PHOTO ALBUM
looking back 2008 - 1998
Check out 2009-2011 Recent photos
| Christmas Dinner & Nikki's Permit Camp 2008 | |||
The Unit Christmas
dinner, ice skating at midnight, snowglobes,
christmas cards and decorations. Nikki organised her
Senior Section Indoor Permit the weekend just before
Christmas and with Holly, Cheryl, Clare, Emma, Zoe,
Lucy and Mim to join her the result was a fantastic
time. And of course she passed! Well Done Nikki. |
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| Innovate 2008 |
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Only two members at Innovate this year, but both Mim and Cheryl had a great time in Scotland. |
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| Kayaking 2008 | |||
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Once again we kayaked all summer, culminating in Maria, Ali, Catherine, Becca, Louise, Lucy and Mim attending a one night, two day course at Longridge Boating Centre at Marlow and gaining their BCU combined 2 Star Awards. They're stars. |
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| Mim's International trip to Slovakia August '08 | |||
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Our Mim attended the County International Selection two years running. In 2007 she was selected and joined the County trip to Poland with Jenny (an ex-Ranger), where she made her Promise. In 2008 she got through County Selection again and went to Pax Lodge for a weekend Regional Selection where she was chosen to rpresent Anglia Region Girlguiding UK at an International trip to Slovakia. |
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| Summer Camp 2008 | |||
| Horizon's Summer Camp
was once again held at Kirkby le Soken at the Essex
Jamboree. Nette & Holly were joined by Nikki,
Mim, Becca, Lucy and Flic from 26.7.08 - 2.8.08. Whilst there we visited Frinton on Sea where Becca, Lucy and Flic made their Promise. It was windy!!  Other activities included It's A Knockout, visiting the Global Village, kayaking, etching, listening to loads of bands, dressing for a recycled Fashion Party and spending time in the paddling pool. Kidlington Guides came to visit for the day during the week, we advertised Oxford by giving away samples of Coopers marmalade and we raised money for endangered animals by running a Lucky Lolly stall. |
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| Decopatch July 2008 | |||
One of our Friday evening activities - covering picture frames with paper scraps, then varnishing them, all done at the Pottery Place in Witney,one of our favourite venues. |
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| Sun Run
July 2008 |
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| Bronze DofE Expeditions June 2008 | |||
 Our new Bronze group at the start of their second day, they were camping at Green Hill Campsite at Bletchingdon. |
A now seasoned Bronze group having just completed their actual expedition. The weather was very hot and the paths well over grown. Suffering!!  |
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| District Camp 2008 | |||
Every couple of years our District try and hold a camp that involves everyone, a chance for the Rainbows to visit, the Brownies to sleep indoors, the Guides to practice their camp skills and the Rangers to camp alongside and join in or not as they wish. Meanwhile Leaders get an opportunity to swap good practice and socialise!! Left: Rangers working on their Books of Inspiration, below Holly emerging from her tent and below right most Rangers came on the Friday for a bar-b-cue  |
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| Gold DofE Practice Expedition April 2008 | |||
Our Gold group at Glenbrook at the start of their practice expedition. It rained, the clouds came down and they got soaked and nearly lost, however they survived, managed to get their kit dry and completed. Getting stronger, more organised and more proficient each time. |
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| Gang Show 2008 |
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 We always manage a few members in the cast (usually of about 200) of the Oxford Gang Show and this year nine of our girls participated. Its quite gruelling in that there are Monday evening rehearsals from September to March plus Sunday morning rehearsals for those members in the dance team and extra Sunday afternoon rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the Show. The Show itself takes place in the New Theatre Oxford and runs from Monday to Saturday with both a matinee (beloved by local Cubs and Brownies) and a quieter evening performance more in tune with most of the parents. |
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| Cheryl's Permit Camp February 2008 | |||
