As 2023 draws to a close, we look back on another successful year of Scouting.
Wotton Scout Group now has a record number of members, with 147 young people and over 40 adult volunteers. We also have 8 Young Leaders, some of whom are volunteering as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s award.
We have four Scout Group sections: the Squirrels (4-6 years old), Beavers (6-8 years), Cubs (8-10.5 years), and Scouts (10.5-14 years). Week after week, they enjoy an incredible variety of activities, gaining badges, awards, skills and friendship.
Highlights of our year in 2023 include the Squirrels’ first campfire with marshmallows, the Beavers’ scientific river dipping in the Little Avon, the Cubs’ camp in the Brecon Beacons and the Pioneer Scouts’ 10 mile night hike.
There were also many visits, including a Hindu temple, the Fairford Air Tattoo, as well as a Ninja Warrior outing for the Pathfinder Scouts with a tasty cooking competition.
Our Wotton Scouts of all ages have also been engaged in community activities throughout the year:
- Carol singing for the Beavers and Cubs
- Spring cleaning the beautiful Bournestream play area by the Scouts
- Scouts helped out to plant trees and tidy up at Full Moon Wood
- Parading on Remembrance Sunday
- Litter picking in the local area.
Fundraising has been a big focus for us over the past year, as we need to raise £160.000 to build a new Scout Hut at Conygres which is fit for our large Scout Group. From March to September we held ‘Conygres Teas’ at the Scout Hut on Sunday afternoons which has helped with fundraising. Over £2000 have been raised!
Please do get in touch if you’d like to be involved, either as a leader, helper, committee member, supporter or fundraiser, as we are keen to strengthen our team and offer scouting opportunities to many more young people from Wotton and the local area.