Pro-Badge Scout Training Scheme

28 Apr 2025

Gone Home - Les "Yeti" Farrington

The funeral for Les Farrington / Yeti will take place at 1pm on the 7th May at Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Green, Haslar Road, PO12 1HL.

This will be followed by a celebration of his life at Lyons Copse. There will be a memorial book available on the day to share a favourite memory of Les or a picture.

For those that do, please wear uniform to the service.

16 Apr 2025

News from the April weekend - Chef and Backwoods Cooking for Cub Scouts, Camper badge for Scouts

The last weekend of the 2024-2025 Pro-Badge Training Scheme season took place last weekend. We ran the Chef and Backwoods Cooking badges for Cub Scouts along with the Camper badge for Scouts.

The Camper course had two patrols camping and the Scouts spent Friday evening putting up tents and arranging their sites. On Saturday, they learnt about site layouts, how to look after their kit and equipment, followed by making gadgets. They then cooked their dinner over an open fire and breakfast on gas stoves, these were both from a menu they had planned. This was followed by striking camp and returning all the equipment clean and tidy.

The Chef and Backwoods Cooking courses for the Cubs saw them achieve two badges. Cubs were divided into two groups, one successfully cooked on a trench fire for lunch for the Backwoods cooking badge and then for the Chef Badge cooking a chicken dinner on gas. The other group also successfully cooked a meal on gas and over the fire but the other way round. They of course also had instruction on hygiene as well as preparing the food (cutting and peeling) and clearing up afterwards. On the Sunday morning, they completed the theory and hygiene parts of the badge, as well as doing some fire lighting and cooking some dough twists.

Gone Home - Les "Yeti" Farrington

Les Farrington / Yeti passed away in the early hours on Sunday 13th April.

For those who did not know Yeti, he founded Pro-Badge in 1989 and went on to lead the scheme for twenty-one years, retiring when Scissors took over in 2012. He has produced a great legacy in Pro-Badge which is now thirty-six years old. Many thousands of young people have benefitted from his vision of introducing training for Cubs and Scouts at the Solent Scout Training Centre, Lyons Copse. It is comforting to think of him passing while Pro-Badge courses were being held at Lyons Copse, continuing his legacy.

Below is a picture taken at Lyons Copse on the morning of the 13th April as the sun came up.

Next Season 2025 - 2026

We have set the dates and badges for our next season starting in October 2025. Please check as some of the Scout badges have changed weekend. In February we are adding the space badge for Cubs as the Astronomer badge has been discontinued.

The table below shows what we are running when.  

Dates	Cub Scouts	Scouts	Explorer Scouts
October 24-26	Our Adventure Challenge	Pioneer	Pioneer
November 21-23	Navigator Stage 2	Chef or Expedition Challenge 1st Weekend
January 23-25	Pioneer	Forester
February 20-22	Scientist and Space (New badge)	Navigator Stage 3
March TBA		Expedition Challenge 2nd Weekend
April 17-19	Chef and Backwoods Cooking	Camper

Unfortunately, we are going to have to increase our fees by £2.00. This is due to the camp site putting up the fees they charge us. As I am sure you are aware energy costs have gone up over the last year along with many other things. This means for Cubs it will cost £52. This will be reduced to £47.00 if paid in full to Pro-Badge at least two weeks before the start of the course and for Scouts it will cost £47.00. This will be reduced to £42.00 if paid in full to Pro-Badge at least two weeks before the start of the course. The difference in price is because Pines Cabin is cheaper to hire than Lyons Lodge.

We are accepting bookings now however forms and information will not be emailed out until September.

Annual Review

This year the annual review will take place on the 23rd October 2025. It will be held in Lyons Lodge at Lyons Copse at 7pm. This is where we present our prizes and awards as well as enabling you to ask us any questions about what we do and why we do it. We will also be putting any names of Scouts who have completed all the courses on our board which is permanently mounted on the wall in Lyons Lodge. You are all invited.

