TYING tricky knots, toasting marshmallows against the warmth of giant bonfires and camping under the stars with friends are often considered nostalgic memories of the past.
But for adventurous boys and girls in Ince and Elton the days of camping in the outdoors and exploring with their friends are very much alive after a village Scout troop was set up to inject a sense of ‘team work’ and ‘adventurous spirit’ back into the community.
Since the 1st Ince and Elton Scout Troop was formed almost two years ago, children across the villages have spent their evenings and weekends running, camping, orienteering, hiking and rowing across the region while making friends both close to home and across the country.
Now as the Scout troop continues to go from strength to strength, with 10 to 14-year-olds queuing up to join the adventurous pack, the youngsters are preparing to trek almost 30 miles through countryside as they take part in this year’s Cheshire Hike.
On Saturday, March 31, the 14 school boys and girls will pick up their packs and join Scout groups from across Cheshire, including packs from neighbouring Frodsham and Helsby, to take part in the two day challenge which will see them camping over night and carrying all their food, drink and bedding on their backs.
Scout leader Vicki Serena, who lives in Elton and runs the troop with three other leaders, said that the 11-year-olds would be tackling a challenge which will be harder than the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenges.
“The Scouts have to walk miles on the Saturday before camping over night and cooking their own hot food which they will carry on their backs,” said Vicki who originally formed the Scout group in 2010 because the Elton Cub pack had nowhere to meet and youngsters were having to travel to Frodsham to join the Scouts.
“A lot of the members were dropping out of scouting because they were having to travel to Frodsham so we decided to form another group.
“We only formed 18 months ago but we are going from strength to strength, we had eight Scouts when we started and in the space of a year those numbers have doubled.”
Vicki said that the scouts, who meet every Friday evening at their HQ building on School Lane, Elton, enjoy getting involved in the community helping out with bulb planting for the parish council and even trying to rally up patriotic spirit in time for the massive Jubilee celebrations in the village.
She said that the scouting movement in the village has been going from strength to strength over the years with the 1st Ince and Elton Scout Group, which is made up of a Beaver Colony, a Cub Pack and a Scout Troop, growing in size for the sixth year in a row.
“Scouting is about being adventurous, making friends and having fun, it is great to see the youngsters in the community coming together and having fun,” said Vicki.
“This is the second year we have taken part in the hike, it is really fun but a really tough challenge for the 11-year-olds. But we will be there waving them on every step of the way,” she added.
Source: Chester Chronicle
