The weather was surprisingly warm, which was a great start to the weekend. We arrived nice and early which gave us time to set up and socialise with county Scouting friends. The checkpoints were challenging but a lot of fun, and navigation didn’t cause us too many problems thanks to the wonderful navigation skills of Jonny!

Some checkpoints, like aiming water bombs at targets, and trying to build a free-standing bridge out of logs, were almost impossible. However others were more depending on chance, such as playing the higher or lower card game, and we actually did really well on these! After an exciting evening round the dark woods we headed back to the tents for a night of lots of chatting, eating and very little sleep!

In the morning we had our cooked breakfast (some a lot later than others!) and made our way down to the presentation, where we had rather a surprise! WE WON!!! Not sure how, but we did! So after that bombshell we made our way home, having had an awesome weekend.

Winter on the Hills 2008

'Slammin!' that was the first reaction to the question of what did you think of Humberside Scouts Winter On The Hills 2008 in the Hornsea Explorer Room. Closely followed by awesome, fantastic and a lot of 'woooo!'s.

The weekend was described as 'the best scouting event I've been on and everyone definetely enjoyed themselves. The snow was 'etremely cold!' but making snow angels, having snowball fights, sliding down hills and of course falling over improved the fun of the weekend. Can we book the snow for next year please? One suggestion was to create another winter on the hills in the summer! Twice the fun!

The Mountain Rescue visited us on the Sunday to assist with training and this was enjoyed by all - inclusing the casualties. All in all a brilliant time was had by all who attended this activity. The Hornsea Explorers would just like to say a hugh thank you to the organising team at Humberside Scouts.

Written by Hornsea Explorer Scouts

Viewpoints of current explorer scouts in the Hornsea section

"I enjoy coming to Explorers each week, and helping with the Scouts", Joe.

"I enjoyed camp last year as I did my kayaking and had to capsize, I found this a bit challenging as I don't like capsizing but I still did it", Heather.

"I really enjoyed this year as an Explorer!! I got selected by District to go to the 2007, World Jamboree to celebrate 100 years of Scouting. Which I am thoroughly looking forward to! It will be challenging but enjoyable", Hannah.

"I have done lots of things with Explorers; one of the most challenging was the fells marathon last year. I was in a team of very fast walkers who wanted very much to win and I used up all my energy keeping up with them as the pictures show!", Stephen.

"I haven’t been an explorer for a very long time, but when I first started I was thrown into the deep end, and went on ‘challenge camp’, this was a big challenge for me as I had never camped before this time, but we did ourselves proud and since then I have gone onto go on ‘winter on the hills’ and hope to do much more before I’m too old to be an Explorer any more", Steph.

“We’ve been Explorers for two years now, but over the last year we’ve faced an awful lot of challenges, surprising everyone, including ourselves!” Louisa and Carys.

"I found the 23 mile walk challenging but I did it in the end and I was ok. The hills were the most challenging part of the walk but I was ok by the end.” Graeme

“Explorers is challenging and very helpful, but the most challenging thing for me was having to sail alone with no breeze! I enjoy Explorers because of the social aspect.”

“Two things I found challenging at Explorers this year were the fells marathon and the levisham limp. At the end of the 23 mile hike I felt happy and proud but also relieved that it was all over and I could collapse in a heap." Becky

“I found the fells walk very challenging, due to the length of the walk, and we got lost but worked as a team and managed to complete the walk, and then we were closer as a team, we were ok after yet a bit tired." Tom

“One of the best things I have done with Explorers was the Hornsea Carnival Raft Race 2004. Charging headlong into the North Sea in the middle of May is certainly one of the maddest things I’ve ever done. The best bit was when we capsized, the whole raft flipped over, throwing all of us into the water and my sailor’s hat stayed on my head!” Rachel

"I found the fells marathon last year very challenging, especially when we got lost for ages! But we made it in the end and had loads of fun on the way. I’ve really enjoyed Explorers this year and I'm looking forward to a fantastic camp this year.” Mark

"Since I joined the Explorer Scout Group there has been many challenges for me, I have done sailing on my own. I have enjoyed Explorers this year because I have met new people and have tried new things such as water sports and outdoor cooking.”

We've been Explorers for two years now, but over the last year we've faced an awful lot of challenges, surprising everyone, including ourselves! It all started with Longridge 2005 when we completed the one star kayaking course, which involved us capsizing! We did not think we had the nerve to do it, but after a lot of deep breaths we managed it and passed our one star!

Our next achievement was the challenge hike, some of us found the 18 mile walk harder than others, but we eventually finished it, although not with the fastest time! Only one of us went white water rafting and managed to spend the whole day without the other, quite an achievement in itself and she lived to tell the tale!

It has been a challenging year but we have made lots of new friends and wouldn't change it for the world". Louisa and Carys

If you would like to join the Hornsea Explorer Scouts email us or visit us at our weekly sessions on a Thursday evening at the Scout Headquarters from 7.30p.m. until 10.00p.m.