LIPHOOK DISTRICT GUIDES

Senior Section Camps and Holidays

Since Victoria Ling took over as Ranger leader, there have been several trips for Rangers. You can read about them here.

However, the Rangers' spirit of adventure has been in existence in Liphook for a long time. Read notes on 1st Liphook Rangers' camps and holidays from 1971 to 1979, which were organised by leader Mary Huggard.

ZERO 4 REPORT - September 2004

This camp was organised for all SW Region Senior section and held near Bristol. Victoria and Amy attended and had a great time.

ZERO 5 REPORT - September 2005

Seven Senior Section members from Liphook attended Zero 5 which was a Region camp for about 500 people from all over SW England. The camp was based on a medieval theme, and held at Foxlease in the New Forest, Hampshire. The weather wasn't brilliant, but not too bad either.

We went on the Friday evening, and played 'first one to see…..' most of the way, which was fun but got a bit silly when we were looking for impossible things by the end.

We just got our three tents put up before dark. Lucy and Rachel then cooked a meal for us by torchlight which was nice but memorable as the cheese sauce failed to thicken.

It was probably a good job that it was dark as there were so many daddy long legs flying around (and crucifying themselves in the night lights) that it may not have been an entirely vegetarian meal! (Don't tell Amy!)

On Saturday there was a wide range of activities on offer for the girls. Victoria taught archery and Heather did pyrography, and then in the afternoon, they helped prepare the medieval banquet. Amy, Jo and Fay did various activities including pioneering, belly dancing and crafts through the ages.

Lucy and Rachel had 'medieval lurgy' and were not feeling too well so they kept the camp organised and visited everyone else at various times.

The medieval banquet was memorable as the food was as historically accurate as you could get at a camp for 500 which basically meant it was 'not inspiring', The cold soggy parsnips were probably quite authentic. And eating rice with fingers was an experience. But the bread and cheese was great.

The costumes were dazzling and everyone looked wonderful.

After this our group sat in our camp circle around our candles and helped Victoria prepare items for the morning. As part of her Queen's Guide award she had to organise activities for the whole camp on a medieval theme. We square-lashed bamboo canes and cut out and coloured in cards, and chatted away until late. Amy kept us amused by spilling her hot chocolate over her PJs. Fay only need a mouthful of a fizzy soft drink to start her giggling and we saw a new side of her.

A memorable event occurred on Saturday night when Victoria and Heather leapt out of bed about 2.00am thinking one of the other tents was on fire as there was a loud cracking and an orange glow, only to find that it was just some night light candles in jars still alight, reflecting off a tent;  the cracking was unidentified but sounded like pylons although we couldn't see any in the morning!  They then had a giggling fit, like little 10 year olds and couldn't get to sleep.  

Sunday morning there were four activities one of which was Victoria's medieval medley which Lucy, Rachel and Heather helped with, and the others participated in. The other activities were candlemaking, dance and a quiz.

The activities Victoria organised included croquet, nine-mens morris, jousting, horseshoe hoopla, noughts and crosses (that's what the canes we had been square lashing were for), and the most popular was the village stocks which people sat in and had wet sponges thrown at them.

On the second attempt to go home we found the local roads near the camp were gridlocked so we drove home the long way, with Amy demanding every five minutes that we stop as she craved an ice cream, and the rest of us winding her up. We didn't arrive back to Liphook until about 7.30pm, but it was all worth it as everyone enjoyed the weekend.

RANGERS RESIDENTIAL WEEKEND AT ROGATE - February 2006

This weekend was organised by Victoria Ling to gain her residential license and was greatly enjoyed by all. There were 2 leaders plus nine Rangers. There were many activities including pioneering, pyrography, fabric painted bags, orienteering and flying kites (freezing cold!), putting on a show, making pizzas and cooking roast Sunday lunch. The bravest Rangers joined in Amy's aerobic workout in the early morning! They played lots of games including a balloon relay race and generally had loads of fun.

RANGERS TRIP TO YORK - April 2006

This trip was also organised by Victoria as part of her Queen's Guide Award. Victoria took Rachel, Eleanor and Joanna to stay in York from Saturday to Tuesday and they had an action packed weekend.

They stayed in a Youth Hostel and fitted in many of Yorks attractions, (wearing their viking hats!) including York Minster, York Dungeons, Jorvik, The Yorkshire Museum and walking the city walls. They had tea at the famous Betty's cafe, and took part in the famous ghost hunt. They had a ghostly boat trip on the river Ouse. They walked many miles and had a great time.