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Background ~
Foreword ~
Diary (see below) ~
Links ~
Greetings
Friday ~
Saturday ~
Sunday ~
Monday ~
Tuesday ~
Wednesday ~
Thursday ~
Friday ~
Saturday
When I began to organise Summer Camp for 72nd Reading Sea Scouts at the beginning of 2002 Emily and I thought it might be a good idea to have a joint camp with 63rd Reading. Mick agreed and in July we held the first 72nd /63rd joint Summer Camp in Salcombe, Devon.
In the event there were 4 Scouts from 72nd, 3 from 63rd, 1 from 22nd, 1 Senior Patrol Leader from 63rd and 1 potential Scout split into 2 Patrols of 5. We gave each Patrol a disposable camera and a notebook asking them to keep a record of their activities throughout the camp. The following pages comprise their accounts of (some of) what they got up to illustrated with their photographs.
For many of the Scouts it was the first time that they had cooked meals on wood fires or used a hand axe or bowsaw. Although everyone appears to have enjoyed themselves it is interesting to see the differences between each Patrol's perspectives of the days' events.
My thanks go to all the Scouts and Leaders that attended and helped at the camp and I look forward to seeing them all again at the next one.
And so after the Summer Solstice had passed, the ancient tribes of 63rd and 72nd came together to plan their great expedition.
Many days and nights were spent in conversation and planning. Menus, programmes, kit-lists were all discussed and agreed and as the time came nearer the anticipation grew.
Finally, as July waned towards August, the great day arrived; they were ready.
Minibus, Legacy, Previa and trailers were loaded and the great convoy set off for the south of their land to a place by the shining sea called Salcombe.
And there the two tribes camped together while the sun rose eight times.
During that time the young members of the tribe divided into two groups called patrols and kept a record of the events of that period.
This is their story…
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| Power of People (POPs) Jeff (PL) We travelled for 4½-5 hours in a cramped and rickety minibus. When we got to Salcombe we split into patrols (of 4) and we met Zoë. With Dave's advice we set up two tents and a dining shelter and we set up a stove on wooden sticks. Zoë The journey was uneventful. Meeting the Patrol was really embarrassing because I haven't met them before. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL), Greg (APL), Ben & Jamie Today we arrived at about quarter-past three and unloaded the equipment off of Richard's van. After that we were put into groups of five and called ourselves "Three Midgets and a Giant". After that we started to set up camp however we ran into trouble with setting up the tent "right". After a while we managed to get it right only to find that we had to set up a fire table and collected fire wood. When we finished supper we went to the beach for a mini hike. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Ian (APL) We have just been woken up by Jeff to tell us to get the fire started. We are having a struggle to get our fire going but today we can look forward to having a good day because we are going into town and after that we are going to go swimming on the beach. (PS we have still not got our fire started and we have two leaders helping us!) |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL) We got up and had breakfast and went for a small walk into town where we had to answer 8 questions about the town and certain shops. When we got back we had lunch then we went canoeing and swimming down at North Sands beach and Greg capsized. Then when we came back we cooked dinner. We had tuck shop in the evening then went to bed. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Richard Today was very hot and sunny and we had the chance of swimming and canoeing. We also learnt how to use an axe and bowsaw. The day so far feels like it will never end. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL) We were woken up to the sound of Bob and Mick screaming at us. Then we realised we were up 55 mins late. We cooked breakfast. We went canoeing and swimming for quite a long time then we had lunch and made gadgets and had some free time until dinner. Then more gadget-making. Then tuck shop and supper. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Niels We woke up at 7.30am. It was sunny. We did the gorge walk. It was fun. We had dinner. We went to bed. