It was an eventful winter season for the Cadets and Sea Rangers of C/SRS Vandyck and Achilles, with the usual mix of badge-work, activities, and adventures! Here’s a round up of what both crews got up to:
Achilles: Cooking Up a Storm
Alongside their usual badge-work, Achilles spent much of the Autumn and Winter in the kitchen. The crew got stuck into cheesy courgette batons served with a homemade tomato dip, and tried their hand at baked potatoes with a choice of filling – tuna crunch, cheese and onion, or coronation chicken – all made from scratch! Easter brought sweeter treats, with the girls making Easter nests from shredded wheat, butter, marshmallows, and chocolate eggs.
Exploring, Digging, and Tidying
A treasure hunt took the crew out into the local area, following clues and picking up litter along the way. Parents and siblings then joined the crew for a gardening session at the boathouse, making a real difference to the hedges.
‘The Pawprint Dragon’ Challenge
One of the highlights of the season for Achilles was ‘The Pawprint Dragon’ Challenge, which saw the crew tasting an array of spicy crisps and chutneys, building cardboard dragons, and inventing dragon names and stories. Braver taste buds tried dragon fruit for the first time, with its red scaly skin and speckled flesh, it was a new experience for many!
Back on the Water!
Achilles meet on Sunday afternoons, and were able to keep boating on the Thames right up until the start of November. After the winter break, the crew were back on the water again soon after Easter.
Vandyck: From Beach to Canal
Vandyck have also returned to the water, though with a twist this season, the mere is currently closed for major works by CRT, so the crew have resorted to the Canal instead. Their first canal adventures went down well with the girls, even if the water proved bracingly cold, as one crew member can attest!
Before the move to the canal, Vandyck made the most of beach-based activities, with plenty of enjoyment (and surprising finds) in the mud. Earlier in the seasons, hut-based sessions kept the crew busy with first aid, Mother’s Day gift-making, rescue techniques and work towards their Bronze section. Fingers crossed the mere opens again soon, until then, the canal is proving to be a fine substitute!
