Sunday 22 May 2011

And finally



Sixers and Seconders Camp is all about giving the older cubs a bit more responsibility, allowing them to plan and run their own weekend. I try and pick a site which is appropriate to the particular group of kids, a local homely Scout Campsite is perfect for some groups of Sixers and Seconders where as in this case we were able to go a bit further a field and be more adventurous. Cornel is my all time favourite site, but being in the welsh mountains; we can only take groups that we know will be able to manage the changing conditions that this site often endures. When the wind and the rain arrived, this year’s group simply go on with what needed to be done; they were a very sociable, capable group and always in high spirits. I was confident that if conditions got a bit rough, this group would not be fazed by it and I am pleased to be able to say they proved me right. As well as the kids, I always try and pick a site that fits the leaders that will be going; Steve and Hickster are both very keen walkers and both qualified to take young people walking in the mountains - their knowledge and experience in helping young people safely enjoy this environment is invaluable. Along with Cheryl and Graham we had the perfect team for this weekend; I lost count of how many times they put the kid’s needs way before their own.

The Sixers and Seconders planned the food, menu, equipment list and activities – through out the weekend they were constantly tweaking things. It was their weekend and we wanted them to take ownership of it and be able to suggest and discuss how the weekend progressed. As leaders we were just making sure that what they were planning was appropriate, safe and with in the rules and guidelines of the scout association.

Thank you to Steve, Hockster, Cheryl and Graham for your support and making the weekend possible and thank you to all of this year’s Sixers and Seconders for a great weekend.

Hot chocolates all round


Currently having a warm drink overlooking the ski slope before heading
back to the cars for the journey home.

Lunch in Llandudno

The great pickup - 2

The great pickup - 1

Gale force winds - 3

Gale force winds - 2

This was one of the leaders tents in the morning!

Gale force winds - 1

A night of wind and rain

We returned to site last night and were welcomed by gale force winds
and driving rain.

After a warm drink and piece of cake the kids went to bed early
(10am). With in 10 minutes all the kids were tucked up in warm dry
sleeping bags and tents - my leaders sadly were soaked to the skin
after going round making sure all the tents were suitably pegged and
guyed to get the kids through the night. They also stayed up for a
further hour (still soaked and wind swept) to make sure all the kids
were safely fast asleep - my leaders have been amazing this weekend
and have repeatedly put the kids before themselves.

It is thanks to the good quality equipment that the 35th buy that the
cubs had a safe, warm dry night - unlike some of the leaders. This
morning has been dry but still very windy, which made the packing up
good fun.

We're all packed up now and enjoying a wind swept lunch on the great
orme in Llandudno.

Saturday 21 May 2011

Evening walk


After pizza and pudding - a relaxing walk along the river in Beddgelert

Pudding


Chocolate Pizza

Time for tea

Time to chill - 2

Time to chill - 1

Bike ride - 2

Bike ride - 1

Cooking - 2

Cooking - 1

The fire - 3

The fire - 2

The fire - 1

Wood collect - 5

Wood collect - 4

Wood collect - 3

Wood collect - 2

Wood collect - 1

Views - 3

Views - 2

Views - 1

Setting up - 3

Setting up - 2

Setting up - 1

Friday 20 May 2011

Camp setup

How amazing are these kids. It always amazes me just what ten year old
kids are actually capable of doing. On arriving at site they unloaded
the trailer and using a camp cart (8 trips) got all the kit across the
field to our camp area.

With the bikes safely locked in the trailer, they set about pitching
the tents: 6 cubs decided to sleep in hike tents (2 per tent - Squirt
and Max, Tom and Danny, Joe and Sam). The other three decided to sleep
in a cub tent (Joseph, Josh and Isaac).

The hike tenters in their pairs pitched their own tents (with hardly
any help at all from the adults). The three in the cub tent pitched it
on their own with only me helping.

Next came the frame tent (for cooking in) and Max was keen to help
with that, eventually helped by all the others. With in 1 hour all the
cub, catering and eating tents were up. Not much afterwards the
kitchen was set up and the hot water went on for a warm drink.

Hot dogs and hot chocolate for supper (prepared and cooked by the
cubs), then bed. With in 10 minutes ALL the cubs were fast asleep.
Setting up camp really is very hard, physical work.

The cubs have been absolutely hypo tonight but they have worked
amazingly hard. They have worked together to setup camp with very
little help and in a very short time. Because we have a small group
they have been able to choose what tents they want to sleep in and
tomorrow they will decide what sort of day they want to have.

At first it was an lovely evening, clear sky, millions of stars and
the sound of a waterfall poring into Crafnant lake which we are
camping next to. Eventually the wind got up, the temperature dropped
and it's started raining - one cubs fast asleep in his sleeping bag
tucked inside one of my many spare sleeping bags, another cub is fast
asleep with his pyjamas on top of his cub uniform - just hope it
brightens up and warms up in the morning - they're cooking breakfast
on a fire.

Off to site

Everyones now arrived and we're off to site to set up.

Relax


Having a sneaky mcflurry at Llandudno Junction while waiting for the
last of the 5 adults to join us. Making the most of the clear blue
skys and lovely sun shine - were all sat outside.

And there off!

Poor reception

Reception on site is non-existant. Because we will be in and out of
reception all weekend - I'll upload occasional pictures when I can.
The rest will be done when we get home. Some picture may also appear
out of sequence so I'll leave it to you to imagine them in order.