 2002
Summer Camp at Llangors again. Hillwalking, canoeing and lots of CLIMBING!!!! Great week, great weather. (7 nights)
Film: Scooby Doo
September 8th 2002
Present at the first ever 11th Nuneaton Network Scout meeting.
November 2002
Attends a Aber Uni Network Scout meeting to try and get a Uni Scout Group setup. As only 4 people turn up (inc me) the idea is shelved... for now....
Xmas - New Year 2002/3
Becomes webmaster of the Warwickshire Contingent going to Thailand for the Jamboree
June 27th - 29th 2003
Group Camp at Blackwell Court. Arrive early to help setup. Saturday on the abseil tower.(2 nights)
July 19th - 26th 2003
Summer Camp at Waddacar Campsite, near Preston / Blackpool. Very wet towards end of week! (7 nights)
Film:Daddy Dad Care
September 2003
Try again with Aber Network Scouts.... Seems a bit more successful this time!
October 2003
Helping 2nd Penparcau Scout Group in aber and having a really good time!
December 6-7th 2003
1 night Xmas Camp with 2nd Penparcau Scouts (1 night)
December 20th 2003
Explorer / Network Christmas Party at Fox Coverts again (1 night)
General Jan - June 2004
Still helping with 2nd Penparcau, done loads of cool stuff, co - ran the swimming badge, the athletics badge, helped with St Georges Day events with both Scouts (oreinteering) and the Beavers (Pond Dipping) and ran the Fair Trade Foods night, along with other bits and bobs.
July 2004:
Sun Run, in the Cotswolds. Ran and won the Moon Run, with Stu Ind and Shaun, 2 hours 37 mins. (2 nights)
July 17th - 24th 2004
Summer Camp in Scotland. I am an 'uncle', and it rains... a lot... much midges and mud too... the camp of Scoff and Kirsty. (7 nights)
Film:Spiderman 2
September 10-12th 2004
Group Camp again, this time in a massive site in Shugborough. Family day on the saturday, loads of people. Spend the day with the climbing and absailing... good fun as always... Scoff crashed car.... (2 nights)
September 2004 -February 2005
Helping with both Tuesday and Friday Scouts, and sometimes pop in with Explorers as well!
October 2004
Scouts Bivi camp at Fox Coverts. (1 night)
February 4th - 6th 2005
Scout winter Walking Weekend, Black Mountains, staying at Ty Hir (2 nights)
February 19/20th 2005:
Explorer Christmas Party at Fox coverts (1 night)
June 24th -26th 2005:
Shugborough Group Camp - millions of people, the weather held (just). Spent Saturday on the climbing wall. Canoed to the pub saturday night! Awesome! (2 nights)
July 2005:
Sun Run - This time I entered the Sun Run itself, 26 miles with Gareth and Stu Ind. 7 and a half hours to complete. (2 nights)
July 23rd - 30th 2005:
Summer Camp, Nine Ashes, Cornwall (Bodmin). I am an Uncle and instruct climbing, biking, crate climbing, bacwards cooking and help organise the activities. Mostly wet. Bivi out on Rough Tor and do mega rope challenge on the bridge! (7 nights)
Film: Fantastic Four
Winter 2005 - 2006:
I am again back in Nuneaton and helping with Scouts and Explorers.
February 2006:
Explorer Party, Fox coverts, (1 night)
March 2006:
Walk to Fox Coverts (1 night)
July 2006:
Family Camp, Shugborough, (2 nights)
July 2006:
Sun Run, entered the Moon Run with Tim, Shaun and Phil. Gary and Dave also ran with us, had 2 pints on the way round! 3.5 hours. (2 nights)
July 2006:
Summer Camp, Huish Woods, Somerset. I'm an uncle again, and we did shooting, caving, zip line, aerial runway, climbing and sea kayaking. Day out to Butlins! (7 nights)
Late 2006:
With my work shifts being 6am - 2:30pm, I'm free to attend/lead Tuesday Scouts every week.
