Another visit to 1st Sheet (Other Scout Groups are available!) this time to help out with selecting personal kit and packing a rucksack. The Leader had brought in his own kit so the Scouts could see how it was done. The Leader there can often be found wandering round the Scottish Highlands so an excellent selection of first class kit was on show. The mantra of cost, size and weight was drummed into the Scouts. When starting out get what you can afford, and look after it. Personal kit takes literally decades to build up!

Then it was my turn to show what not to bring. Laptops, cans of beans and pillows in bin bags tied to rucksacks were on show from me. After years of getting it right I found it difficult to do a bad example, but I think I got there in the end.

No expedition would ever be completed without food! The second part of the evening was dedicated to menu planning. The problems associated with my can of beans were quickly realised, dehydrated food was definately the way forward. From the use of military ration packs to raiding the supermarket menu’s were planned.

Over the next few weeks the training will be put to the test. With the words ‘you bring it you carry it’ ringing in their ears the Scouts left to pack their kit at home.