8th Mag - Issue 1

In this issue: Unbeatable coverage of the Scout training day Information and statistics about the Garden Fete

Full coverage of May camp, June camp plus features and more!

2013

PAPE”R”MAIL Editor-in-chief Welcome to the first ever edition of ‘8th Mag’ - or is it? ‘8th Mag’ originally started over 50 years ago at the 8th Darlington Scout Group and this one off magazine is continuing that legacy. I’m not sure what issue number this is however I guess it will be somewhere in the hundreds.

Anyway, in this magazine the scouts will tell some fascinating stories and share their views on issues which nobody else really cares about.

‘8th Mag’ has been unofficially been given the rights to officially report on every scout camp of the year every year until I get bored and decide to just waste my time setting sticks on fire and playing hide and seek (like I usually would.)

The aim of this magazine (because everything in life has a purpose) is to inform you, the reader, about what really happens in the 8th Darlington Scout group and give you unbeatable coverage of some of the many events which take place every month.

Every photograph and word you see in this magazine is taken/ written by someone in the group.

Nothing has been copied from Google images or cut and pasted from some website. Everything is original.

I believe that content quality, outstanding photography and impeccable writing skills are the tings that matter.

Unfortunately, this magazine has neither of those three. Oh well, you’ve started reading now. You may as well finish.

Sam Weirs, Christopher Hewins and Maverick taking a short break from the intense work

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Scout HQ. As expected no objects, furniture or camping equipment were damaged during the game so Scout leaders should be able to let the Scouts play the game again.

The day started off extremely structured as the Scouts and Seniors were split into groups and were set to do different activities.

These included planning a camp, making a camp rota and writing a menu and quantities for a weekend camp.

The enriching day was finished off with a game of find the Easter egg where all the scouts were locked in the Pioneer store whilst a small but extremely tasty Easter egg was hidden somewhere in the main hall. Once it was found, the game started again but the person who found the egg got to eat it and hide another one. This continued until 4 PM when the game was finished and everyone had an Easter egg.

ue to bad weather and lack of numbers Easter camp at a new location was unfortunately cancelled Instead, on Sunday 31st March all the Scouts and Seniors were invited to the Scout HQ for a training day.

After a swift lunch which the Scouts had brought themselves, they continued with their activities and then got the amazing privilege of playing hide and seek in the

In conclusion, the day was enjoyable and beneficial for most Scouts and Seniors as they got work done which went towards badges.

Contemplating Scout, Sam Wears, working on his plan for a weekend camp

The amount of pounds taken from the field.

The actual profit is closer to ÂŁ3500.

Approximately how many pounds the Beavers/Cubs and Scouts made from program selling.

How many penny's commission Liam got from program selling.

How many pounds were donated.

People the council expected to turn up to the fete

Setting up for the Garden Fete

To say thank-you to the Scouts for their help and assistance at the 62nd annual Garden Fete, the leaders decided to have a BBQ on Thursday 20th June (the Thursday after the Garden Fete). There was a relaxed atmosphere throughout the evening as burgers, sausages and onions cooked over the warm embers.

This mild but bright evening was the first Scouts meeting for 4 new girls who found out about the Scouts through the publicity tent at the Garden Fete. The evening did not give a true reflection of what Scouts is like because of the treat that is why the girls returned the following week.

Weeks of program selling and advertising had came to an end as it was finally time for the much anticipated, annual, Garden Fete on Cockerton Green.

Committee members, Scouts and leaders alike were up early on Saturday 15th June 2013 to set up for the fete. Luckily the weather was great all day meaning that the Fete could be held outside.

By the time it was time for a mid morning snack (bacon butties) almost everything was ready for the Fete opening at 1:30. Most of the stalls were ready, tents were erected and parents were starting to turn up to help run the day. The ponies had even arrived!

After the controversy of who got bacon butties and in what order there was more setting up to do. The Seniors spent almost a hour putting up a simple marquee for the bric-abrac stall and the Scouts had went to do some more program selling in Cockerton.

Then the time came, leaders, Scouts, parents, helpers, and committee members enthusiastically made their way to their stall.

An estimated 900 people turned up for the raffles, stalls, zumba (with Liam and Maverick), live music, prizes to win, dancing displays, games, competitions, animals and much more. They helped raise a total of ÂŁ3500 for the group which is the most the group has ever made from a Garden Fete!

Photography by Liam Pape

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fter the disappointment of Easter Camp being cancelled most Scouts had their hopes up that May camp at Hunger Hill was going to be amazing.

Left: A drenched Holly Right: A drenched Geoff

The group met at 6PM on the Friday evening as usual to pack the van and set off to camp. There were 13 scouts attending the camp and they successfully managed to set up most of camp on Friday night so it would be ready for the arrival of Cubs and Beavers in the morning.

The evening had fine weather until they went into their tents and it rained all night!

Scouts and leaders alike woke up to find pits they had dug the evening before now filled with rain water, fire wood soaked and the stream which usually isn't visible amongst the long grass was about to burst its banks.

Despite this, everyone continued business as usual by getting a wash, going wood collecting and cooking breakfast. The rain kept getting heavier and heavier though until just before lunch the Scouts were told to pack their personal kit away and head back up to the farm at the top of the hill.

The Cubs and Beavers who were visiting for the day had already decided by this point that they weren't coming to camp and instead were going to spend a day in the Scout HQ playing games.

