North Yorkshire Moors Week 5

Snow Day in the Moors

When we got to Sutton Bank we were handed our tools and gloves and set off, we walked in the snow for a while when we got near the 'finest view in England' the view truly was amazing.  

We then turned right and carried on walking when we got there we got told about what we were doing, we had to cut off the branches that would potentially hit walkers and people riding on horses we had a pair of loppers each also a pocket saw each.  In the bag of tools there was a few bigger saws and something like a pair of loppers mounted on a pole to use it you had to pull a string when holding the loppers up to a high branch which closed the blades, cutting the branch the other thing in the bag was a saw mounted on a pole also we used these to cut high branches that would potentially hit the horse or the person riding it.

I helped cut down a particularly large branch that would block a rider it was hard but the work was also fun, when you got cold you had hot chocolate and set back off to work.  When we had finished we had a group photo and started to walk back to the visitor centre.

We had lunch in the building then set off to the wood's to build dens. We had a certain amount of time to build a den I was with, Luke, Matthew and Owen we built our den by leaning a stick on a tree and leaning sticks against that, which we then put moss and other coverings on it to protect it. We tested the other dens by throwing snowballs at them.

I had lots of fun that day.

By Josh

Patrol  Leader, Cobra Patrol

Space Centre Sleepover

The last camp was at the National Space Museum apart from the long drive I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to friends and family.

The two best things about the trip was going into the planetarium to watch the show about the astronauts and also watching Henry and Jack dress up as aliens (that was so funny). 

When we first arrived at the space museum we got a tour which was interesting because it was so empty, I’m used to little kids running around and bumping into you but no it was almost like everyone had disappeared into outer space!

Then we all went into the planetarium and watched what the sky looked like that night. We got to see all of the stars and shapes they created together!

After a long journey we then got to eat our packed teas, by then everyone was REALLY hungry so it was a good job that we ate something soon otherwise we would have all gone wild…

After that we split up into different groups and did some activities around the museum such as: team work games, rocket building, exploring round the museum and much more excitable things! 

As there were beavers, cubs and scouts, most of us were younger so that meant an earlier bedtime (I think it was the right time to go to bed anyway as everyone was really tired), we got to sleep in the museum next to one of the exhibitions on the floor, but it took about half an hour for everyone to dose off. 

In the morning we all got up and packed our sleeping bags and other things away so we didn’t have to hassle later.

Then we headed back down to the dining area and we all got our own little breakfast bags witch contained: a chocolate muffin, yoghurt, a juice carton and a bag of sliced apple (they were very yummy).

Then as a final activity we went back into the planetarium and watched a film which was amazing! It was all about the inside of an astronaut’s body before and after lift-off and how going into space often can affect you and your life!

As I said I loved this camp and thought it was jam packed with lots of different and fun activities and I would definitely go again!

By Ellie,
Jaguar Patrol.

HANDS Winter Activity Day

                                                       Winter Activity Day

On Saturday 17 January 2015 I attended a Winter Activity Day which was at Thornthwaite near Pateley  Bridge.  The weather was really wintry and it was snowing. However, despite the cold we all had an awesome day.

 The event was organised by Harrogate and Nidderdale District Scouts and there were lots of Scouts there from all round Harrogate. There were lots of activities to try- I picked wood engraving, archery. Mountain biking, crate stacking, cooking and building a rocket. To build a rocket we put a fuse into a polystyrene chip cone. We decorated it and then lit the fuse with an ignition box which was electric. The rockets flew into the air. 

Together in the snow

 I also made a bird house out of wood which we were allowed to take home with us.  I also went bouldering and climbed a cave ladder.   

My favourite activities were making pizza, building a rocket and crate stacking.  We were all given hot drinks to keep us going in the cold. The helpers were really helpful- they even let me make a sugar free doughnut!!!

The worst part of the day was the cold weather but it did make it more of an adventure.  The parents all said they had their own adventures driving to get us in the snow!

Angus,
Stag Patrol
1st Marston Moor Scouts

Fungi & Forestry in the NY Moors

Scouts at NY Moors 29 November 2014   

We arrived at the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre on a cold and foggy day.  We met Tammy, the co-ordinator of the North York Moors Explorers.  She told us our mission which was to chop down some trees, to make a new footpath and to allow the heather to grow.

First, we went for a walk looking for fungi.  We found quite a lot.  Tammy told us about them and we also had reference books to help us identify them.

We drove in a minibus to the place where we were working.  It was only a short way, but we had a load of equipment to take along with us.  We had our lunch, I was glad I had my flask of hot chocolate!

We got down to work, cutting down some trees.  We each had a folding saw and loppers, which are long handled cutters.  This tree chopping technique is called the notch and Back Cut.  We all worked very hard and finished a bit early.

