Caterham District Scouts

To help get rid of the chocolate excesses over Easter, 16 scouts and 4 leaders took part in a camp at Mercers Park on the 17th and 18th of April. The scouts hiked about 11km with their personal kit from the scout hut to the water sports centre where camp was set up in a field above the lake. The weather had kindly decided to prepare us for the next days water sports by raining heavily so we all arrived rather soggy but still remarkably happy.

Already on site were 6 of the older scouts (who have recently set up a Young Leaders Section) who were taking part in their practice hike for the Bronze D of E. They had set off from the hut earlier in the day taking a longer route of 17km carrying all their kit and had established their camp in an adjoining field.

Once the tents were up we all enjoyed an excellent dinner prepared by some of the scouts which enable them to complete their camp cook badge. There were a few envious looks from the D of E group huddled over their Trangias as the rest of us tucked into something a little more appetising than their pasta and sausages!

Saturday dawned bright if a little chilly and after a hearty breakfast the scouts took part in an orienteering exercise to warm them up before the main feature of the camp, a two hour session on the lake doing either sailing, canoeing or windsurfing. After hot showers and more to eat the scouts were then picked up leaving the Dof E group to hike home – at least it was nice and sunny for them!