LOST & FOUND

Did your Cub Scout / Scout / Explorer Scout / Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them? We currently have unclaimed:

• Black Decathlon holdall & inflatable pillow
• Green towel [Dylan Ainsley]
• Silver torch with red, blue & white lights
• Black Adidas trainers (size 4.5)
• One grey woolly glove
• Waitrose bag containing - Black Shoezone wellies (size 2) - brand new
• yellow plate, bowl, cup, KFS - black/orange washbag
• Green T-shirt (small)
• Black Mountain Warehouse trousers (9-10 years)
• Wash bag [Alexander Barron]
• Blue Decathlon waterproof trousers (small)
• Grey Decathlon 3 in 1 jacket (small?)
• Black gloves [AK]
• Black Nike woolly gloves
• Waterproofs [Arthur Lockwood]
• Grey Gelert boots (size 3)
• Grey Karrimor boots (size 5.5)
• Black Minecraft trainers (size ?? small)
• Black Karrimor boots (size 9)
• Black torch [Ella Frame]
• Black TU fleece gloves (One size)
• Pack of Uno cards
• Blue Regatta waterproof trousers bag (11-12 years) - bag only!!
• Blue empty Laundry pouch
• Black Pokemon gloves (very small)

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please e-mail our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

At the end of June 2025 any lost property left at Pro-Badge is disposed of.

Help Needed

We rely on volunteers to enable the badge to run, you do not need to commit to a whole weekend a few hours or a day can help us immensely. You do not need any skills as we can train you. We are just looking for keen enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to volunteer or know more information about these or any volunteer opportunities, please email the team and we can arrange to meet up.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website or email me.

Stay Safe

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader

13 Apr 2025

Gone Home - Les "Yeti" Farrington

We are very sad to announce that Les "Yeti" Farrington passed away over the weekend.

For those who did not know Yeti, he founded Pro-Badge in 1989 and went on to lead the scheme for twenty-one years, retiring when Scissors took over in 2012. He has produced a great legacy in Pro-Badge which is now thirty-six years old. Many thousands of young people have benefitted from his vision of introducing training for Cubs and Scouts at the Solent Scout Training Centre, Lyons Copse. It is comforting to think of him passing while Pro-Badge courses were being held at Lyons Copse, continuing his legacy.

We will publish further information as we get it.

17 Mar 2025

News from the Expedition Challenge weekend, next years' courses and Annual Review

Congratulations to the twelve Scouts who successfully completed the Expedition Challenge badge on the March weekend. It was a cold weekend with a heavy frost overnight; the Scouts had to take down ice-covered tents which led to many cold fingers.

The Scouts also gave their presentations on what they had learned or researched for their projects. The project and work done over the weekends all contributes to the Percy Pig award which is presented at our Annual Review in October.

We have three nominations for the Percy Pig award, so congratulations go to Niamh, Samuel, and George. They will all receive invitations to our Annual Review.

April weekend

In April we are running Chef and Backwoods Skills for Cubs and Camper for Scouts. The Camper badge is FULL and we have only one or two spaces left on the Cub Scout badge.

Next Season 2025-2026

We have set the dates and badges for our next season starting in October 2025. Please check as some of the Scout badges have changed weekend. In February we are adding the space badge for Cubs as the Astronomer badge has been discontinued.

The table below shows what we are running when.  

Dates	Cub Scouts	Scouts	Explorer Scouts
October 24-26	Our Adventure Challenge	Pioneer	Pioneer
November 21-23	Navigator Stage 2	Chef or Expedition Challenge 1st Weekend
January 23-25	Pioneer	Forester
February 20-22	Scientist and Space (New badge)	Navigator Stage 3
March TBA		Expedition Challenge 2nd Weekend
April 17-19	Chef and Backwoods Cooking	Camper

We rely on volunteers to help on all our courses if you are interested in helping, please contact me.

