Have a look at what we have been doing in a selection of recent newsletters and articles. Please consider contacting us and offering some of your time to help.   Email  gslbarton@yahoo.com.  We will welcome you with open arms!

May 2026

Scouting messages lost at sea

‘’A place to belong’’

Beavers  & Cubs: Ages 6–10  Starting the month, the Cubs and Beavers tore around a skate centre with exhilaration and death-defying stunts. Then, they expertly mapped a route from Butleigh to Street and triumphantly hiked it a week later in the Spring sunshine. Tent pitching races in the hall ranged from impressively swift to “That’s not a tent, that’s a pile of canvas with legs sticking out!” Sparkly Easter crafts may have led to some glittery bunnies escaping into the wild so please look after them if you see them.

Scout Successes: Ages 10–14.  At Goat Cave, squeals, mud and questionable bat impressions abounded. All emerged beaming but smelling faintly of cave.  They’ve made survival tins and lit fires without matches.  Finally, working without adults at the Fox Trophy camp they camped, cooked, endured a tough hike while eagle-eyed judges lurked in the background scoring every element.  They proved excellent at navigating, less so at mud and blister avoidance.  We couldn’t be prouder, even if some socks and boots may never recover.

Explorer Escapades: Ages 14-18.  Years of Barton Scouts (think muddy caves, glittery crafts and wobbly skating) have perfectly prepared Explorers for action-packed adventures in the UK and Europe. February – skiing in France.  March – completing a challenging hike with ease for the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze. April – training on Dartmoor for the Ten Tors challenge, where the hills never seem to end and the weather always seems to surprise..

London Monopoly Run.  Recently, London teemed with 450 Scout teams on the legendary Monopoly Run, each racking up to 30,000 steps as they dashed between stations, parks and quirky corners. Barton St David clinched the ‘Best Photo’ prize for their hilarious Scooby Doo costumes, puzzling Londoners who thought they’d wandered inadvertently into a cartoon. If you missed it, you missed a truly epic adventure—fun, bizarre and brilliant!

A message in a bottle.  Ever wondered what a bottle thinks? “I never asked for Scout adventures. I was looking forward to being recycled but all I got was glitter and a philosophical note in my insides. Thrown forcefully into the frothing English Channel by the Royal Navy, washed up on the Isle of Wight and found by an excited child.  Next time, please try a pigeon!’’   Our bottles clearly make waves and friends just as well as our Scouts.  We are awaiting the return of one rumoured to have been dropped in the sea around New Zealand. 

Leaders: Safety First, Paperwork Always.  Behind every muddy trek, noisy camp or hall session are leaders with mandatory safety, safeguarding, first aid training along with DBS checks, risk assessments and enough paperwork to wallpaper the village hall.  When camping all our preparations are double checked by the Scout District.  All this is done with a smile (or probably gritted teeth) but parents know we put safety first.

A career shift for some? Three fearless have leaders have braved the digital wilds to create a website full of Barton St David spirit, despite plenty of muttering and frantic keyboard tapping. Have a look around our site and join the adventure if you dare fill out the form! Or email glsbarton@yahoo.com if you’d like to know more or join the Group an adult.

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March 2026

A Statement from Barton St David Scout Group

We had some super feedback last month when our Scout Group apologised for being extremely active, slightly messy butsuspiciously enthusiastic in all weather conditions. Here is a recent highlight from each section which may explain more.  

First, regarding the Explorers (14–18 years). Yes, we took them skiing in Italy. No, it was not the Winter Olympics. Despite rumours, none of them attempted a triple axel off the hotel steps, and we are pleased to confirm that all returned safely. They demonstrated courage and resilience, all vital Scouting skills. The leaders are now resting in bed.

Meanwhile, the Scouts (10–14 years) participated in a character-building muddy East Somerset District hike. When we say “muddy,” we mean the sort of mud that future archaeologists may one day study. The Scouts embraced it wholeheartedly and boots now weigh at least 4kg each. This was intentional. It builds strength

The Cubs (8–10 years) are honing navigation skills. If you see them striding around consulting maps with great seriousness, they almost certainly know where they are.  They’ve also been conducting science experiments and celebrating Chinese New Year with creativity and impressive artistic flair.

As for the Beavers (6–8 years), they have mastered night hiking by bravely venturing forth with torches, boundless energy, and snacks. With the Cubs, they took part in a rather wonderful lantern parade at Wells Cathedral. We like to think we added a certain sparkle to proceedings.And now, with great anticipation, all sections are looking forward to Easter crafts and, most importantly, the annual Easter Egg Hunts. We assure you that these are conducted with the utmost seriousness, strategic planning, and competitive spirit. No chocolate is left behind.

Apart from the mud, maps, skis, lanterns and occasional glitter, Scouting remains what it has always been: fun; busy; occasionally loud but always purposeful and professional. If you hear laughter in Barton hall, focused young people in reflective jackets or spot a group studying a map upside down, rest assured, that’s just us.  If you want to join the adventure and occasional mild, manageable mud please email me or fill in the joining form on our website.  We are always delighted to welcome new children and adults in our Group..  

We provide top quality Scouting for 6 to 18 year olds.  

January 2026

A Formal apology to our parents and our community.

We feel it is only fair to apologise to the parents of Barton St David Scout Groupfor all the things their children have been subjected to while attending Scouts.  In addition, we’d like to apologise to our communities for all the positive activities that our Scouts undertake in our villages.  

First, we are sorry for the amount of fresh air they are exposed to. Time spent outdoors, sometimes in all weathers, has unfortunately resulted in muddy shoes, rosy cheeks, and children who sleep far too well afterwards.  And having youngsters that are not at a loss at finding positive actions to do.

We also apologise for the exciting activities your children take part in. Learning to light fires, cook simple meals, build shelters, work as a team, and solve problems together may have led to an alarming increase in confidence and independence.  

We regret any inconvenience caused by the development of life skills such as resilience, responsibility, leadership, and kindness. These may present themselves unexpectedly at home or in our communities in the form of helpfulness, opinions, and a willingness to “have a go”.

We must also apologise for the sense of pride our children develop in their achievements — from activity and challenge badges to the considerable accomplishment of Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. The confidence gained from setting goals, persevering, and succeeding can be hard to miss (and even harder to dampen).

Finally, we apologise for the friendshipsformed, the sense of belonging, and the pride your children feel when they achieve something they didn’t think they could do.

We will, of course, continue to offer these experiences — muddy clothes, big smiles, and all — and thank you for trusting us with your young people.  More importantly if you would like to volunteer as an adult or enrol a child (6-18 years), just get in touch with the Group Lead Volunteer, Barton St David Scout Group.  gslbarton@yahoo.com