Basingstoke East’s Latest Scout Section Soars
28 March 2025
Basingstoke East’s youngest Scouts just keep growing! We now have seven thriving Squirrel Dreys across the District, and as some of our Squirrels move up to Beavers, new Dreys are opening to welcome even more young adventurers. 🌟 The most recent addition, Old Basing, celebrated the Investiture of seven Squirrels on Tuesday, 18th March—a huge milestone! 🎉
If proof were needed of how successful our District Squirrel Dreys are, 1st Chineham will be opening their second Drey on 28th April! 🏕️ Meanwhile, 2nd Basingstoke will begin taster sessions in May, paving the way for their own Drey to open later this year. At this rate, we could reach double figures before the end of 2025! 🔥
🌳 Wellington Country Park – A New Favourite! 🎢
Our second District visit to Wellington Country Park on 22nd March was an unforgettable day! 🎈 A sea of red jumpers eagerly gathered at the entrance, ready for a day packed with climbing, sliding, eating… more climbing, more sliding… and even more eating! 🍕😂 By home time, we had 67 happy but exhausted Squirrels—nearly double last year’s attendance!
With such an incredible response, Wellington Country Park is set to become a regular fixture in the District calendar, alongside our legendary BEASTLY event. 🏕️ Huge thanks to Amy Goodall for organising the last two years and for finding a venue that’s proving so popular! 👏
🏅 A Huge Thank You to Our Volunteers! 💙
The success of our Dreys is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible volunteers. Thanks to their efforts, our youngest Scouts are enjoying experiences that some thought they were too young for! 🚀 From Tomahawk throwing 🎯 and Easter egg hunts 🐣, to Planetarium visits 🔭 and community service 🌍, our Squirrels are developing confidence and skills that will stay with them for life.
🌟 Other exciting activities they’ve enjoyed include:
✅ Soft Archery 🏹
✅ Engaging with local food banks & police 🚓
✅ Visits to RAF Odiham, Chitty Farm & supermarkets ✈️🐄🛒
✅ Litter picks & garden visits 🌿
Initially met with scepticism, the Squirrel Dreys have now proven beyond doubt that even our youngest members can thrive in Scouting! 🏕️ These future Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts are also the future volunteers who will continue to grow the Movement. With such a strong foundation, the future of Basingstoke East Scouts has never looked brighter! ✨
Thank you to everyone making this dream a reality! 💙🐿️
Jan Wright
District Squirrel Team Lead
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