Annual Review

This year the annual review will take place on the 23rd October. It will be held in Lyons Lodge at Lyons Copse at 7pm. This is where we present our prizes and awards as well as enabling you to ask us any questions about what we do and why we do it. You are all invited to attend.

LOST & FOUND

Did your Cub/Scout/Explorer/Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We still have a lot of lost property left from the February weekend.

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any “extra” kit please e-mail our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

At the end of the season any lost property left at Pro-Badge is disposed of.

Staff Vacancies

If you would like to volunteer or know more information about this or any volunteer opportunities, please email the team and we can arrange to meet up.

Scissors/Clive Clark

Camp Leader
Scout Active Support Manager
Pro-badge Training Scheme
Email: clive.clark@hampshirescouts.org.uk.
Find us online at www.pro-badge.org.uk

27 Feb 2025

News from the February weekend

The February Pro-Badge weekend has just finished. We ran a new badge (for us), Astronomer badge alongside the Scientist badge for Cubs. The Cubs learnt about the solar system and different constellations. The Scientist badge allowed the Cubs to complete eighteen experiments in three different disciplines, reactions, interacting with energy and living things.

Navigator Stage 3 also took place over the weekend with all the Scouts going on a very muddy hike on the Saturday afternoon having previously planned the route and leant about six figure references, contours, and map symbols. The hike also qualifies as a hike away. The young people navigated the leaders round the route giving them the opportunity to get the leaders temporarily misplaced (we are never lost). The course involved learning about contours using the small mound at the back of Lyons Lodge, as well as lots of practise of Grid References, symbols and setting a map.

Next Course

On 11-13th April we are running both the Backwoods Cooking and Chef Badges for Cub Scouts. For Scouts we are running the Camper badge. The Scout Camper badge is full, but we have spaces on the Cub badges.

In April we are also running a Leader's Skills course, this is an opportunity for leaders to learn some practical skills. It is ideal for Scouters who are new to Scouting, but more experienced Scouters are also welcome to learn new skills or refresh their knowledge.

• Rope work - knots and lashings
• Fire lighting - properties of wood, types, lighting techniques
• Camping - tent pitching and site layouts
• Teaching Techniques - methods and aids
• Map and Compass - Grid references, map symbols, route cards and equipment
• Cooking - Fire and gas

This course does not lead to any formal qualification but should give each individual Leader the confidence to train your Cubs / Scouts / Explorers in the requirements of the progressive training programme, activity badges and carry out activities on camp safely.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website www.pro-badge.org.uk.

LOST & FOUND

Did your Cub Scout, Scout, Explorer or Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We are trying to match up this missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please e-mail our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

From the last weekend we have:

1. Green T-shirt (small)
2. Black Mountain Warehouse trousers (9-10 years)
3. Wash bag [Alexander Barron]
4. Blue Decathlon waterproof trousers (small)
5. Cubs beanie hat [Niamh Clinch]
6. Grey Decathlon 3 in 1 jacket (small?)
7. Black/grey hat [Dougie Godden]
8. Black Mountain Warehouse waterproofs [Dougie Godden]
9. Gloves, one red, one orange [Sesgwick]
10. Black gloves [AK]
11. Black Nike woolly gloves
12. Waterproofs [Arthur Lockwood]
13. Grey Gelert boots (size 3)
14. Grey Karrimor boots (size 5.5)
15. Black Minecraft trainers (size small)
16. Brown Peter Storm boots (size 3)
17. Black Karrimor boots (size 9)
18. Black torch [Ella Frame]
19. Black beanie hat [Joshua Nicholson]
20. Black TU fleece gloves (One size)
21. Pack of Uno cards
22. Blue Regatta waterproof trousers bag (11-12 years) - bag only!!
23. Black Pokemon gloves (very small) and
24. a blue empty Laundry pouch

We are also missing a black coat with a fleece inner lining

At the end of the season any lost property left at Pro-Badge is disposed of.

