Welcome to our group!
scouting since 1994
1st Blackwater Valley is a traditional Scout Group serving the Ash Vale and Mytchett area since 1994, now over 25 years old (more than a quarter of a century!). We meet at Carrington Lane Recreation ground. You can find us on What3Words(wasp.poppy.stops), or Google Maps.
Today we have leaders who were Beavers in our group (see Leaders) and over that twenty-five years we have acquired a Scout Hut in 2003 which we are now looking to re-new (see Our Scout Hut).
We are proud owners of a minibus named “Long John Silver” and a trek cart (see Vehicles), all of which allows our sections to decide whether they want to do something, rather than ask, “can we?” We also used to own a large red coach named “Mildred” but sadly, in 2024 we had to make the difficult decision to sell her because of the cost of operating and maintaining.
News
Remembrance Sunday
Last Sunday, our group attended the Remembrance Parade in Ash. It is sobering to remember all those locally who have lost their life in war. Thank you to all in our group who attended this special occasion.
Hut Maintenance Weekend
On Saturday, the 26th of October, we started the process of replacing the exterior walls of our Scout Hut. Three unsuccessful applications for a grant to replace our Scout Hut with a new building have reassured us we need to refurbish what we already own. A fourteen-hour session by group leaders succeeded in repairing the floor […]
Quiz Night – 7th December
We will hold another quiz night at our Scout hut with food and refreshments. Please save the date as more details are to follow!
Christmas Fair 2024 – 23rd November
Our Christmas Fair returns with lots of prizes to be won and Santa to visit! Please drop in on Saturday 23rd November 10am-12!
Farewell Mildred
It is with a heavy heart that the group has sold our beloved Bedford coach, Mildred. After several turbulent years, the group has to continually adapt in order to keep providing excellent scouting opportunities for our children. Mildred has been a massive part of that mission over the years, allowing our sections to travel whenever […]
Quiz Night 15th June
Saturday 15th June 19:00 At our scout hut. Our next quiz is fast approaching, so please book your teams now. The teams can comprise any number and participants have to be over 14 years of age. The price of the ticket is £8 per person and £6 for under 16s. This includes a challenging quiz […]
New Leader Training Weekend
25th & 26th May 2024 One of the greatest assets of our group is that most of our current leaders were also once our beavers! This weekend was an excellent training experience for our new leaders and comprised many of the basic scouting skills. To see our young leaders develop and build the foundation for […]
Skip Johnson Memorial Hike 2024
Our group took part in the second Skip Johnson Memorial Hike at Mortimer Scout HQ. It was a difficult hike but fortunately, the rain held off! Well done to all who took part and made it an amazing event.
Quiz Night Success!
A big thank you to all of those who attended on Saturday and made it such an enjoyable event. A special thanks to Darren (our Cub Master) for organizing the quiz on Saturday and also to Mike (Trustee) who helped on the catering front. When all the money is in we will have made a […]
Quiz Night Saturday 9th March 2024
Quiz Night Saturday 9th March – 19:30 for a 20:00 start. Ash Football Club, Shawfield Rd, Ash, Aldershot GU12 6RB We are excited to announce the return of our in person quiz night! Tickets are £8.50 per person and include a ploughman’s supper. Teams of up to a maximum of 8 but there is no […]
Section Updates
Beavers: Poppy Making
This week our beavers were busy making poppies for Remembrance Sunday, out of the bottoms of plastic bottles of all things! A bit of paint and they look fantastic. They then distributed them around the local area for people to find and take home.
Seniors: Survival Camp
This weekend our seniors planned a survival hike as part of their Bushman’s thong award. It involved a four mile hike and very little in the way of kit! It was a fantastic weekend for all.
Beavers: Firework Safety
This week our beavers were learning how to have a safe and enjoyable bonfire night, including the basics of using sparklers. And toasting marshmallows of course!
Seniors: Wood Store Update
This week our seniors starting stacking our new wood store ready for the winter.
Scouts: Cooking Night
This week our scouts cooked up a treat, homemade sausage rolls! However, we don’t have an oven in our scout hut so they had to find an ingenious way to achieve their baking. Who knew you can turn a coalman’s stove into an oven? They were, of course, absolutely delicious!
Beavers & Cubs: Hama Beads
This week our beavers and cubs were exploring their artistic side by experimenting with Hama beads. These beads you can iron after arranging to permanently connect them into any sort of shape or design.
Seniors: Wood Store
Second week back and our seniors are already pressing on with this term’s activities! For many years, we have wanted our own wood store so we can keep the firewood for the group nice and dry. Tonight, we have laid the foundations for something great. Check back for more updates as the project progresses!
Beavers: Birthday Wall
The beavers have been very busy making a new board we can track birthdays on (as we are good at forgetting!). Each month of the year is on a different British native leaf and we all make a cut-out of ourselves to go around too!
Beavers: Fruit & Veg
Last term, our beavers planted a mix of fruit and veg plants. The ‘fruits’ of their labour are now paying off with some wonderful tomatoes, gorgeous strawberries and some very shy carrots. For a year where the garden hasn’t done particularly well with the weird weather patterns, I think our beavers have excelled!
Beavers & Cubs: Flower Festival
Our Beavers and Cubs have worked extremely hard on their display for St Mark’s Flower Festival, which runs 31st May to 3rd June 10am – 4pm daily. Well done to all involved for such amazing work!
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