GLSW Explorer Belt Trip to Lithuania 2006

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On Saturday 29th July the base team for GLSW’s joint Explorer Scout and Scout Network Explorer Belt expedition set off for Lithuania. They arrived a day earlier than the participants to settle in and finalise some of the items that had up to then been arranged via the Internet. Base camp had been booked at a campsite at a well known Lithuanian beauty spot called Trakai which is the site of a series of lakes and a reconstructed 14th century castle.

Sunday dawned and the participants arrived and were picked up from the airport by coach. Their first night was to be spent at base camp with the expedition starting on the Monday morning.

Monday morning and the participants boarded the coach full of anticipation. They had no idea of the start point or the projects that had been set. After about 1½ hours travelling we came to the first drop point. Team one were dispatched, given their maps, log book and project booklet. And then the coach drove off with the remaining teams even quieter than before with anticipation. Eventually all the teams were dispatched and the base crew returned to wait the 10 days until their return.

The following Wednesday some of the teams started to appear and by Thursday lunchtime all had reported back. Log books were read and each team had an hour’s chat with the organising team.

Friday saw us at the British Embassy in Vilnius where the Deputy Ambassador had agreed to host our presentations. It turned out that he had been a Cub, Scout, Venture Scout and Assistant Cub Scout Leader until his diplomatic duties forced him to give up Scouting.

My congratulations to all the participants who achieved the certificate and to the 17 who gained the Belt. My thanks particularly to the organising team which comprised of Chris Dean, Alex Minajew, Sandra Newbery & Catherine Golden.

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