February 2007:
Weekend barn trip to Yr Hen Felin, in Cynwyd, Nr Corwen. Long jorney up the A5 in the snow, loads of snow for the walk on the saturday (with Gary, Sarah S and 3 girl Scouts), built a snow hole! Great weekend. Visited Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall on the Sunday before driving home. Great weekend. (2 nights)
Backwoods cooking day at Fox Coverts then Explorer party in the evening. (1 night)
March 2007:
Hike to Fox Coverts, with an incident hike on the way. Stay over one night. (1 night)
May 2007:
Centenary Camp at Charcotte Park, south Warwickshire.Celebrating 100 years of Scouting. (3 nights)
June/July 2007:
Another Family Camp at Shugborogh, but this time very wet. Canoeing on the field rather than the river! (2 nights)
July 2007:
Sun Run again. Run the moon run with Tom Ind and Phil Allred in 2 hours 33 minutes (my fastest ever time). Great weekend, and the weather held off. Just. (2 nights)
Summer Camp, Beaudesert Campsite, Cannock Chase. I run the Tuesday half of the camp, co-ordinating the activities amoung much else. Very wet at times, but a great camp. Crossed over 200 nights camping with Scouts. (7 nights)
Film:Transformers
September 2007
Rough Close. Adult training weekend away. Interesting. (2 nights).
October 2007
Autumn Camp. First time to Ullesthorpe - great new campsite. Build rope bridge and other pioneering gadgets. (2 nights)
November 2007
Leaders Camp. Same barn (Yr Hen Felin). Leaders weekend away to do a good long walk (2 nights)
February 2008
Winter Camp. Back to Yr Hen Felin this time with the Scouts. Hill walk on Saturday, aquaduct on sunday. (2 nights)
March 2008
Hike Camp. I organise my first camp. We get the bus to Hinckley then Hike to Ullesthorpe. Wet campsife in the evening. (1 night)
April 2008
Wood Fire Camp. 2 nights at Fox Coverts with the older Scouts with no gas stoves! Only fires! (2 nights)
Expedition Hike Camp. Gradbach Campsite in the Peak District. Walk with Scouts on Saturday, leave them to go alone on Sunday. (2 nights)
June
Family Camp. Shugborough again. Spend day crate climbing. 2 nights.
Malvern Challenge: First time at the challenge, we went along with District. Great weekend. Spent day helping climbing tower. Great entertainment in evenings. (2 nights)
July
Sun Run. The wettest run ever. Ran with Tim D and Andy S. 2 hours 50 minutes.
Summer Camp. Waddeccar, Lancashire. Tuesday leader again for Summer Camp. 6 patrol, loads of explorers. Another great camp, once we had sorted out how much field we were allowed! (7 nights)
Film: Wall-e
September:
Leaders only camp at Ullesthorpe. I help run a base. (2 nights)
October 2008
Autumn Camp, At Oaks in Charnwood. Grass Surfing in the morning, rock climbing in the Afternoon (2 Nights)
December 2008
Wet cold day at Bradgate Park Geocaching. Great Success.
February 2009
Winter Camp at Gradbach Campsite. Walk the Roaches on Saturday, lots of Snow! (2 nights)
March 2009
Hike Camp. Walked from Burrage Common to Ullesthorpe Campsite. (1 night)
April 2009
Wood Fire Camp, Fox Coverts - Scoff helps out cooking venison and fire lighting (2 nights)
May 2009
D of E, White Peak. Friday night in Barn (Nabend) and Saturday night camping in Hulme End (2 nights)
Patrol Camp, Fox Coverts - climbing, shooting and beast of a wide game! (2 nights)
June 2009
Expedition Camp, Barnswood and Gradbach. Kids got lost! (2 nights)
Family Camp, Shugborough - All the usual activities - I helped climbing all day (2 nights)
July 2009
Cub Camp, Fox Coverts. Helped with pioneering base, wide game and bits and bobs. (2 nights)
Summer Camp, Paccar Chalfont Heights. Great camp, high ropes, climbing, kayaking, BMXing, skittles, pioneering, rabbit run, orienteering, archery, shooting... and legend Fred! (7 nights)
Film: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
September 2009:
Leaders Camp at Beaudesert Campsite. I run a base for the other leaders. Good campfire in the evening (2 nights)
D of E Expedition: Up to Monyash Bronze D of E qualifying expedition. (1 night)
October 2009:
Autumn Camp at John Lees Wood. Geocaching at Bradgate Park and Brecon Hill County Park. Great success. (2 nights)
Ghost Hunt at Rough Close. We ran a blindfold trail challenge... Weddington Won! (1 night)
January 2010:
Expedition Training day. Based at Mancetter Scout Hut, we had 2 day walks to improve navigation, and some evening training sessions as well. (1 night)
February 2010:
Winter Camp, at Gradbach bunkhouse again. 1 day walk and 1 trip to the lake, but no snow. (2 nights)
March 2010:
Hike Camp, to Fox Coverts. Stayed in the building. Walked in via Mallory Park. (1 night)
April 2010:
Ran Scout Challenge Day. Great success at 5 ways lakes.