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 Clare, Emma, Nikki, Jade and Katherine helped Cheryl gain her Senior Section Indoor Camp Permit. As well as making God's eyes and pinatas, the girls visited an archaeological site in Egypt, panned for gold in Australia and had a visit from a Nigerian Missionary.  |
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| Christmas Party 2007 | |||
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The Christmas Dinner is usually one of the most popular events of our year. However we had to bring the date forward in 2007 which meant very few LINK members could attend as they were still at Uni. Added to that the Ice Rink muddled our booking (again), and we clashed with someones party. However after delivering yule logs, about 15 of us sat down to an excellently cooked turkey dinner followed by the left/right present giving game, party games and a sleepover. |
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| Halloween Party Autumn 2007 | |||
It used to be a tradition that we'd go up to Wytham Woods and to our Girlguiding centre there for our annual Halloween Party. However there's no vehicular access, and over the last few years we've had a group of girls who dislike the spiders and find the whole idea of a cottage in the woods too adventurous so hence a much tamer (and cheaper) affair at our local Guide Centre. The games, dressing up and fun haven't changed!!  |
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| High Ropes Autumn 2007 | |||
We're lucky in that we have one of the Scout Association's Centre of Excellence, Youlbury, only a few miles down the road and in 2007 they installed a high ropes course - so of course we had to try it out. Some of the Rangers were really good and managed it easily, some didn't like it at all and a few of us didn't even try!! Whilst there we bumped into Kelly, one of our ex-members, who is now on the Service Team there. |
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| Kayaking Summer 2007 | |||
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We had problems with finding an Instructor for our kayaking course this summer so in the end did without, not running a course at all but inviting all our 1 Star girls back to hone up their Skills, read the syllabus and spend alot of time practicing. Ali who has her 3 Star and Canoe Safety Test came and gave us a hand. Here's Davie at the Assessment, when Becca, Mim, Lucy and Catherine gained their 2 Star. Thanks go to both Ali and Dave. |
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| Summer Camp 2007 | |||
Summer Camp 2007 was once again held at Haven Holiday Park at Perran Sands. Nette, Becci, Amy, Sheena, Nikki, Mim and Jade plus Manda who came for a couple of days. Weather was very mixed with a couple of nice days but some rain and it was quite cold. Trips included a visit to Lands End, shopping at Newquay and an afternoon on the beach there, pony trekking locally and a meal out and Jade's Promise Ceremony at Sunset on the beach in Perranporth. The highlight was probably the visit of the RAC man after we discovered a hole in a tyre. Then he found the spare was also punctured!! Luckily we were reimbursed!  |
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| Emma's International in Poland | |||
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Emma got through County International Selection, then Region selection after a weekend at Pax Lodge and joined the Girlguiding Anglia group on their visit to Poland in Summer 2007. |
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| Holly on GOLD in Russia | |||
GOLD is: GUIDING OVERSEAS LINKED WITH DEVELOPMENT Holly decided to go for GOLD as the saying goes and attended an INTOPS (International Opportunties Selection) at Durham at the end of 2006. She was lucky enough to get through and was chosen as a member of a party of six to go to Russia where the Girl Scout Association (RADS), is still in its infancy. Their brief was to train members of RADS Senior Section and Young Leaders on the skills necessary to develop their Girl Scouting such as programming and team building. The Group from the UK stayed on a campsite for two and a half weeks where most of the training took place. They also got to experience home hospitality, staying in Russian Girl Scout homes for four days. Holly says: I discovered so much about myself and made some great friends. It also taught me what a well developed organisation GirlguidingUK is. |
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| Friday meetings | |||
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Friday nights are
taken up
with work on
the
Look Wider Programme, outdoor activities such as
visiting the gym, wide
games,
drop off hikes, scavenger hunts and high ropes.
