Meeting nights

Last night, Shackleton ESU swapped neckers for nets as we took to the grass courts of Grattons Park for an energetic evening of volleyball fun and friendly competition. With the sun setting and a light summer breeze in the air, four teams went head-to-head across two makeshift courts set up on the field. The teams rotated matches throughout the evening, ensuring everyone had plenty of time on the court and plenty of chances to show off their skills (and some dramatic dives!). From big serves to last-minute saves, the evening was packed with great moments, lots of laughter, and some …

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Yesterday evening, Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit in Crawley put their creativity and teamwork to the test in a fun and delicious cardboard oven cooking challenge. Using little more than cardboard boxes, tin foil, and some ingenious engineering, the Explorers set out to bake cookies or brownies entirely from their handmade cardboard ovens. The task wasn’t just about culinary skills, it was also a test of resourcefulness, fire safety, and outdoor cooking knowledge. As seen in the photos, spirits were high as the Explorers huddled around their homemade ovens, tweaking their designs and checking on their bakes.

Last Monday evening, Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit swapped neckers for trainers and hit the grassy fields of Gratton’s Park for a lively game of rounders during our weekly meeting. With the sun shining and spirits high, Explorers gathered for a classic game that blended teamwork, friendly competition, and a good dose of laughter. Two teams were quickly formed, and after a quick refresher on the rules, the match began. Fielders took their positions while batters stepped up to the plate, some with confident swings, others with surprise hits that sent fielders sprinting. A big thank you to everyone who came …

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Tonight, Shackleton ESU met at the Stanford campsite for a focused session on fire lighting, putting practical outdoor skills into action. The evening covered several fire-starting techniques, each demonstrating different principles of ignition and heat. These included: All groups successfully started fires using the methods above and managed to burn through the string suspended from their tripods, demonstrating control, focus, and an understanding of the techniques. Well done to everyone who took part. Your teamwork, persistence, and safe handling of each method were commendable. This session not only built practical knowledge but also reinforced the importance of preparation and responsibility …

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This week at Shackleton ESU, we celebrated Easter with an evening full of creativity, teamwork, and, of course, chocolate! Our Explorers got stuck into some fantastic activities that combined festive fun with a delicious treat. Egg-citing Easter Egg Characters The highlight of the evening was decorating our very own Easter egg characters. Each Explorer was given a chocolate egg and a range of decorations to bring their designs to life. From cute and quirky to funny and fantastic, the results were truly impressive! With a mix of edible decorations, icing, and a whole lot of imagination, the creations showcased the group’s …

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Last night, Shackleton Explorer Scouts had a thrilling meeting where they built swings using pioneering skills. The explorers worked together to master lashings, tying knots like square and diagonal lashings to create strong, safe swing structures. The energy was high as teams collaborated to troubleshoot and perfect their designs, all while learning key skills in knot-tying, teamwork, and safety. The best part? Once the swings were complete, the explorers got to test their creations and enjoy the fruits of their labor. The activity was a perfect blend of fun and learning, with everyone gaining confidence in their pioneering abilities.

This week, Shackleton Explorer Scouts in Crawley had a fun-filled evening making and cooking pancakes. The Scouts learned valuable cooking skills, from mixing ingredients to perfecting their pancake flipping techniques. With plenty of creativity, they topped their pancakes with delicious sweet and savory fillings. It was a fantastic night of teamwork, learning, and, of course, tasty treats!

On Monday, Shackleton ESU had a communication challenge evening. In groups of 4, they had to build a puzzle in teams however there was a twist. One Explorer was blind folded, one had the instructions, one had the puzzle pieces and one had the job of running and communicating between them all! There are some photos of the evening below:

Last Monday evening, our Explorers got crafty with paracord bracelets, woggles, keyrings, and leather pyrography. Scouts learned essential knot-tying techniques while creating stylish paracord bracelets and personalised woggles. They also explored creativity and design by crafting unique keyrings that could be used or gifted. For those seeking a challenge, leather pyrography allowed them to burn intricate patterns into leather, honing precision and focus. These activities helped build problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and teamwork, all while fostering creativity. It was a fun, hands-on evening that showcased how practical skills and adventure go hand in hand!

On Monday, we held a unit version of Hunted. This year was the first year all teams were caught and the hunters were victorious! You will need to use guile and cunning to avoid the hunter force who roam Crawley searching for your teams. You will be considered captured if a hunter team is able to gain a clearly identifiable photograph of one of your team whilst you are on the run.  You will not be notified if you have been ‘captured’ until you reach HQ.  Therefore, keep moving and stay stealthy and don’t assume you’ve been captured even if you’re seen, you may …

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