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With the memory of turkey, mince pies and central heating still in their systems, all sections of the 1st Derbyshire Dales Cyberscouts met at Gradbach Scout Camp on January 3rd, to celebrate the start of another year of traditional scouting activities.

Following the opening ceremony around the flag pole, the group enjoyed its first Moving On Ceremonies, which see members developing and moving from one section to another.

There was also the opportunity to recognise the achievements of individual members by awarding skill badges – notably in the areas of creativity and experimentation – whilst the Camp Wardens stoked up the log fires in the stone farmhouse, where some of the day’s activities were to take place…

The youngest section, Beavers (aged six to eight), chose to invite parents and younger siblings to stay and enjoy some extra family time, in addition to the experience of being an honorary Beaver for the day! An outdoor treasure hunt opened this section’s activities, with parents and youngsters hot-footing it across the open fields, crossing a river and into woodland in search of nature’s own treasure trove. An icy pathway on the way back to the farmhouse made an interesting skating rink for the youngsters, who insisted using this route at every possible opportunity throughout the rest of the day! Indoor activities included creating dream catchers with the treasure hunt goodies, making New Year’s Resolutions, preparing bird feeders and lots of hot drinking chocolate!

The rapidly expanding Cub section (aged eight to ten) started their day by welcoming a new member who had moved up from the Beaver section, having previously spent some time with the Cubs at earlier events. It was then time to get kitted up in wellies and warm coats for tracking and trail making in the wilds of Gradbach Scout Camp. With 48 acres of ground at the site, the Cubs made the most of the variety of terrain available before, heading back to the site headquarters for a well deserved warm-up by the indoor fires. As part of developing their knowledge of conservation, this section spent some time in the camp kitchen, cooking up some tasty fat balls for the local birds. This was followed by some even tastier cake making and decoration – for human consumption this time!

The Scout section (aged 10-14), having also welcomed a new ‘moved up’ member, undertook a challenge to mime different parts of the Scout Promise and Law as part of their Membership Badge. Next came some traditional scouting skills, with each Scout being taught a series of useful knots and lashings – do you know the difference between a wrapping and a frapping?! The intention is for the Scouts to apply their knot tying skills later this year at a series of camps, and to use their initiative to make gadgets and gateways. Learning in this way, with skills and knowledge being explored, tested and applied over a period of events, supports the less prescriptive approach taken to educating this age group in scouting activities.

The highlight of everyone’s day was the group’s Campfire Circle, prepared by the Scouts in an old stone crescent shaped hollow, complete with tiered seating! Parwich band The A52s accompanied the members, Leaders and parents in singing some traditional (and not so traditional!) camp fire songs. The Scout Leader also led everyone in what can only be described as the Argentinian version of the maori haka! Toasted campfire marshmallows brought to close a fun packed first meeting of 2009.

Tim Polkinghorne and his team would like to thank all the parents who participated in and led activities on the day, The A52s and Nigel’s Butchers in Dig Street for providing the Leader lunches.

The next meeting of Cyberscouts will take place on Saturday 21st February, with all sections meeting at the 6th Form Block, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Ashbourne.

Cyberscouts meet nine Saturdays a year from 10am – 3pm. Fees for attendance are £15 per meeting.

Places are available in all sections from ages 6-18. If you are interested in joining Cyberscouts either as a leader or helper, or if you would like to reserve a place as a young person in a section, or if you would like to sponsor the Group, please contact  tim@reachnirvana.co.uk or 01335 348444.

More information regarding each sections’ programme can be found at www.cyberscouts.me.uk.