44th Bristol (White Tree) Scout Group
Sections
Wolves
A history of 44th Bristol Wolves Cub Pack.
1996 � 2006.
1996.
Towards the end of 1995 it became apparent that the Panthers Pack was about to overflow. With over 30 boys and six leaders something had to be done. The decision was made to split the pack.
The first meeting of the new Thursday Pack was on April 18th 1996. 9 Boys transferred from the Tuesday pack along with Bagheera, Mowgli and Kaa. Rama, Shere Kahn and Baloo remained in charge of Tuesday Pack.
Within a very short time the Packs had decided to be Tigers (led by Shere Kahn) and Wolves (led by Bagheera, now known as Akela).
A tradition of making investitures a bit special was begun in May when nearly half the Pack along with all the leaders made their promises on the edge of The Downs overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The first camp was a County Jamboree at Woodhouse Park Park on the theme of Space.
Returning to Woodhouse Park later in the year to help with some conservation work the pack were privileged to meet Chief Scout George Purdy on one of his first official visits after taking office.
The 80th anniversary of Cub Scouting was celebrated with a series of meetings based on �Around the world in 80 days� Most memorable were the stranding on a Pacific Island and the Australian beach party.
Mowgli and Kaa were unfortunately unable to continue in the pack after this summer. We were joined by Jacala and later by another Kaa (Dave) who came with an incredible fund of ideas on any theme suggested.
During the year there were several visits and visitors. All the boys achieved Road Safety badge with help from the City Council Road safety Officer.
A very popular visit was to the Police Air operations unit at Filton where the Pack were lucky enough to see the helicopter called out and have the search light turned on them.
1997.
During the winter we spent time making sets of fluorescent and glow in the dark tracking signs and then several evenings following trails around the local area.
The Pack was visited by a representative of Hearing dogs for the deaf who was pleased to receive a large package of used postage stamps for their fundraising.
For one world one sky week every Cub made a kite to fly on the Downs. There were some elaborate designs but most of them actually flew.
This year we took part in the �Walk for wildlife� at Bristol Zoo completing the zoolympics trail as we went round.
Most of the pack completed World Conservation Badge during the year with a variety of projects. One evening was spent at the Create Centre finding out about the rubbish we create and what happens to it.
44th took part in the Scout Christmas post scheme for the first time. The Wolves made post boxes in our group scarf colour to distribute around the local area and later enjoyed helping to deliver the post.
1998.
Water was a theme throughout much of this year. The Scout Association brought out �Wizzy�s Water World� A wet wordsearch sold to raise funds for Water Aid was featured in Scouting magazine and the H2Olympics proved very popular.
The pack made the first of several appearances in the local press delivering �Worm a fax� an A-Z of recycling tips around the locality for WORM, a Westbury Park recycling organisation.
1999.
Early in the year the pack took part in the Children�s Society Sponsored Kim�s game remembering up to 50 weird and wonderful items displayed by Kaa .
There were more odd items on display as members of the pack joined others from the community to display their hobbies and collections as part of the Westbury Park Festival.
Summer camp this year was in the Forest of Dean. The cubs particularly enjoyed creating their own sculptures after seeing the Sculpture Trail.
2000.
.
Several members of the Pack took part in the Community Play �Visions� particularly in the skeleton scene.
District Cub Camp had a pirate theme this year. Kaa�s pirate ship / tent had to be seen to be believed!
This was also the year of the muddiest camp on record. Over the late May bank holiday Scouts everywhere celebrated the millennium by camping simultaneously. We heard of camps that had been washed out but 44th stuck it out getting very wet and muddy in the process.
During a �tour� of the British Isles Wolves had a sleepover at HQ with a Scottish theme. They ate porridge for breakfast, took part in the Highland Games and built models of the Forth Road Bridge among other things.
2001.
.
Party time again this year as we celebrated the 85th Anniversary of Cub Scouting. During a series of challenges the pack completed 85 circuits of an obstacle course raising �85 for Comic Relief. The Pack had tea on the tower of St Alban�s Church � and another investiture in an unusual place.
Several packs in the District took part in the International �Jamboree on the trail� hiking on the Downs in the morning and gaining either athlete or naturalist badge in the afternoon.
