- Kick off Diamond Jubilee celebrations in scout style 7 February 2012
- Scouting supports those living with cancer 3 February 2012
- Prince Charles meets scouts to tackle youth issues 1 February 2012
- Scout enters Antarctic record books 27 January 2012
- Sun shines on Scouting's winter adventure 9 January 2012
Swimming Gala Results
Published 25 January 2012
Congratulations to this year’s Swimming Gala winners:
Cub Scouts: 1st Bennetts End (Lockers Pack) Cub Pack
Scouts: 4th Hemel Hempstead Scout Troop
Group: 4th Hemel Hempstead Scout Group
The results sheet are available to download:
Swimming Gala 2012 - Results (10.4 KiB)
Scouts raise £900 for local charity DENS!
Published 12 December 2011
On the 25th of November, Scouts from 1st Kings Langley, 1st Bovingdon, 1st Bennetts End and 1st Warners End poured into Kings Langley Scout HQ to take part in a sleep out for DENS, which is a charity that helps homeless people.
At first, we queued up for some cardboard, which was given out sparingly even though half the garage was full of the stuff. Some people had brought ready-made shelters, whereas others were designing their houses on the spot. Some of us were very thankful for the help of the leaders who helped build the cardboard city!
During the evening we were visited by our local MP, Mike Penning, who inspected our cardboard city and wished us luck to the evening, and Stuart Dickens, the District Commissioner. Fortunately, it didn’t rain and we had a reasonable night of sleep.
In the morning, after a very long night, the sun rose, and we woke up the lazy people who were still asleep. Thankfully, leaders then got breakfast on the go and we tucked into hard boiled eggs, cereal, and a sausage sandwich. We then burnt the remaining cardboard and finished off with flag down. We were relieved when our parents came to take us home where we could have a nice hot shower.
Overall, it was a great experience to see what the DENS charity does for people in need. We also collected over £900 by being sponsored to do it, which will contribute to the work of DENS.
Ollie Burrough, Scout – 1st Kings Langley
3 Teams from Hemel Hempstead in top 10 at Green Beret!
Published 24 November 2011
Last weekend, teams from 4 Scout Groups in Hemel Hempstead took part in the Hertfordshire Scouts “Green Beret” challenge. To add to this year’s challenge, Scout has to put up with some very cold and damp weather!
The Scouts camped at Tolmers Activity Centre and in teams of 6 they tackled an orienteering course, a 90 minute long assault course as well as completing day and night challenge bases which lasted approx 15 mins each.
The event started early Saturday morning and finished around 11pm – so it was a tough competition to complete as always!
Around 120 teams from Scout Groups across Hertfordshire took part – so for Hemel Hempstead to have 3 teams in the top ten was a fantastic achievement:
2nd – 1st Leverstock Green (A)
6th – 1st Leverstock Green (D)
7th – 1st Apsley Otters (M)
Thanks also to those who helped on the bases – Hemel Hempstead Scout Active Support Unit as well as leaders from 1st Apsley, 1st Bennetts End and 1st Leverstock Green.
Cub Scout Cooking Competition
Published 6 October 2011This event took place on Wednesday 5th October at Hobbs Hill Wood School, four teams from the district participated in this.
A team of four Cubs from each group cooked a mixed salad, spaghetti bolognese and banana & chocolate pancakes.
They all worked extremely hard to produce some good plates of food. The scores were very close., but the winning order was:
First place – 1st Bennett End.
Second place – 1st Leverstock Green Hawk.
Third place – 1st Apsley Bulbourne.
Fourth place – 1st Apsley Gade.
Thank you to everyone who made this a very enjoyable evening.
Denmark Blog – 29th July
Published 29 July 2011
Courtney and Kate give us our first update from Naesby Centret…
We started our adventure as we stepped on the ferry. This adventurous journey took ages as the ferry was dangerously slow! (as we could have died of boredom). As the kids set of to explore we sat down and relaxed. Lorna,Vince, and Dee’s group all stayed together on the massageing chairs.
We got on the ferry at 9:30 and got of at 4:30 Danish time (one hour ahead).
When we got off the ferry we got on the coach for another 14 hours!!!!! 
although we did stop in Germany and had McDonalds (never eat German McDonalds!)
Eventually we got here and started exploring straight away – some of the Explorer Scouts tried to make a house and failed when it fell down so we decided to tie someone legs together… they then tied my hands and feet together! Afterwards we decided to go in the woods and climb a tree!
We are now cooking dinner and looking forward to an early night. So far Its been fun!!!!!!!!