Badge work, such as for
the
Anglia's First Things First or the Outdoor Challenge
or Make Poverty
History
badge. Crafts, such as Jewellery making, fantasy
flowers or pictured
here
painting
ceramic pots at Witney. Other nights are spent on
self esteem
activities,
assertiveness, International meals, talking about
life choices,
starting
a book of Inspiration or creating life maps. The promise is discussed and made, we kayak every summer, cook a lot and laugh even more, as to the parties!! Any excuse - the fun never stops for us! |
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| Sun Run 2007 | |||
| Runners of the Moon
and
Sun Run 2007. All runners completed. Members
who
attended were: Ali, Chris, Dave, David, Sheena,
Anna, Becci, Becky,
Emma,
Clare, Jemma, Olivia, Jade, Nikki, Mim, Maria and
Nette. As usual a brilliant weekend. Shame about the volleyball - again!! BUT - THE GOOD NEWS - WE WON... Jemma, Sheena, Davie and Phil - THE FASTEST MIXED TEAM EVENT! (4 hrs. 33 mins.) |
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| OSCAR Ceremony (SSOX Challenge Presentation) |
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Our Senior Section in
Oxfordshire
Committee sets a Challenge most years and all the
Units compete for a
Shield.
In 2006-7, we competed in a "Movie Challenge" and
had a choice of
approximately
80 activities to try! As you can see below Horizon had a go at the phone booth photo, making sandals and bin bag fashions, amongst other things. The Shield was presented at an "Oscar Ceremony" in June at our County HQ. Older members of the Unit loaned out their dresses, then most of Horizon met early for cocktails and canapés & our DC and her Assistant chose the eight girls they felt had taken the most trouble with their appearance and these got to travel to the event in our stretch limo. Upon arrival at the venue we were all greeted by the paparazzi & a red carpet, beautifully decorated tables, red & gold balloons, stunning food and loads of alcohol free drinks. Soft lights, sweet music, a chocolate fountain, gold envelopes, a humorous MC, loads of categories, the chance to make your acceptance speech upon the dais and a flower to take away all contributed to the ambiance. A highly successful evening which ended with a Disco and loads of bubbles. Our thanks to the Organisers!! |
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| 25th May 2007 Queen's Guide Party | |||
Our County Commissioner kindly presented Becky with her Queen's Guide Award at a bar-b-cue we held at the home of one of our local Ambassador's. All Parents were invited and we took the opportunity of holding a Court of Awards Ceremony presenting Rangers with white flowers, tied with ribbons, with their badges stapled on. Our District Commissioner presented Becci with her 5 year Award and various girls with their First Aid Certificates, whilst our D. of E. Award Adviser presented Silver Awards to Lizzie & Jennie and Bronzes to Clare, Emma and Cheryl. |
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| Duke of Edinburgh Award EXPEDITIONS 2007 | |||
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The Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition Group preparing to leave Burley Youth Hostel Campsite in the New Forest on day 2 of their actual Expedition in June (they'd completed the practice a month earlier). |
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The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Practice Expedition Group preparing to leave the Guide Centre in May. It rained !! and rained !! However they completed the actual Expedition a month later in glorious sunshine. |
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The GOLD Expedition Group coming in at the finish of their 4 day Expedition on Dartmoor in April. Beautiful weather, excellent time keeping, glowing reports. |
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| March Camp 2007 | |||
Members visited a Guiding & Scouting Museum as one of the activities on "Winterish Camp" at Youbury. Members here are posing wearing a variety of Guiding & Scouting hats. Archery was another very popular activity. |
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| Jamming Spring 2007 | |||
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Jamming session at a Friday evening meeting. |
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| Thinking Day 2007 | |||
Getting ready to help Rainbows, Brownies and guides light the candles at the District Thinking Day Ceremony 2007. |
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| County Challenge 2006-7 | |||
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Members of the Unit, posing in their creations made of bin bags and other bits and pieces, one of the Movie Challenges set by the County. Spring 2007 |
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The 2006-'07 SSOX (Senior Section in Oxfordshire) County Challenge was a movie challenge. In June 2006 we had had a Photographic Evening, which included taking a picture of as many Rangers as they could squash into a telephone kiosk. We were delighted to discover this same clause incorporated into the Movie Challenge, so went out and repeated the exercise.. Other challenges included making our own sandals, punting, kayaking, bowling, participating in a First Aid Training, etc. |
