What a fantastic weekend for our Scouts at Thunderbird 2026!
On 10th and 11th October, three Scouts from 1st Chopwell Scout Group headed to Blanchland to take part in the annual Thunderbird Competition, joining teams from across Blaydon & District for two days of adventure, hiking and challenges.
Starting in Slaley Forest, the team tackled a 7km hike across the moors, completing a series of incidents testing their navigation, first aid, problem-solving and teamwork skills. After a night camping in Blanchland, Sunday brought even more challenges, with another incident hike packed full of checkpoints.
We’re incredibly proud of our three Scouts, who worked brilliantly together and finished 4th out of 6 teams! A fantastic effort and a great achievement in a challenging competition.
This year’s Thunderbird was also extra special, as Howard Gilfillan celebrated running his incredible 50th Thunderbird Competition! A huge thank you to Howard and all the volunteers who made the weekend possible.
Well done to our Chopwell team — you’ve done us proud!
Read the full district article and see photos from the weekend: Thunderbird 2026: Adventure, Teamwork and a Very Special Milestone!
