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Added by Paul Brown on Tuesday 18th November 2008

Summer Camp 2008.

With a transit van full of camping gear, a trailer loaded with kayaks, and a minibus packed with scouts (not forgetting three explorer scouts on the 0850 from Belfast CS to Castlerock), Summer Camp 2008 was underway for the 4th/24th East Belfast Scout Troop and the Knock Explorer Scout Unit.  The venue for the camp was Dungannon Hill, in Downhill Forest near Castlerock.  The dates were Saturday 19 July to Wednesday 23 July.

On the way north, heavy rain fell, and fears set in that this was to be the weather for the whole of the camp.  The fears proved unfounded.  The weather ranged from slight muggy mizzle to scorching hot, which was just what was needed for a great camp.

Much of the first day was spent setting up camp: pitching tents and building kitchens.  The site was ideal, with lots of room to pitch tents and to play sport and with plenty of wood for the scouts and explorers to burn.

The busy programme began in earnest on Sunday.  After inspection and a trip to Castlerock Presbyterian Church, the scouts and some of the explorers went surfing on the East Strand at Portrush, while the rest of the explorers and some of the leaders went kayak surfing further along the beach.  The scouts' desire to be surf dudes outweighed the need to wear pink t-shirts over wetsuits.  The scouts had much fun trying (and indeed succeeding) to stand on the surf boards, and got rather wet in the process.  The dip in the sea, and the showers in the watersports centre at the East Strand meant that all got a good wash!  After dinner, the explorer scouts organised a wide game in the forest for the scouts, which was enjoyed by all, even if the game did not get started until nearly midnight.

After a lazy morning on Monday, recovering from the late night following the wide game and camp fire on Sunday night, the camp travelled round to Bellarena to hike to the top of the cliffs at Binevenagh.  After a long hike through fields and forest (made longer for the explorers who got lost), the view from the top was spectacular.  Some of the scouts were even tempted to go for a swim in Binevenagh Lake!

Tuesday morning saw the scouts and explorers practicing their kayaking skills on the lake in Downhill Forest.  After lunch the camp returned to Portrush to go coasteering between the East Strand and the Blue Pool.  The scouts also tried archery, while the explorers went climbing and abseiling on Ramore Head.

After a five-course meal of curry and leftovers from camp, the explorers packed their rucksacks, donned head torches and headed into the depths of the forest to put up bivouac shelters for a night away from the main camp.  Fortunately, the night was dry and mild, so the explorers' shelter-building skills were not really tested.

Wednesday morning saw the final inspection, and the last chance for the patrols to get points for the inter-patrol competition.  After a close fought competition, the Gannet patrol won the prize for best camp kitchen. (It is rumoured that not serving raw vegetables in the vegetarian pasta may have been the secret of that patrol's success).  While beaten in the competition for camp kitchen, the Cormorant patrol won the overall competition.

Camp was taken down in blistering heat.  Scouts, explorers and leaders returned to Knock exhausted, sunburnt but happy.  After all, there is much to be said for a few nights away in the open, with plenty of good food (particularly at the explorer end of the field) and a wood fire to poke sticks in.

Bill Gowdy

Explorer Scout Leader and Assistant Scout Leader.

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