Scouts go wild @ Balcombes Copse

[stovie]

Took eight of the troop on a basic camp over the weekend. Started with a 3 mile hike along the old canal to the copse.

setting out

quietly passed the swan

building shelter

crampball tinder

the larder, all freshly caught awaiting preparation

finished leaf hut

my setup. though in the end I slept by the fire as it didn't rain

learning the art of pigeon preparation. The breastmeat was removed and stewed with wild garlic, nettles and young bracken furls...they all loved it..

roasting rabbit

grub up...

one of our senior leaders calls for dinner

campfire at night

bacon for breakfast

a select company of archers

not an intentional shot...30ft up...

an oportunity to see how a swarm of bees is collected

a clean site on departure. This is where the campfire was situated

All in all a great weekend, finished off with a 3 mile hike back...

 

[Womble]

Brilliant - that's what scouting should be all about!

That's the sort of camp and activities that I wish we could have put on for our District open day at the weekned - we were putting on a basic backwoods demo camp. It rained all day and we got practically no visitors.

 

[Womble]

I notice they all have bows on their backs on the hike - did the troop make them as an activity?

 

[Phil562]

Well done mate - looks like you had a great time

 

[Tony]

Excellent stuff, it's inspirational seeing the youth get out and learning to be comfortable in the outdoors :You_Rock_

 

[Abbe Osram]

Cool stuff mate,
great pictures, I have to show them to my kids to get them out some more.

thumps upp
cheers
Abbe

 

[falcon]

Great stuff Stovie.....if that doesn't fire their imagination nothing will

 

[Toddy]

Now that is Scouting, :You_Rock_ not the constant clerical nightmare it so often proves to be. Very well done, those kids looked as though they were not only enjoying the whole thing but they were becoming competent too.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[stovie]

Womble, the bows are the bamboo creations made earlier in the year. We did a spot of roving on Sunday morning.

They really did enjoy it, and word is spreading like wildfire among their friends, and I think our numbers will rise in the very near future.

We're planning the next one later in the year.

 

[stovie]

Now that is Scouting, :You_Rock_ not the constant clerical nightmare it so often proves to be. Very well done, those kids looked as though they were not only enjoying the whole thing but they were becoming competent too.

Cheers,
Toddy

Thanks Toddy

they all had a go at skinning a rabbit, even those that were a little reluctant to start. Their shelter building was of a good standard, and as can be seen by the youngster with the crampball, their firelighting was competent too.

I had a great time

 

[JonnyP]

Thats great Stovie, were you the main leader with the bushcraft activities or do the other leaders practice. Its nice to see the kids doing it first hand, I bet they loved it. Did anyone sleep in the shelter ?................Jon

 

[stovie]

Thats great Stovie, were you the main leader with the bushcraft activities or do the other leaders practice. Its nice to see the kids doing it first hand, I bet they loved it. Did anyone sleep in the shelter ?................Jon

I'm the leader (thats not what they call me behind my back though ). I am the first in this group to organise this kind of activity. Our GSL came down for a couple of hours to help with preping the rabbits, but apart from that, all my own work (if you can call it work).

There was four lads in one shelter, two in another, and one girl slept in a hammock the other under a tarp. It was a real mixture of bushcraft styles. A really cool and informative camp.

 

[mark a.]

That looks like so much fun. Very well done indeed there Stovie!

 

[outdoorcode]

Great too see Stovie, I can imagine your ranks will indeed swell when word gets round

 

[jdlenton]

Sounds and looks like you all had a great time just what the youf of today need well done Stovie.

James

 

[Ogri the trog]

Nice one Stovie,
Spreading the word by the enthusiasm of the young.
Have some rep

Ogri the trog

 

[Mooney]

That looks excellent, i wish it was like that when i was in scouts.

 

[Buckshot]

Well done Stovie :You_Rock_
We're doing something similar this weekend.
We're kipping in the woods where I 'keeper, so they better be on thier best behaviour !!
I'm going to introduce them to the delights of nettle soup

I'll let you know how it goes.

Mark

 

[moko]

Simply Brilliant, well done. Those are some lucky kids and thanks for the great pictures, my kids love em. :You_Rock_

 

[stovie]

Well done Stovie :You_Rock_
We're doing something similar this weekend.
We're kipping in the woods where I 'keeper, so they better be on thier best behaviour !!
I'm going to introduce them to the delights of nettle soup

I'll let you know how it goes.

Mark

Look forward to seeing it Mark. I hope you have as good a time as we did.

Cub camp this weekend for me. But it will be a breeze. No cooking, all activities organised, just have to keep an eye on them...

Thanks for all your comments folks. I can't help feeling strongly that this is what it's all about, getting the youngsters away from their playstations and the like and giving them the confidence and skills to be comfortable with the minimum of 21st C interference...