The National Sea Training Centre at North West Kent College in Gravesend is offering a one day course in Personal Survival Techniques. As well as being a requirement for anyone starting a career at sea, it is also very beneficial to anyone who spends time afloat for pleasure. They are, at present, able to offer this course free of charge to young people aged between 16 and 19. For more details on the course or to book a place, please visit their website at http://www.nwkcollege.ac.uk/nstc/index.html or phone the college directly on 01322 629600.

Check out the photo's from our Summer Camp August 25th - 30th with 13 Explorer Scouts! yes that's one three! thirteen. Just use the 'Photo Gallery' option on the left

A working party formed mainly of Explorer Scouts and their leaders spent two days giving the abandoned Hadlow Scout HQ an overhaul ready to start a new Beaver & Cub Section.

The volunteers headed by our DC spent two back breaking days cutting down a forest of brambles and long grass before re-decorating the hut and sorting out a mountain of tents and associated kit in the stores.

Two skips, an enormous bonfire and a lot of blood (the brambles bite!), sweat and not too many tears later the hut is once again ready for business!

A big thank you to all the volunteers! Lets hope they get some members...

Check out the Photo Gallery pages for the best of the photos taken at the Central Tonbridge Unit's Circus Skills evening at the end of April.

Tonbridge district are delighted to be able to announce that Mick Vanns' successor in the DESC role will (with effect from 1st May) be Jo Phillpott. Jo was one of the leaders who went to Thailand over Christmas / New Year 2002/3 and proved her worth as a very strong member of that team. Jo was a member of one of the finest Venture units around : ) and has been involved in Scouting since then (not absolutely certain but around 16 years). Welcome Jo!

From your roving reporter on site at The Angel Centre. "Good afternoon Barry. Here we are at The Angel Centre reporting from the very exciting 5-a-side football tournament involving five highly trained teams from Explorer groups spread around the Kent area. The first match to kick off was between Tonbridge A team from Hildenborough who convincingly beat Dartford 3:1. The next match to play was between Tonbridge B who beat Walmer 2:1. That set up the rest of the afternoon with Tonbridge A winning all their matches and subsequently winning the league. Tonbridge B having drawn one of their matches against Dartford came out as runners up in the league on goal difference. That lead to an extremely close final match between Tonbridge A and Tonbridge B. After full time scores were still level at 0:0 it went to penalty knockout which Tonbridge B won at the last moment and proudly won the cup." p.s. we were robbed!!! next year we will be there to claim what should be ours!! By Steve Marshall; Hildenborough Explorer Scout Leader

Tonbridge District has launched the new Explorer Scout section to all its members between 14 and 18 years. Initially the district will have two units one based in the centre of the town, the other in Hildenborough. The first meeting of the central unit had over 25 young people.

After six months (very nearly a year actually! - MV) of excellent service our Explorer Scout Commissioner has stepped down to take up the role of District Commissioner. If you know anyone who might be interested in this rewarding role, let us know!