Camp 2006
Our summer camp this year was held again at Plum Park in Staffhurst Wood, near Oxted which is owned by Surrey County Council and managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. We had a very successful time with 18 boys camping from the Sunday through to Friday evening and we based the camp on the theme of wildlife. The sixes were named Badgers, Foxes, Rabbits and Squirrels and every Cub worked towards his Naturalist badge during the camp. We also worked towards the Navigator, Camper and Adventure badges as well as the Outdoor Challenge and Nights Away awards. The camper and adventure badges involved lighting fires and cooking tea, building bivouacs in the woods, pitching and striking tents and other camp-based activities.
The boys’ first job on arrival was to pitch their tents, the leaders having set up the rest of the camp on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon we made Six signs for the tents and also made badges. In the evening, following Scouts’ Own, we went for a torchlit walk through the adjoining woods in the dark and heard a story about “drop-down spiders”.
MONDAY
On Monday we visited the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. We borrowed some binoculars from the warden and then walked through the reserve, visiting the hides and seeing a lot of water birds, including, briefly, a kingfisher. In the afternoon we constructed bivouacs (shelters) made from natural materials in the woods. Unfortunately, we couldn’t test them for their waterproof qualities this year!
TUESDAY
Tuesday was the day of our annual visit to Tor Hatch at Shere, a private house, to use the swimming pool in the back garden and the trampoline. After swimming, we had a picnic lunch and then back to camp to cook beefburgers or veggie burgers over open fires.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, we continued working towards our badges and had a go on the aerial runway constructed by Alan and Ben with help from the young leaders which was excellent. In the evening we had a fabulous session with a local Falconer who brought several birds of prey and demonstrated them in flight. Several Cubs wore the special leather glove to allow the birds to land on their hand and pick up a morsel.
THURSDAY
On Thursday we visited the Tandridge Leisure Centre at Oxted for swimming. In the afternoon we had two excellent sessions - one of archery arranged for us by the Surrey Wildlife Trust staff, and then an assault course prepared by the young leaders. Then in the evening we visited Oxted Fire Station. The Cubs were shown the fire engines, then a film about the dangers of arson, then were allowed to clamber back into the fire engines and were driven around the station yard, with sirens sounding! The Cubs then used the hoses which was great fun.
FRIDAY
Our last day was Friday and we visited a neighbouring farm where we saw donkeys, quail, ducks and geese and then watched a demonstration of spinning. In the afternoon we visited Woolworths at Oxted to buy presents with left-over pocket money. Friday evening came all too soon, and we welcomed the parents to our camp fire where I was able to present the winning six, Foxes, with their prizes. Well done Foxes Six: Jamie Smart (sixer), Ben O’Byrne (second), Thomas Sharp, William Singer and Luke Adams. Cub of the Camp was Luke Adams, and the Chess Trophy was won by Jamie Smart. Connect 4 champ was Ben O’Byrne.
My grateful thanks to all who helped in any way towards organising and setting up camp, and in particular the leaders at camp: Sheila, Sally, John, Eric, Margret, Alan, Ben, Michael, Harry, Daniel and Chris. My thanks also to Dan and Jane Finn for helping us out at the last minute with transporting equipment.