May 2010:
Patrol Camp, Fox Coverts. Did axe and Saw, shooting, climbing. (2 nights)
Scout Expedition Challenge. Scouts walked from Barnswood to Gradbach, then up the roaches on day 2. Great success. (2 nights).
June 2010:
Family Camp, at Shugbrough. Watched rubbish England match on Friday night on TV in mess tent. Usual array of activities. Awarded my 5 years service badge. (2 nights)
Malvern Challenge. Great event and weather once again. Helped with abseiling all day. Leaders time in the bar was great! (2 nights)
July 2010:
Cub Camp, at Oaks in Charnwood. Helped with running of camp, and activities, such as compass skills, bouldering etc. (2 nights)
D of E Practise: Took 10 Explorers to the Peak District from practise expedition. 2 good day walks. (1 night)
Summer Camp: Guernsey. Flew over on the sunday (missed sat due to cousins wedding!), fantastic camp, sailing/rowing/climbing/kayaking/day walk/St Peter Port/Underground museam. Drove van back. (6 nights)
September 2010
D of E Expedition: 1 night in the Barn at Nab End, a second in the campsite at Monyash for the Bronze expedition. Both groups passed! (2 nights)
October 2010
Ghost Hunt: Very cold night spent in a field, then camped at Fox Coverts. Night of the "pigs head".... (1 night)
November 2010
Autumn Camp: At Coton Campsite in Rugby (first time). 2 nights, did my Nights Away permit assessment. (2 nights)
February 2011
Winter Camp. Back in the Old Mill in Cynwyd, Wales. Great walk on the Saturday. Watched Touching the Void in the evening then to the Aquaduct on the way home on Sunday. (2 nights)
March 2011
Hike Camp. Scout Hut to Mancetter Scout Hut via Hartshill Hayes (1 night)
Terrain 1 training weekend with Coventry Scouts in Snowdonia. Hard day micro nav on the Crimpeau, then night nav on Siabod. Also lectures. Eyeopening!! (2 nights)
May 2011
Bivi Camp - very wet camp at Beadesert. Kids (well, most of them) Bivi'ed out on Saturday night. All cooking done on open fire. (2 nights)
Get In! Warwickshire County Camp at Stoneleigh. Loads of people, loads of activities, great camp. (2 nights)
June 2011
Family Camp. Shugborough again. Few heavy showers, but another good camp! (2 nights)
July 2011
Cub Camp. Fox Coverts, spent the day fire lighting. Excellent! (2 nights)
Practice Expedition. Stoneleigh Farm, Hartshill. Walk around North Warwickshire on Saturday, then back to the Hut on Sunday. (1 night)
Summer Camp. Eaton Vale, Norwich. Climbing, Rafting, Kayaking, Archery, local hike and a day visit to Cromer. (7 nights)
September 2011
Leaders Camp - Beaudesert Campsite. Good activities, campfire sketches (without the campfire) and company. (2 nights)
October 2011
Ghost Hunt, Ullesthorpe. Ran 3 challenges on our base (number of conkers into a tin in 2 mins, the rolling ball game and nails on a bit of string!). Bloomin cold but good fun. (1 night)
Expedition Challenge. Supervised group from Nuneaton to Five Ways on Saturday, then Five Ways to Ansty on Sunday. Good fun. (1 night)
November 2011
Autumn Camp. Ullesthorpe Campsite. Pioneering and Archery during the day, fireworks and campfire at night. Great camp! (2 nights)
February 2012
Winter Cap. Back to Gradbach. Much longer walk around and over the roaches than in previous years. Birchover rocks on the sunday. Another great camp. (2 nights).
