February Camp – or “I’m a Scout at Winter Camp, Get me Out of Here”
Whilst I consider myself a seasoned camper, this was another one of those excellent moments when you find yourself learning all over again. With the heavy snows the week before, I was wondering what sort of weekend we were going to have – if at all. However, the decision was made to go ahead.
Friday night we drove to Phasels – and the first order of the day (being a winter camp) was to get the fire going. This would have been fine, if it wasn’t for the foot deep snow that covered everything! Luckily, after shifting a few pallets we found (relatively) dry wood and we could get the fire going. Also, the snow made everything much more light (even at 9pm) so putting the tents up was fairly easy!
I say easy – we started with 8 Scouts, but before the first tent was pitched two decided that winter conditions weren’t for them, so they went home (good job we were close to home!)
Saturday morning and I woke up – a little cold – but to a beautiful sight –
The Scouts had already got up and had got the main fire going – which was good news (less good was that it had taken them 2 matchboxes, half a box of firelighters and half a bag of dry kindling to do so!). Still we got an altar fire going and eventually got breakfast cooked (we also found that the temperatures had played havoc with the camping gaz, so the cookers were almost useless!). Lunch was then next, so the potatoes were wrapped in foil and deposited in the ashes. Unfortunately one of the Scouts had smuggled his mobile phone onto camp and we found that this had enabled another to phone home and make arrangements to leave Saturday afternoon. In resolving this, our fourth less-than-happy camper also decided that he wanted to go home.
We had only brought enough food for breakfast and lunch – so we took a hike to the local supermarket to buy the evening meal and Sunday’s breakfast. Surprisingly for the time of day the supermarket was heaving with people catching up on lost shopping! Still we got away with what we wanted and returned to site.
Before we started the evening meal, the Scouts had a go on the Rolling Wall – an indoor revolving climbing wall which will challenge even the most adventurous Scout – and being only a few feet from the ground at any time means that you won’t need certification to let Scouts have a go (Phasels have put this into a room that they are also building a traversing wall, providing activities that campers can enjoy even into the evening). On the wall we invested Luke and Alastair – another “unusual investiture” under our belts.
The evening meal was Cowboy Stew – a foil packet containing veg, meat, and stock and cooked in the embers – followed by Bananas and Chocolate. Still a little peckish, Ivor and David then had apples, brown sugar and currants whilst the Scouts toasted marshmallows and bread.
Given the lack of sleep last night, the Scouts were quick to retire Saturday evening; by 10:30 nothing could be heard across the camp.
On Sunday morning the altar fire was quickly started and breakfast dispatched. Being a short camp, we then struck camp (although the cold had slowed up the Scouts… well, that’s my reasoning) and soon after lunch we went home.
It was a camp like no other – we couldn’t have planned for it; and for those that lasted all the way to the end of the camp I don’t think that they will ever forget it either!
The other thing I tried over the camp was the use of the micro-blogging website twitter – www.twitter.com – posting regular updates on how the camp was progressing. This enabled parents to follow the camp as we got on. To see the blogs, go to www.twitter.com/frog_scout – but note that these are in newest post first, so you will need to scroll through to read them in the “right” order.
The “Buff” Scarf
(image from amazon.com – the colours of Buff!)
Regular readers will know how relatively few times I will specifically identify a make and model of outdoor equipment, preferring to allow the reader to find something that is workable and within their price range.
However, today I will break that by discussing an item of kit that I believe should be in everyone’s rucksack for outdoor adventure – the Buff Scarf.
These cost about £15 for a “normal” one, more for the “winter” one (about £22); my advice would be to not buy the winter one, but perhaps two normal ones.
So what do you get for your money? Simply – a tube of stretchy nylon material – however, its usefulness is incredible. Want a scarf? Pull it round your neck. Want a hat? Two twists midway and there you go? Want something a little lighter – sort of “doo-raggy”? Hands through into the material and pull! Also – too hot? A couple of twists and you have a wristband!
There are a number of makes out there (Oxford make one that is sold through motorcycle outlets) but to be honest I haven’t seen much of a price difference – and Buffs are sold in a massive variety of colours (including black) that being stuck with an option isn’t a problem.
I did mention the winter model – this is like a buff, but has a polar fleece extension to it. Whilst this is good if you need the warmth, if you get too hot you are still stuck with it – layering being a key (hence the suggestion for two normal ones so you can use them all year round).
I’ve now got a small collection of these scarves – and with one being over 10 years old I can be pleased to report how effective they have been in use.
They are available in outdoors shops (Blacks, Millets), online (amazon, the buffshop) and in certain other stores too (such as motorcycle clothing shops – and the Ace Cafe!!)
(How to wear a Buff! Image from Flickr.com)
