142nd Troop Camp 2009 - Cumbria

This is the report of the 2009 annual camp to High Arnside Nr Coniston, Cumbria.

This was my 10^th camp with Fulwood and High Arnside has to be our favourite site, with the Tarn at the foot of the site which is very convenient for a lot of our activities. It also has running water in the form of a small but fast running stream, seen in the foreground of this picture, which we use to fill 'Puffin' Billy for hot water.

This year we had the ‘luxury’ of a senior patrol who were able to help pack the trailer on Friday evening and join the leaders on the evening journey to avoid the busy traffic with the trailer. We were then able to make a start at getting the marquee and other ‘central tents pitched before the rest of the scouts arrived.
 

Saturday:-

For the scouts, Saturday was spent travelling to the site, transported by a very brave minibus driver who agreed to collect them from the scout hut. Unfortunately a problem with the original minibus meant they had to wait a couple of hours for a replacement, however they eventually arrived at about 5pm, in time to decide where each patrol area would be and then pitch their tents.

As I mentioned above, we had a senior patrol this year, made up of the eldest scouts. Their role was to help the leaders run the camp, but also to enjoy being one of the patrols. The patrols had been decided back in Sheffield and for the record the names and members of each being:-

Senior Patrol

When it comes to meals on our camps, the scouts cook all their own food, usually on open fires. Their first night was quick and easy and in the shape of 'Beefburgers'

The day ended with an overview of the programme of the week ahead, and the traditional Bog Wash - (Hot Chocolate).

Sunday:-

Sunday morning on camp is traditionally relaxed, allowing the scouts to develop their sites and fires and of course, being a Sunday, a lay in.

Although there was only a few minutes left of the morning the programme showed that the morning’s activity was a walk around the local area, so we set off up the nearest hill which is called Black Crag which provides an easy climb and panoramic views of Windermere, Langdale, and Coniston.

After this walk it was back down to camp for lunch, before setting off for the afternoon activity -

Another walk!

This time though it was to Tarn Hows, which is about 20 minutes away and the first chance to go for a swim in the tarn where, as most are good swimmers, they swam out to an island and back.

It was then back to camp and time for tea, 'Corned Beef Hash' which the scouts cooked using their open fires.

Monday:-

Tradition dictates that on Monday we attack the Old Man of Coniston, which for those who know is not a vendetta on a particular OAP but the hike up the well known hill above Coniston.

The day was a bit overcast and the summit was in cloud as we approached the start, and the clouds were moving at an alarming rate which suggested we were in for a blustery walk. So with a bit of shared experience passed onto the scouts about what to expect we set off along the route which takes you up by Goat Water. The steepest bit is just after this point where we stopped for a brief moment.
After lunch on the saddle above Goat Water, we made it to the summit which as expected was a VERY windy place this year. And to prove we all got there - here we are.

As a result of the wind we decided not to spend too long at the summit, and the scouts for some reason were itching to get to Low Water, which is a few hundred feet below the summit, for a bit of ‘extreme’ swimming. This year they had a rather bemused audience of hikers who had stopped for a rest – even their dogs didn’t venture in it was so cold!
After returning to camp and cooking tea, 'Chicken Fillets & rice', we told the scouts to pack their rucksacks and a tarpaulin as they would be spending the night in secret shelters about a mile away. To add to the mystery we told the scouts that the landowner didn’t know we were camping there – not quite true but added to the atmosphere.

Tuesday:-

We had arrived at our chosen spot just before it went dark and the scouts managed to construct some shelters using the tarpaulins suspended between trees. Some better (as shown here) than others and I’m not convinced the senior patrol would have remained dry had the rain that arrived later in the day arrived any earlier.

We decided to leave the scouts to choose when to get up and remove their shelters, telling them that we would have breakfast ready for them in 1 hour back at the main camp - if they wanted it.

I’m not sure if it was the rain that started as we were walking back or the offer of breakfast, but the scouts arrived back in camp just in time for breakfast.

The rain was so hard that we were restricted to the marquee and dining shelter for our scouting skills session that was scheduled for Tuesday morning, and was a good opportunity to learn a bit more about how to use a map in view of the overnight expedition they would be taking part in tomorrow. They were able to work out the route they had taken on Monday and work out exactly how far they had walked, taking into account gradient etc, as well as identifying where they had camped last night.