Herts Expedition 2011 Naesby Centret
Published 28 July 2011
38 Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Leaders from Hemel Hempstead have depart for a 10 day expedition to Naesby Centret in Denmark. Most were up at 4.45am this morning to get the coach!
Whilst they are away, they will:
- Take part in an overnight hike, sleeping in self-made shelters
- Visit the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden
- Row a Viking Long Boat
- Visit Copenhagen
- Visit Tivoli Gardens
You can keep up with their adventure by reading the blog which will appear on this website.
You will also be able to track thier journey home via live satellite tracking
Challenge Peg Revived!
Published 9 July 2011
For the first time in 6 years, the Hemel Hempstead “Challenge Peg” has changed hands – from 1st Bennetts End to 1st Leverstock Green.
Scouts from both Troops walked from their usual meeting place to Bunkers park open space to take part in an evening of challenges called “You Bet”.
As a Patrol, the Scouts had to agree how well they thought they would do at each activity before starting – having to achieve the level agreed in order to win the points. If they missed the level, they finished that base with no points meaning Patrols had to decide whether to play it safe or be bold but risk losing it all!
Out of 11 patrols, Hawk patrol from 1st Leverstock Green won the competition with a score of 124 points. Jason Farm, Scout Leader at 1st Bennetts End said:
The Scouts had a really good time – we shoud do more joint evenings as everyone had fun!”
Any Troop in Hemel Hempstead is now welcome to challenge 1st Leverstock Green to an activity of their choice during the Autumn term in an effort to win the trophy.
Beaver Scouts Celebrate 25th Anniversary
Published 28 June 2011
Friday 24th June saw 63 Beaver Scouts from across Hemel Hempstead get together at Kings Langley Community Centre to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Beaver Scout section being introduced by the Scout Association. Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting movement and are aged 6 to 8 years old.
Mike James entertained the children with music and magic and had the youngsters joining in with some old favourite party games like the conga and hokey cokey. One of the highights was a long line of limbo dancers and the leaders having a hoopla competition.
Everyone had a good time and Sheila Neep and Phil Atkinson cut the birthday cake, as they were the first leaders to be involved with Hemel District Beavers when it started back in 1986.
All the young people went home with the traditional party bag filled with Beaver Scout memorabilia.
Scouts “Ready, Steady, Cook” Challenge
Published 27 February 2011
Scouts from Hemel Hempstead donned their kitchen aprons and put their culinary skills to the test during an evening challenge based on the “Ready, Steady Cook” TV show format.
Each team of 4 Scouts were given a choice from a list of ingredients – a carbohydrate, meat and vegetables and access to a a range of herbs and spices. Working quickly together they had to use their ingredients in the most creative way possible to create a dish in just 60 minutes on only two gas rings, as well as a pudding from a list separate list of sweet ingredients and fruit.
For some, it was the first time they had ever prepared vegetables or cooked meat from raw, others had been practising on their Troop nights under careful supervision from their head-chefs (the Scout Leaders) to avoid any upset stomachs or cut fingers… All of the patrols managed to produce their meal on-time and safely, although the presentation of one dish left a little to be desired.
At the end of the evening, the winning teams were announced:
1st Place: 1st Hemel Hempstead
2nd Place: 4th Hemel Hempstead
3rd Place: 1st Apsley (Otters)
Beaver Scouts from Hemel Hempstead Sleepover for 25th Birthday Celebration
Published 22 February 2011
As part of Hertfordshire Beaver Scouts celebration of 25 years of Beaver Scouting in 2011, Beaver Colonies throughout Hemel Hempstead got together for one night only. The event was part of the County’s challenge to hold as many Beaver sleepovers as possible on the same night throughout Hertfordshire. The theme of the sleepover was a ‘birthday party’.
The Hemel Hempstead District sleepover was hosted at a local School and the Beavers had a visit from Dacorum’s Mayor Cllr Roger Taylor and Mike Penning MP. The Beavers’ challenge was to make the biggest junk model birthday cake using cardboard boxes and anything else suitable. The cake when finished almost reached the ceiling of the canteen, where it sat pride of place for the rest of the event.
As part of their activities on the Saturday the Beavers also had a visit from the Papertrail Heritage Fire Brigade who bought along their Dennis Ace and Green Goddess fire engines. The afternoon was full of activities and a tea party, with a real birthday cake including candles. The event was finished off on Sunday morning with the Beavers making their own puppets and each colony performing a puppet show to the other colonies.
Fun was had by all the Beavers and has started the 25th celebration year off well.
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