| |
Blakedown Scouts
Scouts Christmas Camp 2009
11-13 December 2009 - Jim Jukes and Harcourt Webb log cabins,
Kinver
Scout Campsite The arrival at the campsite started with the scouts being
shown to their room and settling in, whilst yet again, maestro chef
Nigel Butler had the thankful task of preparing a hearty roast pork
dinner for 13 scouts, 4 young leaders and three leaders soon to be four
when the GSL managed to escape work. After a successful meal, the
weekend plan was outlined and the scouts were given free time to chill
(after they had cleaned up and done the washing up)!! The programme was
a simple one, to relax, enjoy the weekend and have a thoroughly good
time – based on parents and scouts responses in received emails, this
appears to have been achieved. Due to the early start and the days
walking on Saturday, it was time for an early night for the scouts and
allow the leaders/young leaders time to finalise the bases for the hike-
despite our best endeavours and numerous attempts to get them to settle
down we finally succeeded; – by now its silly O’clock though – so we
decide to retire - bases are sorted, scouts are sleeping and young
leaders are going to get a good nights kip – wrong!! 6.30 am Saturday,
Scouts decide to have a game of footie inside the cabin right outside
young leaders room- what a fantastic alarm clock; any parents that say
they have problems getting their scouting child up in the mornings,
please ask members of Blakedown Scout troop how they manage to get up so
early after staying awake for so long. By the way, parents of Blakedown
scouts that have said how much your child enjoyed the camp but were very
tired, well, now you know why.
Saturday started with a good cooked scouting breakfast along with
cereals, toast and juices, after cleaning up, discussing the route it
was time to set off on another low keyed Ian Pain “short walk”. After a
few wrong turns, both teams arrived at the lunch spot, Kingsford Country
park some with painted faces, some having done the gooey mess Kim's game
and obstacle course. With lunch completed the teams swapped routes and
went back to complete the remainder of the walk, however, asking the
locals which way, does not really help when they are not sure which way
you should be going in the first place!! Trust the compass and map and
never ask a local- as you can guess one team deviated from the route -
after a few phone calls and some sound searching skills the group were
located safe and secure and they got a free lift. Everyone back nice and
safe, time for dinner. A full Christmas turkey dinner, ably prepared by
James Davies’ supervised by Nigel Butler with the scouts preparing all
the veg. After a fantastic meal we opened our secret Santa presents, had
our desserts - mince pies or carrot cake or chocolate cake. Once the
menial jobs that all scouts love to do (washing up and tidying up) was
completed, we set out explaining the new wide game that involves 2 teams
and a game of stealth, cunning and teamwork- it went so well we played
it twice, but had to call a halt – sorry scouts but three times would be
too much. So here we go again, bedtime- how strange, some very tired
young people not too tired to have a custard pie fight – well done to
Pete for being the first victim, very special mention to his brother Tom
– Roy will not forget, he still owes you!! Now its time to retire-
strange, no noise and only a hardened few managed to stay awake for
about 30 minutes after they had gone to bed.
Sunday, another hearty breakfast for some weary warriors and then off to
the Crystal leisure centre, Stourbridge for a degreasing and swim – see,
scouts do wash, well sort of. We then returned back to the campsite for
a nice healthy light lunch of jacket pots then ready for the fumigation
of the cabins and the area of usage- this was achieved with minimal fuss
and the cabins were duly cleaned to a high standard- if I may make one
training note to the training team, can we please teach scouts that the
hairy end of the brush is better used when it comes to sweeping up, the
other end is purely to hold and you get more rubbish collected with the
hairy end!!
All the cleaning done, place looks better than when we took it over, (as
I believe should be the case), debriefed the camp and everyone agreed
that they had enjoyed it and that it was fun- each commented on their
best bit of the camp, main question asked is, “Where is it next year?”
Luckily, have 30 days to decide and 334 days to prep for it – physically
and mentally, so here ends another great camp , only a few things
remain, to say a special thank you to the scouts for their efforts and
also their excellent behaviour. Secondly to say thank you to the young
leaders that support the leaders, so Rhys, Tom, James and Martyn-
thank you. Finally but by no means least, the leaders: Josh a big welcome
and a big thank you for your help and effort over last few weeks, not to
mention the effort over the weekend. Roy yet again your support is
valued, wisdom and comments always well received and your efforts duly
noted – thanks. Nigel, this is the camp that you have organised and
structured so well thanks for making it easy for me to take the reins,
be involved and to do the shopping with you – next year you are more
than welcome to shop alone or with the young leaders. Finally to the
parents of our scouts, thank you for you support and contributions and I
would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and
prosperous new year.
With thanks: Ian Pain - Blakedown Scouts
|
|
