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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
Weybridge 5k, 10k & Half Marathon
Today we were out helping runners stay hydrated at the Weybridge 5k, 10k & Half Marathon. We take great pride in taking part in these community events and thank the organisers for inviting us. Well done to all the runners!! More photos from the event can be found here: photos.runthrough.co.uk/galleries/weybridge-5k-10k-and-half-marathon-june-2025
Scout, Senior and Rover Summer Camps
We are excited to announce the following summer camps, we will update everyone with more information as we get closer to the events: Scout and Senior Summer Camp 27th July – 1st August 2025 This year, our Scouts and Seniors will head to Nantmor Mountain Centre to partake in some hiking around Snowdonia National Park. […]
Skip Johnson Challenge Hike 2025
Four members of 1st Blackwater Valley entered as a team for this year’s event alongside Scouts from Hungary, the Scout Association, and 1st Mortimer, a fellow independent Scout Group. Peter Johnson, and ex Royal Marine, was the GSM of 1st Mortimer for over 50 years and he was a co-founder of the BPSA. He and his wife […]
Goodbye Canvas Store
While it is essential to maintain our group in the present, it is also vital to build it for the future. This weekend, some of our leaders were removing our old canvas store, which was beyond repair. To prevent mould, our canvas must be stored in a clean and dry environment. Sadly, over the many […]
Punchbowl Marathon 2025
Last weekend we had a small group of members take on the Punchbowl 20 mile marathon, which they successfully completed in 6 hours and 56 minutes. It covers some challenging terrain and beautiful scenery.
Christmas Fair 2024
A great big thank you to all who attended our Christmas fair last weekend, and we raised just under £500, which was fantastic. Don’t forget our quiz night is approaching on the 7th of December and it is not too late to submit your team by getting in touch here.
Hut Maintenance Weeked Two
Further to our decision to maintain the hut we have, our work on the rear wall entered its second weekend and is now finished. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come down and help.
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!
Section Updates
Seniors: Using their loaf!
Our seniors put their baking skills to the test and made some bread. One of our leaders lent them a coalman’s oven which fits handily over one of our coalman’s cookers. They made some great loaves, which were delicious with butter and syrup!
Scouts: E1/E2 Hike
We would like to congratulate our scouts for a great hike around E1/E2 this evening. We even found a landmark we had never visited before! It is a bridge under a railway line.
Seniors: Master Cook Badge
This week our seniors undertook their Master Cooks badge. Their menu: Starter – lamb sausage shakshuka Main – beef and multi-bean chilli with pasta Dessert – Camp doughnuts Congratulations on a fantastic evening of food!
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!
How to support us
If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider giving Gift Aid via our Gift Aid page.
Join our easyfundraising cause by clicking the banner below:
And you can play our Guildford lottery here.