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Gilwell 24 is exactly what it says on the packet – it’s a 24 hour event based around various Scouting activities. Having taken a group from Swallownest in 2007 it seemed a sensible idea to take a larger group from the whole of Rotherham in 2008. So, it was with this in mind that we all met up at Broxholme to try and pack 12 Explorers (from Brecks, Maltby and Swallownest) and 5 Leaders into 3 cars. Rearranged the seating arrangements, spoke to the police (who happened to be in the area!) and we were off….by three separate routes.



Saturday morning dawned with some of the group having had some sleep and at 9am we assembled for the start and the 12 disappeared off in various directions. The leaders retired to the tepee (thanks Paul) to drink tea. Three hours in and we had our first problem – Nathan, having been scuba diving, went to the go-bots (bouncy stilts)….fell off and ended up with the St Johns Team. Dom & I went up to the tent and then accompanied him to the hospital for an X-ray. A broken pelvis was diagnosed and after various phone calls his parents drove down to the hospital – we got back to Gilwell around 10.30pm. Meanwhile the rest of the Explorers had continued enjoying themselves with such activities as mountain boarding, zorbing and laserquest.



For the next 8 hours the Explorers drifted in and out of our campsite as they attended the funfair and (now a tradition) went rock climbing at dawn! Our site also became the focus for other groups who wanted to mix with the best (and we had an easy to find flag).

On the journey back most of the group tried to sleep – some more successful than others.

Many thanks to all who went, especially Dom who was great company when we were stuck in the hospital for 9 hours waiting for

Watch this space for the dates of next year’s event.


[Submitted by Gary]

Entries are open for the October 2008 Apex Extreme

See the Forum for more details -

Don't loose out ! - this is the best Explorer Event in England !

[Submitted by Paul (Admin)]

Explorers, Leaders and Parents went White Water Rafting. "it was Awesome!"
[Submitted by Paul (Admin)]

Four Go Mad in Barlow

Free equipment nowadays is something of a rarity, so when the father of one of the Swallownest Explorers said that he had got them a load of free fishing gear it was an opportunity that could not be missed.

Ian Cloke, father of Karl, and a very keen fisherman gave pre-trip lessons to the Explorers so it was with heads held high that they four of the Unit headed to Barlow Trout Fisheries for an overnight camp.

Breakfast, courtesy of the on-site café, was an epic affair and well fuelled up the competition started - the target to catch the most number of fish.

Ian had also arranged for an instructor to help us and he quickly took pity on the Explorers and started explaining where they were going wrong.

Eventual winner and recipient of the Ian Cloke Trophy was Tom Bacon (although some of the fish were not much bigger than the maggots that he was fishing with).

Another trip is already being planned.

[Submitted by Gary ]

Congratulations to Danny, Jenny, Nathan, Karl, Richard and James for finishing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze Expedition, last weekend. They were a team made up from members of the Swallownest and Wales Units.

Our best wishes go to Jonathan – who was ill during the weekend and was not able to finish the Expedition.

Some of the group only joined Explorers at the start of the year and have already completed their Expedition. All being well – we will run another Expedition for Bronze Group(s) in September.

If you have not started the D of E yet please contact me for a enrolment form and return it to me with £13 – and we will get you a Book. If you have finished your Bronze and want to start Silver the book is the same price. Gold Books are now £18.50

Thanks for all the Leaders who made the event possible. This was a very good example of not only Explorers working across Units but Leaders to, with Leaders from Maltby, Swallownest and Wales working on the event.

[Submitted by Paul (Admin)]


Congratulations and Very Well Done to Alan and Tom (from Wales ESU) for gaining their Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Awards and Chief Scout Platinum Awards to!

That makes four D of E Awards so Far this year ! - Well done all.

I know that both Explorers have worked very hard to achieve this awards and are a credit to themselves, families and Unit.

We are very please and proud of you both.

I understand that more awards are on there way to - 3 Silver Awards no less ! - If you need help finishing off an award please speak to your ESL or contact me -

Paul

[Submitted by Paul (Admin)]


Need Help or Advise with your Award ?

Started at School did not finish ?

Can not do the Award At School and would like to ?

Well help is at hand. There is a Drop in Group at Chislett Young Peoples Centre, in Kimberworth
which meets on a Thursday Night between 18:30 and 20:30 - This is open to anyone who is aged between 14 and 25 and lives in Rotherham.

For More Information Call Paul on 01709 740143 or call in at Chislett on a Thursday Night or use the contact us option on this web site.

Paul
[Submitted by Paul (Admin)]

Well its 1525ft above sea level, its dates back to 1730 – and we had a fantastic weekend there. You may have guessed by now its Hag Dyke. 22 Leaders and Explorers spent a weekend there. On the 7th - 9th March.

Its the first time I been there, and I will never forget the climb up, and I am not sure that anyone else will!

My Thanks to Dave, Andy and Dom for such a first class weekend, I know I enjoyed it and I sure all the others who went did. The weather may have been unkind – but that did not stop us.

I would like to get some photos posted on the web site so if you have any good ones please let me know.

Paul
[Submitted by Paul (Admin)]