District Camp Hope Hill 2014

District Camp Hope Hill 2014

55 Beavers, Cubs & Scouts & Explorers and six Leaders camped at Gravesham District Scouts' Hope Hill campsite at the begining of the month with other Groups from Swanley District.

The Scouts, Cubs and Explorer started camp on Friday night with a disco, after which, some of the Scouts spent most of the night talking, but others got a good night's sleep.

Saturday morning was bright, and a number of parents arrived early to help prepare breakfast. After breakfast the whole camp of some two hundred and fifty plus scouts assembled for flag break (including 16 of our Beavers who had just joined us).

Thirty five explorers were then bussed in a vintage Routemaster, driven by ex Eynsford Scout Richard Abel (Landscapes) to a nearby paint balling venue at Longfield, for four or so hours of chasing about in woodland.

Meanwhile the Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers ran riot around the camp site. There were all sorts of activities laid on, from Air Rifles to Zip wires, Archery, Backwoods Cooking, Bouncy Castle Assault Course, Climbing Walls, Craft Tent with six different crafts to try, Football, Laser Quest, Sumo Costumes, a Tuck Shop, and most important of all, the interaction of all the different age groups in the sections.

Come the afternoon, come the deluge. Yes it did rain and some activities had to be cancelled, but most carried on.

After tea everyone joined in a Camp Fire, which took us to the Beavers' bedtime, they slept in one of the halls on site.

Sunday morning broke bright and sunny, with a frost all around! Breakfast was completed and we assembled for flag break, followed by a Scout's Own service.

Eagle Heights came with their Eagles, owls, and harriers, of whom some were static, but others provided a spectacular display.

There was more football, but finally a last flag down, and camp was dismissed.

All that was left for us to do was to drop the tents, pack all the equipment in the trailer, take it home, dry it out and put it back in store. Many thanks to the leaders and parents who helped with all these tasks. 

To see photos from the camp click here.