WATCHET'S hardy sea scouts enjoyed a fantastic half term camping trip at Studland in Dorset on the southern edge of Pool Harbour.

Last week saw the 1st Watchet Sea Scout Troop & Explorer Scout Unit spend the half term camping under canvas at Studland in Dorset on the southern edge of Poole Harbour for their annual camp.

During the week the First Watchet Sea Scout Troop and Explorer Scout Units undertook a variety of activities based around their camp site, with access direct from the field onto the waters of Poole harbour.

Activities included dinghy sailing, kayaking, power boating, rowing, as well as rifle shooting, cycling, pioneering, swimming, orienteering and cooking in their patrols. They also managed to squeeze in visits to Corfe Castle and Swanage in an action-packed trip.

Six of the Explorer Scouts undertook a night time power boat navigation exercise, planning a course around Poole Harbour navigating the shipping channels and shallow waters, aiding them in the their understanding of Nautical navigation and chart work.

They ventured over to Brownsea Island using the Scout Group’s boats and kayaks to visit the birthplace of scouting, where in 1907 Lord Robert Baden Powell held his experimental camp ahead of the start of the Worldwide Scouting Movement.

New scout Adam Topps made his scout promise the memorial stone on the island.

Two patrols also gained their expedition challenge awards, by navigating their own way to Brownsea Island, anchoring up, setting up their own stoves and lightweight tents and returning on the tide the following day.

Whilst the Sea Scout Section currently has a waiting list of young people waiting to join, anyone interested in joining this successful scout group as either a section member or leader or instructor can make contact online and register themselves at www.watchetseascoutgroup.org.uk, where a online blog of this camp can also be viewed.