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| UNIT
AGM
& COURT OF
AWARDS Sept. '06 Becky's GOLD D. of E. Award Celebration |
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Our Unit Annual General Meeting was once again held at the end of September. Sadly we had to say good-bye to Ali and Lizzie, both off to University, but members were thrilled with the badges awarded, mostly for "Nights Away", a new scheme introduced this year. Just after the AGM, at the beginning of October Becky was presented with her GOLD Duke of Edinburgh Award by the County Commissioner at a small party at the Guide Centre. PLEASE SEE OUR
ACHIEVEMENTS PAGES
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| 2006 Summer Camp |
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Summer Camp for 12 of us in August 2006 was the NORDJAMB Jamboree in Iceland. We spent 10 days in the Country, arriving at Reykjavik and spending the first couple of nights at a Salvation Army Hostel, where we explored the city, shopped and went out for a traditional Viking dinner of shark, lamb shank and cloud berries. We then moved on to camp at Ulfljotsaven, the National Campsite near Pingvellier where we met up with the 250 odd other participants of the Jamboree. We spent a couple of days acclimatising and networking then various groups went off on different activities, the majority of Horizon choosing to cycle around the lake. The last days of the Jamboree were spent back at Ulfljotsaven, exploring the local area, swapping badges and crafts with other participants and attending a workshop about Icelandic folkore and myths. We ended the Camp with a tree planting ceremony at the Pingvellier Friendship forest. The last couple of days of the trip were spent at Jotenheimar, the Icelandic Scout Building in Reyjavik, here we all attended a pizza party, went swimming in the Blue Lagoon, where we were treated to a really good lunch and where Cheryl & Clare made their Promise & Ali renewed hers.  |
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| 2006 Sun Run |
We
were
there, just can't find a pic!!! |
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| 2006 District Camp at
Horley |
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 Only four members of the Unit managed to support the District Camp but Myrriam made her Promise at the bar-b-cue on the Friday evening, when the whole Unit went over to help set up.. |
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| 2006 Ulster Innovate |
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Older members enjoying themselves at Innovate Ulster. They also took the opportunity to explore the area whilst there. |
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| 2006 Bronze Expedition
walking |
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Having done their Training and completed their Bronze Practice Expedition last year Clare, Emma, Cheryl and Maryanne eventually completed their fifteen mile Expedition staying at Youlbury and looking at the state of paths bordering different types of waterways. |
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| 2006
Bell Ringing |
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One of our Friday night meetings in April 2006 was spent bell ringing at St Mary's Church in Kidlington. Practically the whole Unit attended and everyone had a go, thoroughly enjoying themselves. We're very grateful
to
Kidlington Bell Ringing Group who made this
possible.
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| 2006 Award
Presentations |
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Our annual Duke of Edinburgh Award Presentation was held at Oxford Town Hall in March 2006. Laura, Alice, Lizzie, Holly and Sheena were all awarded their Silvers. All, except Sheena, who worked for at a Red Cross Charity Shop, had helped with Brownies for the Service Clause and are Young Leaders. |
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| 2006 Thinking Day |
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Cheryl, Holly, Ali, Lizzie and Amy helped Becky with the organisation of the District Thinking Day Event at the Guide Centre |
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| 2005
Christmas
Dinner |
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As usual our Christmas Dinner was well attended. Everyone loved their gifts, party games were played and most people slept over. However this year instead of the usual ice skating we managed to book "broom balling" at 1.00am. Great fun was had by all. |
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| 2005
County
Challenge |
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Learning to knit at Rangers (a clause of the SSOX Challenge 2005) October - November 2005 |
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SSOX stands for Senior Section in Oxfordshire. Its an umbrella term used in the County to cover all Rangers, Young Leaders and Senior Section members. In fact all those 14-25 years of age. Most years the Senior Section Adviser, or the SSOX Committee, devises a County Challenge which can be competed for by all SSOX members, as we own a rather beautiful shield donated by "the Commissioners" in 1922. |
