Scout camp is over for another year and what a brilliant week we had. This year we headed to Foxlease just outside Lyndhurst in the heart of the New Forest. Foxlease is the HQ for Guiding in Hampshire and much to Point 5’s disgust we found Guides camping in the site we had booked upon our arrival but this soon turned out to be a blessing. Each half of the field has a toilet/shower block and a small hut, the problem we had was the hut we now had had no power but it was twice the size of the other one. This meant we could set up the kitchen at one end and eat the other end, no kitchen tent or huge tent to eat in was required and within 20 minutes we had running water outside, six power sockets and two strip lights up and running, it’s good to be prepared!!
Tuesday morning the Scouts attempted rafting, well, half the Scouts attempted rafting the other half actually did rafting. Sam, Jacob, Lauren, Ryan, Tom and Geena built a raft, put it in the water and rowed around for a while. Rhys, Lewis, Sam, George, Charlotte and Adian built a raft, put it in the water, sat on it and sank!! it was then back for a shower and cooking lunch on Trangia’s.
Wednesday we hired bikes and covered about 14 miles of the New Forest. Ty Lea would have won the award for shortest distance travelled before crashing but he was beaten by Radar who whilst moving the spare bike we had been left over to the shed decided to have a little ride on it. It was a small bike, Radar is not a small person and as he pedalled his knee got stuck under the handle bars so he couldn’t move it and he had to wait until he slowed down then just fell over to the amusement of the Scouts. Fortunately Radar was not on a bike all day as he was driving the support vehicle, no spare bikes or wheels just the important bits like lunch and drinks. We did 14 miles, how do they do 1000’s on the Tour de France sitting on them saddles? It’s like sitting on a razor blade! Point 5 was suffering afterwards even with the tissues down the pants as extra padding but Gadget had cheated and had padded cycle shorts (worth every penny).
Thursday afternoon was a trip to Splashdown Water Park in Poole, loads of flumes and rides. Before heading off to Splashdown some of the Scouts decided to join in with the Guides yoga session. It was all done from a distance as none of them were actually brave enough to go over and join them although it may also have been something to do with them not having a clue and on numerous occasions were seen trying to help each other out of whatever position they were stuck in! Thursday night was a mass game of Bat and Trap.
Friday morning we had a session of archery booked and by the end everyone was hitting the targets. In the afternoon we had a few water based Olympic challenges like shot put using water bombs with the Scouts laying down as the distance markers before a huge water fight. As the Scouts got too wet and cold they would head for a warm shower. Some lasted about minute but I think Gadget was still fighting George, Lewis and Jacob after an hour. It was then time to start packing ready for the journey home on Saturday.
We had a good week weather wise with lots of showers but they always seem to be overnight or when we were inside eating. The site looked out across a couple of fields and then the forest and each morning and night a small herd of deer would appear along with a pair of buzzards that we think were nesting in the trees next to us. It really is a lovely site and the odd giraffe or herd on wilderbeast would not have been out of place as we sat outside out lodge (shed). Considering we were in the heart of the New Forest their did seem to be a lack of wildlife, no rabbits (may have been something to do with the Buzzards), only a couple of squirrels, apart from the two that leapt out of the skip/bin and bounced off of a Guide Leader as she opened the lid and a yellow crested newt that had taken up residence under Rikki’s tent.
Normally each day the Scouts vote for Donkey of the day. This is usually awarded for something stupid the previous day, this year it was only done once and was awarded to Geena. However had it been done more that once Geena may well have held on to it. Who’s’ knickers are these in the middle of the field? Whos’s socks are these in the middle of the field? if there was anything left were it should not have been you could bet it would be Geena’s. Leaving a pair of bright pink knickers in the middle of the field was worthy of Donkey of the week.
As with all Scout camps the food was brilliant, from the Pork Chops, Potatoes and Veg to the Spam Fritters. What can we try next camp?
Camp would not happen if it wasn’t for all the hard work and planning the leaders put in so thank you Point 5, Radar, Gadget, NATO, Rikki and Lucy for a great camp.
A massive thank you to all the Scouts for making it such a great week. Parents, the Scouts wash up all their plates, bowls, etc and all the pots and pans after every meal so if you think they are missing camp just point them towards the washing up, we’re sure the memories will come flooding back.
Roll on KIJ 2013
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