While the rest of the UK ground to a halt and hardly anyone was venturing outdoors Scouts from Stroud and Tetbury District, Cheltenham District and Royal Forest of Dean District joined around 2,500 other scouts braving the sub-zero temperatures at Gilwell Park. After hammered their tent pegs into the frozen ground at Gilwell Park they were all set to slept under canvas, as night time temperatures plummeted to minus six - but all the Scouts were well equipped to cope!

During the day they were kept warm with nearly 200 activities to choose from including rock climbing, abseiling, trampolining, rope climbing, laser tag, zorbing, go karts, shooting, archery and many more. In the evenings there was still lots to choose from including a traditional camp fire sing-song, three cinemas, a huge wide game and a disco. 

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: "Every young person deserves an adventure. It's great to see that so many young people get stuck into adventurous activities like climbing, abseiling, quad biking and having a go on the high ropes, all in the coldest month of the year." 

While the campsite boasts modern features such as simulated snowboarding, the traditional scouts' motto "be prepared" is still observed. One young scout came to the rescue of a BBC reporter when the freezing temperatures drained the batteries of his recording equipment, providing replacements from his kit bag.

St Roses School in Stroud, has just opened a new Scout Troop to offer Scouting to some of its pupils. St Rose's School is a non-maintained Catholic specialist school for children aged 2 – 18 years with physical disabilities and associated difficulties, including speech and language, epilepsy, visual impairment and/or learning difficulties. 

Anna King, District Commissioner for Stroud and Tetbury Scout District, welcomed the first twelve members of the new group into Scouting and presented them with their Scout Scarf. After the ceremony the new Scouts, their parents and guests all shared a cake baked specially for the event.  After the ceremony Anna said, "This has been a wonderful and memorable afternoon. Although the members of the new Scout Troop at St Rose’s are confined to a wheelchair for much of the time, they are never-the-less looking forward to taking part in a wide range of Scouting activities. There are already plans for them to take part in some District activities where they will integrate with Scouts from our other troops from around the district. Just like more able bodied Scouts, they will be enjoying the challenge that Scouting offers all young people to try new things, enjoy being outdoors, while also having a great time with their friends. The Roses school offers a wide range of facilities and access to a broad and relevant curriculum, therapy, medical care, sensory experience, varied extra curricular activities and outings. Scouting aims to help all young people develop to reach their full mental, spiritual and physical potential and to be part of their local, national and international communities, while also offering opportunities so that they can really get the most out of life. They aims of Scouting and St Roses School fit well together and we wish the new Scout Troop at the School every success in the future."

Tom's fund-raising activities have included a sponsored walk of sixty kilometers (36 miles) across Gloucestershire in twelve hours and climbing some of the highest mountains in North Wales.

Tom explained: "The air ambulance was there to help my brother when he needed it, and wanted to raise as much money as possible to support the work it does, and help ensure it remains flying to help others. I decided to try to walk 60Km across Gloucestershire in a day and invite people to sponsor me. I enjoy hiking and back-packing with the Scouts, and I enjoy a challenge, so I decided to undertake some really challenging walks to help others."

At the end of 2009 Cub Scouts from Springbank in Cheltenham celebrated the Cub Scout Pack’s first birthday and looked back on a year of Scouting adventures.

For more information about Scouting in Springbank contact Anna.

On Saturday 23 January Stroud and Tetbury District ran a first aid day.  During the day over 100 Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts attended courses of various lengths leading to the Emergency Aid stage 1, 2 or 3 badge.