Staff Vacancies

If you would like to volunteer or know more information about this or any volunteer opportunities, please email the team and we can arrange to meet up.

Scissors/Clive Clark

Camp Leader
Scout Active Support Manager
Pro-badge Training Scheme
Email: clive.clark@hampshirescouts.org.uk.
Find us online at www.pro-badge.org.uk

27 Jan 2025

Astronomer Badge course added, and January weekend saw Forester for Scouts and Pioneer for Cub Scouts

Big news up front! Astronomer badge course in February!

Next month we're adding the Astronomer badge to the programme, see below for details.

News from the January weekend

We have just completed the January weekend of this season's Pro-Badge. The weekend started off very windy but was nice and dry on Saturday and then was very wet on Sunday from late morning and during the afternoon whilst we were packing up.

The Scouts took part in the Forester badge where they learnt about forest management, safety, and tree identification. The Scouts then spent all day Saturday in a local wood helping to maintain the site. They used axes, saws and loppers to maintain the existing trees, learning about coppicing and how to manage the trees including limbing and logging. They also had a demonstration of tree felling using a chainsaw. They kept warm by building a big fire from all the dead wood and Ivy they were clearing out. On the Sunday they completed the tree identification work, planted some seeds, and also planted some different types of trees. This was a full course which meant it was a busy weekend for the leaders running the course and as always we are looking for more help, please see below.

The Cubs on the Pioneer Course managed to build several projects including a ladder, a ball firing ballister and a platform in the trees. This gave them a good chance to put into practice the knots and lashings they had learnt. They also all made a piece of rope and a knot board.

I also enjoyed the Saturday evening entertainment with the theme of Burns Night which saw the Cubs and Scouts trying various activities, quizzes and having a supper of haggis and oatcakes.

Please have a look at our Facebook page for pictures from the weekend.

Next Course

Next month we are running Scientist for Cubs along with a new course for the Astronomer badge, and Navigator Stage 3 for both Cubs and Scouts. We have lots of spaces on both of these courses at present. This is the first time we have run the Astronomer badge and the second time for the Scientist, and we have lots of experiments lined up for the Cubs to complete.

(Note that the Scout Association are replacing "Astronomer" with "Space" at the end of June 2025, to apply for the Astronomer course please click here to send us an email.)

In April we are running Chef and Backwoods Cooking for Cubs (the Cubs do both courses) and Camper for Scouts, we have plenty of spaces on these courses as well at present.

In April we are also running a Leaders Skills course, this is an opportunity for Leaders to learn some practical skills. We will be covering camp sites, navigation, pioneering and some bushcraft skills including fire lighting and cooking on open fires. We will also try to answer any questions you may have. Please pass onto any Leaders who may benefit.

The table below shows what we are running when. Bookings are now open. To book please email me.

 

Dates	Cubs	Scouts	Explorers	Leaders
February 21-23	Scientist OR Navigator Stage 3 OR Astronomer	Navigator Stage 3
March TBA		Expedition Challenge 2nd Weekend COURSE FULL
April 11-13	Chef AND Backwoods Cooking	Camper		Leaders Skills

LOST & FOUND

Did your Cub, Scout, Explorer or Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please email our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

We have a pair of boots which came from the Forester course and a wash bag was also left behind by a Cub or Scout, please contact Andy on the email address above to reclaim them.

Help Needed

We rely on volunteers to enable the badge to run, you do not need to commit to a whole weekend - a few hours or a day can help us immensely. You do not need any skills as we can train you. We are just looking for keen enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to volunteer or know more information about any volunteer opportunities, please email the team then we can arrange to meet up and discuss what you would like to do.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website or email me.

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader

30 Nov 2024

November weekend saw Expedition Challenge and Chef for Scouts, Navigator Stage 2 for Cub Scouts

The second weekend of this Pro-Badge season saw us running three badges two for Scouts and one for Cubs.