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL) We woke up and we had our own breakfast cooked for us. We had bacon and beans with bread or we could have had cereals. We had our breakfast cooked for us because we were going 45 miles straight to Cadover Bridge in West Devon [NE of Plymouth] to gorge walking in the river Plym. When we got there we got changed into wet suits and put on a safety helmet and a life jacket. The instructors supplied all of these for us. Then we had a small walk 5-7 mins to where we would begin our gorge walk. When we got there we swung off of a huge rope and dropped into a huge rock pool where we got in our patrols and started to go upstream. We helped each other up waterfalls from about 7ft high down to 1ft high. We did this for several hours then we got back to the minibus got changed and had lunch. On the way back we went a different way into the heart of Dartmoor where we saw Princetown Prison which is still being used today. Then on the way back I dozed off and soon after (it felt like a few minutes, even though it was over an hour) we were coming back up the bumpy road to the campsite. For dinner we had turkey burgers, spaghetti, jacket potatoes and bread, but this time we had to cook and clean up (boooo!). After a demoralising 45 mins we had done the washing up. Then we went to the tuck shop then we had our own freak show including Greg, Ian, Ben and a few others; then we went to bed. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Jeff (PL) Emily has managed to get me some "Deep Heat" cream (for my bad back) - it really stings. We had a continental breakfast which was composed of croissants, Scottish pancakes, ham and cheese. Ian (APL) It's been quite a nice day all in all. We went down to the beach for a little while and then we went for a hike just around the hills and then came back. I'm sitting here while the others have gone to South Seas [Sands]. I'm starting to get a little homesick and I just want to see my parents again. It's quite hot though and we don't have to cook today because Jeff has ordered finger foods like croissants and ham and various other finger foods. It's just started to drizzle at about 4.10pm. Anyway it's been a good day and it's my sister's birthday. Zoë Today was very hot and sunny. We climbed around the headland to a beach called South Seas [Sands] and had an ice cream. It was really nice. We walked back to the campsite and now we're just sitting down as it is nearly dinner time. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL) We laid in due to rain and so none of us could be bothered to get up. But, when we did, we had breakfast then went out on a small walk with Dave round the fields then we came back had lunch and went rock climbing all the way from North Sands to South Sands, it was great. Then we came back to camp and didn't do much else. Then we had tuck and supper. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Zoë I've had a good day today because we went on a hike and then we came back and had lunch. After lunch we had some birthday cake and a Twix between us. In a few minutes we are going swimming and canoeing and dam building. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL) We got up and had breakfast, which we had chosen ourselves - it was pancakes. Then Dave dropped us off in the minibus and we went on a hike. Then we had lunch. Then we went canoeing and swimming in the sea. Then we had dinner, which only took us 3¾ hours to cook. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Jeff (PL) A good day. Well maybe not. I don't know because it hasn't happened yet. Richard Yesterday we went to Brixham and visited the town and lifeboat centre. When we got to the lifeboat centre we saw two lifeboats: one big and one small one and in the end we crossed the harbour and had a tour around the big main lifeboat. After we went to the lifeboat we went to the flume park, it was great and we all loved it. Zoë We drove into Brixham and went to a town to get our Mums, Dads, brothers and sisters gifts. Then a few of us went to see the lifeboat, which looks really big on the outside. After that we drove to the flume park. It was amazing, great and wonderful - we all had a great time. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Chris (PL) We went to Brixham and had free time in town and then went to look at the RNLI lifeboats. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Jeff (PL) We got up and took down our dining shelter, dismantled the chopping area and we did campfire stunts. PS Ian was abducted by Aliens his parents today because he had to attend a wedding. Richard (APL) Today has been a busy day around camp. We had to take down our dining shelter, cutting area and drying up line. After that we went down to the beach and built a big dam blocking the stream going down the beach into the sea. Tonight was fun - we had a camp fire and each patrol had to do a stunt and we all told ghost stories and jokes. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Greg (APL) We took down the dining shelter and smashed up all of the gadgets that I had made. During the night we made a campfire and did stunts around it. Later Emily came in and told us ghost stories. |
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| Power of People (POPs) Zoë Today is quite sunny. We are all going home today. I can't wait until I see my Mum & Dad again because I really miss them. Richard It was only today I became an APL because Ian left yesterday. Now we are all packed and ready to go. |
Three Midgets & a Giant Greg (APL) Today we got up and had breakfast that the leaders had cooked. We then took down the tent, packed away and went on a long journey back home. |
| From 22nd Reading: Niels |
From 72nd Reading: Jeff, Ian, Ben & Jamie |
From 63th Reading: Chris, Richard & Greg |