Do you have Explorer Scouts or Scouts (who will be 14 on/by 26 July 2025) keen to embark on a weeklong residential canal narrowboat cruise around the Birmingham and Black country ring?
They will :
When? Saturday 26th July to 2 August 2025
Times:
Where?
Start/Pick up location – Anglo Welsh base at Great Heywood (Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Stafford, ST18 0RJ) (approx. 2 ½ hours’ drive from Cambridge). Note that to keep costs down, travel to/from Great Heywood is not currently included, and so will be responsibility of parents.
Who? Young people who are Explorer Scouts, and Scouts who will be 14 yrs of age, at the start date of the expedition
How much: £460 per Scout/Explorer Scout payable by instalments
We do not want finance to be a barrier to accessing the opportunities of scouting so please get in touch if you would like to discuss more flexible options or financial support.
Event flyer to help with local promotion
To help Units and Troops promote the event to their Explorers, you can use the button below to download the flyer (previously emailed to all Units, Lead Volunteers & District 14-24 Team Leaders). Updated information will be sent to Scout Team Leaders (immediately after Easter).
Booking a place – places still available at 17 April 2025, so opened up to older Scouts
All bookings should be made by the Scout/Explorer’s parents by clicking the button below. This directs the booker to the Eventbrite booking system which also contains payment and other details that will be emailed once booking has been completed.
Contact for more information: neil.eccles@cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk
A. A knowledge of water safety will be important. We will be requiring explorers to wear buoyancy aids where there are greater risks such as when using locks or navigating very busy stretches of water. The waterways we are using are on average less than 1m deep, and, although an ability to swim and good water-confidence is useful, it is not a requirement for the trip.
· Both water safety and the ability to behave appropriately in their team will be essential to the success of the expedition. If any explorer is not able to meet the required standard in these respects, parents will be asked to collect them early at their own expense.
A. The £460 covers boat hire, fuel, mooring fees and ancillary costs, participants’ food, drink, tickets for bowling and Drayton Manor theme park.
A. For those booking Easter 2025 onwards, payment is due by the following dates:
£ 60 : (Non-returnable) deposit, payable within 5 days of booking on Eventbrite
£400 : 31st May 2025 (latest date for final payment to be received)
Please note, there is a £60 non-returnable deposit for each Scout/Explorer Scout booked. The balance of £400 paid is recoverable providing we can find a replacement.
A. Highlights:
· Working as a team to negotiate over 75 locks, numerous tunnels, and 68 miles of canals over 7 days.
· Experience both country and city landscapes as we go from rural Staffordshire to the centre of Birmingham.
· Assuming we make good progress, a day at Drayton Manor theme park https://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/
· Mooring in the centre of Birmingham.
A. Accommodation
· We will have a flotilla of 4 boats, sleeping around 10 per boat in individual bunks
· The boats all have flush toilets and showers as well as a basic kitchen.
· Young people will be living in close proximity for a week, so the ability to get on well with others and maintain good hygiene is essential!
· Each boat will have 2 leaders in charge, at least one of whom will have a narrowboat permit issued by The Scout Association.
A. The expedition has the potential to be used as a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Residential, please enquire before signing up
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