Sandy scouts taken on ‘epic hike’
The scouts were working towards their Navigation, Local Knowledge and Nature activity badges
Adventurous youngsters from the 1st Sandy Scouts completed an "epic hike" to Henlow.
The teams "put their skills to the test" during the badge-earning mission - working together to develop their navigation, planning and outdoor skills.
A total of 15 scouts and three explorer scouts took part, with the youngest members covering 20km and the oldest an impressive 40km.
Group scout leader, Thomas Collinson, said: "I'm incredibly proud of what the scouts have achieved. Many of them had never taken on anything on this scale before, and they should all be very proud of themselves.”
One scout said: "We levelled up in problem solving to set up our tents and cook evening and morning meals. The expedition was the perfect learning opportunity for future experiences."
The older scouts, alongside some of the explorer scouts, independently planned their expedition and navigated their own routes - with regular check-ins from leaders.
They successfully made their way to Boyd Field Activity Centre, Henlow, where they met up with the younger scouts - who had been hiking under closer supervision.
One scout said: "We had fun with a campfire and lots of games and songs."
Another added: "It was nothing like I'd ever seen before. I am very proud. My teammate and I made it in time to the camp. We overcame many challenges; I couldn't have done it without them."
The "tough expedition" enabled the scouts to work towards their Navigation, Local Knowledge and Nature activity badges. And for two members - Rosalind and Iulia - completing the hike meant that they had achieved their Chief Scout's Gold Award.
"It's a fantastic achievement and something they should be incredibly proud of," said leader Rachel Hards. "All of the leaders were amazed by the commitment shown by everyone. espite being exhausted at times, every scout completed the challenge. There were certainly lots of smiling faces at the end of the weekend."
Once the leaders have "recovered from this adventure", their next big project will be planning 2027's group camp. This comprises around 50 volunteers and 150 youngsters from the whole of Sandy Scout Group - from the squirrels (aged four and upwards) through to the explorer scouts (up to 18) - and is "quite an undertaking!"