Activities Scouting is full of fun, adventure and friendship. As Bear Grylls, Chief Scout says ... ​ "Two things matter in life: following your dreams and looking after your friends.” Our Scout Group is made up of a Beaver Colony, two Cub Packs, a Scout Troop and a active group of Young Leaders. The sections are run by teams of volunteer leaders and helpers who design a programme of exciting weekly activities that build skills, friendships and confidence. There’s also opportunities to join in weekend activities – like District Beaver Fun days, the Devon County Cub Challenge and the Regional Scout Cooking competition. We aim to offer all our youngsters the chance to take part in overnight stays at least once a year. For Beavers this might mean a sleepover in the Scout Centre and for Cubs a 2 or 3 night camp in The Field or other Scout facility in the County. Scouts are regular campers and also make visits to the Boy's Brigade facility at Hay Tor on Dartmoor. Our Young Leaders are encouraged to plan their own camping expeditions both near to home and further afield. Here's a brief look at some of the activities at Scouts. Climbing Our Scout Centre has a two storey indoor climbing wall. Youngsters get regular opportunities to use the wall during their weekly section meetings and at extra activity days and camps. Almost anyone can climb – you don’t need to be super fit! Good technique is more important than physical strength and our qualified instructors help youngsters to gain skill and confidence on the wall. Climbing is a very social activity – you’re never alone on the wall, and over time it can help develop concentration, determination and problem-solving. Shooting The upstairs room in the Centre is designed to be used as an indoor air rifle range. Target shooting is an international sport and many of our top shooting athletes, including Olympic participants, started their shooting careers in Scouting. Our nationally qualified instructors offer youngsters the opportunity to test out their marksmanship skills - the ability to repeatedly place shots in as small an area as possible on a target. This requires a certain degree of physical skill but it is primarily a mental sport -being able to focus and concentrate in the present moment on the task in hand. Youngsters also learn how to operate in a calm and disciplined manner – they learn how to manage a risky activity safely. Archery Evidence of archery goes back 50,000 years and has its origins in hunting food and defending yourself! However, in scouting today we like to offer it as an exciting and rewarding activity that enables young people to develop a wide range of useful skills. They develop the hand-eye coordination to aim, it builds physical strength as they become better able to control their bow, and they need patience to practice and focus to shut out distractions. Archery sessions are always run as a group so young people learn to take turns and to support each other. They develop confidence as their skills improve. Best of all anyone can do it. Kit can be adapted to enable people with disabilities to enjoy the sport too. We offer archery as an activity within our regular weekly meetings and at special weekend activity days and camps. Camp Craft Why do Scouts like camping? Because it gives us all the chance to learn how to take responsibility- to stay warm and dry and safe and not hungry. This is not trivial, and it requires a great deal of teamwork and individual strength of character to achieve. Scouting is one of many good organisations for young people. But camping is what makes scouting great! So in Sid Vale we aim to offer all our youngsters the chance to camp at least once a year. We like to make the most of the amazing camping facilities we have: a wonderful flat field, surrounded by woodland, off the beaten track. We aim to teach youngsters camp craft skills - tents, fires, knife skills, knots, cooking, map reading and so on - during our weekly meetings and then to make the most of them during camps either at our own base or further afield. Sharing the camping chores, having fun together and enjoying each others company – the bedrocks of scouting and an opportunity to learn skills for life.

Ian Fletcher Explorers Explorers Hi I'm Ian, I’m a cyber security consultant working for NHS Digital. I’m married with 3 children and as a family we are all involved in scouting one way or another! We moved down to Sidmouth in 2010 and, wanting to get involved in the community, immediately looked at joining the Scout Group. As well as finding working with young people really rewarding (I was a Cub Leader before moving to the Explorer section), it is great to be involved with a charity that makes such a difference to young people and the community! Contact me Not available This page was last updated ​

Yes! Adventure is for everyone. Scouts only exists because you make it happen. We know how important it is having easy access to all the information and guidance you need. Whatever your role, we want to empower and support you as much as we can. Scouts helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Scouts develop skills including teamwork, time management, leadership, initiative, planning, communication, self-motivation, cultural awareness and commitment. We help young people to get jobs, save lives and even change the world. You can volunteer and help in many ways; you don’t have to be a regular Bear Grylls. You might have first aid knowledge that you could teach the group, or you might be able to teach our Scouts a thing or two about DIY. If you’re good with accounts you could be Group treasurer, or if you’re a culinary whizz you could run cooking sessions with the young people. Everyone has a skill (whether you know it or not) and we can make use of it. There’s no pressure to continue as a helper or leader afterwards, but hopefully we’ll be able to inspire you by showing how easy and rewarding it can be to volunteer with Scouts. Thinking about volunteering? All of our leaders are trained volunteers, working to make sure Scouting is safe, inclusive and accessible. Some lead a section week in and week out. Others visit occasionally to help run a session or drop in to share their skills. Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds and with a variety of skills. Some of our volunteers have been in scouting for many years, others for just a few months (or weeks!) They either commit to a few hours a week or just give time to help at our events. ​ These are just a few of things that you could become involved in if you became a volunteer: Running our Regular meetings Scouting is becoming more and more popular. We have waiting lists for all our sections and are currently looking for some new adult helpers to support the group as it grows. Fundraising events for our group We fundraise in many different ways, through jumble sale, fetes, family nights such as Ceilidhs and skittle evenings. Car boot sales, fashion shows, sponsored walks etc. At present we have 3 main committees. General Scout Committee Who address such matters as the new building, publicity and ensure the overall effectiveness of the group. Social Committee Who plan and co-ordinate our fundraising events. Fundraising Committee Who primarily look at grant making bodies and also make applications for grants from local and national charities. If you would like to come along and meet us, or find out more about becoming a volunteer we would love to hear from you. Contact us

Top Our Sections Beavers 6 to 8 Discover Cubs 8 to 10 and a half Discover Scouts 10 and a half to 14 Discover Explorers 14 to 18 Discover All our Sections are open to boys and girls and meet weekly in term time.

