Scouts Put Their Orienteering Skills to the Test
Over the past term, both our Scout Troops have been hard at work earning their Orienteer Badge. The Scouts spent several evenings in the Hut mastering essential skills: understanding map symbols, setting a map, taking compass bearings, and using grid references. Safety while hiking and choosing appropriate clothing for different weather conditions were also key parts of their learning.
Of course, nothing beats putting these skills into practice! Recently, a group of Scouts took on the challenge of a 10-kilometre walk through the beautiful West Sussex countryside. With minimal assistance from their leaders, the Scouts successfully navigated their way home using the skills they had honed over the term.
As they trekked through the rolling hills and winding paths, the Scouts also worked towards their Creativity Badge — capturing the experience by taking most of the photographs accompanying this article.
Reflecting on the hike, the Scouts shared their thoughts: it was “tiring but fun,” “went on for miles and miles,” and was “good but hard in places.” One Scout humorously added that “it made their legs tired but was good.”
The outing was a resounding success, filled with good humour and team spirit. Both Scout Troops took part in this adventure, applying their mapping and compass skills developed during their HQ sessions and local practice walks. Starting at Rowfant and finishing at Tilgate Park, every Scout took a turn navigating a section of the route, building their confidence and leadership skills.
A big thank you to Cathryn and Corrie for leading the walk, and to Hayden for providing emergency cover and checking in on us at various points. We’re also grateful to the parents who joined and supported the Scouts along the way — your help was much appreciated.
Here’s to more adventures and new skills for our Scouts!