March 2012
Hike Camp. Nice sunny walk to Mancetter again. (1 night)
Complete Terrain One walking training course. (Hathersage area)
April 2012
Take part in sponsored walk in very wet conditions. Raising money for new Scout Hut.
May 2012
Patrol camp at Fox Coverts. Great camp. (2 nights)
First Aid Course with St John
June 2012:
Cub Camp at Willesley. Help out with fire lighting and tent pitching. Very wet on friday evening. Watched England v Sweden in tent on iPad! (2 nights)
Family Camp at Shugborough. Crate climbing... again! (2 nights)
July 2012:
Summer Camp in Willesley, Nottingham. Great, hot sunny camp. A few bugs, but great activities. Orienteering, kayaking, climbing, day out in Doncaster. Brilliant. (7 nights).
October 2012:
Bear Day at Stoneleigh. Met Bear Grylls!
Ghost Hunt. Rough Close. Cold, but good night. Ran a sudan chair base. (1 night)
Autumn Camp. Fox Coverts. Nice weekend with two teams completeing for best campers. Cold at night. (2 nights)
February 2013
Presented with Wood Badge by GSL.
Winter Camp, Glenbrook Girl Guide Centre, Hathersage. Excellent location, excellent walking. (2 nights)
Summer Camp pre visit. Camped at Ferny Croft (Hampshire), then visited Buddens and Huish Woods. (1 night)
March 2013
Hike Camp to Ullesthorpe. Lots of Snow! (1 night)
May 2013
Expedition Practise. Hartshill area. (1night)
June 2013
Family Camp - Shugborough again. Crates Again. Rained again. (2 nights)
July 2013
Cub Camp. Fox Coverts. Fire lighting (2 nights)
Summer Camp at Buddens in Dorset. Bivvied out on Island, Weymouth for Day out, great camp. (7 nights)
September 2013
Expedition Camp at Barnswood. Great weekend. (1 night)
October 2013
Ghost Hunt at Fox Coverts. Great 'feel the contents of the bucket' activity but REALLY REALLY wet! (1 night)
November 2013
Leaders Camp at Glenbrook. Great walk over Kinder Scout. (2 nights)
December 2013
Finally have first meeting in the new scout hut! Very exciting!
January 2014
Vist hallowtree campsite as part of Summer Camp planning. Stayed in Wardens hut. (1 night)
February 2014
Winter Camp at Cynwyd again. Different walks this time. Good laugh. (2 nights)
March 2014
31st Birthday spent cooking pigeons at Woodfire Camp! (2 nights)
June 2014
Family camp at Shugboough. Crate stacking again! (2 nights)
July 2014
Cub camp at Rough Close. Help with a compass challenge base. (1 night - left early to go to F1!)
July 2014
Practise expedition camp at Alf's farm. Aaron fell in poo! (1 night)
July 2014
Summer camp at Hallowtree campsite near Ipswich. Great week, starting with thunder and lightning and ending in a heatwave. Sailing, grass sledging, climbing, shooting, archery, waterside, insect boxes, ringos and human table football. Day trip to Lowestoft beach and cinema! Passed 1 year of nights away! (7 nights)
September 2014
Expedition Camp in the Staffordshire Peaks. Campervan (with all kit in!) broke down on Friday night, had to be towed home. Joined up on Saturday morning in the car!
November 2014
Attends media training day - very enlightening!
February 2015
Long day driving around the south of the country looking for a summer camp venue. Eventually settle on returning to Buddens in Dorset.
March 2015
Hike Camp - another first, this time we meet at Bosworth Battlefield and hike camp to our hut where we spend the night. (1 night).
Spend Birthday on a first aid course.
May 2015
Spend weekend with Warwickshire County at their Get In camp, with thousands of kids and adults at Ragley Hall. (2 nights)
June 2015
Family camp, this time moved to Beumanor Hall in Leicestershire. Great weekend of activities, even in the rain. Centre ran them as well, so we had a chance to relax and watch! (2 nights)
July 2015
Summer Camp at Buddens. Last minute problem with the lorry (turned into two vans so I had to drive), but a great camp. Spent another night on the Island in a bivi, went to Weymouth for the day out. Archery, power boating, sea cliff climbing, tunnelling, kayaking, rafting and bridge building. (7 nights).
