2008 - Gilwell Park
New: the Summer Camp DVD has now been loaded online. Click here to view it!
After our 2007 summer camp it was agreed that plans be drawn up for an expedition to London in the summer of 2008. This would be a special camp to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Scouting with the Disabled in Glasgow.
An initial visit to London by the Scouters in August 2007 selected the campsite - Gilwell Park Activity Centre. This is the home of Scouting in the UK. After we confirmed the site, we began to fundraise the considerable amount required to get us to camp - £35,000.
Over the course of the next 10 months, the programme was organised, all activities in Gilwell and London were visited to ensure they were suitable, the staff were trained, the menu prepared and the coaches booked.
The staff this year were drawn from all over - from Germany, London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling, Ayr and, of course, Glasgow. A week before camp, three vans, loaded full with tents and equipment set off for Gilwell to begin the big task of constructing what would be our home for the week.
The camp ran from Saturday 28th June to Saturday 5th July. Here is a summary of the log for each day. A more detailed account is available in the Summer Camp log book. Copies of this are still available, please contact us if you would like one posted to you.
Saturday 28th June - the journey begins!
It was raining (typical!) at Ashcraig School as we prepared to board our three specially adapted coaches - which have already travelled all the way from Dorset to join us. A long journey was ahead of us, with stops planned in Lancaster and Birmingham. Eventually we reached Chingford and then Gilwell Park.
When we arrived on site we had a quick flag break, stowed away our bags, and had a huge, loud campfire and some hot dogs.
Sunday 29th June - settling in
After an awakening by bagpipes, it was straight into the programme. Sunday included a Scout's Own service, building patrol gadgets (such as a dish rack, clothes hanger etc), treasure hunt around Gilwell Park and a swimming session - in the coldest pool we had ever tried before! Then there were evening activities - archery, shooting or 3G Swing.
Monday 30th June - badgework classes
The badgework classes included shelter building, lamps and stoves, knotting and lashings, emergency first aid, and different ways to light a fire. In the afternoon we got to go to the tuck shop and finish off a treasure hunt. Then we played a wide game where we pretended to be footballers hunted by the paparazzi.
Tuesday 1st July - the Court of King Henry VIII
Today was theme day - from when we got up to when we went to bed it was "Henry the 8th" themed. We had to find the King a wife, and then save her when we found out what happened to all his other wives. Then Guy Fawkes turned up, and we had to help him find enough gunpowder to kill the evil King James, but then we switched sides and burned Guy Fawkes alive!
After lunch it was the Sherlock Holmes wide game and Cluedo, which had Dr Watson to help us out. We had a banquet for dinner then an Olympic Games.
Wednesday 2nd July - the James Lawrie Shield
James Lawrie was a Scouter with us for a long time, but he passed away in 2007. We have a special competition which tests our Scouting knowledge. We were tested on how to light a fire, first aid, pioneering, knots, then had to cook our own lunch. The Stag and Seagull patrols won this year.
At night we had a Burns Supper with lots of invited guests along. We did some dancing at night, but we didn't have a lot of female guests so we had to pretend with some of the other boys!
Thursday 3rd July - Hiking
Today was the day hike day. In our Patrols we were given maps, compasses and our lunch, and had to find our own way along the route. Some of it was quite difficult and bumpy, but we made it in the end. The Scout Network left in the morning for their special expedition into London, where they were staying at B-P House in South Kensington. At night we did some more evening activities, and had a big campfire with lots of local Scouts.
Friday 4th July – London!
We left really early to get into London for a full day in the city. We started with the London Eye, then did some shopping and had some dinner, and met back for a tour of London by bus. We saw the Palace, Downing Street, Westminster, St Pauls, and the Tower of London. Tired but excited, we headed back to Gilwell for a final campfire.
Saturday 5th July – home time
Time to go home, unfortunately. Another long journey, but broken up with two stops. It was raining in Ashcraig. We’re back in Scotland!
