Summer Camp ran from 16-23 August 2003 and was held at Blackland Farm camp site near East Grinstead. Thanks to people with their digital cameras we have loads of pictures - a record breaking 93 online! Here's our Summer Camp diary.

Saturday: Unpack the van and put up the tents
Sunday: Cubs Own, Beavers visit, Bluebell Railway and blackberry & apple crumble
Monday: Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre, string trail
Tuesday: Tent inspection, climbing wall, archery
Wednesday: On the beach at Eastbourne, Banger Racing
Thursday: Ready, Steady Cook!, Abseiling
Friday: Sleepy cubs, tent pitching, tree identification, swimming
Saturday: Cubs kit inspection

SUNDAY
Our first full day at camp proved to be a busy one. Unfortunately for them it was the Spruce tent that woke Akela just before 6am. Once they had done the breakfast washing up we started the day with Cubs Own - a short Church service which took place around the flag pole. Many of the Cubs wrote prayers to read out.
Soon afterwards the Beavers arrived to see what a day at camp is like. It also gave the parents a chance to see what was going on inside the tents. After lunch the Cubs and Scouts departed on foot for a hike to the Bluebell Railway Station at Kingscote. The Beavers and parents had time for a game of cricket as they were going to Kingscote by minibus. Not all the parents wanted to play so some were quickly roped in by our SMICCTSO team to prepare some food for dinner.
When we got to the station we were pleased to discover that the Bluebell Railway had reserved us a carriage at the back of the train. We also had a brief talk about the history of the railway from one of their guides. The combination of a late night and brisk walk proved too much for Jack. It was a hot day and after their walk to the station the Scouts were glad when the train arrived at Sheffield Park and they could get a cool drink. The Cubs headed for the gift shop which meant a busy time for Baloo and the Camp Bank. On the return journey the Scouts got off at Horsted Keynes and walked back to the site. The Cubs and Beavers were pleased to see the minibus waiting for them at Kingscote.
While we had been off site our catering team had not been sitting about. Carolyne had cooked a blackberry and apple crumble using blackberries picked on the site and was just putting the mashed potato topping on a shepherds pie. (Dietary note - As one of the Cubs had a "no beef" restriction on his catering form the shepherds pie was made with lamb mince)
The Cubs and Beavers joined together for a camp fire to end the afternoon.
Once the Beavers had departed it was time for dinner. The shepherds pie was nicely browned on the top and went down very well. This was followed by a delicious blackberry and apple crumble served with custard. After meals the Cubs and Scouts do their own washing up. However, unlike Greg they don't normally wear rubber gloves.

MONDAY
In the morning we worked on the Naturalist badge by looking at the birds and trees on the camp site. After lunch we went to the nearby Ashdown Forest Information Barn. The Cubs were given a quiz to complete while they were there. Once inside the barn the hunt for answers took them all over the exhibits under the watchful eye of a stuffed fallow deer. Meanwhile, upstairs the Ventures were puzzling over a jigsaw map of the Ashdown Forest which they eventually managed to put together. There was also a nature table which included some antlers. Daniel and Oliver decided to try them on for size. Each of the tents at camp were named after trees that grow in Ashdown Forest. The Information Barn had examples of them so it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. We chose Larch, Spruce, Beech and Oak.
When we got back to the camp site the Ventures made a string trail in the woods. First of all the Ventures explained how it all worked'. The team had to carry a small billy along the string. Easy enough when you can see' but in the final stages the team was blindfolded' with just the Sixer able to give instructions.

TUESDAY
Each morning started with tent inspection. This serves two purposes. It allows the leaders to check the tents to ensure that there are no problems. It also encourages the Cubs to keep their kit tidy and their tents free from litter. Under the watchful eyes of the Ventures, Team Piglet are inspected by Allan and Chris while Team Eeyore wait with Baloo. Meanwhile, on the other side of the tents the Scouts inspection involved laying out their kit and airing sleeping bags. After inspection it is time for flag break. Today was an historic date as it was the first time Baloo had lead flag break and Grand Howl.
After flag break we went climbing using the indoor climbing wall. Although Daniel had a broken arm he was quickly up the wall. There were several different types of wall to climb and each of the Cubs had the chance to try out several of them. In between their goes they had to wait quietly.
After lunch it was time for a go at archery. Before anybody could pick up a bow, the instructor gave the Cubs a safety briefing. With that out of the way it is time to have a go. Charlie did very well and got one of his arrows in the gold. This gave Neil and Tom a bit of a challenge which they proved able to beat.
We try to run a happy camp but it isn't always possible to please all of the people all of the time.

WEDNESDAY
We all headed for the beach at Eastbourne. It was quite a procession as the minibus was supplemented by 5 cars. Unfortunately we found that many of the beach car parks at Eastbourne had height barriers which meant that we couldn't get the minibus into them. Eventually we found one that we could use. It was just down the coast from the pier. When we first arrived almost all the Cubs and Scouts dashed down the beach for a swim in the sea before lunch. After lunch the wind picked up a bit and there were some wind surfers to watch. Attention moved from swimming to throwing stones but this had to be banned after some cubs continued to throw stones when swimmers were in the water. Allan had been for a dip before lunch but in the afternoon decided to take a nap in the sun. Even Akela may have briefly closed his eyes'. For tea we ordered fish and chips. Dale and Steve went shopping and brought them back to the hungry hoardes on the beach. Carolyne and Chris tuck in.
After tea it was off to the Speedworth Banger Racing at Arlington. The Ventures look on as the rookie bangers line up for their first race. The Cubs adopted Phil Hazel in the Rookie Bangers. The favourites of the night were the Reliant Robins which provided great entertainment. One in Police colours conveniently crashed right in front of where we were standing. (You can download a short animation (570Kb) of the crash.)