August 2015
The old Scout Hut is demolished in less than a week.
September 2015
Attends GSL training day - very enlightening!
October 2015
Ghost Hunt at Ullesthorpe. Ran blindfold base. (1 night).
November 2015
Autumn camp at Ullesthorpe. Took 12 (ish) kids to camp, another 12 younger ones joined us for the day. Hard work after Aaron went home ill, but great camp - fire lighting, pioneering, compass work and axe/saw use. Kids cooked armpit omelette for lunch and chicken stew for tea. Hiked back to Fosse Meadows on the Sunday. (2 nights)
December 2015
New store room is completed, alongside tarmacing the car park.
January 2016
It is announced to the group that I will become GSL at the end of March.
March 2016
Hike Camp from Bosworth Battlefield back to hut. (1 night)
April 2016
Spends my first official day of being GSL at a Cub sleepover camp in the hut. (1 night)
May 2016
Patrol Camp at Fox Coverts. Great Camp! (2 nights)
June 2016
Family Camp at Beaumanor again. Much better weather this year. Start the task of recruiting new Cub leaders. (2 nights)
July 2016
Summer Camp at Walesby. A great week of expedition, Geocaching, Pioneering, Climbing, Kayaking and a trip to the Doncaster Dome! (7 nights)
October 2016
Spent my 400th night of Scout Camping sat in a field on the outskirts of Coventry being very silly with long exposure night time photography as our base for Ghost Hunt. (1 night)
November 2016
A one night camp at Mancetter for our Sleepover Hike. (1 night)
Help with the Beaver Sleepover at the hut. (1 night)
April 2017
Cooking day at Fox Coverts, leaders slept over afterwards (1 night)
May 2017
Fantastic District camp at Willesley. Supervised a lot of caving! (2 nights)
June 2017
Cub Camp at Fox Coverts. Built some shelters with the Cubs. (2 nights)
June/July 2017
Organised my first Family Camp, at Beaumanor. All went well! (2 nights)
July 2017
Summer Camp, Kibblestone. A bit wet, and the banner was stolen. (7 nights)
March 2018
Hinckley District Explorer Camp, as Permit holder at Fox Coverts. (2 nights)
Patrol Camp, Lucy organised camp at Ullesthorpe (2 nights)
May 2018
Get In Camp at Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote. Spend 2 days on the rope bridge at 5 Ways. (2 nights)
June 2018
Family Camp, this time at Blackwell Adventure. Very hot. (2 nights)
July 2018
Summer Camp, Phasels Wood. Very hot. Went to Natural History Museum and the Ski Centre in Hemel Hempstead. 25th Summer Camp in a row! (7 nights)
September 2018
Open Day to officially open the new Scout Hut (5 years after it was built...)
October 2018
Hike/Sleepover. From Bosworth Battlefield to Scout Hut. Wet. (1 night)
February 2019
Winter Camp (indoor) at Johns Lee Wood. Went geocaching at Bradgate Park. (2 nights)
May 2019
District Camp at Willesley again. Supervised inflatables all day. (2 nights)
June 2019
Family Camp, at Blackwell Adventure again. (2 nights)
July 2019
Cub Camp, at Ullesthorpe. Did fire lightning. (2 nights)
August 2019
Slight change from the norm for Summer Camp. Attended Charnwood 2019 Internal Jamboree instead. It was brilliant but very very wet. Camp was abandoned on the Wednesday. (5 nights)
September 2019
Held a bonus Sailing day at Chasewater for those that missed out at Charnwood. Had sleepover in hut afterwards. (1 night)
Cooking and Camping Competition at Ullesthorpe. Organised the District event. Good fun. (1 night)
October 2019
Leaders Camp. Held a leaders training camp at Ullesthorpe. Good to get to know some new leaders and see some former leaders again. (2 nights)
February 2020
Kip on a Ship. Travelled with Friday Cubs to London (via train and Tube) to spend the day at the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Shrek Adventure before spending the evening and Night on HMS Belfast. Visited tower bridge on the Sunday before a very long journey home due to storms and delayed trains. Awesome camp! (1 night)
March 2020
Malvern Winter Camp. Travelled to Malvern early Saturday morning, breakfasted in the services, hiked over the hills, returned to Malvern Scout Hut, games, walked into town for takeaway dinner, campfire outside then sleepover in the hut. Returned on a wet Sunday via McDonalds in Worcester. (1 night).
