This counts as a district event even though it was really a County Event.
To celebrate 90 years of Cub Scouting we descended on Bristol Zoo, when I say we I'm assured that 1,300 Cubs plus assorted Leaders attended. As some one said, "I haven't seen so many Brussels Sprouts since Christmas!"
Friday Pack supplied nineteen Cubs towards that total, plus six helpers. Thanks to Charlotte, Jane, Vicky and Carol for coming along and putting up with us. Cubs that attended. Kayleigh, Jess, Megan, Megan, Sophie, Rebecca, Ryan, Jack, Matt, Dan, Euan, Tom, Ollie, Bradley, Alex, James, Harry, James, Liam plus Emily and Gemma, who aren't Cubs. . .yet.
We met outside the Zoo at 09:15 and when everybody was present we went into the zoo.
We were told that we needed to be at the main lawn for 10:00 to be welcomed. Akela had been given a wodge of worksheets for the Cubs to attempt on their way around the zoo. Sadly no-one had warned us about this and none of the Cubs had a pen or pencil. While Hathi and the Ladies watched the Cubs look at the Gorillas Akela went and bought 22 pens.
At 10:00 we assembled with the other 1,281 Cubs and were welcomed to our birthday party. This caused a little confusion until the Cubs realised who's birthday it was. Through the day there were to be talks about conservation and as we were booked for 10:20 we wandered over towards the education centre.
We joined another party of Cubs, well four Cubs and a couple of Leaders for the talk. This was given brilliantly by Aimie(?) who was bouncy and enthusiastic, (I wonder how she was at the end of the day after talking to 650 Cubs). The Cubs learned about key-creatures and were introduced to some 'Hissing Cockroaches' from Madagascar, or more correctly from the breeding programme at the zoo.
 Photo by Akela |
 Photo by Akela |
 Photo by Akela |
 Photo by Akela |
Most of the Cubs were keen to hold a large detritavore (rubbish eating) insect. The loose pieces of earth that dropped into peoples hands were soil, as it seems that's what cockroach crap is. Apologies were made to the other Cubs as there Leaders were obviously more refined than our Akela who used the 'S' word to describe the cockroach shit.
We then wandered towards the big cats enclosure and worked our way round the zoo in a clockwise direction. We looked at and admired the craft-work models that had been entered by some Packs while the Cubs ran around or went on a comfort break.
The nocturnal house was amazing with so many Cubs making scary noises. The reptile house was so interesting that we had to go round again to 'pick up' the stragglers.
Lunch was next as some of the Cubs were faint with hunger and probably wouldn't have got much further before fading away completely. After making sure that we had left no mess the Cubs were 'encouraged' to have a lie down for a while to let their food settle. Sadly the lying down was on a slope and a mass roll-down-the-slope ensued. No one was seriously hurt so the Cubs did it again.
 Photo by Akela |
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The Bug house was the next attraction to be visited and strangely it was the Leaders that spent the most time in there looking in containers for the mythical stick insects, thanks to the Cubs that stopped to help us.
The new monkey paradise was examined next but as it resembled a Friday Pack Night we didn't stay long. The Seals and Penguin Coast was walked round and two of the Cubs were proud to show where their names had been put onto a board of people that had contributed to the making of the Coast. The underwater walk through pipe was as usual fantastic. Watching the penguins 'fly' around and over us was brilliant.
While half the Cubs went to the shop with Hathi to do some retail therapy the others were let loose in the adventure play area. Then money spent by the one half the situation was reversed. We met up with Tuesday Cubs and had a chat. At 15:00 we listened to the result of the Craft competition and as the standard of entries was high we weren't surprised that there was no overall 'winner' but three Packs were given prizes. Thanks were made to the Zoo staff for making the day a success and to the County team that had organised it.
All that was left was to round up our Cubs, make our way to the exit, collect our goody bags with Commemorative Badge (Cubs) and just the Badge for the Leaders. Finally we made it to the exit and the Cubs were picked up and taken home by the parents.
The weather stayed warm and dry for the day and the Cubs seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to everybody that was involved in the planning and running of the event. The behaviour of the young people was exceptional, well done to them all.
Below are some more photos from the day.
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 Photo by Akela |
 Photo by Akela |
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See Jane, a complete write up and NO mention of fish at all!!