The weekend of 7-9th October 2011 was the annual Durham Scout County Confido camp for Scouts and Explorer Scouts. This year there was a theme of ‘inferno’ and there were four members of Blaydon’s Phoenix Explorer Scout Unit, 12 Scouts from Crawcrook Scout Troop and 15 Scouts from 1st Winlaton Scout Troop in attendance.
Tired, muddy and happy describes Confido 2011 – and that was just the Leaders. Despite rain from Saturday lunch time until breakfast on Sunday no-one spirit’s were dampened with over 50 activities to take part in during …

The annual Thunderbird competition was once again a great success, with seven teams taking part from the five Scout Troops in Blaydon District. This year was the usual mix of walking and navigation on the Saturday and Sunday, with more than 30 incidents at various check points at an overnight light weight camp, with marks being awarded for camping standards, dinner and breakfast and for various challenges and entertainment in the Saturday evening.
Held in and around Blanchland, the competition is now in its 47th year and is a firm favourite …

On Saturday 18th June, Scouts from all over Blaydon District landed at Dilston Camp Site for the Kirby Shield. The competition is a traditional patrol based camp, sleeping in patrol tents, cooking on stoves and making camp gadgets. The day started with the Scouts having to pitch their tents and set up the rest of their camp. Some notable things were dining shelters, flags and interesting gadgets to make the camping experience easier. Although the weather wasn’t the best, the Scouts really enjoyed them selves and had a great time …

Last weekend, three members of 1st Chopwell Scout Group represented Blaydon District in the Durham County Vaux first aid competition. Our team was joined by another member from another District to ensure that all the teams had an equal number of people. Although our team didn’t win, they did come in a very respectable fourth place. Next years team will be entered depending on the result from our very own District first aid competition.

On a wet and gloomy Sunday morning, Scouts from all over Blaydon gathered in the Blanchland area for their annual first aid competition. This year 4 teams entered, all to showcase their best first aid skills. As with previous years the Scouts were sent round a route with checkpoints at different intervals. At each of these checkpoints there were a number of first aid activities and challenges from broken bones, to cuts and grazes, carries and lifts, hyperthermia and many more. Teams were marked based on leadership, team work, diagnostic, and …

A big congratulations goes out to all the participants who took part in Thunderbird this year. An even bigger congratulations goes out to those teams and people who wona trophy. This year’s Thunderbird trophy was one by ‘Cha Cha Chips’ from 1st Winlaton Scout Group. The crazy bird trophy was won by ‘Ace of Cakes’ from 1st Chopwell Scout Group. The Joe Stobbard trophy was jointly awarded to both Jess & Ben who both demonstrated a good attitude through out the weekend.
Members took part in many different activities this year from pitching a …