2024: A Successful Year for 2nd Ifield Scout Group

The Group has celebrated another outstanding year of growth, activities, and achievements, continuing to instil “skills for life” in its members.

The year began with the launch of Squirrel Dreys, offering scouting opportunities to children aged 4 to 6 years. This initiative has boosted membership and enabled more young people to benefit from the enriching experiences scouting offers.

Diverse Activities and Skills Development

Throughout 2024, the group provided an impressive array of activities tailored to different age groups, nurturing both life skills and personal growth. Highlights of the year included:

• Circus Skills
• Basic First Aid
• Disability Awareness
• Map Reading
• Fire Station Visits
• Rail Safety
• Rafting and Orienteering
• Fundraising for RNLI
• Celebrations such as the King’s Birthday and Mothering Sunday
• International experiences and cultural explorations

The Scouts also participated in community events such as the May Day Fayre, where they braved the rain to build a rope bridge and escort the May Queen, one of the group’s young leaders. For Remembrance Sunday, the Scouts created a field of poppies at St. Margaret’s Church and joined the community for the Act of Remembrance.

Year-Round Adventures

Beyond weekly meetings, the group offered monthly shooting sessions, popular community climbing events on their own climbing wall, and regular paddlesport sessions for older members.

Camping remained a cornerstone of the Scouting experience. All sections participated in nights away, with memorable highlights such as:

• Squirrel Dreys’ first sleepover at the Scout HQ
• Beaver camps in the North Downs
• Cub adventures in Ashdown Forest and Hastings
• Scouts spending a week on the Isle of Wight
• Explorer Scouts traveling to Sweden for a two-week expedition exploring both wilderness and urban settings

Outstanding Achievements

The achievements of the group’s young people in 2024 were remarkable. Many earned prestigious awards, with the young people achieving their top awards, with the members working hard on a variety of challenges, activities and developing scouting skills. The Explorer Scouts also worked hard completing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

• 1 Acorn Chief Scout Award
• 11 Bronze Chief Scout Award
• 4 Silver Chief Scout Award
• 7 Gold Chief Scout Award
• 3Platinum Chief Scout Award
• 1 Diamond Chief Scout Award
• 3 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award
• 2 Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award
• 3 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award

These milestones reflect the hard work and dedication of the group’s members.

A Thank You to Volunteers

The success of 2024 was made possible by the dedication of the group’s volunteers. From occasional helpers and trustees to those running weekly meetings, every volunteer played a crucial role in guiding young people through their Scouting journey.

Looking Ahead

As the group prepares for another full year of activities and camps in 2025, they are extending an invitation to new volunteers to join the team. No prior experience is necessary, as full support and training will be provided.

To find out more about volunteering or joining the 2nd Ifield Scout Group, please contact: [email protected]