The first weekend of the Expedition Challenge course took place which involved a lot of training involving map work, route planning, first aid and menu planning. The Saturday was spent completing a 15-kilometre hike where the group was accompanied by some leaders to check their navigation skills. The Scouts found the route challenging due to the very wet weather and some overgrown footpaths. The second weekend of this course is on the 15-16th March 2025 where they will be navigating on their own as part of the challenge.

The other badge for Scouts was the Chef badge. The Scouts learnt all about cooking, menu planning, hygiene and washing up. From their own menus they cooked their main meal of the day at lunchtime on the Saturday over an open fire. We had three different meals cooked and they all got to try each meal. They also cooked dinner on the Saturday along with breakfast on the Sunday which was cooked on gas.

We ran the Navigator Stage 2 badge for the Cub Scouts the activities included walks, orienteering around the site, 4 figure grid references, making their own maps, learning all about map symbols and making their own edible ones. Those Cub Scouts who have completed the Pro-Badge Navigator Stage 2 course or those who are over 9 years old can attend the Navigator Stage 3 badge course in February which expands on the knowledge gained on this course with an emphasis on map work and a hike on the Saturday afternoon where the Cub Scouts can get the leaders temporarily misplaced (lost).

Next Course

In January we are running the pioneer badge for the Cub Scouts, which will see the Cubs learning knots, lashings, making rope, a knotting board and taking part in some fun projects.

For the Scouts, we are running the Forester badge where the Scouts will spend time in the woods learning about planting trees, felling, coppicing and hedge laying, as well as how to identify the many different trees we have about.

The Forester badge is FULL, but we have lots of spaces on the Cub Pioneer badge.

Also, we currently have spaces on our February (21-23) and April (11-13) weekends. For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website www.pro-badge.org.uk.

In April we are also running our Scouters Skills Course, this is an opportunity for leaders to learn some practical skills, we will be covering camp sites, navigation, pioneering, and some bushcraft skills including fire lighting and cooking on open fires. We will also try to answer any questions you may have. For further details and to book a place please email me.

The table below shows what we are running when. Bookings are now open. To book please email me.

 

Dates	Cubs	Scouts	Explorers
January 24-26	Pioneer	Forester COURSE FULL
February 21-23	Scientist OR Navigator Stage 3	Navigator Stage 3
March TBA		Expedition Challenge 2nd Weekend COURSE FULL
April 11-13	Chef and Backwoods Cooking	Camper

LOST & FOUND

Did your Cub, Scout, Explorer or Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please email our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

Help Needed

We rely on volunteers to enable the badge to run, you do not need to commit to a whole weekend - a few hours or a day can help us immensely. You do not need any skills as we can train you. We are just looking for keen enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to volunteer or know more information about any volunteer opportunities, please email email the team then we can arrange to meet up and discuss what you would like to do.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website or email me.

It just leaves me to wish you all a good winter break and a Happy New Year.

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader

24 Oct 2024

October weekend kicks off the 2024-2025 Season

It was very good to see so many Cubs, Scouts, parents and leaders at our annual review. Congratulations go to all the Cubs and Scouts who received awards and prizes.

Over the October weekend we ran two courses. for Cubs it was the Our Adventure Challenge badge which saw the cub completing many activities including, archery, rafting, low ropes, bouldering, lighting fires and going on a very wet 6km hike with me on the Sunday morning.

The Scouts took part in the Pioneer badge. Unfortunately, our usual Lead Volunteer for the badge had COVID but Bob and the rest of the team took over and the badge ran successfully. The Scouts learnt all about knots and lashings, along with skills using pulleys and derricks. They built a swing boat during the Saturday whilst it was fortunately dry. The Sunday was spent inside in the dry learning all about whippings and splices which enabled the Scouts to each take a piece or rope home with them with a splice on one end and a whipping on the other.

We are now planning our November weekend where we will be running Navigator Stage 2 for Cubs and the Chef Badge for Scouts, as well as the Expedition Challenge for Scouts,

The table below shows what we are running when. Bookings are now open. To book please email me.