17th March 2020
COVID!!! Had to shut down entire Scout Group due to COVID19. Eventually worked out how to run meetings digitally first via email, then via Zoom.
2nd July 2020
First live Zoom Scout meeting.
3rd December 2020
First Face to Face Scout meeting since March - very socially distanced and very weird!
30th December 2020
Back into lockdown, and back to Zoom for Scouting.
12th April 2021
Back to Face to Face Scouting, capped at 15 youth members.
19th July 2021
Number restriction lifted.
31 July - 8th August 2021
FINALLY BACK CAMPING AGAIN! Ran 3 mini summer camps in one week (Tuesday Scouts, Thursday Scouts, Explorers) at Willesley, with each section staying 3 days/2 nights and leaders camping all week. To keep numbers controllable, we had no support team, just Scout Leaders. Great programme, great week. (8 nights)
October 2021
Autumn Camp at Ullesthorpe. Day trip for younger Scouts, camping for older Scouts. Fire lighting, shelter building, Axe and Saw, pioneering bases. (1 Night)
November 2021
Sleepover at Hut. Friday night for Tuesdays, Saturday Night for Thursdays. It snowed and we went for a hike. (2 nights)
Presented with my Metal for Merit.
March 2022
Camp at Fox Coverts. Spent Friday night in the building with Expedition Challenge group, then Saturday night camping out with wider group. (2 nights)
May 2022
Get in 22 at Ragley Hall. Another brilliant weekend of fun with County. Camped with Scouts and Explorers, joined for the day be Beavers and Cubs. (2 nights).
July 2022
Cub Camp - Help with a Cub camp at the Scout Hut. (1 night)
Summer Camp. Returned to Hallowtree for our first traditional Summer Camp since 2018. Golf, biking, team challenge day, archery, shooting, clip and climb, Felixstowe Fort and sea front, grass sledging, go karts, navigation, assault course, human table football, rounders, volleyball and cinema nights amongst the activities. (7 nights)
September 2022
Scout Service Camp at 5 Ways. (2 nights)
October 2022
Beaver Sleepover at Scout Hut. (1 night).
November 2022
Bear Trek then straight to Scout Hut for Beaver Sleepover (1 night)
March 2023
Spring Camp to Ullesthorpe. Stayed in building, hiked during the day. (2 nights)
May 2023
District Camp at Willesley. Ran inflatables. (2 nights)
June 2023
Cub Camp at Ullesthorpe. Ran Pioneering base. (2 nights)
July/August 2023
Summer Camp at Linnet Clough (6 nights). Climbing, rafting, zip-lining, caving, caverning, crating. Visited National Football Museum in Manchester. Great week!
September 2023
Family Camp at Beaudesert - Lovely first Family Camp back post COVID. (2 nights)
October 2023
Ghost Hunt at Ullesthorpe - (1 night)
November 2023
Autumn Camp at Rough Close - Walked and trained into Coventry City centre for a treasure trail. Muddy camp site. (2 nights)
December 2023
Christmas sleepover at Scout Hut - video and food post Family Quiz night (1 night)
January 2024
Hike Camp to Mancetter Scout Hut (1 night)
February 2024
Leader planning camp at Mancetter (1 night)
March 2024
Winter Camp at Oaks in Charnwood, hike and shooting. Home made pizzas for tea. 500th night away (woken up for a Midnight gameshow quiz!). (2 nights)
April 2024
Beaver Sleepover at the Scout Hut (1 night)
May 2024
District Camp at Willesley. (2 nights)
July/August 2024:
Summer Camp at Huish Woods. Snorkelling, Climbing, Caving, visited Hinckley Point C, and Butlins for rides and swimming. (6 nights).
Number of nights rolling total: 509 nights away in 34 years!