So this was one of my first forays into cooking at camp or being camp cook (and no I don’t mean prancing about wearing a tutu apron!!).

My only previous experience of camp cooking was helping out at summer camp last year where the clientele was less numerous but probably no less discerning – one of the nice / most brutal things about scouts is their complete and utter honesty. So this time it was cooking for the masses, not quite fish, bread and thousands but it felt similar at times!

Owing to the hoards that required feeding the shopping expedition was on an industrial scale and when it came to the bacon some might say Epic scale. A recent scientific study has shown that bacon gives you longevity. Let’s hope so as most of the leaders will need something to counteract the effects of sleeping in a tent for a few hours before being woken by the dawn chorus – otherwise known as noisy cubs!

Back to the grub, yes it was familiar camp food (stop it – stop mucking about) sausages, burgers, beans, chicken fricassee or pasta with vegetable Ragu (ooh la-di-da), all washed down with plenty of custard and hot chocolate – sounds absolutely revolting! I don’t think anyone went hungry, even with the efforts of one of our senior scouts trying to eat everything in sight, as someone might have ordered portions sizes that they are used to rather than scout portions (my bad)- still the vegetable Ragu went to a good home.

I would just like to say a big thank you to all the other leaders who helped / got in the way / demanded tea at inappropriate times; it wouldn’t have been half the experience without you. I’ll leave you with quote of the camp that came from a certain cub leader – at various times throughout the camp a shriek would emanate from the kitchen by the washing up bowl followed by the cry “ooh my plug’s fallen out” 

With a very wet start to the day, and getting drenched putting up the two marquees we decided would work better, the sun finally came out as in the nursery rhyme and dried up all the rain.

People were a little sparse on the ground to begin with as the weather had obviously put them off, but after a slow start people came along to the rally and then consequently to buy cakes and tea.

We were helped by a continuous rotation of Beavers, Scouts and cubs with their parents who stayed for half an hour at a time to help wash and dry cups, which took the pressure of leaders cooking and serving as they were totally supervised.

All went well and ended in almost a sell out of food, but reliant on the weather as always, next year we have a full day of sun.

We will keep you posted.

Although a little breezy and a little drizzle, the District St George’s Day Parade was very well attended by the group.  The group were led by the flag bearers, Bradley (Beavers), Connor (Cubs) and Adam (Scouts) for the procession from the Spa Pavilion to the staging area outside the Felixstowe Leisure Centre.

 

After a late booking for the carnival and much frenzied activity and buying from Pound land for bits and pieces. Carnival day loomed bright and sunny.  Finishing touches were added to the float so that it was filled out with all sorts of things to do with scouting.

Balloons were blown, popped and flown away, sweets were stored to hand out to well wishers and adults and children alike were hydrated with the many bottles of water available. It was heartening to see so many people lining the streets of Felixstowe and many appreciated the Scouts, Cubs and Beavers that were on the float. A very exhausting, but worthwhile event which the group plans to do again.

Although it was a last minute decision we had a good turnout of Beavers with parents and a couple of Cubs and Scouts who were not at camp.

We walked from Faulkeners Way in Trimley St Mary to the Trimley Sports and Social Club in Trimley St Martin, quite long walk for little legs. None were lost along the way and money was collected in buckets which were handed in as we entered the field.

All the money goes to charity – maybe we get some back for out Group!