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Added by Paul Brown on Wednesday 19th November 2008

Fourteen intrepid members of the 4th/24th Troop (along with four of their leaders) braved the weather brought by the unusually early Easter for the now traditional Easter Camp at Saintfield Demesne.

Easter Tuesday saw the boys arrive with all the equipment at the Demesne.  Tents were pitched, shelters put up, wood gathered and fires lit.  Through the hard work, scout morale was boosted by Adele's ready supply of sweets, while leader morale was boosted by Gary's provision of a cafetiere and real coffee. 

Once the site had been set up to the appropriate standard, the patrol competition began.  Rounders went easily in favour of Luke Murray's Foxes.  Mark Skinner's Badgers played a hard game of football and things were much closer.  Once appetites had been worked up, the patrols returned to camp to prepare the old favourite of gammon, beans and mash.  No food was left.  In fact, there was barely enough for the leaders to eat.  Maybe having a vegetarian leader isn't that bad after all, since that leaves food the scouts won't touch!

Once darkness had fallen and all billies, dixies and dishes had been washed, dried and put away (in that order), the evening programme of wide games began. Hunt the PLs, hunt the grots and run for safety were all played.  Having tired the scouts enough so that they would sleep, notwithstanding the camp only lasted one night, we returned to the camp fire for hot chocolate and a chat.

Morning came bright and early.  As the scouts began the long process of lighting fires and cooking fries, Iain discovered some good news.  The scouts had inadvertently already performed the service project for the camp.  The landowner wanted some wood burnt: scouts didn't need asking and had already used it for cooking and keeping warm.  When breakfast was finished, the boys took the bad news that they would not be doing a service project with good grace.  Instead, we walked into Saintfield, and set the two patrols a challenge to find out about the village. 

After lunch, camp was struck.  Scouts were collected in time to go home for dinner.  All enjoyed camp and were looking forward to the next installment (which came very soon for one leader in particular!).

Bill Gowdy ASL 4th/24th Scouts

Camp Report: Knock (4th/24th East Belfast) Explorer Unit and Sydenham Explorer Unit

Getting enough Explorer Scouts to camp on any given weekend can be quite a challenge.  The challenge becomes somewhat easier if more than one Unit becomes involved.

Certain of the Knock Explorers rued their decision not to attend the Climbing and Caving at Belfast Activity Centre (see last issue), so begged their leader if they could have a go.  When he suggested a camp at Crawfordsburn, with its climbing and caving facilities, they jumped at the opportunity.

So, it was decided.  Knock Explorers would go camping at Crawfordsburn on the 28-30 March.  Being friendly people, we decided to invite the Sydenham Unit along too.  The camp would give an opportunity to make new friends, try different activities, and to take scout campcraft to a new level.

The first new scoutcraft challenge was to complete the set up of camp after dark.  None of this idea of leaving the kitchen until the morning.  After the site was finished, the two units challenged each other to a hole digging competition on Crawfordsburn beach.  After a hard fought match, the independent adjudicator Gavan Duffy from South Belfast Explorers ruled that Sydenham had won. 

The next morning, Explorers were up early.  They had to be: no food was going to be issued until all were out of the tent.  After breakfast, the programme began, with caving first.  After caving, the rain began.  The already sodden site became a mudslide, and a stream developed right through our fire area and some of our tents.  I thought that they were putting drainage in the field...  Thankfully, the Lid was available for a kick about.  Knock v Sydenham again, and Sydenham had it again.

After lunch, it was back to the lid for climbing on the wall.  All routes on the wall were tried, some with more success than others.  After deciding not to challenge the 29th Belfast (SI) to a game of football, the rest of the afternoon was spent tidying the site and in free time.

Dinner was the second scoutcraft challenge.  Menu was sweet and sour chicken, and not a jar of cook in sauce in site.  The lads under the leadership of Masterchef Phil rose to the challenge.  The food compared favourably with the Chinese takeaway the 29th had for their dinner.

Evening activities were the campfire and a disco organised by the 29th.  There was a notable contrast between the mud-encrusted campers of the East Belfast Explorers and the dressed-up members of the Sydenham Girls Brigade who were staying in the chalet.  As for further stories of the evening, what goes on camp, stays on camp.

Sunday: fry, scout's own, strike camp.  What else?  Fortunately, all tents were down and in the lid before the thunderstorm came.

All four from Knock (Chris, Phil, Jaime and Robbie) and three from Sydenham (Tealeaf, Trooper and Henry) had a brilliant time and look forward to camping again.  I would like to thank John and Gavan for all their help at camp.

Bill Gowdy ESL Knock (4th/24th East Belfast) Explorers

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