1st Bradley Stoke Scouts attend District Jamboree

Jacob's ladder challenge at the Brunel District Scouts' Jamboree.

Over the spring bank holiday weekend, around a hundred members of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group attended the Brunel District Jamboree at Woodhouse Park Activity Centre near Almondsbury. This three day camp involved groups from across the district, so it was a real opportunity to get to know the wider Scouting family for both the young people and their leaders.

They started on the Thursday night with help from the Scouts and Explorers in putting up the large event tents that form the backbone of the camp, including the two most important tents – kitchen and mess tent! As so much equipment was required, a Luton van – fully loaded with gas canisters, cooking equipment, tents (to sleep in), tables, chairs and the like – was used alongside many leaders’ cars full to the brim with everything else not making it into the van, including all of the food needed.

On Friday, the young people from the Cubs and Scouts arrived and they had the excitement of not only starting the camp but also of having to pitch their own tents. Some thought this wasn’t as much fun as running round! However as sleeping in the open air – despite great weather – wasn’t an option, sixteen four-man tents were erected just for them to camp in. A separate gathering of leaders’ tents marked the boundary. As there were no formal activities for the first night, wide games were played in very wide fields.

Saturday saw an opening ceremony involving hundreds of members of the district, with each group representing a country that had hosted the World Jamboree. 1st Bradley Stoke were Denmark, so they took a Lego theme to their display. And then activities started that ran through until Monday morning including inflatables, orienteering, abseiling, backyards cooking, pioneering, Jacob’s ladder, air rifle shooting and crafts (which included making your own leather woggle). And each night there were campfires with traditional and not so traditional songs (we don’t think Baden-Powell knew the Pizza Hut song, and was probably rubbish at remembering the actions if he did. Most adults are!).

On Sunday morning, the Beavers arrived for their own special one night camp. For most of them it was their first camp and their first night away from home. They camped inside pop up tents within one of the large event tents with the lights left dimly on overnight so no one felt afraid. They had their own activities and like the Cubs and Scouts, when night time came after a day of action, they drifted into sleep quite easily.

Monday saw the last morning of activity. After lunch (big thanks to Ian and his team of helpers in cooking non-stop in a field to keep everyone fed and happy) it was time to close and then to bring down the tents and move off home. Everyone enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to the even bigger Avon County Jamboree next year.

So does this spark some interest in joining the team as an adult volunteer? The group needs uniformed leaders to run their sections alongside behind-the-scenes roles. Further details can be found at www.bradley-stoke-scouts.org.uk. Or search for ‘1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group’ on Facebook to see what they are getting up to.

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