Scout Camp 2014

With Point 5 unable to sort Scout Camp this year Gadget took up the challenge and after a lot of planning and last minute flapping the Scouts headed off to Thriftwood Scout Campsite in Brentwood. Why is it that the hottest days on camp are always the two when your stuck in the car!

e arrived at site after a small delay with a blow out on the trailer tyre and were met by large puddles and thick mud. Wasn’t expecting that as we thought Thriftwood only put it in for the Pedal Car Olympics in January. We eventually managed to drag the trailers through it and on to our site. Point 5 did manage to get the Minibus stuck again. Thats not bad, it’s had three trips to Thriftwood and he’s got it stuck in the mud twice!

After Tents up and dinner there was just time for a game of man hunt before bed. Sunday saw the start of the site activities we had booked. First up was the Cresta Run, a four lane wooden track were you sit on a small tray on wheels and fly down it. This was followed by the Water Roller in the afternoon. This was a new activity that we hadn’t done before and was an instant hit. It’s a large tube that two get in, make like a Hamster and move it across the water. Looked easy sitting out side waiting and they all had great advice for each other until it was their turn. They would both start upright for about 5 seconds and get it moving before they fell. Then the battle began, if you could get up first the other had no chance and would be bouncing around all over the place as Lucy found out!

Monday started with the Inflata-Bull, a large Rodeo Bull with four straps that you pull to try and shake them off. First round the Scouts had control and Ned won with an amazing 1minute 6 seconds (they must do it in PE at Upton!). Second round the Leaders took over and this went to George with a ride of 7 seconds!! That afternoon it was the Pedal Cars which gave those that haven’t taken part in the Pedal Car Olympics a chance to see what it’s all about. Hopefully they are now looking forward to going back in January. That evening some of the Scouts cooked our evening meal on the fires. Joe cooked the best sausages we’ve ever had on a fire. We had 48 prefect sausages not a single burnt one.

Tuesday our plans had to be re arranged as the Demolition Derby was allegedly broken. We still think it had something to do with Radar threatening to re-enact the Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball video, pink leotard and all!!! some opted to get some fishing in whilst others were happy to just chill for a while before our rafting session that evening. We clearly need to do some work on knots and lashing as only one out of the four rafts stayed together, think one was apart before it got to the water! There are five Terrapins that live in the lake, sorry that should be Terrakrakens! It was great to see one make an appearance whilst the Scouts were in the water, it was even better to see the Scouts faces as it swam towards them, all smiles, then horror as it disappeared under the water. Probably didn’t help that the Leaders told them they had to stand still as they take the ankles first before doing the death roll with their prey and they can smell fear! They were no bigger than a small plate!

Wednesday saw the rearranged Demolition Derby. A large inflatable dome were you stand on four podiums and swing a large wrecking ball to knock the others off. Some also had an Air Rifle shooting session that morning. We followed his with our Christmas dinner. We made Paracord Christmas tree decorations, we had a tree, crackers, christmas dinner, even had christmas pudding. All seemed a bit strange in the middle of summer sitting out in the sun but at the same time felt right!

Thursday we had a session of Tree Climbing whilst the others cooked the evening meal on the fires. A little trick when cooking over fires is to coat the outside of your pot or pan in washing up liquid. The pot or pan will still go black but it will be a lot easier to clean. If anyone thought their pasta bolognase had a hint of lemon, it turns out someone put some on the inside of the pot as well! Throughout the week in their spare time the Scouts attempted to build shelters in the woods, learnt how to use their penknives, axe and saw correctly and of course enjoyed a few games of man hunt. They told stories around the campfire in the evenings and had a few song battles with the Guides on the site next door, don’t know why the Guides bothered they weren’t even close to the noise we could make!

All too soon it was Friday, our last day so we decided to make it a good one. Those that hadn’t done the Tree Climbing the day before went off to do that, whilst Lucy attempted to make hot home made crumpets for lunch. Lucy, we salute you, 100 plus crumpets, outstanding. I’m sure if Lucy was still there now making crumpets, Joe would still be there eating them! We also decided to book an extra activity for the afternoon and booked Lazer Tag. Hot crumpets for lunch, man hunt with a gun, we had various cries of this is the best day ever! But the day just kept on giving. After Lazer Tag those that hadn’t been Air Rifle shooting went off and did that. We had original planned on make Pizza one lunch time but due to various issues this was changed so what better way to do Pizza’s than Domino’s.

Hot crumpets for lunch, Tree Climbing, Lazer Tag, Shooting (well done Jasmine, highest score), Pizza and mint choc chip icecream for dinner, there were Scouts hugging each other almost bursting!

Saturday morning it was strike camp. Unfortunately it had rained in the early hours so everything was soaked but with the sun now beating down we managed to get everything dry.

Think it was one of the freshest smelling camps we have done, Scouts actually asked if they could go and have a shower, amazing!

Over the course of the week a few Scouts attempted to boil the two Kelly Kettles we have. Should only take a few minutes. By the end of the week George had mastered it and had it working in no time. Strange as he struggled when Aidan was helping him, took 37 minutes one day!

An ongoing battle that runs through most camps is Gadget against the Burco (Large gas urn for boiling the water). No matter how hard I try it will not light. Others it goes in one turn, Point 5 looks at it and it lights through fear! The Burco went into a early 2 – 0 lead but I hit a good run and surged to 2 – 5. Then it went and Burco made a late winning bid but I managed to hold on and won this years battle 4 – 5.

Weather over the course of the week was kind to us, we only got wet with a shower Monday morning, all other rain and storms fell over night.

Food throughout the week was outstanding. Lucy’s 100 plus crumpets, 44 boiled eggs all with dippy yolks at the same time, perfect porridge (were did Tristan put it all, lost count of how many times he went back for more!), Christmas dinner, every meal was brilliant.

A big, big thank you to Colin and all the crew at Thriftwood for making it a brilliant week.

A huge, huge thank you to all the Leaders and Young Leaders for making it an amazing week. Radar, Point 5, Coach, Gizmo, Lucy & Aidan. I couldn’t have done it without all your help, thank you.

And of course the biggest thanks of all goes to all the Scouts, you were all brilliant. Thor, Gandalf, “I’ve been bitten”, “get aaarrrrrrt”, we wouldn’t change any of it.

Have a great summer.