News Archives - Shackleton Explorer Scouts

Shackleton ESU Awards and DofE Report Back Evening 2025

11th November 2025 by Sean Edwards

Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit came together last night for our annual Awards and DofE Report Back Evening, celebrating the achievements and adventures of our Explorers over the past year. The evening began with presentations from our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze, Silver, and Gold groups, who shared stories, photos, and memories from their expedition experiences. From challenging weather to teamwork and campfire laughs, it was inspiring to hear how each group developed resilience and leadership through their journeys. We were also delighted to recognise a number of significant achievements within the Unit: Each award represents many hours of commitment, learning, …

Celebration of Achievement – Chief Scout Awards

27th October 2025 by Sean Edwards

Last weekend saw members of Crawley District Scouts come together for an afternoon of celebration and recognition by West Sussex Scouts ! Our young people were recognised for achieving their DofE Bronze & Silver Awards and their Chief Scout’s Gold Award. Congratulations to all of them – and a big thank you to the parents and leaders who supported them along the way!

Shackleton ESU DofE Bronze Expedition – Ashdown Forest Adventure!

29th June 2025 by Sean Edwards

This weekend, a spirited team of seven intrepid explorers from Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit set off on their Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award Expedition across the beautiful Ashdown Forest, with an overnight stay at the ever-popular Broadstone Warren. Blessed with sunshine and blue skies, the team embarked on their journey with full packs, determination, and smiles all around. Over two days, the group navigated woodland trails, open heathland, and the occasional steep incline, clocking up impressive distances with map and compass in hand. More than just walking, this expedition was a brilliant opportunity to develop a wide range of skills …

Mountain Activity Camp 2024

2nd April 2024 by Sean Edwards

Over Easter Weekend, 13 Explorers and their leaders travelled to Cornel Scout Campsite in North Wales. Originally we planned to climb Snowdon on Saturday but snowy weather meant we had to do our contingency, lower level route heading over Foel Fras, Carnedd Gwenllian and Foel Grach. On Sunday, we headed out to Craig Caseg Ffraith for a day of climbing and abseiling led by Sean and Tim. Everyone got to attempt the 5 different climbs and abseil which was a first for many of natural rock! Before we departed on Monday, the groups headed out for a final low level …

Chief Scout Awards / Investitures and D of E Expedition Reports

5th October 2022 by Sean Edwards

On Monday 3rd October, Shackleton Explorers had a very busy evening! We started off with a brief lesson in Heraldry before the Explorers started to design their own coat of arms to represent them. We then moved onto a more formal part of the evening where we had expedition reports from our 2 D of E Bronze groups and 2 D of E Silver Groups (which parents were welcome to attend). At the end of the evening, we were joined by Robert Sawyer (our County Commissioner) who presented Chief Scout Gold Awards to Ash, Kevin, Ben and Samuel. He is …

Christmas Bowling Party

14th December 2021 by Sean Edwards

On Monday 13th Dec, we celebrated our last meeting of term with a Christmas Bowling Competition. Taking over several lanes, and many gutter balls later, everyone had lots of fun. We made a quick departure though at the end as one of the lanes had broken down which meant the staff had to start taking up the floor with electric screwdrivers!!! We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas break and come back refreshed in 2022. If your interested in joining us in 2022, do get in touch.

Autumn Update

27th August 2018 by Sean Edwards

Autumn 2018 Newsletter Programme We are in the process of putting together the full programme for the term, and the first meeting back will give the Explorers the opportunity to give their input to ensure we are being truly #YouthShaped! Once completed it will be available on our website. As such, the first meeting back will be Monday 3rd September at 4th Worth Scout hut at 7:30pm until 9:30pm in normal uniform. News It’s been a very busy year so far for Shackleton, with expeditions, activities and skills evenings. The easiest way to share some of this with you is with some photos! Duke …

Leaders Winter skills

10th May 202112th February 2018 by Sean Edwards

This winter, Explorer Scout leaders from Crawley District travelled north with a simple mission – to find snow and ice! Tim Winter (Shackleton ESU) spent some time with Scouts Scotland at the Lochgoilhead National Activity Centre under the instruction of Mark Noble MIC, and was then joined by Adam Jasko (Drake ESU) and Harry Fox (SRF ESU) in the Lake District for the Essex Scouts Mountain Activity Team winter instructors course. This was all in aid of developing the Crawley leaders’ winter mountaineering skills, and in turn enable future winter trips for Scouts that want to try winter mountain walking, …

Mountain Activity Weekend

10th May 202131st October 2017 by Sean Edwards

On 26th October 19 Explorer Scouts from across Crawley District were hosted by Drake Explorers at their annual mountain activity weekend staying at a bunk house in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales. Participants spent 3 days walking in the mountains, including Pen Y Fan (the highest peak in South Wales) and rock climbing – and some even managed to get some sleep! Many thanks to Drake ESU for a fantastic trip.

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