19th Someries Scout Group

Be Prepared

Father & Son Camp

 

 

The planning for the Father  & Son camp began way back in November 2006, when the first idea’s were conceived at a leaders meeting following the desire to celebrate the centenary year of Scouting with a camp Scouters would never forget. This was definitely achieved beyond all reasonable doubt!

 

The camp was booked for the weekend of 15^th/16^th June and was to be held at Phasels Wood campsite in Hemel Hempstead. Following months of intense and very stressful planning and organising, the leaders and volunteer parents arrived on the Thursday evening to start putting up some of the approx 30 tents that would need pitching, including mess tents, older style patrol tents and the newer lightweight dome tents.

 

The leaders camped over on Thursday night and were up early on Friday morning as there was a lot of preparation work to be done before the first Scouters arrived later that day. This included cleaning and preparing the hut, finishing pitching the tents, sorting out the equipment for all the activities and challenges and arranging the food for the team of cooks that were arriving that evening.

 

The Scouters began arriving from 19:30 and by 20:30 everyone was on site and had been shown their accommodation (tent) for the weekend. The first evening consisted of an overview of the weekend ahead including putting everyone into teams, a  campsite walk, where the rules of the site were confirmed, and some wide games in the woods followed by supper and hot drinks.

 

The camp started early on Saturday morning with a cooked breakfast, followed by the making of a ‘Centenary Card’ (this was going to be needed for the weekends activities) and tent inspection before going off to their first activity. The teams were rotated around the three site activities over the weekend so that everyone had a go at each one. These consisted of abseiling, archery and a treasure hunt.

 

Unfortunately the weather turned and the rain started and everyone got soaked as they took part in their activities. Fortunately lunch was served in the Jubilee hut so everyone had an opportunity to change and dry out before eating lunch.

Just before lunch time we had two visitors, the District Commission, Kam and the Mayor of Luton. Both stayed for lunch and spent time talking to the scouters about their experiences of the camp so far, and what they liked about scouting.

 

After lunch, and with the odd bit of blue sky showing, it was decided to carry on with the it’s a knock out activities, as most of these were water based, we decided it didn’t matter if it rained! The activities consisted of water transfer, running with crowns, rockets and lay the table. Each team rotated around the bases and scored points on how well they completed the challenge.

 

Once the teams had finished the bases it was time to dry off, change and go to their next activity, before returning for some more team Mental Challenges. These ranged from opening a safe with the correct combination, crossing a gap via bricks, picture challenges and more.

 

After the challenges, dinner was served, with everyone helping with the washing and tidying up before the indoor campfire and songs. As always these were a combination of songs and physical actions for all to participate in. Supper followed the singing and then it was bed for a group of very tired but happy Scouts.

 

Sunday began sunny and dry so after breakfast the Scouts were given some free time to play with the many games and sports equipment that had been brought to camp. This included a football game involving both Scouters and dads, jumbo connect 4, ten-pin bowling, baseball, tennis and throwing balls at targets.

 

By mid-morning it was time for the last round of activities so the Scouters and their dads went off whilst the leaders started the mammoth clear up operation - packing away the tents and equipment. Lunch followed the activities and then it was time to break camp and present the awards.

 

After the presentations it was time to load the vans with the equipment and for the Scouters and their dads to leave camp.

 

Whilst the planning, organising and running of the camp by the leaders was at times incredibly stressful, demanding and hectic, the rewards, experiences and benefits gained by the Scouters far exceeds the stress incurred and everyone thoroughly enjoyed what was probably the most memorable camp this centenary. Here’s to the  camp in the next centenary!!