 

Dates	Cubs	Scouts	Explorers
November 22-24	Navigator Stage 2	Chef OR Expedition Challenge 1st Weekend COURSE FULL
January 24-26	Pioneer	Forester
February 21-23	Scientist OR Navigator Stage 3	Navigator Stage 3
March TBA		Expedition Challenge 2nd Weekend COURSE FULL
April 11-13	Chef and Backwoods Cooking	Camper

LOST & FOUND

Did your Cub, Scout, Explorer or Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please email our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

We have these items left from last weekend:

• Regatta Kids Pack-it overtrousers bag
• Trespass waterproof jacket, yellow XXL
• Mountain Warehouse trousers, black, 9-10 years
• Minecraft trainers, black
• Torch (Ella Frame name taped on)

Help Needed

We rely on volunteers to enable the badge to run, you do not need to commit to a whole weekend - a few hours or a day can help us immensely. You do not need any skills as we can train you. We are just looking for keen enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to volunteer or know more information about any volunteer opportunities, please email email the team then we can arrange to meet up and discuss what you would like to do.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website or email me.

Stay Safe
Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader

1 Sep 2024

The 2024-2025 season is about to start

Hi All

We are about to start our 35th season of Pro-Badge, our seasons run from October to April.

We start with our Annual Review on Thursday 17th October at 7pm in Lyons Lodge. We will be awarding our prizes and certificates and adding at least one name to the board on the wall in Lyons Lodge.

The first weekend of the season starts on the weekend of 18-20th October 2024. We will be running Our Adventure Challenge for Cub Scouts, Pioneer for Scouts and for Explorer Scouts. We currently have Cubs and Scouts booked on so will be running these courses though we currently have plenty of spaces on both. We have only one Explorer at the moment, so could do with some more, please pass this onto any of your Explorer leaders. We also have spaces on all our other courses.

We have also decided to pause the Survival Skills badge this season to allow Lyons Copse to recover as the ground has suffered with the weather over the last couple of years. This will also allow us to revisit the programme and what we can offer the Scouts in future.

The table below shows what we are running when. Bookings are now open. To book please email me on clive.clark@hampshirescouts.org.uk.

 

Dates	Cubs	Scouts	Explorers
October 18-20	Our Adventure Challenge	Pioneer	Pioneer
November 22-24	Navigator Stage 2	Chef OR Expedition Challenge 1st Weekend
January 24-26	Pioneer	Forester
February 21-23	Scientist OR Navigator Stage 3	Navigator Stage 3
March TBA		Expedition Challenge 2nd Weekend
April 11-13	Chef and Backwoods Cooking	Camper

This season we are keeping our fees the same as last season. The cost for Cub Scout courses is £50.00 per weekend. This will be reduced to £45.00 if paid in full to Pro-Badge at least two weeks before the start of the course. The cost for Scout courses is £45.00 per weekend. This will be reduced to £40.00 if paid in full to Pro-Badge at least two weeks before the start of the course. The price includes all training, food, and accommodation for the weekend.

Help Needed

We rely on volunteers to enable the badge to run, you do not need to commit to a whole weekend - a few hours or a day can help us immensely. You do not need any skills as we can train you, we are just looking for keen enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to volunteer or know more information about any volunteer opportunities, please email the team then we can arrange to meet up and discuss what you would like to do.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website www.pro-badge.org.uk. Or email me.

Our Cub Scout and Scout leaflets are available for download; please print off or forward on to share with others who may be interested in attending.

Stay Safe

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader

3 May 2024

2023-2024 season closed with Chef and Backwoods Cooking, Camper, Survival Skills and Leader Skills

The final weekend of the Pro-Badge Training Scheme current season took place last weekend. We ran the Chef and Backwoods Cooking badges for Cub Scouts along with the Camper badge and Survival Skills for Scouts.

New for this season we also ran a Leaders Skills course which allowed the leaders to pick up some new or improve on old skills and see how we run a weekend, and what the Cubs and Scouts were up to.

