Pioneering project

One of the highlights of the scouting calendar is the construction of pioneering project. This year we made a climbing frame with tyres for clambering across. This could only be achieved with the pioneering skills developed over the past few weeks. A range of knots and lashings held the two A frames together.

Homegrown

Imagine the delight as I discover a fully fledged cauliflower growing
in my garden! A perfect end (?) to a long day.

Sun is laughing

Rock o mint

Sherbet

Chocolate eggs

Dulux

Paul Disley got a soakin' at Summer Fayre

Chocolate box

Chocolate box

Caramel deluxe

Adventure bar

Steam Power

We have been learning about how a steam engine works.

Fields of gold

What a stunning scene.

Cracker Development Weekend in Brightlingsea

A development weekend at Brightlingsea consisted of winching Cali up the mast so that she could complete the task of marking the spreader positions on the new #1 and #2 sails before we applied patches to the kevlar and carbon fabric. Whilst she was there, she also lubricated the blocks with MacLube.

Luckily it wasn't me up the mast, or my phone!

St George's Day Jousting Horse

Almost complete. The boys turned up on a sunny Saturday afternoon to put the finishing touches to the horse. They loved spray painting - it was almost as if they'd done it before some place else.. !?

Read about the winning success of the St George's Day Jousting Competition.

ANZAC Day

Besides making a plywood cut out of a jousting horse for St George's Day, we also made ANZAC biscuits. ANZAC day remembers those in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp who fought in the 1st World War.

Bird box

My nephew and I built a bird box last weekend. He wanted me to put it in my garden, so here it is. I'd quite like to refocus the webcam on the box to capture any comings and goings.

Jenga Challenge

So what do you do when competing against the Headteacher in a Jenga Challenge? Win of course!

We have been trying to find a moment to play our staff match for a while now. The children looked on and became immersed in the atmosphere and tension that was present. The pupils were very supported of both players and it was a delight to see their involvement. It was another reality check for them to see that teachers and headteachers are just as competitive as the children are.

Check out the children's faces as they look on.

(Thank you to Alan who took the photographs.)

Forest Schools Outdoor Education

More images and explanation of the activities can be found here.

Ready for Swimming?

Cracker passes the Millennium Dome

As Cracker passes the Millennium Dome a few members of the crew reflect on our involvement in designing what went on inside.

We didn't have long however as the Thames Barrier was fast approaching. Helming along the Thames requires a great deal of concentration as you avoid shallow waters around the inside bends and fast moving taxi boats which move swiftly up behind you like an Audi on a German Autobahn

Lock-out at St Katherines Dock

Cracker leaves her Winter residence at St Katherines Dock for Brightlingsea, but not before going through the lock gates.

Me Ol' Bamboo

This is a game that we haven't played in years. Each player has a bamboo pole and instructions are given for players to move one to the left or right. They leave their poles balanced where they are and move on to catch the next one. The command "stay" means to do a full turn on the spot. Anyone who fails to keep their pole from falling is out.

3D Towers

A problem solving activity during our Scout evening.

We gave each group 20 garden canes and a pile of elastic bands. The challenge is to build a tower as tall as possible. It must be free standing.