Print this Page

1st Garlinge Beaver Air Activites
2009-11-22



During half term 16 beavers and several leaders from 1st Garlinge Beaver Colony went to Minster campsite for a sleepover. The beavers arrived at 5pm and sat down to chicken supreme cooked and served by Akela Wolves. After dinner they built and decorated their paper aeroplanes. There were several rather different designs. During this activity 6th Ramsgate Scouts invited the beavers to play manhunt with them, after they had put up the tents that they were sleeping in. The tents were new and easier to put up than the old ones that they used to borrow from the Cubs. Even Keeo could put one up! They came back at 9pm rather muddy and the scouts shared our supper and story time. Some of the scouts were falling asleep before our beavers!.
After a cooked breakfast the next morning we took our time washing and drying up and the floor was wetter than outside the hut! What is it with beavers and water? We left a little bit later than planned to visit the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum at Manston. The guide was a last minute replacement due to illness but he was great with the beavers and made the place much more interesting. One eagle eyed beaver spotted a certificate presented by Chief Scout Sommers and for every one with the camera it presented a nice photo opportunity. We were allowed to ring the bell on the fire engine and we learnt about the South African RAF and that there was a train called the Battle of Britain Classt. We were also fascinated by an old Leica camera. We could not believe that you had to get the film developed unlike today’s camera’s that are digital.
After leaving that museum we went across the car park and visited the RAF History museum. This museum has planes from around the world and we found American and Canadian planes in there. There were also the ambulances and vehicles used by the RAF. Ever seen Shaun the Sheep driving a jeep – well we did! We also visited the rooms that the men slept in and asked Keeo “Where was the TV and sky box?”. It was back to the campsite for dinner of jacket potatoes, sausages and beans with ice cream, sprinkles and sauce for pudding. There were plenty of potatoes left but no ice cream – what a surprise!
Whilst the leaders were setting the tables for dinner our ADC visited to present two of the beavers with their Chief Scout Bronze Award. Well done to them!
After washing up and clearing all the kit away we then got to fly our paper planes indoors. The competition hotted up when Chil and Akela took part because they did not want to be beaten by us. However Akela came 2nd as Chil won. Some of the planes nosedived on take off some did lovely loop the loops and some covered a fair distance of the hut. The final activity of the day was to build a styro plane and a kite from black sacks.
The beavers collected all their kit except their coats and shoes which were left in the hallway for changing into when they were going home. They had spent most of the weekend in their slippers and Akela Wolves felt he that was in good company for once and not all alone. However when we asked the parent s to help sort the shoes out it was like a jumble sale!
Well done to my 7 first timers and an accident free sleepover. That’s if you don’t count a tooth falling out! Several parents said how tired their children looked but they had all enjoyed themselves and had gained their Air Activities Badge.
Keeo and Beavers – 1st Garlinge.
 
©Thanet District Scouts 2006