Danemead End of Term Scout Camp

Lynx and Bobcats joined together for the biggest 3rd Ware Scout Troop camp in recent years!  We chose to go to Danemead campsite, just outside Hoddesdon.  Set in over 34 acres of  woodland, it's a brilliant setting for some backwoods camping.  

Once we had cleared the self-made traffic jam and after the Warden eventually turned up, we were able to start setting up camp, using our trek cart to get all the gear on to site.  They say many hands make light work, but it was nearly midnight before we were all able to go to bed.

In the morning, the Scouts divided themselves into their Patrols and cooked their own breakfasts, sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, beans, fried bread and toast.

Sorry, there are no photos of what they actually cooked.  It tasted so good, it was all gone too quick!  - At least, that's what they told me.

Did someone ask for volunteers to wash-up?

After breakfast, everyone had some free time to go and build a rope swing...

 or climb a tree...

chop wood...

practise team power lifting...

or just dress up like a ninja!

Just before lunchtime we set about making some bivouacs, here's James, George and Jacob collecting some wood to make the structure.

And their new home from home

And the Senior PLs rather large take on the idea...

Not to be outdone, here are the rest of the shelters built from entirely natural materials!

 And the joint winners of the competition (above and below)...

After all that building, there was just enough time to play some wide games, namely Capture the Flag and Man Hunt, before everyone got back into their small groups and prepared dinner.

Eagles Patrol

Senior PLs and Cobras Patrol

Buffaloes Patrol

Saturday night, some of the older Scouts went out on a 3 hour night hike and procured some chips and drinks along the way, while the others stayed back around the camp fire and told stories - including the one about a certain Domino's pizza delivery that we had missed whilst we were out!  But like I say, it was only a story. 

In the morning, after breakfast, the groups started some backwoods cooking on open fires.  Typically they started off with dessert: Bananas & Oranges with melted chocolate and then followed that with some toasted Paninis with ham, cheese, chorizo, pineapple, tomatoes, cucumbers and anything else they could find.

This is how the fire started.  Using your imagination, I'll let you think about how big it actually got...