At the end, we were dancing in front of the Centre webcam while we were waiting for our lift home.  I think we were all tired at the finish, but we had done a good job.

By Luke

Cobra Patrol

First aid hike

Guy, Owen, Finn and I  did a first aid hike on the 16th November 2014. At first we had to do a quiz about first aid. The equipment we needed was a first aid kit, hot drink, sleeping bag, survival bag, emergency rations, compass and a  map.

For the first injury we had to find out what was wrong with the person. He had a swollen ankle and hypothermia . We didn't have to do it on the person we had to explain what we would do.

The second injury was a graze on the head. So we had to check for concussion but there wasn't any. At the injuries there was a judge to take the score. The team in front of us didn't follow the countryside rules because they don't shut gates!!!!! It was organised by the Harrogate and Nidderdale  District Scouts.

The final one of the day was very BAD hypothermia a man had fallen into a reservoir!!!!! To treat hypothermia you look for signs of it like shivering, pale face etc. Then you give them a hot drink and reassure them. If it is really bad they won't know who they are, where they are or even where they came from!!!

There were 10 teams and we came 4th!!!!! The winners were 14th Woodlands.  I am really proud of our team getting 4th place!! WOW!!!!!!!!

By Caolan

(Falcon Patrol)    

North Yorkshire Moors Ranger Day

On Saturday the 25^th October 2014, 9 scouts from 1st Marston Moor set of for an excited day at Carlton Bank in the North York Moors.

After arriving at the site, we met Tammy and Janet our instructors. Then we got all our gear like the trowels and the shovels, then we set of and walked up a hill called Cleveland Way Hill. When we got to the top Tammy and Janet told us  how to use the tools and then we got in pairs. We had to dig the grass out of the drains so the water could run through the drains.

After one hour of hard work we stopped for lunch. Soon after we played two amazing games.  One of the games that we played was where there was ‘prey’ in the middle and that person, who was blind folded and if you got pointed at by them you are out, the first person to tap the person who was the prey was the winner. The second game was where you had to make a creature and then the leaders judged you. It was very fun.

Finally after lunch break we did some more digging of the drains. In total we did a big thirty four drains. We had lot of fun there and we have to say thank you to Tammy and Janet.  

Written by Abi

(Falcon Patrol)

 

 

Roseberry Topping

When I was told that we were to take on Roseberry topping, one of many peaks that 1^st Marston Moor had yet to conquer; I hate to say that I had genuinely not expected much, and that I thought that this particular mountain would not pose much of a challenge…

Captain Cook Monument

So, on a bright October morning, with the sun blazing over the hills, our fabulous scout, cub and beaver crews (each starting from different locations) set out in hope of scaling Zee Roseberry Topping. Being a scout, I’ll quickly break down the scout walk: We set off about 5km from the mountain itself, heading towards the Captain Cook Monument. After a brisk walk the monument, with one scout already complaining about his empty stomach, we set off in the general direction of RT. NAV went dow

n the toilet a bit at this point, what with the tremendous map-reading skills of 1^st Marston Moor scouts. Eventually we were back on track, thanks to some assistance from our leaders. The following trek included serene moor top strolls, uphill struggles and generally trying not to kill ourselves as we rushed through the woods. Amidst the cursing and falling over conversation broke out, which spanned several strange topics such as Doctor Who, mountain biking and…    Pigeons?!

Tea break time with a view.

2 hours and 5km later, we stood at the foot of the mountain. We took this opportunity to relax and take in the breath-taking serenity that is the English countryside. But the grinning faces of jubilant Beavers who were delighted to have won the race to the top soon snapped us out of our trance and we (rather reluctantly) made the climb. What every climber dreams of is the packed lunch that awaits them at the summit, It is truly what keeps them going, this seemed to be very true in the case of us scouts. But then we had a thought, where were the cubs? A quick look over the edge of RT told us the answer. Finally, some twenty minutes late, the cubs arrived, and scouts being scouts we had own special ways of welcoming them (which may or may not have involved a lot of laughter), the cubs later explained their lateness being the result of an escaped dog.

1st Marston Moor; Beavers, Cubs and Scouts

The second leg was mercifully shorter (much to the relief of us scouts) so we packed up our kit (and our troubles) and soldiered on. The second leg took us all the way up and along a high ridge, with perfect views of the coastline. Although it was much shorter, the second leg was significantly more strenuous, but still not a patch on some of the hikes the scouts have done beforehand.  We reached the finish point about an hour after summiting Roseberry topping.

So all in all, this hike was an enjoyable enough experience, but not as difficult as some other mountains. So, it was a great walk, with awesome views and not too much of trial. What more could you want, right?