Network News from around the County
Here's an up to date page of Network News from around the County... it may be Local, Area or County Gossip, but come what may, you'll find it here!
3 Peaks Challenge
Members of Mid Cornwall Scout district have safely returned to Cornwall after successfully climbing the 3 tallest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales for the first time.
10 members of Mid Cornwall Network and 4 Scout leaders from the area travelled all over the country during the Bank Holiday weekend to complete ‘The 3 Peaks Challenge’.
The group travelled for over 14 hours from St Austell to Glencoe in Scotland in a very tiring journey, which fortunately provided fantastic Scottish food, ales and whisky coupled with amazing views at the end of it.
Ben Nevis was the first of the three peaks to climb. Although the weather was promising at the start, after a few hours climbing the team ascended above the clouds and conditions became tougher. By around 1000 metres above sea level the entire route was covered in 3 feet of snow and the views looked more like the North Pole than the Scottish Highlands. Despite the extremely challenging conditions the whole team managed to reach the top of Ben Nevis at a height of 1344m, and a temperature well below freezing.
The second day brought the tallest peak in England – Scaffel Pike which rises 978m out of the Lake District. Although the weather was much kinder the ascent was very tough with miles of steep rocky path causing very sore knees and hips. The team reached the summit and enjoyed a very brief glimpse of the spectacular view before the cloud dropped and the heavy hail showers began for the long journey back down.
Finally on the last day the group climbed Snowdon in Wales, their final peak of the trip reaching 1085m above sea level. Although the climb was easier the fatigue of the previous two climbs meant that progress was slow. The weather also descended so that by the time the group reached the top they were buffeted by winds in excess of 70mph and driving rain soaking everyone through. However spirits remained high because of the completion of the 3 Peaks Challenge for the very first time.
After the successful completion of the 3 peaks, next year the group hope to attempt another big hiking challenge. Planning will begin after everybody has recovered had some time to recover from this year’s event!
Investiture at Cornwall's highest peak
County Network members at the top of Brown Willy (417m) for the investiture of 3 members
The 3 newest members of Cornwall Scout Network were invested at the top of Brown Willy, accompanied by other members from around the county.
After a long tough climb in some glorious (but hot) weather Chris, Heather and Richard were invested over the trig point and received their scarves and badges.
It was then back to the Jamaica Inn for some lunch, programme planning and some cold drinks! Check out the programmes page for information about this term's activities.
Brownsea Island 2009
Members of Mid Cornwall Network taking part in the district visit to Brownsea Island over the Easter break. During the camp they helped out with various activities, ran wide games and took part in a 'Get Stuck In' project clearing rhodedendrons from the island. All this and some great evening socialising too!
Coast 2 Coast 2009
District Scout Network Leader for Pendynas Sam Biggs walking the Coast 2 Coast with his Scouts
Cornwall Scout Network members were heavily involved in the recent Coast 2 Coast event run by Mid Cornwall District.
Some helped out with the running of the event, from catering to site management and from admin to photography Network helped support the event at many different levels!
Some members also got involved with walking the event, congratulations to all of those who took part, hope to see you involved again next year!
Pendynas Scout Network Investiture - December 08
Ben Ibbottson invests a group of six Explorer Scouts bringing the Unit to nearly twenty in number.
Cornwall County Scout Network Camp
Despite the damp weather members of Cornwall Scout Network and invited guests enjoyed a great weekend of fun and activities at Nine Ashes for the first ever county Network camp.
The camp offered the chance for Network members to get together as a county for the first time and take part in activities aimed specifically at their own age group.
Over the weekend members took part in climbing, archery, a murder mystery tour around Bodmin as well as plenty of socialising and their own pub quiz (won by Les Fruits Des Bois!).
The Networkers also successfully built an extremely ambitious pioneering project - and hourglass with sleeping platform on top. Although the weather did put stop to sleeping out on it, everyone still enjoyed building and climbing it.
The event will be hopefully be repeated sometime in the summer (with better weather). Remember, if you are aged between 18 and 25 then you can get involved with Scout Network too!
Posing by the pioneering hourglass sleeping platform