Clubs and Community (Including a summer of adventures for Scouts)

A season of adventures for Hemel Hempstead Scouts

Over the last couple of weeks more than 160 members of Hemel Hempstead District Scouts have been taking

part in various adventures.

110 headed to Scotland for a fortnight at Lochearnhead, an old railway station owned by Hertfordshire Scouts, who have been making the most of the facilities for over 50 years.

The track has been removed but the platform is still there, and the ticket office building is now used for a dining room, kitchens and Station Master’s office.

Scouts and Explorers slept in log cabins, while Leaders pitched tents along the length of the platform.

During the fortnight, groups of young people took on challenges on a rota basis so that everyone had a chance to try everything.

From sailing and canoeing in the loch, climbing up a sheer cliff, to mountain

biking and hiking over the highlands for a two-day expedition using lightweight tents and stoves, the young people excelled in all activities.

During the first week they also took the opportunity to visit The Peak at Stirling Sports Village, where they swam and tried their hand at curlingled by their instructor, Sochi Winter Olympic silver medallist Michael Goodfellow (and his medal!)

On Friday the whole team visited Edinburgh, where they explored the city, shopped and visited the Royal Mile where they bumped into the Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Games Boxing team.

During the trip there were opportunities for the young people to hone their skills in certain areas, such as extreme climbing, sailing etc, and practice for Duke of Edinburgh challenges.

For those not wishing to head north for a fortnight, around 50 more members of Hemel Scouts headed to Tolmers Scout Camp Site in Cuffley for a week’s Activity Camp.

Called CTT (Come to Tolmers), this camp is designed so that young people can choose daily which activities they take on. The list of choices is endless: kayaking, land zorbing, raft building, swimming, zip wire, assault courses, climbing, caving, bungee trampolining, bungee running, quad bikes, laser tag and much more.

In the evenings there were games to play, movies to watch in the marquee, and the older Scouts had their own ‘den’ to hang out with dart boards and pool tables.

With all the activities laid on by the site, all Leaders need to do is cater for their own groups.

On the Wednesday, everyone headed off to Thorpe Park for the day, and rumour has it that even leaders braved Stealth and Swarm – backwards!

The final evening at CTT is always a huge disco and foam party, which leaders are not even allowed to peep into!

At 11pm when exhausted but very excitable young people arrived back at the site, they were treated to pizza and hot chocolate before bed.

This has been a crazy couple of weeks, and now the exhausted leaders will go into hibernation untilearly September!

To join the adventure of Scouting in Hemel Hempstead please contact 07860 848603 or email [email protected]

Come and join friendly ladies’ club

We are a friendly ladies club, that meet at the Warner’s End community centre.

Usually on the fourth Monday of each month.

The meetings start at 2pm until 4pm .We have interesting speakers and entertainers, and we arrange occasional outings for our members.

Membership for the year is £14,and each monthly visit is just £2, which includes, tea, coffee, biscuits and a raffle.

We are all retired ladies and would be delighted and very welcoming, if any would like to join us.

Please contact Jean Box on 01442 264645.

Will you be reeled in by angling course?

Young people aged from 11 to 16 can learn the basics of fishing on a six-week structured course provided by Dacorum Angling Project.

The programme is being delivered as part of the Sportivate scheme sponsored by Sport England and the Hertfordshire County Sports Partnership, at the Westbrook Mere Lake in Bourne End.

Starting on Thursday evenings at 4.30pm from September 4, coaches from Watford Angling Coaches - hosted by Boxmoor & District Angling Society - will guide young people of all abilities towards the Angling Trust CAST Skills Award level 1 and 2.

Completion of the course will lead to a Certificate of Achievement as well as a free basic fishing kit for each successful participant.

Only a few places are still available so early application is essential.

Apply to Paul Forman of Watford Angling Coaches on [email protected] or 07764 958289.

The cost will be £5 each per session and participation could lead to a formal coaching qualification for those who wish to continue.

All tackle and bait will be supplied, and there is safe off-road car parking and toilets on site, just off the A41 South Slip Road at Bourne End.