Falkes Reaches for the Stars

10 out of the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon were Scouts.

Following Scout Ambassador Tim Peake, who lived on the space station for 6 months, supported by Dave Ledger from Airbus, Falkes Scout District Challenged all the Scouts aged 6 to 18, as well as adults, to make Bottle Rockets,
Off to the launch base at Boyd Field, Henlow were around 70 Scouts from a number of Scout Groups in Luton.
Technology included pop bottles, miles of gaffer tape, stiff card and anything else from weird shaped bottles to paper cups and golf balls. Design, engineering and planning bring about a large number of rockets. Contestants were invited to decorate their creations and points were awarded for design, and build quality as well as distance travelled.
All the rockets were judged against original designs then, one by one, launched into the air to be judged against each another – whose travelled the furthest, and which ones survived the mission (or did they just break)? Prizes were awarded to each section, including a special entry by Wigmore Valley Scout Group of a Space Shuttle which managed to fly backwards! Long distance travel was achieved by a number of entrants including members of Leagrave Scout Group.
Presentations were made by Yvonne and Daughter Sharon Goodman to overall winners of the Adam Goodman Challenge were Strathmore (Blue Foxes) Scout Group, closely followed into 2nd place by Lea Scout Group. The Adam Goodman Explorers’ Challenge was won by Hydra ESU.

This activity is part of an annual event for all Scouts in Falkes District: the coveted Adam Goodman Memorial Challenge, which in the past has included rifle shooting and archery competitions, trying to keep dry in the cardboard box regatta and the Scout push cart derby.
Nigel Timms, of Hydra Explorers said “although we take part for the fun element, we also take part to win, as it’s an honour to parade the Adam Goodman flag alongside our own”
There are always winners and runners up, but the real winners are the young people who have fun & adventure, enjoying new experiences supported by unpaid volunteers and proving yet again that Luton Scouts are more than just knots and compass.