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In 2005 the Challenge included clauses on "holding a party in a high place", "biviing out", and "walking to see the sun rise". We rolled all these challenges into one weekend at the beginning of September. Above: - "partying in a high place" - on Jarn Mound, Boars Hill, Oxford and left: - eating breakfast having bivvied out at Youlbury International Scout Activity Centre, then risen early and walked to a high place to watch the sun rise. |
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| 2005
Innovate Wrexham
in September |
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Becky, Manda, Jaye, Lizzie, Ali and Holly attended Innovate and all were inspired by the "buzz" engendered by the event. Here are some of them, all dressed up for the evening entertainment. |
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| 2005
Eurojam |
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Becky and friend,
both
members
of the International Service Team at EUROJAM. The photo was used for publicity purposes and flashed all over the place. |
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| 2005
Quest - Oxfordshire's County Camp |
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3 Leaders and 9 Rangers attended the County Camp at Standlake in August. Traditionally Oxon's County Camp is held every five years with most Divisions running their own subcamps, the Senior Section manning a Service Team Camp and a Central Camp for all the organisers. However this year everyone camped with their Division. It was nice to camp alongside our District Guiding team and good to set the Guides an example but we did miss the camaraderie of the other Senior Section Units. We hosted some Russian Boy and Girl Scouts during and after the Camp. Above left shows some of them with us at our final night Party with the older Guides. Left - some of our members on the beach at Bournemouth on our day outing. |
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| Sun
Run 2005 |
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Watching the Presentations at Sun Run 2005. Attended by AJ, Ali, Amy, Amy, Becci, Becky, Emma, Holly, Kelly, Manda, Maryanne, Olivia, Sheena and Nette. We didn't bother entering the Sun Run this year but did have a team in the Moon Run. And for the first time ever we won a Trophy. The Fastest All Female Team in a time of 3 hours 44 minutes.. Well Done all four of you. You did us proud. |
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| 2005
Silver
D. of E.
Expeditions |
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In May four of our girls completed their thirty mile Silver Expedition in the New Forest. We're just awaiting their reports. |
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| 2005
Chief
Guide Award
Presentations |
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CONGRATULATIONS to Lizzie and Holly completing their Chief Guide's Challenge Award and to Nette for her 25 year Service to this Unit. We held a big Party in April to celebrate and invited back all our former members. It was lovely to see people again. |
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2004 Our Annual Christmas Dinner is traditionally cooked by the newest members of the Unit. Whilst they're cooking other Rangers deliver the Christmas cakes we've made to the elderly in the village and yet more members will lay the table and decorate it. We rarely sit down to eat before 9.00pm and some years its later. The dinner is always followed by one of our Court of Awards Ceremonies then the giving of presents. Most years we play the right/left present giving game and this is followed by party games before we go ice skating at about 1.00am in the morning. This year one of our Assistant Guiders remade her Promise at the Ice Rink at 2.00am after our Christmas Party. We went on back to our Centre afterwards and slept over. |
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2004 With AJ's help it was possible to run 2 Expeditions in the October half term. Five members walked east to west across the Forest being assessed for their Silver Award by a member of the New Forest Expedition Panel and four Rangers walked south to north for their Practice Expedition. The weather was dreadful and most people not only got soaked but covered in mud. We pride ourselves at Horizon on the number of Bronze and Silver Awards we gain. However so far we've only had two Golds in the Unit and one of those was AJ. However being associated with OSAGTO LINK Unit does give us the opportunity to keep the girls involved for longer. |
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2004 Ten members of the Unit attended Summer Camp in 2004 as participants of the Essex Jamboree. We were on Athena Subcamp and participated in some amazing water activities as well as the more usual "its a knock out" and evening discos. We spent an afternoon on Clacton seafront, participated in the Challenge Hike and some of the girls gained their International Friendship Awards. Dressing up in the evening was very popular and one day we entertained some Scouts from Ghana giving them both breakfast and an evening meal. Three members made their Promise whilst at camp. Jade, Sheena and Kelly all made their Promise whilst in the sea at Clacton. Traditionally they cracked open a bottle of perry to celebrate the occasion and we then held a bar-b-cue on the shingle and partied till sunset. |