The Camper course had two patrols camping and the Scouts spent Friday evening putting up tents and arranging their sites. They did get wet doing this as the weather was not kind to us. On Saturday, which was fortunately dry, they learnt about site layouts, how to look after their kit and equipment, followed by making gadgets. They then cooked their dinner over an open fire and breakfast on gas stoves, these were both from a menu they had planned. This was followed by striking camp and returning all the equipment clean and tidy.

The Survival Skills course allowed the Scouts to build a bivouac in the woods to sleep in and cook their food on an open fire. The food having prepared it, they had rabbit and vegetables for dinner and fish for breakfast. However, the course was very unlucky with the weather and were forced to abandon the bivvies around midnight on the Saturday and sleep in Pines cabin. They then retuned to the site on the Sunday morning to cook their Breakfast.

The Chef and Backwoods Cooking courses for the Cub Scouts saw the them achieve two badges. The Cub Scouts were divided into two groups, one successfully cooked on a trench fire for lunch for the Backwoods cooking badge and then for the Chef Badge cooking a chicken dinner on Gas. The other group also successfully cooked a meal on gas and over the fire but the other way round. They of course also had instruction on hygiene as well as preparing the food (cutting and peeling) and clearing up afterwards. On the Sunday morning, they completed the theory and hygiene parts of the badge, as well as doing some fire lighting.

The Leaders Skills course taught how to run camps and some basic skills which included navigation, bushcraft, cooking on both open fires and gas, and pioneering.

Congratulations also go to one of the team David Jenkins who was awarded his 40 years' service award on the Saturday evening.

Next Season 2024-2025

We have set the dates and badges for our next season starting in October 2024. Please check as some of the Scout badges have changed weekend. In February we have decided to continue with the Scientist badge for Cub Scouts as it ran very well this season.

We are accepting bookings now however forms and information will not be emailed out until September.

For details please see our "What's on When?" page.

Annual Review

This year the annual review will take place on the 17th October. It will be held in Lyons Lodge at Lyons Copse at 7pm. This is where we present our prizes and awards as well as enabling you to ask us any questions about what we do and why we do it. You are all invited.

Lost & Found

Did your Cub Scout / Scout/ Explorer Scout / Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We currently have unclaimed:

• Grey Hoody 200Marine age 9-10;
• Size 3 black wellington boots;
• Size 6 Dunlop black wellington boots;
• Primark black jogging bottoms age 11-12;
• Hi Gear Fleece age 9-10.

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please e-mail our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

At the end of the season any lost property left at Pro-Badge disposed of.

Help Needed

We rely on volunteers to enable the courses to run, you do not need to commit to a whole weekend a few hours or a day can help us immensely. You do not need any skills as we can train you, we are just looking for keen enthusiastic individuals. If you would like to volunteer or know more information about these or any volunteer opportunities, please email the team and we can arrange to meet up.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website or email me.

And finally .... well nearly ....

Participating Packs, Troops, Units and one Brownie Pack are listed on our History page. Is yours on there? If not please contact the Webmaster with details including District name and we'll add you to the list.

Further information or book a place

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website or email me.

Stay Safe

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader

19 Feb 2024

News from the February weekend, plus a look forward to the April courses

The February Pro-Badge weekend has just finished. We ran a new badge for us, the Scientist badge. This allowed the Cubs to complete eighteen experiments in three different disciplines, reactions, interacting with energy and living things. The experiments included chromatography, producing hydrogen, air powered ballons and building Solar powered model houses.

Navigator Stage 3 also took place over the weekend with all the Scouts going on a very muddy hike on the Saturday afternoon having previously planned the route and leant about six figure references, contours, and map symbols. The hike also qualifies as a hike away. The young people navigated the Leaders round the route giving them the opportunity to get the Leaders temporarily misplaced (we are never lost). The course involved learning about contours using the small mound at the back of Lyons Lodge, as well as lots of practise of Grid References, symbols and setting a map.

