Kidlington Scouts Weekly Round-Up: Bazookas, Beavers, and a Dash of Japan: Another whirlwind week for Kidlington Scouts, featuring international adventures, culinary chaos, and some very fast bikes. Here’s what we’ve been up to Cherwell Beavers Fresh from the Mowgli Cubs’ visit last week, it was the Beavers’ turn to take over Kidlington Fire Station. They clambered aboard the engines, explored the kit, and discovered what it really takes to tackle a blaze. With so many excited Beavers now dreaming of firefighting careers, we may have sparked the next generation of heroes. Huge thanks to the crew for welcoming us two weeks running! Sea Scouts This week was a tale of two halves. Our senior Sea Scouts traded knots for gnocchi and mastered the art of pasta making from scratch, we’re talking flour, eggs, the lot. Meanwhile, the younger Sea Scouts swapped saucepans for tie-dye, creating their very own camp t-shirts. The results were vibrant, colourful, and probably not compatible with school uniform policies. As if that wasn’t enough for the Sea Scout Leaders to cope with, some of our dedicated elite team spent yet another evening on the restoration of our flagship pulling boat, which is taking a little longer than planned but you should never rush a good job. Land Scouts What’s better than firing a rocket? Building your own pioneering bazooka first. The Land Scouts got hands-on with ropes and poles to construct these contraptions, then had a blast (quite literally) testing them out. Engineering, teamwork, and just the right amount of chaos. Jacala Cubs Jacala Cubs took to the track at Horspath Cycle Speedway Club, swapping neckers for helmets and putting pedal power to the test. From tight corners to speedy straights, there were thrills, spills, and plenty of cheering from the sidelines. Who knows – we may have the next cycling champion in our midst. Mowgli Cubs Mowgli Cubs travelled east (without leaving the hut) as they explored all things Japan. From sports to national dress, flags to festivals, the Cubs discovered just how much there is to know about this fascinating country. Origami and chopsticks challenges were inspiring and fun. (fb)

Kidlington Scouts Weekly Round-Up: Cooking on Gas (Putting Out Fires and Saving Lives): It’s been another action-packed week across the group, with adventures ranging from learning how to save lives to testing out two-course meals that cost less than a takeaway coffee. Cherwell Beavers Our youngest members began their Safety Badge journey. They learned the all-important number to call in an emergency, what to say, and even practised first aid skills like stopping bleeding and putting someone into the recovery position. Just one week in and we’ve already got some very capable mini-paramedics! To round things off, they played a lively game of “Who You Gonna Call?” and judging by the enthusiasm, the emergency services are in very safe hands! Mowgli Cubs The highlight of the week (and possibly year) for Mowgli Cubs was their trip to Kidlington Fire Station. Sirens, hoses and fire engines galore, and a few very excited Cubs who may or may not now want to change their career ambitions to “firefighter immediately”. What a fantastic experience and a MASSIVE shout out of thanks to The Kidlington Fire & Rescue Crew for delivering such an engaging and exciting experience for our Cubs. Jacala Cubs Jacala turned their thoughts to the great outdoors, preparing for an upcoming hike and brushing up on the Countryside Code. Expect very polite hedgerows and well-mannered cows the next time they’re out and about. Land Scouts Our Land Scouts took on the £5 Cooking Challenge. Last week, they planned their menus; this week, they put their money where their mouths are. From what we hear, some patrols produced gourmet-standard results… others proved that £5 doesn’t necessarily stretch as far as you think. Either way, no one went home hungry and there were even some vegetables. Sea Scouts This week the Sea Scouts split into two groups. The older Scouts became electronics whizzes by building Brush Bugs from components. Meanwhile, the younger Scouts use pasta-making machines and rolled up their sleeves for the full Italian experience – mixing, pressing, cutting and then cooking their very own creations. A proper test of teamwork, patience, and culinary skill… and judging by the results, a few MasterChef auditions could be on the cards. On top of that 4 investitures! From bandages to bolognese, brush bugs to blue lights, Kidlington Scouts once again proved they can handle just about anything thrown their way. Same time next week – who knows what’s coming next? (fb)