Gilwell Park Emergency Services Day
On Saturday 16th October, seven of our cubs and 24 cubs and beavers from 1st Cam joined over 500 cubs and beavers from across the nation in a full day at Gilwell Park, the UK Scouting HQ. Our seven cubs went with Rikki and Gaynor (soon-to-be Assistant Beaver Scout Leader Rowan). It was an early start, with the coach setting off for Gilwell from Cam’s scout hut at 7.15am. The cubs and beavers were very excited and wanted to start eating their lunch almost as soon as we set off…
After what felt like a long coach trip during which cubs and beavers explored the on-board loo facilities(!) we arrived in Gilwell in glorious sunshine, with a police helicopter flying low overhead (the police helicopter base is right next to Gilwell Park). The cubs and beavers were all given a smart day pass (a bit like Glastonbury), and we set off in groups to explore the field. The cubs watched a crashed car being dragged out of a ditch on a winch, sat on a large police motorbike and saw some of the big police horses. There was a fantastic demonstration of a chip-pan fire by the London Fire Brigade and the cubs were amazed at the ferociousness of the flames from throwing a single cup of water on a burning chip pan. The firefighters reminded the crowd about testing their smoke alarms every month!
We joined Cam for a picnic lunch under a beautiful old oak tree. After lunch Rikki & Gaynor took our cubs for a walk around the grounds to see the White House and visit some of the places of worship that were built by scouts over 50 years ago. After a play on the low ropes we found the shop and great joy was had by all the cubs spending their pocket money, on Gilwell Park woggles, postcards of Baden Powell, badges, pencils and lots of other scouting paraphernalia. It was amazing to see hundreds of neckers hanging down from the roof (when a pack camps there, the tradition is to leave a necker) and the cubs recognised some from places that they knew.
Back in the field, two of our cubs were tall enough to have a go at the Army’s rotating climbing wall, cheered on by their friends. Then a final visit to the London Metropolitan Police, who let the cubs hold their riot shields, and a tight binding on the ambulance stretcher, and there was just time for a chat to a group of female Muslim cubs from Ilford in Essex. Some of the cubs hadn’t really taken in before this trip that they are part of a world-wide movement, and they were amazed to see so many cubs from around the country.
Back on the coach for the long journey home, with boredom alleviated by singing campfire songs, led by Lisa, the Akela from Cam. Some new friendships were formed and Dursley and Cam cub leaders are now hoping to plan a joint winter campfire. Stay tuned!
Rikki Tikki Tavi (Assistant Cub Scout Leader) and Rowan (almost Assistant Beaver Scout Leader)