Next Courses

In April we are running both the Backwoods Cooking and Chef Badges for Cub Scouts, who do both courses in the same weekend. For Scouts we are running the Camper and Survival Skills badges; Scouts do one, not both. The Scout Camper badge is full, but we have spaces on the other two badges. The minimum age for Survival Skills is 12.

Leaders Skills course

In April we are also running a Leaders Skills course, this is an opportunity for Leaders to learn some practical skills, we will be covering camp sites, navigation, pioneering, and some bushcraft skills including fire lighting and cooking on open fires. We will also try to answer any questions you may have. Please pass onto any Leaders who may benefit.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website www.pro-badge.org.uk.

Lost & Found

We have a pair of Black Primark Joggers, Two pairs of black wellington boots, one size 3 the other size 6.

Did your Cub / Scout / Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners, I have also been contacted by a parent who is missing a Cub Polo shirt, blue fleece, and a Minecraft book.

If you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please e-mail our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

At the end of the season any lost property left at Pro-Badge is disposed of.

Staff Vacancies

If you would like to volunteer or know more information about this or any volunteer opportunities, please email myself and we can arrange to meet up.

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader
Scout Active Support Manager

23 Jan 2024

News from the January weekend, future courses plus Leaders Skills

We have just completed the January weekend of this season's Pro-Badge. The weekend started off very cold but got warmer and windier as the weekend went on.

The Scouts took part in the Forester badge where they learnt about forest management, safety and tree identification. The Scouts then spent all day Saturday in a local wood helping to maintain the site. They used axes, saws and loppers to maintain the existing trees, learning about coppicing and how to manage the trees. They also had a demonstration of tree felling using a chainsaw. They kept warm by building a big fire from all the dead wood they were clearing out. They also planted some different types of trees. On the Sunday they completed the tree identification work, planted some seeds, had their assessments and produced some posters.

The Cubs on the Pioneer Course managed to build several projects including a ladder, a bean bag firing balister and a stretcher which they used to carry a casualty (Cuddly toy) around the site perimeter track. This gave them a good chance to put into practice the knots and lashings they had learnt. They also all made a piece of rope and a knot board.

I also enjoyed the Saturday evening entertainment with the theme of the Chinese New Year which saw the Cubs and Scouts making Dragons and parading them around the room.

Next Courses

Scientist and Navigator Stage 3

Next month we are running Scientist for Cubs and Navigator Stage 3 for both Cubs and Scouts. Cub Scientist is almost full as is the Scout course. We have spaces on Cub Navigator stage 3. This is the first time we have run the Scientist badge, and we have lots of experiments lined up for the Cubs to complete.

Chef and Backwoods Cooking, Camper and Survival Skills

In April we are running Chef and Backwoods Cooking for Cubs (Cubs do both badges over the weekend) and Camper and Survival Skills for Scouts (Scouts do one or the other, not both, for the weekend), we have plenty of spaces on these courses as well at present.

Leaders Skills course

In April we are also running a Leaders Skills course, this is an opportunity for leaders to learn some practical skills, we will be covering camp sites, navigation, pioneering, and some bushcraft skills including fire lighting and cooking on open fires. We will also try to answer any questions you may have. Please pass onto any Leaders who may benefit.

For further info or to book a place on any course on any weekend please visit the website www.pro-badge.org.uk.

Lost & Found

Did your Cub / Scout / Leader bring anything back from Pro-Badge which does not belong to them?

We are trying to match up missing kit with owners and so if you are missing anything or have any "extra" kit please e-mail our Stores Controller Andy Ratcliffe.

At the end of the season any lost property left at Pro-Badge is disposed of.

Staff Vacancies

If you would like to volunteer or know more information about this or any volunteer opportunities, please email myself and we can arrange to meet up.

Scissors/Clive Clark
Camp Leader
Scout Active Support Manager