LIPHOOK DISTRICT GUIDES

Summer Camp 2005

Liphook District went to Peewits 1 site at Blacklands Farm near East Grinstead on the last week of July. There were 29 Guides sleeping in traditional ridge tents and 4 Senior Patrol girls who used a dome tent. Then there were 3 Young Leaders sharing another dome tent and 8 Guiders, a total of 45 campers.

Our theme was "Shrek" and we had patrol names and activities based around fairy stories.

This was the first week camp where Heather Boosey) was in charge, having recently undertaken her campers licence and a few new ways of doing things were tried out, but mostly it was run according to the time-honoured traditional ways of Liphook camping. The main differences were that we had quite a lot of new equipment which made camp run smoother and more easily.

A lot of time and effort went into the preparations for camp, but the one thing you cannot plan is the weather. This was one of the wettest camps our District has had for several years (in fact the wettest in the memory of all the Guides), but in spite of that, everyone had a really great time, and the rain didn't spoil anything.

DIARY - SUMMER CAMP 2005

This is a very brief overview of a few events.

Saturday

All the Guiders and YLs except two arrived on Saturday when the weather was good and we put our tents up in the dry, and were finished by the end of the afternoon. We also had two Guides, and they were both very helpful.

When our helpers had gone, the Guiders sorted equipment and their own kit and then after a pizzatakeaway, had a pleasant evening and enjoyed the peace and quiet without the Guides, (or would have except that it was us leaders making a great deal of noise, with no Guides to blame it on!)

Sunday

As the first two Guides arrived (early), we decided to put up the old marquee as we would need somewhere dry to put all the girls' gear while the tents were being put up. So it was all hands to the deck, and we did it just in time. Fortunately, just at the perfect moment as the Guides all began to arrive, the rain stopped and we were able to collect health forms etc in the dry.

When everyone had arrived, the Patrols pitched their tents. After a small problem with tent poles that didn't fit the canvas, which we got round, the tents were all up and bedding racks ready, and the Guides moved in.

Then it was time for tea, after which the leaders talked about rules and told the Guides about the planned activities.

The big announcement was that each Patrol would have a 'flour baby'. These had been made by Lucy and Rachel from flour, polystyrene balls, tights and balloons. Each baby had an orange baby-grow to wear. The Patrols had to name and look after their baby as if it was real. This caused great excitement. It was all taken very seriously but created lots of fun and many other people who we met were interested to know about it. The Guides had to find babysitters if they were unable to look after their babies themselves for any reason.

That evening we went for a walk around the site, had a go on the assault course and showed the girls where everything was.

It rained heavily at night and unfortunately one of the Guides was ill. To add to the problems, her PL also had a wet sleeping bag as the sod cloth had come un-tucked from under her groundsheet as people had come in and out of the tent, and Heather was soaking wet partly from going to and fro in the heavy rain and partly from spilling a cup of water down inside her wellington boot! Not a good night.

Monday

At flag break we had 4 enrolments, and Lucy S renewed her promise as a YL.

The Guides cooked their own stir-fry lunch which they enjoyed.

The activity today was abseiling and almost everyone overcame their nerves and got down the tower. This was a good achievement for some who were very nervous, but all enjoyed the activity.

We had a Patrol Leaders' meeting before tea where all the minor Patrol problems were discussed and we made a few Patrol changes.

Tuesday

We had visitors from Liphook District; Barbara Crook and Barbara Ellis. It was lovely to see them and they joined in with everything we did.

Our visitors came to watch the climbing on the indoor wall, which all the Guides took part in.

That afternoon there was time for crafts and several learnt new skills in friendship bracelet making and other crafts.

In the evening, the two Barbaras got really involved and lit the fire and cooked to give QM and assistant a break. They also prepared the batter for camp doughnuts. This necessitated the dissection of one of the 'babies' which had 'died', in order to get some flour for the recipe!!

In the evening there was a camp wide game, which all the Guides participated in. Senior Patrol took part in the organisation. Everyone got wet, but enjoyed themselves.

A memorable event happened at bedtime in the loo block. One of the Guides had hung her sister 's sock over the cubicle door. For reasons unknown, a YL threw the sock over the door to its owner and the sock landed in the loo just as she was flushing it. No one could believe what had happened and the laughter that followed was only tempered by the YLs worry that she may have accidentally blocked the pipes, but all was well.

Wednesday

This was the day we went to Brighton, leaving at 10.30am. We were dropped off by the coach driver in a different place than usual, near the shops, and each group had £4 per head to buy a meal, which was mostly spent at McDonalds, Pizza hut or Burger King.

Most of the groups visited the Bear Factory. Our Guides spent lots of money in this shop and had enough stickers to earn a free bear and they also won another bear in a competition, so we now have two new camp mascots, one for the first aid tent and one for camp in general.

