North Face Explorers - some of our past activities

Thursday 12th January 2006 : Skills

Our first meeting of the new term started with the introduction of a new Explorer— Duncan, who came to us from the 25th Morningside. We divided into four teams and were each given three demonstrations to prepare: the first was to demonstrate three Scouting skills, the second a skills challenge where each group could challenge any other to succeed at a skill, and the third a 'verbal' mime, where one member of a team watched a mime and then had to explain it to his or her team. The results were very close and half the Unit were awarded prizes!

Wednesday 18th January 2006 : Scuba diving

Three Explorers plus Alan met at Jewel and Esk College to try out scuba diving. Neil gave us quick instruction, before letting us all over the shallow end. He then taught us a couple of skills which meant removing our regulators under water. At least one Explorer seems keen to join the Club now!

Thursday 19th January 2006 : Skull Island

The evening started with District Commissioner May Burrows presenting Chief Scouts Platinum Awards to Louise, Sarah and Shona. Well done, girls! May then presented Caroline with her Assistant Explorer Scout Leader Warrant. Well done, Mop! Martin then took control and divided the Unit into four teams who were to find clues which would lead them to a map of the legendary Skull Island, home of King Kong. The game involved texting and once the mobile phone numbers were entered correctly, it all ran smoothly. Apologies to the Welshman whose number was one digit different from Alan's! Chris's team won the prize, even though they didn't have the map!

20th - 21st January 2006 : Bothy night at Hope

Ten Explorers and three Leaders met Braid Centre on Friday night and while four went off to Morrison's to buy food for the weekend, the remainder waited patiently in the cold! We arrived at Horsburgh Ford at around 7:00 p.m. and headed up the glen to Hope. The cooks set to work while the others pitched the tents. This was another Zodiac Award camp, and those who had not yet claimed a night in a bothy were allowed the comparative comfort of floor and sleeping platform over knobbly ground below zero. In the morning, four girls left at the crack of a quarter to nine while the rest cleared up and made it down the track for 11:00 a.m. The later group also had this photo taken (sorry, girls!).

Thursday 26th January 2006 : Tetra-dimensional evening

The scuba divers had already had their outing the previous week, but the rest had their opportunities tonight. Five Explorers showed up at Hillend to go ski-ing with Martin. These were the same folk as are intending to go skiing at the weekend — putting in a little practice first! Four showed up at Braid Centre and were taken out on to Blackford Hill by Alan for a little exercise in night navigation — useful for expeditions later in the year? And one Explorer showed up at the pool for some kayaking practice… and with pretty concentrated tuition, succeeded in executing his first Eskimo Roll — well done, John. There'll be no looking back now!

2nd - 5th February 2006 : District Explorer Scout skiing weekend

The Thursday night was a meeting to plan food and other logistics. we met on the Friday evening and with the small group that was left after hearing the ski forecast, drove up to Glenshee in Alan's, Martin's and Mop's cars. Saturday was spent walking up by the Spittal of Glenshee and Sunday at Perth Swimming Pool and the go-karting.

Thursday 9th February 2006 : International Group Award

We met to consider how we could achieve the International Group Award. There was then a game on an international theme.

Thursday 23rd February 2006 : Tetra-dimensional evening

Another meeting to try scuba diving (on the Wednesday), ski-ing, kayaking and night navigation.

Thursday 2nd March 2006 : International Group Award

Tonight we divided into four groups to prepare an Italian meal. The first group set the table and set out the room, the second prepared a starter of mozzerella, tomato and basil, the third cooked a pasta dish - with plenty of garlic - and the fourth designed a dessert. Then we all sat down together and ate!

9th - 11th March 2006 : Night hike and bothy night

The Thursday meeting was for the hikers only, to plan food and make arrangements. On the Friday night, we set off and hiked in over the hills to Glensax Bothy. David Dixon of the Border Bothies Association was there and had lit the fires for us. In the morning, Lyndsay and Rachelle were up at the crack of dawn — the others had a slightly more leisurely walk out.

Thursday 16th March 2006 : Tetra-dimensional evening

Another meeting to try scuba diving (on the Wednesday), ski-ing, kayaking and night navigation. Unfortunately the kayakers were not expected by the Janitor, so were invited along the next week instead.

Thursday 23rd March 2006 : Tetra-dimensional evening

Another meeting to try scuba diving (on the Wednesday), ski-ing and kayaking (for last week's group). The night navigation was cancelled as the group was all in the pool!

Thursday 30th March 2006 : Egg-citement for Easter

The theme was Easter and eggs. First we all had to create portraits of each other on eggs and Calum Miller then tried to guess who was who and judged the entries. We then divided into four teams for an egg-quiz with Alan's trickily egg-straordinary questions. Finally there was an Easter Egg hunt in the back garden of the Church. Lorna found the golden egg and, together with her team's egg-ceptionally good quiz result, won the Easter Egg.