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2004 Another action packed Sun Run in July. Only 19 attended this year though (including LINK). Amy & Nicky managed to pick up some guy from Wales in order to enter the 26 mile Sun Run which they both completed (although the Welsh guy walked off with our map & one of our compasses) and Becky, Leo and Maryanne completed the 13 mile Moon Run. We once again completely flunked the Volleyball but all enjoyed the inflatables and the kareoke. All loved the Discos. |
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2004 We visited the Forest of Dean in June, Kayaking on the River Wye was the main reason for not going to the Peak District this year. It turned out to be only a small group of us even though we were joined by some LINK members. We stayed at Holly Barn, had a meal out at a local hostelry, went mountain biking one afternoon and of course did a lot of kayaking. Jennie said "It was absolutely brilliant" |
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| 2004 In May Jade, Sheena, Laura & Jessie all completed their 15 mile Practice Expeditions at the beginning of the month, in the surrounding villages to Kidlington. Then at the end of the month they were joined by Olivia and went on to complete their actual Expedition camping overnight at Youlbury. Well Done all five of you. |
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2004 Becky's Holiday Licence Camp took the form of a Murder Mystery weekend. A camp of Cocktails, 1920'S outfits and mystery it took place at Hill End Environmental Centre, Oxford for the weekend. Other activities included an expert from St Johns Ambulance Service teaching us how to create gory fake wounds on ourselves, won't our mums be proud!!! A video board game called Atmosfear, golf at Didcot Driving Range, swimming and horse riding. We had to guess who the murderer was and we made yet more crafts... We all had great fun. Fiona says it was really great... the activities were good and there was always something to do. Also the food was good, and all the Rangers seemed to enjoy themselves. And of course, Becky gained her Holiday Licence. |
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| 2004 Our first overnight event of the year was a Fantasia Extravaganza February half term. This included a visit to Cadbury's World, which was really good. Then we spent all day Thursday doing crafts, and played chocolate games, and had a fairytale tea party. In the evenings we watched videos and had massages with aromatherapy oils. We went home early Friday morning. |
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2003 December saw us in London for the weekend. We spent the first evening shopping in Oxford Street, followed by a meal at Pizza Hut and a visit to the Trocadero. We spent the nights at Baden Powell House. The next day we visited CHQ then Pax Lodge for a tour of the building. We also had a new Ranger make her Promise in the grounds. On the Sunday we went to Harrods for some more shopping, then we returned home to rest our aching feet. A weekend enjoyed by everyone. |
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| 2003 October saw our annual Halloween Party and a scary night for the guides that joined us. The party included music, traditional games like apple bobbing and eating mini doughnuts hanging from string, and yet more party food. We drank a witches brew of mulled wine and everyone came dressed up. |
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2003 Our Summer Camp was a fantastic 10 days at Kandersteg in Switzerland. We visited attractions such as the Trummelbach Falls, Our Chalet where some Rangers made their Promise, took a ski lift to Oechininsee where yet more Rangers made their Promises knee deep in the (freezing) waters of the lake and Berne. As we were present for Swiss National Day, we marched into the town with all the others from all over the world, singing and waving flaming torches. An unforgettable experience. |
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| 2002 Another Summer Camp and yet another Promise Ceremony. This time at Lands End whilst camping at the Haven site at Perran Sands in Cornwall one of our favourite holiday destinations. |
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2001 At Horizon we have a tradition of having three Court of Award Ceremonies a year. Usually at Easter, the September A. G. M. and at Christmas. As there are not many Awards that the girls can work towards and they love getting badges we give participation patches and certificates for camps attended and jobs well done. The pic. on the left shows some of the girls with their Awards pinned to balloons at the Christmas Dinner Party 2001. |
| 2000 Our first International trip for a while was to New York. Here you see Rangers with Helen (former Assistant Guider) at the Yankees Stadium in New York watching the New York Yankees playing the Canadian Blue Jays at baseball. The Yankees won! |
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| 1998 We've frequently camped at Haven Campsites, enabling the Rangers to party in the evenings in a "family" safe environment and having the advantage of loads of facilities on site. Perran Sands in Cornwall is one of our favourite sites and they're very good about accomodating us. The pic shows Rangers after a Promise Ceremony - Aug. '98 |
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