THREE dozen members of the 1st Watchet Sea Scout Troop and Explorer Scout Unit went to Jersey for their Easter expedition.

After travelling by ferry from Poole, the group spent eight days undertaking a variety of activities, mainly at St Ouen’s Bay scout centre.

Nine Explorer scouts went on a three-day, self-sufficient expedition by bicycle, camping two nights at different sites and exploring the many green lanes and cycle routes around while learning about the island’s heritage.

The scouts began the week with a cycle ride to the War Tunnels, now a museum, which were built by the German Army during World War Two. Enforced labour was used to create underground bunkers that were converted to an underground hospital in the latter stages of the war.

The museum is dedicated to telling the story of how the islanders lived before, during and after the occupation.

The scouts then cycled down into St Aubin’s Bay before heading over to the Corbiere lighthouse where they walked across the causeway and explored the German fortifications in the area.

Back at the scout centre, they were joined by the 1st Jersey (St Ouen’s) Sea Scouts for an evening of mixed activities undertaking various scouting skills. Instruction was provided on rope-work, bosun call (piping) practice as well as Trangia stove cooking using military ration packs. 

The Jersey sea scouts aim to achieve the same Royal Navy Status as the 1st Watchet so were keen to take part in a ‘sunset ceremony’ and learn about the use of the bosun’s call for ceremonial use.

The following day with the explorers still away on their cycle expedition, both the Watchet and Jersey sea scouts joined together for a day of rafting and kayaking on the beach at St Brelade’s Bay.

In mixed teams, the scouts constructed rafts using pioneering poles, rope lashings and plastic barrels, before racing them out to a marker post in the bay. This was followed by kayaking and some beach football.

Watchet scouts again went kayaking in St Brelade’s Bay the next day before a visit into St Helier where they were joined by the explorer scouts. Activities during the evening included archery.

The next day saw the scouts on their bicycles exploring the north of the island and the various bays and cycles routes, whilst the explorer scouts went sea kayaking and exploring the headland and bays around Corbiere Lighthouse and St Ouen’s Bay.

Both sections then undertook land yachting, better known as blow carting, around a course on St Ouen’s beach, practising their RYA sailing skills without getting wet, although a bit sandy.

Six of the older sea scouts then set off on a one-night cycle expedition on their own from the parish of Trinity back over to the St Ouen’s Sea Scout HQ where they camped in the grounds, cooking their own tea and breakfast.

The scouts and explorers then all completed a round-island bike ride, completing 33.4 miles in three hours 19 minutes – which, with the other mileage completed in the week, ensured they achieved their cycling award.

Explorer Millie Kemp was invested into the unit the following morning at Gosnez Castle, having made her scout promise while climbing the cliff face.

In the afternoon, both sections then cycled from the Jersey scout centre up to the St Ouen’s Sea Scouts HQ where they spent their final night on the island under canvas.

Having packed up camp, they embarked on their last cycle across the island, down St Peter’s valley before rejoining the cycle trail along the seafront of St Aubin’s Bay back to the ferry terminal.

The week was a great success for the young people from Watchet, with many challenge awards achieved and great friendships formed with the local scouts, sharing programme ideas and different scouting skills.

More photos in this week’s Free Press,