Cub Camp 2024

Date: 16th Aug 2024 Author: Web Administrator

Thanks to Matt for this great report on the camp.

This year’s summer camp took place at Phasels Wood Activity Centre near Kings Langley at the end of July. The Cubs came for 5 nights and we were blessed with amazing weather. It was pushing 30 degrees most days, with the temperature dropping significantly some nights due to the lack of cloud cover. We were treated to some amazing sunsets and beautiful starry skies, with shooting stars spotted regularly. We had a great pitch on the main field, which was really close to all the amenities, as well as being central to all the activities.

The Leaders arrived on Saturday and thanks to the great weather we set up the site quite quickly, ready for the Cubs’ arrival Sunday afternoon. When the Cubs arrived, they had time to unpack and have a tour around the campsite before dinner. The rest of the evening was free time, which was good to get them settled in and used to the environment. All cubs were in tents of 2 or 3, with most being with a school friend or a friend from the pack.

The site activities began on Monday with 5 activities planned per day. Two in the morning, two after lunch and one evening activity. A number of these activities were led by instructors from the activity centre, such as climbing, crate stacking, high ropes, abseiling, land zorba,  rifle shooting and archery. The shooting and the archery became quite competitive, with lots of discussion over who hit the bull the most. Some Cubs really take to activities like climbing and abseiling, but others can be nervous because of the heights involved. It was great to see all the Cubs tackle these activities head on, and to see Cubs who were nervous overcoming their fears to achieve more than they thought possible. Some of those Cubs named these activities among their favourites for the week.

Some activities were led by us, like aero ball and human hungry hippos. Human hungry hippos was hilarious. The Cubs had bungy ropes attached to them that were attached to the outer ring. They had to run into the middle of the ring and grab balls to put in their bag back at their starting position. Once all the balls were gone the Cub with the most balls was the winner. Half the time the Cubs struggled not because it was too difficult, but because they were laughing too much.

Most of the activities required a fair amount of effort and energy from the Cubs, and in the 30 degree heat that was challenging. The Cubs were encouraged to drink plenty of water, and some evenings we attached a hose to the nearest standpipe and let them spray each other with water to cool off, which they loved.

We try to do some off-site activities through the week, which gives the Cubs a change of scenery. This year we took the Cubs out for a morning to Coral Reef. They enjoyed swimming and spent a lot of time going down one of the many slides there, or swimming round the tidal bits of the pool.

The Cubs had an opportunity to do kayaking, which was led by a centre instructor, but was off site on the local canal. The sun was shining, and the water was really clear. I am sure that some of the Cubs fell into the water on purpose because it was lovely and cool.

The after-dinner activity through the week was either fire lighting, where the Cubs got to make s’mores on their fire. An orienteering challenge around the site, or a photo hunt. These after-dinner activities kept the Cubs moving in the evening, but it did mean that most nights they were very happy to go to bed, tired out from the day’s excitement.

By the end of the week all the Cubs were exhausted but all had enjoyed their time at camp (Leaders too!).

Also a special thank-you to all the volunteer Leaders who gave up their time to make the camp possible.

You can find a film of the camp here (opens in YouTube).

HM King Charles III has been confirmed as our new Patron, a great honour for UK Scouts.

The King continues a long tradition of the monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

Find out more
King Charles III

Our Patron, HM King Charles III