By Nick Nelson, chair of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group.
Over the late May bank holiday weekend, 160 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and leaders from the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group took part in the Brunel Jamboree, where they joined many other groups from the local district. With a superhero theme, the three-night, four-day camp included climbing, crate stacking, archery, shooting, an assault course, bouncy castles, craft activities, human table football and backwoods cooking.
Like all our camps, they are meticulously organised over many months by our more experienced camp leaders. However, the physical activity started on Thursday evening with tents being raised by a mixture of Scouts, adult volunteers and parents. This included putting up seven marquees, four of them together into a huge 18 x 8 metre space for preparing and serving food. We would need this when the rain came.
When the Cubs and Scouts arrived on Friday, everything was in place. Tents were allocated and new friends made (having so many sections means that sometimes you only get to know them on a camp). We paraded into the main event area behind our superhero banner designed by the Beavers and opened the camp. The hot dogs were eaten quickly and everyone returned to camp for lights out at 11pm and sleep (or quiet voices until the early hours).
On Saturday, everyone took part in the activities and finished with a superheroes fancy dress disco. Archery did seem to be a favourite, although perhaps the fact that our leaders Clive, Mike and Tomi were running it helped as well. By Sunday morning, we were joined by the Beavers who brought lots of energy along with lots of rain! We had to duck under trees and into our large marquee for hot juice and biscuits. It quickly disappeared and everyone went to their activities.
Sunday finished with campfires and fireworks as well as karaoke and a silent disco (held in the same venue; nothing is stranger than karaoke belting out whilst others bop to a slightly different beat!). Everyone was very tired and remained so into the next day as the last of the activities was completed, the Beavers went home and the formal camp was closed. Memories made and with portaloo’s very full, it was time to get ready to go home. Luckily the cavalry had been booked with a group of parents arriving to help take down the tents, load up and get everything back into our storage container (thanks to everyone who supported us, you don’t know what a difference you made).
Inspired? The Group is always looking for more leaders to prepare our young people as they develop skills for life. For more information, have a look at the group’s website at http://1st.bradley-stoke-scouts.org/home/join-1st-bss
