In September, over thirty Scouts from 1st Bradley Stoke Scouts and their leaders held a camp at Biblins campsite in Ross-on-Wye. Despite the very poor weather, they managed to complete a challenging programme with some new joiners camping for the very first time. As our oldest section in the Group, this was a simple camp to demonstrate the skills they had developed over their time with us. So when they arrived they raised their own tents and ensured that all of their kit was safely stored inside with regular inspections to ensure it stayed that way. After an introduction from our camp leader Darrell and hot drinks, they spent the evening inside their tents as the rain started to fall.
On Saturday the scouts cooked every meal and washed up afterwards (if you don’t cook, you wash. Very quickly, cooking volunteers appear!). The activities began with traditional saw and knife whittling skills taught alongside a session making paracord bracelets. And later – despite being very cold, wet and tired – they completed a hike to Symonds Yat in very heavy rain (photo above). For a few this was a journey of the next 100 metres or the next corner, but they all made it up to the top and back to camp. We finished the day with a campfire, s’mores and roasted chocolate bananas. And then to bed. In the rain. Again.
Sunday morning saw the camp rise a little more slowly but after another breakfast cooked by the Scouts, we had forest games including the always popular manhunt. A break in the rain alongside some fierce wind dried the tents enough for them to be quickly dropped and preparations made for home. After a final check of the field to ensure that we left nothing but footprints, we went home in the SUNSHINE!
Inspired? The Group is always looking for more leaders to prepare our young people as they develop skills for life. For more information, have a look at the Group’s website: http://1st.bradley-stoke-scouts.org/home/join-1st-bss
This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 27). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.