Meeting nights

This Monday, Shackleton ESU dived into the digital world with an engaging Social Media Evening, giving our Explorers the chance to learn more about how the platforms they use every day really work behind the scenes. To kick things off, we explored how social media companies make money, looking at advertising, targeted content, and the algorithms that match posts to users. The Explorers discussed why certain videos, memes or ads appear in their feeds and how platforms keep people scrolling. It was a great opportunity to think critically about the digital environments we’re all part of. To bring these ideas …

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This week Shackleton Explorers swapped tents for toolkits and got hands-on with a brand-new challenge: building and soldering our own electronic Christmas tree circuits. It was a fantastic mix of creativity, concentration, and practical skills — and the results looked brilliant! 🎄 What We Did Using electronic Christmas tree kits, each Explorer built a small LED circuit mounted on a festive tree-shaped board. After a quick safety briefing, we learned how to read the circuit board, identify components like LEDs, resistors, and battery clips, and plan out the order of assembly. Then the fun really started — heating up the soldering irons and getting …

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This Monday, Shackleton ESU swapped compasses and campfires for markers and creativity! Our Explorers took part in a relaxing and artistic evening decorating glass tea light candle holders using acrylic paint markers. The session gave everyone the chance to unwind, have fun, and express themselves through colourful designs; from abstract patterns to detailed illustrations and favourite characters. The end result was a bright and varied collection of unique candle holders, each one showcasing the personality and imagination of its creator. It was great to see so many Explorers getting stuck in, helping each other with ideas, and taking pride in …

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Shackleton ESU recently took part in an evening of climbing and abseiling at Copthorne Prep School. Explorers tested their skills on the outdoor climbing wall, tackling various routes and building confidence with each ascent. Abseiling was accessed separately via an internal stairway, allowing members to descend the tower under supervision using proper rope techniques and safety equipment. Thank you to Copthorne Prep School for hosting, and to the leaders and instructors who supported the event.

This week, Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit put their teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test in an action-packed Team Challenges Evening held in the grounds of our scout hut. With three unique and engaging bases, the Explorers were split into teams and rotated through each activity, using communication, strategy, and collaboration to succeed. 🚧 Base 1: The Da Vinci Bridge At the first base, teams were challenged to build a self-supporting Da Vinci Bridge using only wooden spars and their ingenuity. This classic pioneering challenge tested their understanding of tension and compression forces — with no ropes or fastenings allowed! …

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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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