Spring is often the period that sees the start, of the main camping season. Although Winter camps do often happen for the older sections.
This spring we we had plans across many of our Sections with the Beavers waiting for slightly improved and dependable weather. We started spring with the Explorers heading off on a joint camp and finished the month with the traditional Scout Spring Camp, that we have run for many years.
Camps and residential experiences are a great opportunity for our young people and as well as being a core of the Scouting award work, they provide great team building and individual skill building opportunities.
Easter Escape Room Camp - Explorers
Explorer camps often get given an extra twist to add that some thing special. Our Explorer unit, was invited to join with a neighbouring unit for a special Escape room themed camp.
This weekend had the Explorers work in groups, to solve puzzles and challenges to earn the rewards such as added parts to meals. Our unit mixed well with our fellow Explorers, over 30 attending in total, they worked on the various tasks and really enjoyed the social aspects and this is certainly a major aspect of Explorer events, giving our members chance to meet new friends and build friendships.
A big thank you to Legacy Explorers for the invite and we look forward to future events, and working together to provide opportunities for the. young people.
Tri-Pack Spring Camp - Cubs
Our Tri-pack camps, have become a popular part of our diary. With the winter camp being run for several years, Due to availability of the site we have held this years as a spring event. These camps are great and although 1st Colchester host the event, the coming together helps make the accommodation feasible costs wise. Also with three packs, coming together it's a great chance for members to meet fellow Cubs and make friends. With 45 cubs attending this event once again proved popular and will be returning to its winter dates, this November.
For the young people it also gives them a chance to make new friends and learn about the wider Scouting community. This years the camp had lots of fun adventures, after breakfast the morning was spent outside and after some games the young people split into there groups to move around activities which included Den/Shelter building, Fire safety and lighting and Building catapults.
We then prepared and cooked lunch on the fires, which this year was pizza wraps. Due to the forecast for the afternoon we had planned to run some craft based activities which could be done indoors if needed (it was needed). So the afternoon sessions were made up of Mural painting, Bug house building and jungle masks.
Before dinner we split the members, into two groups that rotated between games session and Paracord projects. After dinner, we headed to campfire for some all important marshmellow cooking. Before bed we gathered back in the main hall for warm drinks and film night.
With most of the members, tired from a busy day we had a restful night. The morning on these camps are mostly spent packing away in the dorms and playing some team games outside, before collection at midday.
We really enjoying running these types of events and we are looking forward to next years camp, the next camp for our Cubs will be the large Summer weekend camp, that is generally held alternate years and sees over a hundred cubs join together from across Colchester for a special weekend of adventures and fun.
Scout Spring Camp - Scouts
Scout Sting camp is a very regular part of the calendar and is normally held in March. This year we decided to host the event at a different site, and headed to Hallowtrees. This is on the outskirts of Ipswich, we have run lots of camps from here before and it is always a welcoming site.
We started the weekend with an evening arrival on Friday night, and after pitching camp and settling in and after popular demand we headed to play wide games before hot chocolate and bed time.
In the morning and after breakfast, we opened camp officially (raising flag). The morning was spent making and launching water rockets and working of our pioneering skills, which will prove vital in future adventures this Summer. After cooking a snack on the fire to go with lunch we headed off for the afternoons activity, which was an arranged visit to the local climbing centre.
Once we got back to site it was time to relax for a bit and play a bit of capture the flag before dinner.
Our evenings on weekend camps are often spent around the campfire and playing some night time wide games, and this was no exception. With the all important smores and hot chocolate.
After a fairly chilly night, to say the least. We packed camp and played some rounders before everyone headed home after lunch.
Spring camps are often popular and offer a relaxed and easy going camp to start the main camping season for our troop. We have several adventures planned for the Summer with our week long Summer Camp being one of the main aspects, which this year will be in the Lake District.
This has been a particuly busy Spring, with some great experiences and adventures and with some great Scouting fun. We have a busy Summer ahead for our members and we are looking forward to the rest of 2024.