Our friends from the Czech Republic joined us for camp at Botany Bay campsite this summer. Children with little language in common had a fantastic week together.
A small group joined the District outing to an exclusive Scout day at Legoland in November. Even Akela went on all the rides.
2002.
.
We were very pleased to welcome Chil back to the pack leadership team after his time in New Zealand.
Much of this year was spent finishing off awards under the old Cub programme ready for the launch of the new programme. Almost everyone was able to complete the award they were working on.
Our two young leaders were both selected to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Thailand over Chrismas and New Year. The pack contribution to their fundraising was a sponsored cycle obstacle course.
The whole pack worked together to gain the first of the new challenge badges � Fitness. One new sport tried was longsword dancing.
Several of the Cubs at this time were part of the Children of the Nineties Study. One of the researchers visited, sharing fascinating facts about 9 and 10 year olds today.
Towards the end of the year we spent a series of evenings completing Chef badge, culminating in everyone sitting down to a three course meal.
2003.
.
This year for the first time since opening the pack was sufficiently full that there was a waiting list.
Following the World Jamboree there was a series of evenings looking at different aspects of the jamboree and the cultures of some of the participating countries.
There was a very gory meeting when first aid was practised on casualty simulations. The parents were warned before they saw their sons!
At the end of the summer term we said goodbye to Kaa on his retirement.
On a winter evening the planned programme abandoned in favour of snow sculpture and a mass snowball fight when there was a rare snowy evening. .
The Christmas production was the result of a lot of research into Christmas customs through the years. A few lucky dads got to taste mince pies with medieval ingredients. Yuck. .
2004 .
.
Once again Leigh Woods was the venue for a night hike, allowing everyone the chance to rush about in the dark scaring every bit of wildlife well away.
A small number of cubs took part in the Giant Sleepover, a record breaking attempt to have the greatest number sleeping over at once. The sponsors provide a treasure box with goody bags for everyone and a set of boxed gamed for the pack.
.
Both packs had a summer evening at Blaise estate with a quiz trail to follow around part of the fixed orienteering course.
There was a shortage of adults for the District Cub camp so we were joined by Rikki Tikki Tavi just for camp (in 2006 he is still with us and holds a leader warrant.)
No Christmas performance this year. Instead the neighbours from Fallodon Court were invited to join us for mince pies and a singaround.
2005 .
.
A new series of books about Odd sock characters was published this year. Cubs let their imagination run riot with entries in Oddies competition to write the story of Cub Scout Oddie.
Just before the clocks went forward there was a whole evening of games in the dark including all the old favourites but some new ones too.
This years Giant sleepover included the Beavers too. Twenty boys joined the record breakers again when thirty two thousand young people slept over (actually it was a wake over) on the same night.
The summer joint packs meeting was held at Leigh Woods again with the highlight being the construction of natural sculptures
An unusual charity supported this year was Goat Aid, raising enough money to send 2 goats to needy families in Africa to join those sent by Westbury Park Methodist Church.
2006 .
.
And so far in 2006 ----
..
We have been out and about visiting the fire station and on a night hike.
.
Camps .
Date Venue group nights .
May-96 Woodhouse Park County 3.
Sep-96 Conygres group 2.
May-97 Woodhouse Park district 3.
Sep-97 Glennywood group 2.
May-98 Woodhouse Park district 3.
.
Jul-98 Hollybarn group
5.
Sep-98 Chelwood group 2.
Apr-99 HQ wolves 1.
Jun-99 Woodhouse Park district 2.
Jul-99 Huish group 7.
Sep-99 Conygres group 2.
May-00 Cranham group 3.
Jul-00 HQ packs 2.
Sep-00 Glennywood group 2.
May-01 Chelwood group 3.
Jun-01 Woodhouse Park district 2.
Jul-01 Botany Bay group 7.
May-02 Woodhouse Park district 3.
Sep-02 Glennywood group 2.
May-03 Cranham group 3.
Jun-03 Woodhouse Park district 2.
Sep-03 Glennywood group 2.
Jun-04 HQ wolves 1.
Jul-04 Woodhouse Park district 2.
Sep-04 Glennywood group 2.
May-05 Woodhouse Park group 3.
Jun-05 HQ wolves 1.
Sep-05 Glennywood group 2.
History since 2006
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page last updated 27/4/08