In one of the best organised camps I've been on, 1st Rhosnesni Scouts had a great time in Builth Wells at the weekend joining almost 1,000 other Scouts at the All Wales Scout Camp.

There were three zones: Adventure, Fun and Challenge, which the Scouts took an active part in on Saturday and Sunday, with activities including shooting, human table football, mountain biking, crafts, laser quest, and team challenges.

On the day the World Cup started, we held a South Africa night to celebrate the host nation.

We started with a game that is popular with Scouts in South Africa, then we had a presentation on some facts about the country and how it's history is linked with that of Scouting.

Following on from what they learned about Apartheid, the Scouts had a discussion about inequalities that still exist in the world today.

It was then time to get muddy making bricks the African way, before we finished with a game of quick cricket.

Winging it's way to you in the post this week - or you can download from here

I was away the other week so we got Russell, Dean and Emma in who came down to help Rod and Gethin run abseiling and first aid down Cox Wood. Thanks to them.

Then last weekend we had a bivvy down Cox Wood, and we'd invited the Cubs to help them find out about what we do in Scouts and encourage them to join when they get to 10.

We had a great turn out of Cubs, and the Scouts did really well building bivvies and looking after them.

Despite the almost constant drizzle, we had a good night on Friday walking down from Minera Lead Mines via Nant Mill to Bersham Heritage Centre.

The Scouts learned about what clothing to wear on a hike, what kit to carry, and how to navigate.

Once again I've slipped in my duties, and so here's 3 weeks worth of updates - and it's been busy!

To celebrate St George's Day we held a night on the Middle East, as he was from Syria, and took part in the District day out to Liverpool.

The Middle East night was a bit chaotic as Scouts showed they have a lot to learn about time-keeping, but I think it was a good lesson. They cooked some middle eastern food, made Arabic coffee and did a quiz on Islam.

The next morning the Scouts gathered at Wrexham General Station to head off for Liverpool for the day. They travelled via train to Birkenhead before crossing the Mersey on the famous ferry. After some time going around the city centre they got back on the ferry for the return trip during which they joined Scouts across the world renewing their Promise.

I was away with the Explorers the week after, but I heard that the other Leaders ran a good night on domestic skills, teaching Scouts about cooking, sewing, hoovering etc.

Finally last week we had a good night pioneering ending with simulated river crossing on the back field.

We handed a couple of letters out on Friday. If you missed them...

St George's Day out THIS WEEKEND

All Wales Scout Camp

Sorry I've not been updating the blog recently. Must try harder!

We finished last term by completing the Fitness Challenge, and keeping with the Easter theme had a night based on eggs.

Thanks to Total Fitness in Wrexham we had a free evening at the gym. Their instructor was really good and took the Scouts through a session of circuit training and then they had a go on the equipment.

This was all great preparation for the following Sunday when the Troop took part in the Sport Relief Mile at Queensway Sports Centre.

We're now back for summer term and started off with a good night down Cox Wood lighting fires and working on the Outdoor Plus Challenge for the older Scouts.

Over the last couple of weeks we've been concentrating on the Fitness Challenge - with the Sport Relief mile on Sunday 21st March at Queensway our aim.

Last week we did fitness games, with breaks inbetween to catch breath, and this week we had my cousin Jon, who is a sports therapist, who did circuit training. Thanks very much Jon for coming along.

A hectic night down Coxwood tonight. By the time we'd got everyone down in Dee lodge and sorted it was 7.30, so we had three fairly quick sessions of shooting. Everyone got two goes though. Some struggled cocking the gun, and there were quite a few unharmed targets, but it was a good start to the sport.

Thanks to Rod, Gethin and Sam who covered map reading while I was having fun shooting!

Welcome to Joshua and Dominic who've joined the Troop.

1st Rhosnesni have been really active.

I've heard that the Frost Camp in Delamere was really good. Well done to the Scouts for not breaking anything on the ski slopes!

Also a good night doing pancakes plus saw and axe skills.

Thanks to the other Leaders for running the show while I was having a bit of a break in the French Alps!

We went along to the Racecourse to watch the rugby last week. It was the Crusaders first gain at their new home of Wrexham, and they were playing last season's champions, so a tough match.

Crusaders did really well, hanging on at 6-6 for most of the match, but they eventually lost 6-34.

Thanks a massive amount to everyone who brought in sponsor money and donations on Friday. We blew away our target of 490 and will be able to give even more help to the fantastic charity ShelterBox.

We have 10 Scouts sleeping rough at the back of the hut, but it wasn't all hardship as we played on the Wii, had a campfire and watched a few DVDs before heading out into the cold.

In Scouts first we also looked at the work of ShelterBox which will go towards the ShelterBox Challenge badge.

We handed out a letter on Friday giving details of a sponsored sleep out we're doing next week - the 22nd January - to raise money for ShelterBox, one of the charities that is giving practical help to the people of Haiti.

Click here for a letter about the event

Click here for a sponsor form

We also handed out this term's newsletter.

Click here for January's newsletter

Tonight we impressed on the Scouts that the place where we meet most Friday nights is very much their hut, and as such they should share the responsibility for it's upkeep. So, we're going to spend one night each year on a hut work party.

We've just had some new noticeboards, but they were a bit grey, so we spent tonight painting them, and the new Scout cupboard door. Looks a lot better now.

What a great start to the year. While the rest of the country ground to a halt due to the snow, we Scouts showed that with good preparation and planning a bit of weather shouldn't get in the way of a fun weekend.

We joined 2,000 other Scouts and Explorer Scouts at the home of Scouting, Gilwell Park, for a freezing but fun camp with tons of activities and tons of snow!

We rounded off the year with not many Scouts, but those that came put their all into transforming the hut into the Top of the Pops studio, then performing their favourite songs. Fantastic! We'll get the video online soon.

We didn't manage to get the hospital visit sorted, so instead we went out onto the street and surveyed the whole of Dean Road and Borras Park road, creating three maps on rolls of wallpaper.

Well done to Zack and Geraint for standing up in front of several hundred people to do the readings, and to Laura for helping provide the music, at tonight's District Carol Service.

A good turnout from the whole Troop as well!

We finished off the IT badge tonight - all Scouts need to email Moz (wxmmoz@gmail.com) to complete the requirements.