The Cubs very much enjoyed their visit to Tesco, as part of their Farm to Fork programme. They started by finding out about fruits and vegetables, learned about different breads and cheeses, and got to go in the freezer, and even had a go on the till. Jude has made the move from being a section assistant at Beavers to Cubs, but we are still looking for people to join the planning and leadership team for when Freya can’t make it. Their Nights Away experience this term is coming up next month.
Scouts have had a more traditional overnight experience with two nights at the Hesley Wood Freezer Camp, near Sheffield. We joined up with Scouts from 3 other Oldham Borough groups to spend a great weekend with more than 500 Scouts and Explorers on site, enjoying a range of activities including 5-a-side football, abseiling, air rifle shooting, archery, axe throwing, campfire, cavebus, climbing, laser clay pigeon shooting, laser quest, orienteering, quadbiking, segways, tug of war, woggle carving, zip line and the all important, messing about in the woods. For 5 of the 7 Scouts who went this was their first Freezer Camp, and for 4 of them it was their first experience of camping with any of our sections. They rose magnificently to the challenge of the wet and muddy conditions, with no concerns or complaints, even when the girls had to switch tents in the middle of the night because theirs was leaking. It turns out the boys’ tent was a bit leaky too - so it looks like we’ll be in the market for new tents!
It was hard work at times, but also a good opportunity for the leaders of our different groups to get together and work as a team as well. It was a learning experience for us too - among other things, we now know how to erect and dismantle two different types of marquee! Most of our camps are with the groups who came this time, so it was a chance to meet up with old friends, and make new ones and we are all particularly grateful to Barry Ratcliffe, who organised the booking and catering.