Isle of Sheppey Scouts take part in London Monopoly Run!
5th March 2023
On the 4th March, 5th Sheppey, 8th Sheppey and the Sheppey District Explorers took part in the Annual Monopoly run in London, meeting at the train station at 6:30 am there was 20 Bouncy/ excited Scouts/Explorers and 10 not so bouncy Leaders needing to top up on coffee with the early start.
This event is something I have had my eye on for a while and decided this year it was time to just do it. So, with all the scouts/explorers checked in along with the still sleepy leaders we boarded the train and headed off to the big smoke not knowing what to expect for the day we had ahead of us.
After hearing that this year they have over 8000 participant taking part I was excited to descend onto the jubilee Gardens just to see the volume of scouters/ girl guiders all in one place.
The main objective of this event is just like the board game with all the palaces you would expect to see on the traditional game board. we were traveling round London in groups of 7 in zones 1 and 2 going to the destinations set out on the official app. Completing challenges/ quizzes on the way. All of our groups were put in the same game, so we were competing directly with each other.
The walk down to the starting location was a sea of uniforms and neckers, all eagerly waiting for their start time.
We got checked in, game packs handed out and apps logged into, then waited for the countdown to begin. Then we were off some groups running off to bag there first property and others taking a steadier approach.
As the day went on challenges were added to the official app which had a time limit to complete these in 1st was to get a photo of the whole team with a double pillar post box 2nd was go get a photo of the team hugging a tree, 3rd was a team photo at a bus stop holding the game pack and 4th was to assemble the team in height order for a photo.
Each of our Districts teams had their own game plan, some aiming for the closest property s first. Others heading further out grabbing those ones, some opting to take on the day on foot and others deciding to use modes of Londons transport. As the day went on, we started seeing the rent role in from owned property's or having to pay rent ourselves landing in places already owned.
There was a live scoreboard which was constantly changing as the day went on making our teams more competitive.
One of the main highlights of the day was the number of Scouts and Guide groups whizzing around, stopping and chatting about their day.
5.30 pm soon came round and it was time to regroup and head back to Sheppey, with the scouts tired but enthusiastically chatting about their day and experience with each other on the journey home.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the leaders from Sheppey and the scouts/Explorers for a fantastic day but most of all to the brilliant event organizers for putting this on. A truly fantastic event which we are all looking forward to doing again next year.
Jez Gough
Mandy Fewtrell
Joint ADC Scouts
Sheppey District
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