Nancy Craven Group Skills Instructor Training I've been involved in scouting since childhood. I was a Brownie and a Guide. Then aged 15, myself and 4 friends were the first girls to join our local Venture Troop! I had a wonderful 3 years with them and gained the Queen Scout Award. My daughters were Beavers and Cubs in London and when we moved to Devon in 2007 I decided to become a volunteer - to support them and the Sid Vale Scout Group. I started as a Cub Leader and then became Group Scout Leader in 2012. I love being involved in scouting because it offers young people a way of gaining from and contributing to, the community in which they live. Scouting volunteers are generous, warm, fun-filled people who do their bit for others. Scouting offers lots of fun and a place to develop lifelong skills and attributes. Contact me Nancy.Craven@devonscouts.org.uk This page was last updated ​

Ben Ardley Team Lead Communications Team Hello, I'm Ben and this is my personal Bio. Contact me Ben.Ardley@devonscouts.org.uk This page was last updated ​

Brian Manwaring Active Scout Volunteer Supporter ​ Contact me Not available This page was last updated ​

Vikki Snowball Section Leader Cubs Hi I am Akela for the Wolf Pack, I first joined as a helper when my son was a Cub, he is now a bit bigger. I am the leader with the crazy ideas who loves to plan camps and activity days. The organisation comes from my day job in Administration, I love creating activities that are full of fun. As all the leaders will tell you once you join you never seem to leave, this is due to the fun I have had and the amazing leader team we have at 1st SidVale. The adventures we get to be a part of with the Cubs are so much fun and I love seeing the Cubs grow and achieve, although I do get sad when they move to Scouts! I am sure I will be here for a while yet as there is a few years of crazy fun ideas in me yet. Contact me ​ This page was last updated ​

Our Team ​ ​ ​ about me ​ ​ ​ about me ​ ​ ​ about me ​ ​ ​ about me Team Lead Ben Ardley Hello, I'm Ben and this is my short Bio. about me Group Skills Instructor Nancy Craven I love being involved in scouting because it offers young people a way of gaining from and contributing to, the community in which they live. about me Section Leader Sarah Fletcher Sarah has been a Beaver leader since 2015 when her youngest was in Beavers and has continued because she loves it so much! about me Explorers Ian Fletcher Hi I'm Ian, I’m a cyber security consultant working for NHS Digital. I’m married with 3 children and as a family we are all involved in scouting one way or another! We moved down to Sidmouth in 2010 and, wanting to get involved in the community, immediately looked at joining the Scout Group. As well as finding working with young people really rewarding (I was a Cub Leader before moving to the Explorer section), it is great to be involved with a charity that makes such a difference to young people and the community! about me Section Leader Chris Hodgson I believe wholeheartedly in the ethos and values of scouting, I love the great outdoors! about me Group Chairman Gareth Hughes I enjoy being involved with 1st Sid Vale Scout group; there’s always lots going on. It’s great place to meet people and to see young people try new adventures. about me Active Scout Volunteer Brian Manwaring ​ about me Section Leader Vikki Snowball Hi I am Akela for the Wolf Pack, I first joined as a helper when my son was a Cub, he is now a bit bigger. I am the leader with the crazy ideas who loves to plan camps and activity days. The organisation comes from my day job in Administration, I love creating activities that are full of fun. As all the leaders will tell you once you join you never seem to leave, this is due to the fun I have had and the amazing leader team we have at 1st SidVale. The adventures we get to be a part of with the Cubs are so much fun and I love seeing the Cubs grow and achieve, although I do get sad when they move to Scouts! I am sure I will be here for a while yet as there is a few years of crazy fun ideas in me yet. about me

Sarah Fletcher Section Leader Beavers Sarah has been a Beaver leader since 2015 when her youngest was in Beavers and has continued because she loves it so much! Sarah was a girl guide in her early years and was lucky enough to experience many opportunities that Guiding provided - she has since converted to scouts and loves being part of the 1st Sid Vale group. She loves planning lots of activities and hopes that Beavers gives the children a good start to their scouting experience with 1st Sid Vale Scout group. Contact me Not available This page was last updated ​

Simon Snowball (Snowy) Section Leader Cubs I am Shere Khan, the Cub leaders have Jungle Book names, I first joined when my son was a Cub (now a Scout) as a helper and as many will tell you once you join you never leave. I am a building site manager but have other skills I enjoy teaching the Cubs and I am known as the leader who cooks the BBQ and loves doing the backwoods cooking. As a leader for 1st SidVale I am very lucky with the resources and leader team we have. The Cub section is fun and full of adventure, meaning that I get to have as much fun as the young people. Contact me ​ This page was last updated ​

Vikki Snowball Hi I am Akela for the Wolf Pack, I first joined as a helper when my son was a Cub, he is now a bit bigger. I am the leader with the crazy ideas who loves to plan camps and activity days. The organisation comes from my day job in Administration, I love creating activities that are full of fun. As all the leaders will tell you once you join you never seem to leave, this is due to the fun I have had and the amazing leader team we have at 1st SidVale. The adventures we get to be a part of with the Cubs are so much fun and I love seeing the Cubs grow and achieve, although I do get sad when they move to Scouts! I am sure I will be here for a while yet as there is a few years of crazy fun ideas in me yet. Close