Then followed setting up camp, along with the usual displays of competitive strength (and that was just the leaders!). Before the evening meal was wood collecting for the fire, and just LOOK at the ‘log/half a tree’ the girls collected!!!

Camp rules were dished out to leaders, along with one puzzling one… “Please don’t leave fires burning, we’ve limited wood”. Perhaps they missed the fact the site is nestled in The New FOREST!!!

SS x

Seemingly only days since my kit dried out, and my hair stopped smelling of campfire smoke, we’re now a little over two weeks away from doing it all over again. Yes it’s pinacle of the Scouting year – Summer Camp.

We’re doing in the New Forest this time, – a stunning 31 acre wooded site situated in the heart of the New Forest,  ten miles from historic Southampton.

Given its historic tie with The Titanic, we’re not doing any sailing (not really the reason), just a trip to the beach instead.

ALL  the info you need will be here during this week, please comment, check back, send the link to family and loved ones. Or kick back and forget about them for a week. Whatever you’re doing, we’ll have a fantastic, fun, and safe time.

Time to unwrap those wellies!

Graham x
Tuesday ASL

The scouts were once again split into their usual groups and were allocated a time slot for the first activity of the day which was archery. The Camp committee still on great form had double booked the archery range. This was very difficult to operate however we had no injuries or problems.  The archery session ran for 3 hours and the groups had an hour each. Well done to George, Anastasia and Daniel who came top 3 out of the whole group, George winning with a score of 69. The archery equipment wasn’t very good however the scouts took this in their stride and had a great laugh.

After lunch the scouts went air rifle shooting. Sadly I had to stay behind and prepare dinner and also supervise the finishing element of the Explorer’s bivi. I was informed afterwards that everybody really enjoyed it and we had a range of abilities and first time shooters but everybody improved while their session went on.  Out of the Explorers the top 3 were James, Georgina and George.  Out of the Scouts the top 3 were Anastasia, Hannah and Daniel. Well done guys.

For tea we had Nick stew made by both members of the Peace family.  I got into it a little too much and cut my finger while cutting potatoes, but I returned a little while latter to finish the rest of the potatoes. The stew with dumplings went down a treat and everybody had great helpings and no one was hungry, Anton was even defeated by the amount which was put onto his plate.

After dinner Stotfold entered into a football tournament (maybe the large dinner wasn’t such a good idea) we had 3 teams enter and only one team made it through to the semi finals. Sadly we lost on penalties but well done guys for getting that far.

After this everybody was shattered, the Explorers were sleeping in their bivi in survival bags and the scouts were fast asleep as soon as we sent them to there tents.

Good night and sleep well

Lawrence Peace

The scouts were split into their usual groups and were taken onto the high ropes course. The activities the scouts went on were Jacobs Ladder, Crows Nest, and Leap of Faith. Sadly the zip wire was out of action due to a marquee being erected underneath it. The Jacobs Ladder and Crows Nest were next to each other so I could watch both these activities. I can report that everybody took part and everybody pushed themselves to achieve their own goals. Well done to, Tom and Chris who managed to complete the Jacobs Ladder all the way to the top and hold on to the metal wire above the last log.

The leaders feeling like little kids again decided that they weren’t too old to take part in the Crows Nest, so well done to Anton, Mark and Gary who all managed to fit on top of the Crows Nest at the same time. It was said that there was not much room up there at all.  Also everyone sang happy birthday to Gary while he was on the top.

Sadly I did not get to see the other groups doing Leap of Faith but watching my group I could see lots of enjoyment and excitement. I imagine this is how the others felt.

After the high ropes morning the scouts had lunch and then free time. The scouts came back dirty but very happy, I do not know what they had been doing but at least they were happy. The Explorers however built a bivi without using tarpaulin, a favourite item amongst Stotfold scouts.  The Explorers could not sleep out in the bivi tonight because it was not finished maybe tomorrow night.

The scouts went to a camp fire in the evening which wasn’t very good however they sang loudly until they had had enough. A few scouts have now learned a few more camp songs and were singing them on the way back from the camp fire.

The weather for today has been on and of drizzle this hasn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirit and the mood around the camp is happy.

Good night and sleep well

Lawrence Peace

Being so close to the country’s longest lake, it’s have been rude to have not been on it at least once. So Canoes, Boats and Dinghies were the order of the day, oh, and getting wet!

The Scouts spent the day on the lake, splashing, crashing, and generally having a whale of a time (sorry, no pun intended). The leaders, in contrast, spent most of it ferrying wet Scouts to and fro. The weather ironically held out for the wettest day they’d have, yet another element to Cumbria’s natural sense of humour.

The accent to the summit is relentless. Taking the Roman approach of directness up the hill. In perspective, it’s like walking up your staircase for around 2 hours. But Stotfold Scouts had to endure constant rain, and a 200m climb through a cloud. Everyone was wet, everyone’s legs ached, but everyone stood atop the with a sense that despite their doubts they’d achieved it, together.

Dropping back through the clouds to Troutbeck, the rain held back. The clouds broke, and we were treated to a view worthy of any slog. Evening sun split through the clouds over Lake Windermere throwing England’s finest stretch of water into a picture-perfect spectacle.

The evening’s meal was shovelled down faster than the weather turned. The Scouts are full of smiles around the fire, and as I sit here writing this, the aching legs feel completely worth their pain.

Roll on sailing in the morning. Goodnight.



So after checking, double checking, and tripple checking, and in Anton’s words “to be susre, to be sure”, at 06:40hrs we set off for our summer camp in the sunny North. Those with wise heads charged ahead in their own cars, set up base, and popped the kettle on, leaving the others to sit aboard a slow-coach full of hyperactive Scouts. Shortly before lunch, Scouts were reunited with the other leaders, and their new forested home for the week; Great Tower.

It wasn’t long though before the great green Lake District proved their name, and the rains began. It could only mean one thing – Summer camp has Officially begun. A little water won’t spoil our  fun ­­- This will be one epic Stotfold Scout camp.