Post In Youth Articles
Added by Paul Brown on Wednesday 18th February 2009

While many were taking part in the quiz on the evening of Friday 30 January 2009, four brave (or foolhardy) Explorer Scouts and their leader decided that the cold and wet weather would be no bar to a weekend's camping at Crawfordsburn.

Three hours later, as there was no sign of any dry wood for a fire, and slow progress was being made with the tents, and clothes and kit were starting to get very wet, the camp did not seem like such a good idea.  However, a gas stove and some hot water for tea and pot noodles raised spirits, and before long the lads were out chasing round Crawfordsburn with their colleagues from Stormont, and getting very muddy in the process.

Just as it was time to get up on Saturday morning, the rain stopped.  A fire was soon lit (and kept in all day and evening!), and warm breakfast cooked.  Other explorers who had gloated of their indoor accommodation the night before were now strangely drawn to the fire burning in our site.  We soon finished the jobs which it had been too dark and wet to do on the Friday night and started trying to dry out wet clothes and shoes.

Saturday afternoon was spent playing football and trying out the climbing wall.  The explorers had mixed success, trying the different challenges on the wall.  Each explorer had to rely on his mate to keep him from falling - there were a few friendships put to the test!

Saturday evening was spent warming round the campfire.  On Sunday morning, the fire was rekindled to prepare a full breakfast.  Camp was struck, just in time before the rain came back. 

The weather was cold and wet, the site was muddy, but with a fire and high spirits all had a great time.

Other Articles in Youth Articles //