For a while, I’ve been meaning to write a blog post on the wall here. I think this is a wicked way to keep a history of our events, news and stories, and so would like to try and use it more, hence a post!

One of my main ideas was to try and use this to keep you up to date with the Committee, what we are thinking/doing about things that actually affect you!

We had our first official committee meeting last friday, followed by the public house visit as is tradition.

Stuff we talked about:

• Fundraising
• Beaver/Brownie Birthday party
• Logo
• Summer Rally
• Freshers activities

The minutes should be out by the weekend, so have a look and find out whats going on. Any problems/issues, you know where I am.

Cheers

Will

We’ve done a huge variety of activities this term, which have included:

It’s not over yet though, as still to come there is Summer Camp, SSAGO Summer Rally and Seaside Camp!

I personally can’t wait until October, when we can welcome all the new Freshers and get ready to have another amazing year!

Anyone who might be interested in joining, please look around the website and don’t forget to see us at the Fresher’s Bazaar in October for lots more information (and free cake!).

Hope everyone has a wonderful summer.

Vicki
Publicity 10-11
xxx

That was the end of the official Scogui Autumn Term. Although you will be sure to see us gracing FND with our presence to wave good bye to the autumn term and the deadlines it brings…. only to welcome in the spring term, and its wonderful exams.

Merry Christmas Scogui Friends.
Have a good Christmas Break, revise hard and see you all next term for it all to start again!

XoXo
Lisa
Publicity Officer 09-10

Anyway on the Friday I only just made it to the swimming pool for 6:00 in time as I decided it would be a good idea to start packing at 5:15 but I made it. I was driven to the oaks campsite about 10 minutes from Loughborough by rich and I have to admit I was feeling very apprehensive about the whole experience. When I got there I found that I was sleeping in the nice big new 12 man with mostly other fresher’s. Once we were all unpacked Wilsher decided to come and introduce himself in the form of fresher’s poses, embarrassing stories and a game of I’ve never. (So the drinking began). After this we went over to the alpine hut to have ourselves some very nice pizza after which we played a few more games and generally got to know each other. I ended up going to bed around 4am quite merry (after a brief period of gazing at the stars in my sleeping bag).

On the Saturday morning I walked into the alpine hut to the nice smell of a cooked breakfast thanks to some of the committee and associate members. After which we had the chance to do archery, mountain boarding, black hole and table tennis. I myself just did archery and table tennis. I was going to do the other activities as well but a football match against the explorers on site was arranged in which scogui fc did very well and despite being outnumbered about 3 to 1 only lost a very respectable 3-2. Soon after this it was time for a very nice dinner of spaghetti bolognaise again cooked by a mixture of the committee, returners and associate members. The final event for the evening was the highly anticipated scogui campfire which was absolutely fantastic! And after hearing some of the best campfire songs I have ever heard, (seeing a rather funny dance from Megan) and making a couple of new friends I went to bed very happy and quite jolly around 5ish. (Last one to bed again! Serious lack of sleep)

On the final morning I was awoken by a ringing in my ears, oh wait that is just Wilsher standing over me with two metallic objects smashing them together rather quickly. Thanks for the wakeup mate! After breakfast we did shooting and climbing before having lunch and starting to take down camp. I would like to say I helped here but the one of the best thing about fresher’s camp as a fresher is you actually get shouted at for trying to help which is very hard to get used too after being a leader by the way. I got home around 3 o’clock after being driven home by Megan and found myself missing all my new found friends.

There was no need to worry though as we all went for a nice dinner at the amber rooms that evening, although I did scold my hands which kind of put a dampener on things.

All in all I can honestly say that in all my many years in scouting this was the best camp I have ever been on and would like to thank everyone  that helped run it, committee, associate member, returner or otherwise I had an amazing time and would do it all again in an instant.

Written by a true fresher

David Hendy

There was a small camp fire on the Friday evening (rumour was that there was no wood to burn!) and a sober Scogui started off the singing.

Despite the weather forecast, Saturday got off to a bright start. The camp site was woken up at 7:45 for breakfast and although the early birds had to wait a while before the food was served, we were glad we didn’t come down late and have to queue up for an hour! After breakfast the activities began and, unusual for me, there were two activities to choose for morning and afternoon. Scogui was well represented at the ‘Extreme Pub Quiz’ held in the afternoon in Brighouse (probably called extreme because the walking around was around 6km!). All of the pubs visited had character, be it the ‘Retro disco with Daz’, the Ukrainian satellite TV or the church organ in Weatherspoons and it was a really great afternoon out.

The evening meal and barn dance was held on site and members of staff from the camp site served us copious amounts of alcohol throughout the evening. The food was very nice: chicken of some sort followed by pie for desert. The barn dance band were good as always and the accordion players seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot. The highlight of the dance was when 3 members of Scogui started dancing Saturday Night to the barn dance music, only to find after a revolution that all 227 dancers had decided to copy them. Afterwards they proceeded to start a conga round the building which at one point emptied the dance floor.

Unfortunately the fancy dress competitons were not won by Scogui although many people commented that our miner’s strike costumes were excellent.

After the music stopped, everyone made their way down to an improved camp fire where much singing took place (often being run by Scogui and Medic Mike) and almost record breakingly long renditions of Chicago department store and a song about animals..

Sunday was showery which meant all our kit had to be packed away wet and covered in bits of forest. Many people did not make it to breakfast so everyone that did turn up got seconds, and thirds and the rest was served up as extra lunch. After an exciting EGM where the new SSAGO constitution was approved, silly games took place in which many people ended up getting very wet, very blue and very floury. The closing ceremony was held afterwards with many thankyous being said and modified mascots being returned before we all set off home. After an excellent weekend, it was nice to be able to have a nap on the bus home!

