Over the Whitsun weekend, some 1st Caterham scout group members (14 cubs and 18 scouts) joined with other groups within the Caterham District for a 3 night camp at Bentley Copse Scout Camp Site at Shere near Guildford. A total of 60 Cubs, 107 Scouts, 13 Explorers, and several leaders and parent helpers from the various Groups in the District gathered on the Friday evening, set up camp and watched a film before getting settled down for the night.
On the Saturday, the children were able to take part in various activities including climbing, shooting, archery, an assault course, go-karting and a zip-wire. After lunch 83 Beavers with 24 adults turned up to experience the variety of activities on offer. They stayed until tea-time and had a great introduction to what they will be able to do when a little older. Dinner for the older children staying the weekend was followed by a traditional campfire sing-along until dark. Luckily the rain had not really made its presence felt at this stage.On Sunday it did start raining!
Various 'back to basics' activities were run including: tent peg making, pioneering, semaphore signalling, cooking dough twists etc., followed by a mass game of Swedish Longball.
After Dinner, the closing ceremony and short 'Scouts Own' service was held in the dining tents because of the weather. The heavy rain and strong winds, which then set in, caused a few rivers to run through the tent area and some of Sunday night was spent moving children or diverting rivers. In general though most remained dry and slept well. On Monday morning, kit was packed and tents taken down in less than ideal conditions.