Awesome school and lots of fun

Boys and dirt and fires and sticks and rabbits...SCOUT CAMP!

There was a stream, Docken's Water, some trees, two bridges, some fires, a couple of good buddies and enough sun to make do. It was boy bliss.

Our Senior boys, all but Scouts were able to rise to the challenge.

It was billed as the Polar Bear Camp with the promise of a ‘special' badge if the temperature dipped below freezing and that worked too.

So, the chosen eighteen arrived to the perfect new camp site, deep deep in the Forest. The Dog had known since the forest tent went up that boys were coming. We had to be quick! Not much time between arrival and darkness, dinner and tents but they managed and there was even time for night wide game across Black Barrow.

Saturday dawned cold but not quite freezing.

There were several litres of hot chocolate and lots of fire for breakfast as Mr. Urquhart unloaded the rabbits and Dr. Roberts arrived for the field study. We had crepes and maple syrup and by lunch, a dozen rabbits had been skinned, gutted, and spitted to roast. Mr. Moore declined to take one back for Mrs. Moore.

This was followed by fire lighting and pan fried pizzas, and then a devilish "Dirt" a concoction of chocolate biscuits, gummies and whipped cream all on top of a selection of pan fried rabbit...

Orienteering was good, map and compass across the open Forest to Ogdens for ice cream and then back with a very happy dog. We strung a Commando Bridge across the stream. We had the cover off the pool for the Polar Bear Dip and then it was Capture the Flag with shouts and running.

Dinner was very fine burgers, salad and home made apple turnovers, a campfire with skits, before the boys were tucked up and the thermometer plummeted.

It was cold and definitely below zero (minus 4 on the thermometer)with frozen mist in the tents and ice in the washing up bowls. We needed an extra hot fire to defrost the campers before the enormous breakfast.

As this was Scout camp much of the food prep, cooking, and camp work as possible was passed on to the boys, and there was use of the bow saw and of course, dishes to wash! Click here to see some of our pictures!

Striking camp was an all morning affair, and it was a pretty grubby tired group by midday.

Our thanks to a really great team of dads,(and one mum) Mr. Ed, Mr. Fairfield and our Camp Dog.

 

14/03/2010