A Typical Week

So what really goes on in Northern Norwich over a typical week?

Having been in the role of District Commissioner for nearly 15 months, I thought I’d put my theory of “providing great Scouting opportunities in Northern Norwich Scout District” to the test. Read on and find out what really was going on over the week commencing 19th May…

My first port of call was to the 18th Norwich on a warmish Friday evening; the Scout Troop were busy erecting tents and lighting a camp fire supporting the preparation for the Beaver and Cub Pirate Camp taking place that weekend….”What were the Beavers and Cubs doing” I hear you ask? Of course, they were getting the supper ready for the young people and adults – pitta bread pizzas!  From the excited noise coming from Risby Rise all were having a great time and the young people went on to thoroughly enjoy their Camp even building a Pirate Ship on Saturday!

What can I say about Saturday – so much going on today! The AGM season is upon us and the 16th Norwich (Old Costessey) were holding their AGM today and offering parents and siblings a ‘try it’ experience once the formalities had been completed.

I was keen today to see how the 44th Norwich were getting on – they were holding a Denmark Event – this was hosted by the Scout Troop who are off to Denmark, Sonderborg in July (22nd-30th) to enjoy the Jamboree – Spejdernes Lejr 2017.  They had an activity packed day with loads of information for parents, a video presentation and their own preparation for their trip going on too. Great pioneering work resulted in constructing the dining table and benches and get a load of the head gear too….fabulous! The Scout Troop have plans to complete a daily online blog whilst away so it will be great to keep in touch with them and see and hear how they’re getting on.

By the time I arrived at 1st Drayton’s HQ where the 3rd & 4th Norwich were holding their Group Camp this weekend we’d had a very unwelcome rain shower. Not surprisingly the spirits of the young people on Camp were still high; when we arrived the Beaver YL’s were busy organising a game of Catch the Flag with the young people organised into mixed teams…..suddenly they’d vanished and the game was afoot!  Group Camps are a great opportunity for the sections to get together, work together and enjoy all that scouting has to offer – together.  The 3rd & 4th Norwich are a great team with a sense of family in the Group which should be celebrated.

Still over the same weekend, I heard news that the 27th Norwich (just up the road from me) were having a working weekend….. I couldn’t resist just popping in to say hello and see how things were shaping up. Wow! Couldn’t believe it….the hive of activity had momentarily been interrupted by lunch!! Nevertheless, I couldn’t be more impressed, plenty of adult volunteers pitching in, emptying garages, sorting ‘equipment’ and general stuff which ‘might come in handy one day’ and James had a few minutes to show me the improvements made to the HQ. Fantastic effort and a real drive of enthusiasm to get things moving.

Sadly weekends don’t last forever and I along with the rest returned to work on Monday.  The week’s tour didn’t stop there though – Tuesday I was fortunate enough to see the Cub Pack busy with badge work at Spixworth enjoying Science! A number of experiments were completed on a round – and the look of wonder on faces is always fantastic to see.

Of course this was only one of around 43 section meetings which took place that week…how I’d have liked to have got round them all – next time I’ll target a month perhaps….but think of all that great Scouting going on week in week out – exciting but so humbling at the same time.

One of my aims this year was to really build a sense of team through the District and Wednesday and Thursday gave me an opportunity to meet with two of my valued team members to complete 5yr reviews. Thanks to GSL’s Simon (3rd & 4th) and Francis (1st Drayton) for your time, the chat and importantly your support and dedication.

A mixed bag this week you might think…..but this week is, I assure you, very much like the next and the last one in Scouting. There really is so much going on – mine is only a snapshot – and it is ongoing, made possible only by the team (or veritable army) of volunteers who take on Leadership roles, Assistant roles, Helper roles, YL roles and Executive roles all making it possible for the young people in our District to enjoy Scouting to the full and those adult and young volunteers should themselves feel a sense of achievement at being part of something so awesome…I know I do.

To see more pictures from my week why not take a look at the photo gallery.

Lisa Wright
District Commissioner

3rd June 2017     News