Easter Camp 2007 (Scout Leader's View)

THURSDAY
As customary we arrived on site and headed straight for Marple Scouts usual spot where the Explorers assisted the Scouts to pitch their patrol tents. This was until there was a shout of "foods ready" from the Explorer Camp and the Scouts and their leaders were left to finish the job. We sat and watched the mass exodus of Explorers, Rangers and Network as they went for a late evening walk! After serving sausages and burgers the Scouts eventually went to their tents, where they continued to make noise for the next couple of hours, until the noise had to be stopped as it was disturbing the concentration required for the leader's card game.

FRIDAY
The Scouts were up bright and early, definitely brighter than the Leaders felt, although by the time the Scouts had got to grips with cooking their own breakfast on a wood fire the leaders were fully awake and fed. A good game of long ball in the glorious sun kept us all entertained; even some of the Leaders managed to show a morsel of sporting ability. The afternoon was spent enjoying the sun, watching the Scouts build up good woodpiles and filling their faces with the sweets purchased from the tuck shop. As a token effort of exercise a short game of headers and volleys was played, and then back to relaxing. For evening meal the Scouts had Fajitas, which appeared to be their favorite meal of the weekend.

SATURDAY
The Scouts were a little later out of their tents this morning, after breakfast more wood was collected and the areas tidied. In more glorious morning sunshine a short game of cricket was enjoyed, although the skill levels shown were not good enough to note, the rough pitch seemed to take most of the blame. After lunch the Scouts split into small groups and were given a sheet of plastic to make bivouacs.

On a walk around the site I stumbled upon a Ranger V's Matrix rounders game, there was one larger than life player who looked a little out of place! Unfortunately for him he was subject to a cruel trick when the Rangers kept him in play by deliberately slow fielding, how red in the face and out of breath can someone get, a medical team were nearly put on standby! A Bivouac inspection was made before evening meal to make sure structures were substantial enough. I'm not sure that any would make it onto the TV program Grand Designs, but most appeared adequate enough for the weather.

Most of the Marple contingent then enjoyed a traditional campfire, singing songs and enjoying a Scout sketch in which one unsuspecting Ranger ended up looking as if she'd wet herself. For those who were listening there were some new and surprising lines to Bear Hunt. When it came time to going to their bivouacs some Scouts seemed less keen than others. Eventually all the Scouts retired to the bivouac, with one group mistaking the Leaders on the hot chocolate round for bears (Linnet Clough being famous for it's bears).

The evening passed of without incident until the network invited us down to their area for the now traditional late night curry, a fine selection of Indian cuisine was enjoyed by all. Shortly after the meal there was a display of the heat resistant properties of a Navigator top; this was until the point someone suggested that it might be about to set on fire, this led to an impromptu impression of a dying fly on the cool wet grass.

SUNDAY

We were awoken in the morning by a group of Scouts recalling how a badger had entered their bivouac, and had ripped chunks out of one the sleep mats. After breakfast it was time for the long awaited Kinder V's Cobden football game. First the Scouts played before the Explorers joined them and finally the Network and Leaders. The Cobden Scouts played Kinder of the park with an overpowering display. It was only the extended time the Explorers had to play in the second half that stopped it being a complete white wash. It was good to see that Peak Scouts were represented in the part time referee. In the afternoon there were several opportunities to enjoy some games, and time to relax again. The Matrix and Rangers had another game of rounders, which the Matrix won again; proving experience can beat youth.

After evening meal the Scouts had a fast and furious wide game which it was hoped would finally tier them out, which it did! During the game a visiting Beaver Scout was seen travelling at abnormal speeds across a field being led (dragged) by a pursued Scout, I've seen some fast beavers but this was record breaking. The Scouts then either went back for a second night in their bivouac or returned to their tents.

The leaders settled in around the fire to prepare for the last night leftovers curry. After the curry a large log was thrown onto the fire to keep it burning overnight. The weight of the log hitting the fire proceeded to tip the fire completely over and dump a full weekend's ash and burning wood onto the floor. It's not often you see Scout Leader cleaning the grass in the early hours of the morning.

Sunday night was also witness to the strangest fire injury ever. An Explorer was sat comfortable, cosy and Hobbit like near the fire; he said that something jumped out of the fire and hit him in the neck. It was almost as if the fire had jumped out and bit him. There were some other suggestions on how this mark on his neck might have been made; perhaps a Ranger can give a better explanation. It was his first Easter camp as an Explorer, some say he arrived as a Scout and left an Explorer!

MONDAY
Some Explorers woke up without a tent, some of there fellow Explorers felt like trying a late night stunt, which appeared to have been successfully completed. Of all the days for it to rain today was it! As some started to leave camp the Scouts played the Explorers at longball, the game was closer than you might imagine. The Scouts were helped by the Explorers being a little jaded, and their backstop being distracted by a Ranger saying goodbye!

So the drizzle continued to fall and the camp was taken down wet. For the first time in a long time the Scouts were ready to leave sight early, not that it was any help as the Scout Hut was already full of drying equipment.

Easter Camp 2007 was one of the best I've ever attended and certainly one of the most relaxing. The weekend was made more enjoyable by friends stopping by all throughout the weekend, some camped, some just had a brew.

I think it is a credit to Marple Scouts, Explorers, Network, Rangers and Matrix that 106 people (official figure provided by Linnet Clough Campsite) can camp, cook on open fires and have an enjoyable time together. Well done us!

Brok

Some photos (mainly of Explorers / Rangers) can be found on the Explorer Website