Summer Camp 2011 took place at Silver cross campsite just north of Swansea . 13 scouts 2 Explorers took part in a wide range of activities.

Saturday saw us set up site in quick time. Having scouts on their third summer camp made a difference. Sunday saw us constructing wash stands and more impressively an Ariel runway running from a branch in a tree right through our website.  Hauling them up was hard work but watching then go down again was worth the effort. Some air rifle shooting and a dip in the camp site river filled a relaxed day.

Monday saw the scouts climbing and abseiling on the site’s tower and having a go at archery. We took down the runway constructed a Monkey bridge instead. Tuesday was our first day off site. The scouts had a day of rock climbing and a short hike. The rock climbing was challenging enough but some scouts completed a 90ft abseil!

 

 

Tuesday saw us get off site for the first time. The scouts spent the day rock climbing

and hiking. The climbs were challenging enough but some more confident scouts completed a 90ft abseil. It was good to see some of the less confident scouts climb higher than they have doen before. We also managed to invest Alice and Callum half way up the rock face.

After an early start on Wednesday we travelled to the Gower to cross the Causeway at low tide to Worms Head.  There we cooked bacon butties to complete breakfast. We returned to the mainland and relaxed in preparation for one of the highlights of the week Coaststeering,  Having fought their way in to the wetsuits the scouts set off for 2 hours of jumping off ever higher rocks in to the sea. I did not quite fancy that so I cooked their evening meal ready for their return. The scouts did return and were full of their exploits.

Thursday saw the scouts getting tired so we had a slow start but they still had enough energy to have a go at the onsite assault course. This was more an exercise in wading and crawling through mud! Hosing down and long showers got the scouts (but not their cloths) clean. We then headed back to the beach. The scouts spent the afternoon dodging waves, playing games and burying me!  A barbeque on the beach completed and a wide game in the dunes completed a good day.

Our last full day saw us on the road. We first visited Carew castle then headed off for some thrills at Oakwood.  This was a very popular venue. Several scouts had no fear and went on every ride.  Some several times and some getting them very wet!! I was forced by fellow leaders on to several rides and by the end was able to open my eyes, just!!, It was really good to see some scouts overcome their fears and go on rides they had never been on before.

Saturday dawned with the worst sound, rain on our tents!! Having had  no rain at all during the week two hours of rain left the tents wet enough to need drying out when we got back. The scout pack up well and we left site only an hour late!!  The parents helped us unpack and following our end of camp awards the scouts were dismissed to the comforts of home.

As a leadership team we felt the camp was one of our best. It was great to see newcomers to summer camp Alice, Jack, Callum , Leo, Jacob and Joel settled in to the routines so well.  Our two explorers Ashley and Gabsy proved to be invaluable in their support of the scouts and leaders and I hope we can continue to make use of explorers on summer camp in the future. Older more experience scouts were able to use their experience to make the routines run more smoothly. The camp cooks meals were the best ever. The scouts had a go at everything and the general spirit amongst the scouts was really good. The feedback given by the scouts was really positive and will help us plan for next year’s camp.

Read Williams view of camp here

See the Photo Album here.