Four of our Cubs were challenged to complete the Adventure Activity Badge as their Personal Challenge working towards the Chief Scout's Silver Award.
The Cubs were; Levi, Becky, Tom and Dan. They organised everything, the route, what they would take, everything.
On the 12th they were ready to go.
The Leaders team that would monitor the Cubs activity was Akela, Baloo and Hathi. The Cubs were dropped off near Pensford and were escorted through a field containing many geese. The Cubs stayed very close behind Hathi aware that as he was the oldest and slowest they stood a good chance of getting away if the geese turned nasty. However the first field was crossed and the nosy horses in field two had to be passed, again no problem. The third field was full of sheep and Hathi drew the line here. The Cubs climbed further up the hill, following the sheep. They were now out of Hathi's sight and only minutes from being 'picked up' visually by Akela and Baloo. Hathi managed to get down through the fields without being attacked.
The Cubs were now crossing the big field towards Norton Malreward and missed their path, Akela rang them and asked them if they were sure of their position. They thought about it for a while before resuming their now correct path. Makes a change to see mobile phones being used by Cubs in a positive manner.
Photo by Tom
Hathi was due to meet up with the walkers and Leaders but spent a few quiet minutes replacing a deflating tyre that had been punctured at the drop off point. The walkers were escorted along the road and watched into the next field. They started well but an inquisitive horse pushed them off course, Akela stood on a stile and indicated the correct direction, Levi looked back, saw Akela waving and waved back - priceless!
The next place the Leaders caught up with the Cubs was only a short distance away and the Cubs decided to have lunch in the shade of a huge tree in a huge field. It was, thanks to the sun-god, a really nice day and they were in no hurry.
After this break of about thirty minutes they continued past the farm with the noisy dogs and through the field with cows in, and appeared in the fields behind Whitchurch, at this point there are numerous crossings of pathways and although clear on the map were not at all clear on the ground. Akela was just about to ring them again when they stopped, consulted the map and after a short discussion turned onto the correct route.
The fields around Whitchurch are a confusion of pathways and fields. The Leaders stopped the Cubs from going wrong and at a particular point asked the Cubs where they were on the map. When asked what a blue line on the map meant, they were not helped by Hathi saying a motorway, the fact that they were standing in it was enough of a hint for them to be able to continue.
The main road was crossed under the Leaders supervision and the Cubs were left to make their way onto the Harvesters where the Leaders were waiting with a drink for each of them.
The Cubs did really well and seemed to enjoy the responsibility given to them in this challenge.
Thanks to Hathi, Baloo and Akela for supervising and to the parents for letting their youngsters have their adventure.