Newport District Scouts go camping
Friday, the day of the camp!
It was an early weekend in May, and we were going camping as a District to Islwyn Scout Parc for the annual camp.
We all arrived at the campsite eager to get started to be met by traffic chaos, sixty Scouts descending on a small country lane at the same time tends to cause some fun. We said goodbye to our mums and dads and were instantly put to work by the leaders, some troops were lucky and their tents were up, no such luck for us! After about an hour (or two (ed)) we had pitched camp and were ready to go exploring and play some games with the other groups on site.
Saturday, activity day.
Waking
up early the next morning not even tired after our midnight feast we were
met by shouts of �go back to bed its only 5.30!�
The
activities started at 9.00, and continued all day, we did, climbing and
abseiling, pioneering where we learnt some knots, lashings, and built A
frames, canoeing where every one got wet, archery, not to forget 
pancake
and omelette cooking.
The
rain put in an appearance in the afternoon, but the leaders kept the
activities going, temporally suspending archery until the weather got
better then started again so we all had a go.
After
tea (bangers and mash) we
were forced to do our own washing up including the pots and pans!
Saturday
evening we all gathered in the sports hall for an indoor campfire as the
rain had started again, the singsong started with an almost traditional
�camp lamps burning� we
all had a good time singing various songs, some I have sung before and
some new ones lead by other groups.
The evening finished with hotdogs, burgers and ghost stories before a quick dash for the tents in the pouring rain and straight to bed.
Sunday, Home time.
Sunday
morning I woke to the smell of eggy bread and bacon wafting from the cook
tent and the VERY loud snoring of the GSL, on the other side of the field!
No wonder D & G (the Scout leaders) were awake, it sounded like a jet
engine in the tent next door.
We
were fed, and given hot chocolate or tea in double quick time, and yes
made to wash up again.
Following the washing up we packed away our kit and took down the tents, with the normal battle to get the tents back into the bags that are never big enough.
We loaded up the cars and headed back to the Scout hut to drop of the kit and hang the tents to dry. I finished the weekend tired but very happy, we all had a good time except for the washing up, I can�t wait for the next camp.
#. ######. 24th Newport.
(main te
xt)