Written by Pete Everett

Written by Mark Perman

We started the evening at Richer Brewers house where we had French toast with PAte and vegetable soup. We heard of a telephone convocation between Kate and Richard involving PAte and a lot of giggling. There was some discussion over what French toast actually is and if Richard had created it I have absolutely no idea if he had but all I can say is it tasted good. There was also excitement at Richards over and inflatable sofa; as when you sat on it you could raise the person at the other end up in to the air.

The next course was at Em’s house and I left early with Kate and Martin to help Em however due to Kates ‘shortcut’ we ended up arriving only 2min before the others but this was just enough time to grab a seat as the others piled into Em’s lounge. The meal was a pastry roll with tomatoes and onion then either cheese or bacon, which came with potatoes and veg. it was all really nice. The potatoes had been cooked across the road so before they could dish up an expedition to retrieve the potatoes occurred with the aid of oven cloves, Em’s house mates and a large sheet of cardboard.

Pudding was at Edd’s so we didn’t have far to walk to enjoy amazing deserts. First there was strawberry mess which was strawberry’s, cream and meringue then chocolate shortbread and mint custard. Whilst we were enjoying food Richard spilt red wine quickly followed by lots of salt which he had great fun writing words with on the carpet. But before we left he did do a great Freddie Mercury impression with a vacuum cleaner.

We finished the evening off with cheese and biscuits at Andy’s and all huddled round the TV to watch Parkinson, then got bored so some people went the park and the rest of us sat round talking. It was all really good and I can’t wait for next year.

Written by Ashleigh Filtness

By 6pm the Scouts and Guides started arriving, and Scogui got themselves organised. As the Scouts and Guides were arriving and getting set up, the heavens opened, and the wind got up causing some of the tents to journey to the other end of the field. Once the tents were replaced, the shadows and bases were briefed, and released.

From 7ish onwards groups of 4-7 were released at timed intervals, in both directions. The idea being that bases would recieve an initial rush, then have a couple of hours without any groups then the last few would come through on the way home at least that was the plan. Fortunately the weather improved as the the teams were leaving. By 8.30 all teams were realeased, so the remaining staff started getting themselves organised and the fully utilising my laptops music collection.

Me and Simon then started on the minibus, visiting each of the bases every 30 minutes or so, to monitor the progress of the teams. Unfortunately the navigation skills of the Scouts and Guides were not great, so some bases were missed and the route often ignored.

At each of the bases was an individual incident, or activity. For example, a Kims Game, or first aid simulation (which included interest from local motorists who thought it was actually a real accident – doh).

By midnight the first groups were coming in, but two groups needed picking up including one that was impressively 3 miles off the map in East Leake when found. By 2:30 all the groups were in, and Scogui did what they do best relax and argue that black is white.

In the morning it was an early start with the Guides woken up early, so the Scouts could come in. Food was courtesy of Ashleigh and Chappers, and sport provided by Barry. The morning was concluded with Ken Gee presenting the winning team (Castle Donnington, Sea Lions) with certificates, and the promise of a trophy to come.

Written by Martin Whelan

Saturday 13th March
A nine o’clock start with a tasty cooked breakfast followed shortly by a scramble for the mini bus, and off to Hull. Once in Hull we made our way to “The Deep”, the deepest aquarium in the UK. An amazing place with some very unusual fish, including the Finding Nemo tank. Scogui Bear took some deep sea adventures as well. After a quick packed lunch and a short drive we pulled up in a country park which opened out on the Humber Bridge and the river. After a brief and very cold photo section with the local life boat team and a nice walk, it was back to the bus for the return trip to the camping barn. After an interesting vegetable bolognaise we made our way out into the cold to sing and shout around the nice warm fire. The perfect end to a great day.

Sunday 14th March
Another nine o’clock start was followed by another yummy breakfast and a complete blitz of the camp site and barns. The morning activity entailed visiting Lincoln and some people looking around the castle. Then setting off after lunch we arrived back just before 4pm to unpack and minibus and go home to a nice warm shower and a fresh change of clothes. To round off a cool weekend away, we all had dinner at EHB to laugh at the funny events of the weekend and to talk about our next trip into the outdoors!

Written by Richard Brewer

Well, after all the preparation, it’s my twenty-first party! It’s also a celebration of fifty years of the mighty Loughborough Students Scout and Guide Club (aka Scogui!). I’m very excited – there are special bear shaped balloons, maroon and white table napkins and a giant portrait of me on Cayley Dining Hall wall! Cakes have been baked in my honour – one of them has even been made to look like me, after the cook fought dissolving rice paper to dye it the blue of my eyes! It’s great to see lots of my old friends after a few years as well as the current members of the Club, all tucking into their tasty buffet meals and seeing who can eat the most chocolate mousse! They all seem to be enjoying themselves and as I’d expect! I’m wearing my special camp blanket, retro t-shirt and international neckers; my guests look like they’ve successfully interpreted the smart/casual dress code.

After the mingling and the munching it’s time for a few of my favourite campfire songs and some tried-and-tested line up silly games! There’s a raffle adding to the party spirit – a bear-headed bottle of wine, After Eights, Chocolate Goo and a random chicken hat are won by appreciative members. Having watched the scrolling photo CD through the evening, we made a new image for the archives with a group picture! I peeped over the banner at the front with my usual bear-faced cheek! After the party, Scogui headed en masse to the Union to watch Chesney Hawkes, or dispersed back all round the country. We’d all had a lovely evening (hic!) – thanks to all past and present members who helped with preparation and the atmosphere – here’s to another fifty years of Scogui!

Written by Scogui Bear (with the help of Kate Sharp)