Camp Diary by Helena
Sunday: After all our hard work setting up camp yesterday, we had a lazy morning, sleeping in and exploring our site. After breakfast, there was free time, so everyone took the opportunity to visit the tuck shop, and had to be checked on the amount of sugar bought by Linda. For lunch, the scouts congregated by two patrols – Liam’s and Alex’s, gossiping and socializing. That afternoon, armed with wood and twine, we set to work building gadgets, which involved long and complicated procedures for building wash stands and draining boards and so on. That evening we had a campfire where we told scary stories and toasted (more incinerated in some cases) marshmallows. A great ending to a great day.
Monday: After cooking sausages and eggs for breakfast, we went down to the lake for zorbing. This was squishy giant hamster ball that were inflated, on the water we had to balance on. Those with real skill could actually run in the ball for more than a couple of seconds – trust me, it’s harder than it looks. It was incredibly fun and everyone loved it. Sickness struck the camp for today, as three scouts all came down ill. However, it was only one of those 24 hour bugs, as all three were fine by the next day. After a quick break for lunch, we went back down to the lake, this time however, for raft making. Whilst making the rafts, which we then had to sail, we discovered the correct way to tie a lashing (any way other than mine is fine!) and how to make a raft frame. Unfortunately, almost none of the rafts sailed across the lake, one even breaking before it reached the water. However a special mention has to go to the younger boys’ one, which almost sailed the lake, but then collapsed. But we all had a brilliant time, cooking bangers and mash for tea.
Tuesday: Although yesterday we were all wide awake at 6 AM, today we had to be practically dragged out of bed at eight! Once we had devoured breakfast (eggy bread), we set of for Sky-Hi. This was quite challenging, but really fun. It involved scrambling up a 20ft rope ladder, then carefully walking along an up slanting wooden beam, before turning round and walking back into the middle (this was a lot harder as you were going down that time), waving to your audience, then leaning back into oblivion. OK, maybe it wasn’t oblivion, but you try leaning back off a pole with 20 people watching and the same number feet drop below! Everyone did amazingly well, some people racing along the pole at goodness knows what speed! Especially well done to the people who don’t like heights that much, it was an amazing achievement. Linda was a fantastic example to all of us, by feeling the fear and doing it anyway. This afternoon, an army of scouts were let loose on Asda, buying ingredients for a three course meal, for Read Steady Cook, the annual cooking competition. It was a really close contest, but at the end, the all girl patrol won by a small margin. Some of the delicacies cooked included curries, stir fry, pancakes, stuffed peppers and strawberry mess – and all over a campfire. Everyone had a great time, although we weren’t quite as enthusiastic about the washing up!
Wednesday: There was free time this morning, so most chose to sit round one of the fires talking and clowning around. After lunch, everyone headed off to the ‘Whole Site Water Splash’ by the lake. The activities included an Aerial Zipwire over the lake where you had to jump off into the water, a Black Hole Slide (ask Ross about this one!), water cannon, loads of inflatables and a canoe launch down a ramp. Afterwards, everyone showered and headed back to camp for kebabs, after which the leaders had a peaceful ten minutes when the scouts headed down to the shop.
Thursday: This morning, we practised orienteering, which caused mass confusion over which signs we were actually meant to be looking for. Eventually, our problem being solved, we set off across the site. We will be experts in this before too long! That afternoon, we had exclusive access to a Secret Nuclear Bunker. It was an amazing experience of what it would have actually been like living in that time, with some (very) realistic mannequins and voiceovers that gave everyone the creeps. We saw John Major in his quarters, an operating theatre and sick bay, as well as lots of telecom rooms. A whole world in miniature built under ground...Then we went back to the main room and watched a DVD. After take away pizza for dinner, we then watched another DVD, until we finally went to sleep. Not for long though, as we had to be out of there early the next morning, before it opened to the public at 10am. But we managed to have one last look around the bunker before leaving. It was a fantastic experience, we all loved it.
Friday: Today was our last full day on the site, and it was really fun. In the morning we went on the Cresta Run, which was a bit like tobogganing on a steep slope, with four different carts. Just before the end of the run, you went over a small jump, where if you were going fast enough, you flew into the air for a second! Everyone loved it, and even though some people were a bit scared, they faced their fears and did it. To their surprise, they enjoyed it and immediately queued up for another go! On Friday afternoon, everyone began work building their biviwacks, in which many people had to sleep in to complete the final part of their Outdoor Plus Badge. Although everyone were winners, in 1st place were Luke, David, Maddy and Helena joint with Charlie, Amelia and Bethany. Second was Liam, Matt, Ben and Ruaidhri joint with Sam, Alex and Chris. In 3rd place came the two younger boys Harry and Ryan, who had never done anything like that before and should be highly commended for building a sturdy shelter and especially for sleeping in it all night. Although no one really wanted to go home, we were all glad to be going back to civilisation tomorrow.