We were very lucky with the weather as although it was not very sunny, it was warm and dry and some of us spent time on the beach.

Some people went to the funfair on the pier as well... but most of the Guides shopped till they dropped. The coach driver was amazed that there seemed to be nearly as many bears as Guides on the return journey!

When we arrived back at camp, Felicity (a 1st Liphook leader) had arrived, so we all welcomed her and then had a quick tea before going to the site camp fire at 8pm. This was as good as usual and was enjoyed by all.

Thursday

A new innovation this year was arranging the programme so that we didn't have to get up as early on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, as the girls and Leaders get more tired as the week goes on. This worked well.

This morning each patrol cooked their own breakfast of bacon sandwiches, and it was quite relaxed.

Several of the Guiders, the Young Leaders and Senior Patrol had an activity specially arranged for them and tried out the zip wire and had great fun. They had to sing a song as they 'flew' along the wire.

In the afternoon, there was time for more crafts and some lovely items were made. Then it was time for the first two groups to do the Crate Challenge. This was a lot of fun and was a new activity for everyone. At dinner we had a couple of the instructors as visitors. After dinner the last group went to do the crate challenge while two teams in the site assault course challenge.

Megan and Rachel E were the champions of the day at the crate challenge and managed to balance on 15 crates before they toppled and were left dangling on the rope.

One of our assault course teams came third and one came 7th , so both did well, but all enjoyed it.

This evening was warm and dry and Senior Patrol did one of their BP challenges and constructed a bivouac in the woods. They then slept out all night under the stars, and it was a particularly starry night.

The leaders had great fun creeping around and spooking Senior Patrol, pretending to be badgers, and making the girls squeal with fright, but when they tried it again later on to their disappointment all four were fast asleep and there was no reaction.

Friday

It was a relaxing morning, and then at lunch time we got ready to go kayaking/canoeing. Very unfortunately, en route walking towards the main yard we were met by the site manager who had bad news. The activity session had to be cancelled as there was a dangerous level of blue/green algae on the reservoir, and one of the instructors had gone down sick from it.

But the Guides took the disappointment very well and we returned to camp and used the spare time wisely. We took down the Patrol tents and the leaders' dome tents and packed away, which with hindsight was a wise move.

Later all the Guides went swimming, and everyone had great fun. The Guides were in teams and had races and also did the 'hokey cokey'. We think this was the first wash some girls had had all week. We had put up a series of named clothes pegs on a line in the wash block to hang flannels, but significantly, only three were hung up all week!

Then we set up a waterslide on a hill on the adjoining field and added washing up liquid and buckets of water. We would have liked to use our new hose but there was a hospipe ban, so we managed well with buckets of water being thrown on as the Guides slid down.

It was a little worrying that several Guides were really enjoying pouring whole buckets of very cold water on their friend!, Great fun had by all.

After dinner we prepared for campfire and this was organised by Senior Patrol.

The Patrol campfire sketches were all brilliant, a particularly memorable one being a mickey taking of the Guiders and a portrayal of some of the memorable events that had occurred. 'Lucy and Rachel T.' (Shrek and Donkey) having their hair straightened in Brighton was hilarious. We ran out of time to sing a lot of campfire songs, but we finished the evening with the traditional awarding of special inscribed tent pegs for achievements. (The recipients of pegs are listed separately elsewhere).

The highlight of the evening was a big secret. One of the instructors nicknamed Sparkle, came to our campfire and performed her fire spinning act for us. It was brilliant and the Guides were stunned into awed silence with their eyes popping out. We have never heard them so quiet, until the end when they cheered ecstatically.

Senior Patrol had got the bug for sleeping out and did it again, They were lucky to have picked the two nights of camp when it was dry! The other Guides all slept in the marquee and in spite of being fairly squashed in, there was very little noise as everyone was tired and they fell asleep quickly.

Saturday

Although it rained quite a lot during the week, apart from the first Sunday morning, it had never interfered with our activities until today.

We had a wet morning and the clearing up took a lot longer than it could have done, because we had to keep dodging very heavy rain. We were truly grateful to several parents and to our team of Dads who came to help.

We were more or less finished by lunchtime when the parents arrived, but had to have our closing ceremony under a tree and miss out some of the prize giving. But the Guides' spirits were not diminished and they sang and danced "We're singin' in the rain" and belted out other campfire songs at the tops of their voices.

When leaders met back in Liphook at the Guide hall that afternoon to unload the equipment, it was impossible to put things away as so much was wet and dirty, so we just laid it all out and went home for a bath and well earned rest.

It took over a week to get all the equipment dry and clean, but that is just one of the facts of camping life, and we have been very lucky for several years not to have a wet strike.

We held a camp reunion sleepover in September, which was also enjoyed by all.