Devizes To Westminster Canoe Race

Over Easter weekend the DW canoe race takes place where hundreds of competitors paddle 125 miles and go through 77 portages. The Wokingham scouts who are going on Jamboree, including me, ran the food and some of the Marshalling of the Reading base.

Due to the amount of rain on the Friday the river became to dangerous for the canoeists and the marshals were forced to stop the race at Reading. Although very disappointing for the paddlers it meant customers so by 11pm we had taken over £1000 on refreshments. It was great fun to spend the day with the other participants and we got to know each other more.

Sell A Date Draw

My Sell A Date fundraiser where I sold all 365 dates of the year for £1 went very well. At the last Scout meeting of the term the draw took place, with everyone waiting in anticipation to see if they had won the £50 voucher of their choice.

 

The date picked out was the 2nd of February and the winner was Julie Barron. Thank you to everyone who supported me by buying a date.

The Unit gets a new name..

Yesterday my unit met up at Bracknell to look at Personal goals. As part of the preparation for the WSJ we have to select 6 goals, 5 being personal and 1 as the unit.

I selected to be more positive, learn to say hello in different languages, meet new people in my local area, I am walking the Thames Path as a physical goal and I am trying to get to like people who before I would normally not like as much and for the Unit I put that we should learn American Football so we can play other Units when we get there.

The other activity for the day was to select a unit name. It is tradition that each unit creates their own identity and sub brand to make it stand out from the other units. Unit 62 have had lots of ideas over the last few weeks about names and there were a couple of favourites but we decided: – Berkshire Blue Bears.

The Bear relates to the UK national mascot for the jamboree and the Blue links to our unit colour scheme. The 3 “B’s” also link to: Biscuits from Huntley and Palmer, Beer from Courage and Bulbs from Sutton Seeds.

Oh Snow its cancelled..

Today was supposed to be the first joint unit fundraising event at the Reading half-marathon where members from both units would be manning the bag tent.

Sadly though due to snowy weather the organisers had to cancel the race which meant both units ,62 and 63, missed out on money for the participants that attended.

500 Days to Go

The 8th of March signals less than 500 days to go till the WJS starts…lots to do between now and then…

 

Wokingham Quiz Night

On Saturday night 80 people came to a quiz night organised by the Wokingham participants. Nine teams took part and answered questions about Scouting, Sport , General Knowledge and Around the World to name a few. A fish and chip supper was provided by our own fish and chip van for the evening. There was a great atmosphere at the hut and everyone seemed to have a great time.

My team, Youth and Experience, came a very respectable 5th place.

Jamboree Sleepover

On the weekend of the 27-28th of January the whole of Unit 62 (my jamboree unit) went on a sleepover to Christ Church, Woodley where we took part in branding, teamwork and other activities such as skittles and volleyball. We discussed all of our different fundraising techniques and how much we have raised so far, as well as ideas for the unit to fundraise together.

On Sunday morning it was an early start, 7am!! We had to prepare to attend the church service at which some of us took part in a drama performance of The story of Paul. After the service we mingled with the congregation and talked with them about what the jamboree was and how we got selected etc.

It was great to get to know everyone a bit better, maybe next time we should go to bed earlier than 1am…..

 

Bottle Collecting

Over the past few weeks I have been collecting bottles for recycling in my community for a donation. It has been very succesful from the generous people. I started this project on the 28th December and have raised over £40. Thank You for taking part in this initiative.

First Jamboree Meeting

On Sunday afternoon I went to St Crispin’s School where all 72 participants and their parents met to discuss ideas and get to know each other. I found out that I will be part of Unit 62 with some of the new friends I made  on selection weekend.

The parents shared fundraising ideas, whilst us participants contributed in team-building activities.

Our first three training dates are set for the New Year and I can’t wait!

Total money fundraised so far : £1080.

Many thanks to The Lions Club, MORS, Wokingham District Scouts, Jan Nowecki and Mr and Mrs Horsnell for their donations.

The Day Arrives

Friday 17th November has arrived – the day I find out if I will be going to Jamboree or not. I have spent the day checking my emails: before school, after school, before football training, still nothing has arrived in my inbox. I’m not sure if this is a good sign or not…

As I walk through the front door after football training, my Mum passed me the phone. I read the email that gave me the fantastic news that I had got a place! I couldn’t stop grinning – WSJ2019 here I come!