Depressed and disappointed, the Scouts were driven back to the Scout HQ where they would spend the next day. Despite having wet feet and soaked clothes most Scouts were happy that they were now somewhere dry and they could change into clothes that they found in the jumble. Maverick modelled a stunning yellow number which, worryingly, grabbed the attention of both boys and girls. Geoff also changed into some old clothes which made him look like he was living in the 1990s.

the Scouts discussed how they would be able to tell people in years to come that they once camped underwater. The Scouts even took it upon themselves to organise a quiz so they wouldn't get bored or annoy the leaders (who were busy cooking sausage sandwiches and looking after Cubs and Beavers).

Afternoon came and the sun even came out for a while. Scouts were given the option to return to camp to stay the night there however everyone agreed that they would rather stay in the HQ all night.

This was a huge disappointment though because when some Scouts returned to Hunger Hill a few hours later they saw that the field had dried out and it would be fine to camp in again. The decision had been made though. Kit was packed up, carried up the hill and onto van and then taken back to the scouts.

At 3:40 PM there was a going up ceremony where Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Seniors and Rovers stood in the hall together to watch various Beavers

move up to Cubs and various Cubs move up to Scouts. The Cubs and Beavers then went home to their warm houses and left the Scouts in the cold, dingy and haunted Scout HQ. After that the Scouts did some smaller jobs around the Scout HQ and played some games. Later on the Scouts and leaders cooked some pasta with bolognaise on a campfire in the back garden. After a large amount of washing up the Scouts were then able to settle down and watch 'How to train your Dragon', a film which is nothing like the book. They then tried to settle down for the night but were unable to due to the fact that Ben Maglog-glog-glog was fascinated by his torch for hours on end. The next day some of the older scouts went back to Hunger Hill to take down the camp site.

Although the field had dried, it was still a bit damp. Overall the camp was a failure.

By Liam Pape and Matthew Currey

Whilst waiting for lunch

Maddie, Geoff and Poppy returning to camp

Photography by Tom Robinson

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une camp has been traditionally held at Spennithorne however in a bold and risky move the leaders decided to try a new camp site near Barnard Castle.

As per usual the Scouts and leaders arrived at the Scout HQ between 6PM and 6:30PM and set off to camp at 7PM. Camp got quickly set up in the large and grassy field despite the gusting wind. There was rows of grass/hay that spanned the length of the field which the farmer was keeping so he could feed his animals which the younger members of the group thought it would

be fun to play with and throw over each other. They were wrong.

Unpacking the box later that evening the Scouts realised that all 3 of the kitchens were lacking plates and bowls. The two idiotic seniors who had packed the boxes earlier that week had forgotten necessary equipment and instead packed novelty items such as a ridiculously large ladle and too many chopping boards.

The Scouts woke up bright and late the next morning as it took until almost 11AM by the time enough wood was collected for the fires to be lit, everyone had had a wash, breakfast had been cooked

(bacon sandwiches), the washing up had been done and then a swift inspection. The leaders were not happy.

Slightly late however just as enthusiastic, the group packed for their hike and embarked on the journey to Eggleston Abbey and the 'Parting of the Waters'. The hike took the Scouts through a forest which ran parallel to a small river and then up a hill to the ruins which were previously an abbey. After a packed lunch the Scouts explored the ruins by playing hide and seek/blocky/hide and seek tig/hide and seek blockey and every other game

The Scouts take a mid hike rest

which involved running around and hiding.

Before the hike continued, Mark made an amazing discovery. Underneath one of the stone walls he discovered a Partridge nesting.

Unfortunately it wasn't in a Pear tree however the Scouts still found it intriguing.

The sun was at its highest when the Scouts arrived at the 'Parting of the Waters' where two rivers met to make one and there were rocks and trees to climb on. As expected, there were slips and falls and members of the group of all ages got wet (Max and Sam mainly).

The scouts were allowed a short break before the fires were built up for a barbecue. There were sausages, burgers, onions and pitta bread for all.

For the first time in over half a

decade there was love in the air at camp amongst two of the younger members of the group who shall remain nameless. Admittedly it only lasted a few minutes however it was love nethertheless.

on offer. Before packing up and heading back to the Scout HQ everyone played rounders. Mark, Dan and Liam won the game for their team however it's the taking part which counts.

The two idiotic seniors who had packed the boxes earlier that week had forgotten necessary equipment

Everyone put maximum effort into taking the camp down apart from Ben McGlugglugglug who spent over 20 minutes trying to put on trousers over his boots.

That evening the scouts spent the evening in the marquee doing one of Neil's quizzes with questions varying from sport to Christmas. The leaders won with more than 50 points more than the rest of the patrols only because Mark was doing the points.

The next morning, progress was faster than the previous morning and there was bacon grill and eggs

At 3PM the flag was taken down, the Otters were announced the winners of the inspection points (followed by the Badgers and the Tigers) and then everyone set of home. The Otters now haven't lost anything since last summer camp.

They won the Summer Camp Trophy, the Karl Milner Cooking Trophy, the HQ Inspection Points Trophy and now this. The Otters are undefeatable.

Edited by Liam Pape/Photography: Tom Robinson

Information

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n a chilly Thursday night around 3 weeks before the indoor camp fire all the Scouts were rounded up and crammed into the small hall where they were to discuss their song/stunt for the March indoor camp fire.

The first 10 minutes consisted of stupid suggestions such as doing a knight fight, jumping from the roof and performing Gangnam style.

Finally after another two weeks of practising the Scouts were ready to belt out their song.

The girls had been working on a unique and funny stunt which was a growth machine. Small billies went in one end and large billies came out the other end and this continued until a small ginger scout went in one side and a big ginger senior came out of the other side.

After intense contemplation the boys and John decided to sing 'Cow kicked Nelly in the belly in the barn' whilst the girls and Mark disappeared into the main hall to do something secretive for the camp fire.

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