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Badger Hill Scout summer camp 2006 will
forever be remembered for the extremes. Extremes of location, from canal
boat to campsite, from farmers field, too long dark tunnels. Extremes of
weather, from a level 3 heat wave to the most torrential rain some of the
leaders had seen, from blissful English summer days to gale force winds and
terrifying thunderstorms. Extremes of experience, from the simple cooking
of twists over a small wood fire to trying to capture huge marquees as the
wind blew them into the air. In every way summer camp 2006 gave the troop
and its leaders experience of extremes. |
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There were two elements to this camp, a
two-day narrowboat cruise for each group of Scouts, and four days at a
static pitched camp in the Daventry district site. |
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The narrowboat "Grebe"
did a fantastic job of providing accommodation, catering, and experience of
life on a canal for both Scouts and leaders. Back at the campsite, standard
Scouting skills were provided, together with hiking, adventures, food and
just plain old fun. |
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Before the camp even started, some of our
older Scouts had reminded us just how much Scouts are capable of, as they
had cycled well over 65 km from group Scout hut all way to the main campsite
over two days with an overnight stay. It is fair to say that the leaders
were truly humbled by the enormous dedication, effort, skill and teamwork
shown by our 13-year-old Scouts. This is especially true as two leaders had
previously tried to cycle the route in one day, and been forced to give up
at approximately 45 km due to a combination of the heat and "old age"! |
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From the first full day it was clear that
the weather was going to try and spring surprises on us on a regular basis.
While leaders and Scouts held down one of the large white marquees the winds
did its best to turn it inside out and bend and destroy the metal poles from
which was made. While on a canal, two leaders did a fair impression of
drowned rats while they tried to hold the canal boat to the bank against
ferocious winds. Yet within a few hours we were back to the balmy English
summer weather and, thanks to the fabulous support we received from the
Daventry district group, the main site was back in action and the tents were
up. |
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Halfway through camp the country was in the
grip of some of the hottest weather ever recorded, with the simple
thermometers on the site registering well in excess of 35°. The scouts took
this all in their stride, taking on their two-day hikes, pioneering, camp
skills, and local visits. It did of course provide the perfect excuse for a
massive water fight and plenty of showers, using the troop's own home brew
shower tower. It is to everyone's credit, that they maintained excellent
standards of hygiene, good manners, and excellent Scouting while being
fried. |
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During the week we also managed to fit in
swimming at local pool, visit to a canal boat Museum, lessons in camp
craft, lighting fires without paper, cruising through scarily dark
tunnels, and some two-day expeditions to camp out at another farm.
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Highlight of camp must be the campfire, at
which some of the troop surprised everyone with their improvised rap and
other brilliant songs. |
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