100 years

On 8am on August 1st 2007 Scouting celebrated 100 years since Lord Robert Baden Powell blew the Kudoo Horn to open his first experimental Scout Camp for boys on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour.
At 8am (local time) on August 1st 2007 Scouts around the world joined 28 million members and renewed their promise. I stood alongside my husband, on the seashore in Hamworthy, Poole overlooking Brownsea Island and said the promise which still sends shivers down my spine. After a BBQ brekkie we made our way to Poole Quay to join Scouts and friends making their way across the water to the island. The sun shone and there was a friendly party atmosphere. Brownsea was closed to the public on August 1st and open to One Thousand visitors. Whilst the activities could have been better it was good to spend such a historical day in such an important place.

On August 4th James and I went to the 21st International Jamboree, at Hylands Park in Essex. another gloriously sunny day saw us wondering around enjoying the great atmosphere and sampling food, drink and hospitality from all sorts of countries. We had a beer in Germany, lunch in Finland and afternoon tea in England. We relaxed in Algeria and marvelled at the Swedish Ferris wheel made only from pioneering poles and rope!
We took a tour of the site and saw how 40 000 participants lived, ate, and learnt during the 10 days of camp. It was mind blowing and exhausting.
One of the themes we saw around the site was:
'There are 28 million Scouts in the world. If every Scout changed one thing....'
What a proposition! Seeing young men and women from every continent and almost every nation living working and playing in harmony was truly inspirational. If Scouting can do it why can't the rest of the world watch, learn and follow suit......'

Putting the Out in Scouting!

Last weekend well and truly marked the end of our honeymoon, as James and I, and Ken, Doug, Matt and Colin took 23 of our Cubs and Scouts to Croydon District Centenary Camp.

It was well organised on the whole and there were lots of adventurous activities to do on site for the kids.

Whitsun bank holiday weekend had been earmarked by the Scout Association as a weekend for Districts to celebrate the centenary on a local scale. Many by camping

However no one had informed the weather.

Friday was sunny, I wore flip flops to work. Hooray I thought a weekend at camp in the sun, with nothing to do but provide three meals a day for my small charges. Friday night stayed clear, but as the sun went down, and the opening ceremony started the temperature dropped, and dropped. At 3am I woke James up and made him swap sleeping bags, because despite the fact I was wearing socks, joggers, a t-shirt and a hoodie with my sleeping bag cord drawn around my face I was still cold.

Saturday morning was grey, but dry, and cold. The Beavers arrived for their fun day and the clouds got thicker. Then the rain came. and stayed. The campfire was in a tent, and we went to bed hoping for a better Sunday.

Sunday was wet. For 24 hours. I'm glad I picked up my waterproof trousers. Sunday night's campfire was inside too. A meeting of group representatives was called. A severe weather warning was in place, for gale force winds and people began to leave the site. Leaving behind tents and kit.

We stayed, and pegged in our tents firmly, and storm guyed our mess tent. The wind got stronger, and those who had left site hadn't secured their tents. Havoc ensued. James and Doug helped to go round site and secure badly pitched canvas. They were narrowly missed by a flying toilet tent.....and full toilet.

Monday morning showed no let up, activities were cancelled and everyone went home to the warmth and dry of a solid structure.

It was hard work, and had it not been for the technical knowledge of our leaders we would have blown away.

When our County Commissioner opened camp on Friday night he said that Croydon Camp 2007 was about putting the 'out' into Scouting. I'm all for that, but boy I was glad to get 'in' to my house on Monday evening, and stand under a hot shower.

We're doing it all again in July - here's hoping for better weather.

H x