THURSDAY
After each meal we expect the Cubs and Scouts to do the washing up. By this stage in the week we thought that everybody had taken their turn but there was much excitement when Callum was spotted with a tea towel.
One of the traditional events at Summer Camp is the banquet. This year we called it Ready, Steady, Cook! The Ventures were given £10 per team and had to provide a meal including starter, main course, dessert and drink. The meals would be judged and include points for welcome, entertainment and team work as well as judging the meal itself. Once the ingredients had been purchased it was up to the Cubs to decide on the meal and how to cook it. Team Piglet examine their shopping. With their fire already lit Team Eeyore start to prepare their meal. Having decided what to cook Oliver prepares some carrots for the main course. Then it was time for the judges. Baloo studies the menu while Martin tries the starter. By the time he got to the fruit salad Baloo looked a lot happier. Once the judges had left the team had their chance to sample the food. Meanwhile the judges moved on to Team Eeyore. After all that eating it was time for the judges to compare notes and make their decision. It was a close thing but in the end the ceremonial spoon was awarded to Team Eeyore.
In the afternoon it was time for abseiling. As usual with these sort of adventurous activities the instructors first checked that all the helmets and harnesses were on correctly. Then it was time to have a go. Jack and Matthew lean back and let the ropes take the strain at the top of the tower. Then they make their way down to the ground. It's quite a tall tower but they make it look easy.

FRIDAY
At the start of the week the Cubs were awake at first light and full of energy. By the end of the week we knew that we had tired them out. Breakfast was getting later and later and by Friday there was no waking the Oak tent. It wasn't just the boys that were tired though. While the Cubs were off doing their badge work Baloo had time for forty winks.
Meanwhile the Cubs were busy completing their Camper and Naturalist badges. Akela had Team Piglet in the woods' finding different tree types to take bark rubbings of. This left Team Eeyore in the hands of the Ventures for tent pitching practice. It took quite a long time but they eventually managed to get it pitched correctly'.
In the afternoon we went swimming at East Grinstead. Even Daniel with his arm in plaster went in for a dip. At least it meant that the Cubs were clean again!
Friday tea was beef burgers for most of us. However, Thomas' dietary form was very clear that he shouldn't have beef so he had a serving of chicken burgers instead.
As Friday night was our last one we wanted to end the week with a camp fire. As usual it was lead by the Ventures. One of the favourite songs was humpty dumpty - we can see the Ventures "getting funky now". Before long it was time for a break and few biscuits with a drink of hot chocolate. Then it was time for the final song - "Hello, my name is Joe" which all gets a bit lively when you have to press the button with your hands and feet together.

SATURDAY
On the last morning we always make the Cubs lay out their kit outside the tents. This is so that they stand a fighting chance of getting their own stuff back in their bags and don't leave anything under the groundsheet in the tent. With everybody tired it was very hard work! You can judge the efforts for yourself as we have photos of each of the tents. We'll start with the best tent. Spruce won tent inspection that day although they could have done with removing some of the grass from their groundsheet. Things were a bit more of a jumble in Larch. In Beech it was a similar story. Finally in Oak it looked as if there were 5 in the tent rather than 4. Shame really as their tent had been well turned out for most of the week.
Because we were a bit rushed at the end of camp we did not get the usual group pictures. However, we did manage to get one of the Cubs.

Catering at camp was provided by SMICCTSO.

Pictures taken by Akela except those where the links have a ^ which were taken by Andy Viney and those with a ' which were taken by Baloo. Photographs used on our pages are reduced to no larger than 640 x 480 to allow a quick download. The larger pictures are often available on request.

I hope that we have captured some of your memories from camp. If you have any photos you'd like to add to the collection please e-mail Akela.

Akela and Steve visited the site in early February and took some pictures to give you an idea of what the site is like.

The site is fairly hilly and consists of a number of fields separated by coppiced woodland. The fields are all named after birds and have several sites on each. Each site has access to its own toilet block which include showers. The biggest and flattest fields are at the north end of the site. Here you will find Larks which is the biggest field and Chiff-Chaff. You'll also find the Kingfishers field although I'm glad I'm not camping at the bottom of the slope. The last field is called Swallows. Heading South from the Camp Centre you pass through Finches and Woodpeckers before heading through Tits Wood into Peewits. Next to Peewits is Woodpigeons. The site isn't all fields by any means. You can avoid walking through camp sites by taking the track through the woods.

The site is well provided for adventurous activities. There are climbing and abseiling towers, an indoor climbing wall, an assault course and provision for archery. You can also go grass sledging, rifle shooting or even play a round of golf! As you'd expect the site also includes a camp fire circle.

From Swallows field you get a view across the valley to Stone Farm Rocks - a sandstone outcrop. Being so close to the camp site means that they are frequently visited an have been equipped with staples so that climbing ropes can easily be attached. The line of rocks makes an impressive site as you approach them. Some of them have been weathered into interesting shapes. While you are over at the rocks you get a good view back to the camp site. You can also see over to nearby Weir Wood Reservoir which is used for canoeing.

We have booked Peewits 6 and Woodpigeons 3 which are adjoining sites separated by a hedge. They are at the south end of the site.

Blackland Farm is a Guide Association Site and has its own website with more information. There's also a brochure about the site that can be viewed in pdf format. You can also see the entry from the Scoutbase Camp Site directory which includes a location map.