Scout Camp - 31 July - 7 August 2004 - Various Locations

Programme outline

Where will we be staying?

Various places in and around London. This will include a Scout hall in our district, the County headquarters, Hargreaves campsite and BP House in London.

How do we get here and there?

For those places close to home we will ask parents to drop off and pick up Scouts. If we visit London or further afield we will use public transport. If you are unable to collect or return your son/daughter at any particular time please let us know and we can arrange alternative transport. We will be returning close to home every time so if they have a set of keys a leader can escort them home or to the next venue if you are unable to share transport arrangements with another parent.

Why???

The 9th have always been very active campers. We can normally offer Scouts 20 nights away a year. However this year we want to try something completely different. Everything we normally do at camp we want to throw out the window and try the opposite.

So what does this mean?

We will be staying at places we don’t normally stay. In Scout halls or buildings. Not in accommodation centres or under canvas. We will be doing things we don’t normally do. Days out, visits, take-aways, meals out, cinema, all night parties, playstations etc.

So how do I know what to bring and where to go?

Have a look at the outline programme overleaf. Apologies for the short notice but with such a variety of activities and sites you have to wait until everything has been confirmed before you can issue specific times and places.

So you don’t know what you are doing?

Yes we do. Also the programme is deliberately open ended and flexible as normally a camp programme is detailed down the to the last minute and we are trying to avoid doing anything we normally do at camp (except for health and safety issues and Scouting rules of course which are always strictly followed).

So what do I do now?

Listen carefully to what the leaders have been discussing with you over the past few weeks.
Fill in and return the permission form.
Speak to a leader about the details if you have any concerns or worries.
Make sure you know what gear to bring to each session/day.
Make sure you have someone who can pick you up and drop you off at the relevant times throughout the week.
Make sure we have a contact number for you and your parents for every day during the camp.
Even if you cannot make every day because of the nature of this camp it will still be worth attending part of it.
This is NOT a normal camp, if there is something you want to do let us know.
You can still expect to work during the camp. There will always be jobs to do.
We will be staying at other peoples halls. Expect to work and do jobs to pay for your stay.
You may need particular equipment or gear. Check the program and ask a leader.
If you have a travel card and photocard please let us know.

Saturday 31st July- Sunday 1st August
Meet at: 21st B&D Scout HQ, St. Cedds, Lodge Avenue, Dagenham
at: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Evening

Programme outline: 24 hour session. You will be staying up all night. Something like having a party.

You will need: Party games & Electronic games. At your own risk you can bring a television, playstation, gameboy or similar. Arrive and depart in uniform.

You will not need: Changes of clothes. You will be going home in the morning to get some rest so you will not need to bring a great deal of gear.

Parents pick up Scouts at: 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning at the 21st B&D HQ

Go home and get some rest and sleep. We will meet up again at Hargreaves later on the Sunday.

Sunday 1st August – Tuesday 3rd August
Meet at: Hargreaves Campsite, Hainault Road, Little Heath, Romford
at: 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

You will need : Normal camping gear (sleeping indoors and playing outdoors). Arrive and depart in uniform.

Programme outline: Easy going indoor camping. We will be able to use the field and play wide games and stay out in the forest at night.

Parents pick up Scouts at: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning

Go home and get some rest and clean clothes. We will meet up again at Becontree later on the Tuesday.

Tuesday 3rd August – Thursday 5th August
Meet at: Becontree Heath Tube Station
at: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday
to travel to: Baden-Powell House Hostel, 65-67 Queens Gate, London.

You will need : Normal camping gear. Note you will be staying in a hostel which is indoor accommodation. They also supply bed linen so you will NOT need a sleeping bag. Pack lightly as you will have to carry all your gear on the tube. Arrive and depart in uniform.

Programme outline: Sightseeing and activities around London.

Parents pick up Scouts at: Becontree Heath Tube Station around 11:00 a.m. Thursday

Go home and get some rest and clean clothes. We will meet up again at County HQ later on the Thursday.

Thursday 5th August – Saturday 7th August
Meet at: County HQ, 437 Wanstead Park Road, Ilford, IG1 3TT
at: 2:00 p.m. Thursday

You will need : Normal indoor camping gear. Formal dress for meal.

Programme outline: Easy going indoor camp. Activities include a meal at the Redhouse on Friday (formal dress to be worn). Arrive and depart in uniform

Parents pick up Scouts at: 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Saturday

Notes

Equipment

Pack light wherever possible. You are only away a few days at a time and with the exception of BP house are never more than 20 minutes drive from home. Don’t forget to pack a coat and waterproofs no matter what the weather is. Don’t forget to pack a warm jumper no matter the weather (it always gets colder at night).

Keys

If you are trusted with a set of keys to your house you may find it useful to keep them with you at all times. Your parents may not always be in when we are swapping venues.

Uniform

You will need full uniform to arrive and depart each venue. No exceptions or excuses.

Contact

If you need to contact the party please phone a leaders mobile first. The phone numbers for the venues are direct to the warden and NOT our group and should only be used in a last resort. If it is important please phone the home contact as specified on the camp form.

Venues

Maps and directions to each venue are available. Note that we will be going to BP House on the Tube as it is in central London.

So how did it go?

Let me put it this way. Those that attended the camp still talk about it now!

This years Scout camp was a refreshing change from the normal. No tent pitching or cooking on open fires. We flitted from place to place doing pretty much as we pleased throughout the day. It made for a relaxing and enjoyable week and the Scouts were excellent throughout the entire week. Trying to order a pizza at 2 in the morning was interesting and having a chat with the local law enforcement officers and their big searchlight at 1:30 in the morning was novel too (we were telling ghost stories on the field and no they had not received any complaints about us). Well behaved Scouts dressed up smartly for the meal made every ones heads turn and invited some nice comments.

We all loved our couple of days in London and staying at BP House. We visited all sorts of places and even got caught in a fierce storm, narrowly missing a lightining strike just 10m in front of us and just getting into McDonalds before something out of a Hollywood movie blew down the street, sweeping peoples legs out from under them and causing a flash flood!

Yes, Baggy and Ross WERE locked in the bubble room at the Science Museum, and all the Scouts we had threatened to be back on time had to wait for us!

This was one of best Scout camps I have been on and we are planning something similar again.