Over the Easter holidays 4 members of the 1st Fressingfield Explorer Unit went on an expedition to Kenya to work and stay in an orphanage. They went to help, to learn new skills, to gain experiences about life, to understand how those less fortunate live, and realise how lucky we are. 

This is a report from them.

“We got up to many different activities when out there both in and out of the orphanage.

We helped with their day-to-day activities such as cooking, cleaning, working on their farm, and trying to help with their homework when they get back from school. Also, we taught nursery rhymes, organised a sports day, aerobics, throwing game, races and a football match.

We also visited a school in Kibera slums which made us feel grateful for the education that we have as well as made us see how people live who are less fortunate than ourselves. 

We also took 4 orphans with us to Lake Naivasha so that they could also have new experiences such as cycling around Hells Gate avoiding zebras and all sorts of animals running across the roads. There was too much that happened that I am able to write about but the whole expedition from beginning to end was eye opening and a fantastic experience.

All 4 of us wanted to say thank you for the support from everyone, it was an experience that we will never forget.”

Other sections have resumed with a summer programme of mainly outdoor activities. Wolf Cubs had a session clearing up at Fressingfield Playing field and Pioneer Troop Scouts have been camping with the Tiger Cubs. They slept in tents, had to chop firewood, light fires and cook. They  hiked, played and twice built a bridge over the Goldbrook in Hoxne. Thank you to the landowners for allowing us access.

Jargon Buster   -   Wide Games

Wide games are games played outside over a large area. Not sport type things, more like hide and seek and similar stuff.

Some of them are fairly complicated involving "attacking" the other teams base to capture their flag and getting it back to your base. Sometimes gently rough but usually about as violent as touch rugby and the like and with ample umpires. Often played in the dark.

One of the most common is ManHunt which is a hide and seek type game where a small team of 2 or 3 are the hunters (wearing reflective vests) and everyone else hides, when someone is caught by touching they get a reflective vest and join the hunters. The game goes on until all the fugitives are caught. There is no need to stay hidden if you are a good runner and can get away.

Wide games give the opportunity to burn of surplus energy, be outside and develop teamwork with a competitive element.

Our parish magazine appeal for garden tools has gone well with spades, forks, hoes, trowels, loppers and wheelbarrows donated. Thank you.

We could do with a few more, especially rakes if anyone has any they don't need.

During the late May Bank Holiday we will be having our Group Camp which is where all members from the smallest Beaver to the largest Explorer and Leaders get together for the weekend. This year we are going to Eaton Vale Activity Centre near Norwich. Apart from camping we will be trying climbing, canoeing, raft building, archery, air rifle shooting, scavenger hunting, nature walking, tackling an assault course and team building activities.