With the rain getting heavier in the afternoon we decided to abandon the camp sports with the exception of the slide competitions. As the rain was providing the water, which meant we didn’t have to carry water up the hill, we placed the slide on the steepest slope this year which resulted in some very fast descents down the hill. The scouts favourite game being skittles and as you might have guessed the skittles were those trying to walk up the slide!
After the evening meal of 'Cow Boy Pie' (a mix of sliced potatoes, corned beef, baked beans, and vegetables), we took ourselves off for an evening walk to Hodge Close which is an old slate quarry with a rather spooky feel about it when it’s going dark. Dave kindly provided the ghost story but I suspect the scouts thought he was making it up!

Wednesday:-

Wednesday is the day that the scouts plan, organise and undertake an expedition to a ‘real’ campsite at Rydal which includes a walk of about 4 miles each day. The expedition is very similar to the D of E Bronze expedition however scouts who go on to do this have told me that our expedition makes the D of E look like a walk in the park.

Quite simply each Patrol is given a destination several miles from our campsite that they have to get to during the afternoon. Carrying their food, utensils and tents they set off having planned their route to obtain the answers to some questions set by me to test their observational skills.

Their destination is Rydal Hall Conference Centre, and both patrols managed to get there in good time. They are pictured here setting off.

The senior patrol was given a slightly different task. No questions to find but they were dropped in an unknown location which they had to find on the map and devise their own route to Rydal Hall, which for them was a good 8 miles and two 500m ridges away. They arrived a couple of hours after the other two patrols and had elected to carry a tarpaulin rather than a tent, so they then had to find a suitable location to build a shelter.

Thursday:-

The morning routine on Thursday is entirely down to the scouts. All they have to do is decide what time to get up, have breakfast, pack the tent, and set off back to camp in time for lunch.

This year they managed to arrive at the farm track at the same time and raced each other into the camp with rucksacks on their backs, and guess what? They were just in time for lunch!

The senior patrol took a more leisurely approach, having spent the night under a tree they got up late and wandered into Ambleside to look in the shops before returning to camp at about 1.30pm. I just happened to have my camera with me when they returned and took this shot, which was fortunate as they arrived from the opposite direction to everyone else - which they told me was to avoid the main roads. (Can't argue with that?)
The afternoon was a bit of a relaxed session, again, and deciding not to re pitch the tent they had taken on the expedition, most scouts decided to spend the afternoon building shelters in the surrounding woods.

Later they all made rafts in their patrols which they raced across the tarn, a race that was somehow won by the senior patrol.

The evening meal of 'Camp Stew' is often referred to as dog food by the scouts, as it involves using tinned meat. However it was all eaten and they still had to prepare unprocessed potatoes and vegetables.

The day ended with a game of Evasion, where the scouts have to get to a lamp without being caught.

Friday:-

The last full day and the scouts spent the morning tidying up their patrol sites as well as the surrounding area ready for packing tomorrow.

However the highlight of the day was an afternoon of Kayaking with Summitreks on Coniston Water. Their instructors provide three hours of fun and games on the water.

After an evening meal of 'Cottage Pie' (it was due to be shepherds pie but the butcher didn't have any lamb) the scouts cleared away all signs of their patrol areas, and packed away their last tent and ended the evening with a traditional camp fire and a final game of evasion before returning to their shelters for one last night.
 

Saturday:-

Fortunately a dry last night for the scouts in shelters, particularly the senior patrol whose minimalist approach to shelter building, as can be seen here, prevailed yet again – sometimes you just wish it had rained really hard.

However the dry weather meant that all the canvas was dry and could be packed away ready for storing rather than having to be dried out in the hut.

The trailer was packed and left just after noon, and the minibus turned up at 1pm to take the scouts home.
 

As I appear to state at the end of all my camp reports, ‘yet another successful camp’, so we must be doing something right.

Hopefully we will all be enjoying ourselves here again next year,

And perhaps a new slant on the big slide - do you think we could do this?

To view a slideshow of the photographs taken during the camp click here

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