Family Camps

Family Camp 2021 - At last we are camping again!

It has been a long time since we were last at camp, but now, the pandemic has relented, the rules have changed and we are back again round the camp fire.

This year we were camping at the 2nd Hellesdon Campsite near Norwich Airport. Our theme was "Alice in Wonderland", and two Patrols, The Cheshire Cats and the Caterpillars, set out to create Wonderland in a single weekend.

Did they manage it? - Of course they did, and in the process of making Wonderland out of a pile of pallets, they also collected points in the quest to become the winning patrol. This year, by the tightest of margins, the Cheshire Cats were victorious.

Along the way, we slew the Jabberwock, painted the roses red, went to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and much more. Of course we sat round the camp fire and sang daft songs and told the same old jokes again.

It's good to be back. Here are a few pictures:

We cooked on open fires

There were some brilliant cakes in the Cake Competition.

The Red Queen said that the white roses had to be painted red. So that is what we did.

That moment when you lean back at the top of the climbing tower is a bit scary.

On the shooting range

Carole

Carole keeps a close eye on the shooters

archer

Just aim for that round thing over there.

	Above - Painting a giant caterpillar ready for a word with Alice. Left - Archery action
	Left - The Croquet Tournament. Naturally we used flamingos as the mallets and hedgehogs as the balls. Below - Time seems to flow strangely in Wonderland The clock is just one of the many strange creations the Patrols thought up to bring Wonderland to life.

Preparing burgers for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party

At the Mad Hatter's Tea Party

The White Rabbit was strangely pink
Washing up has to be done, and, as the dormouse was asleep, it fell to Marc to sort it.

Some of the costumes on parade

Alice

Not sure what is going on here. Looks like the Red Queen and the Cheshire Cat.

asleep

At the camp fire, we sing and laugh late into the night. Too late for some maybe.

Cafe

This is the Cheshire Cat Cafe. The food was good.

Great colouring on that cat. The wordsearch was hard.

Nice to see the adults joining in the colouring too.

Lego

Making Wonderland creatures from Lego

In order to slay the Jabberwock, the Patrols had to undertake 5 challenges. When each challenge was completed, Tweedledee (or Tweedledum) would assess the outcome and, if satisfied, would issue the next challenge. The challenges were:

1. Make Vorpal Swords (they must be vorpal enough).

2. Prepare our minds by completing puzzles.

3. Search the Tulgey Wood for clues

4. Make Wonderland creatures from Lego (they must be frumious or mimsy enough).

5. Act out the scene of the Jabberwock being slain.

This explains what some of these odd photos are about. The Patrols threw themselves into the challenges as you can see.

A Borogove, but was it mimsy enough?

Vorpal Swords are raised in slaying action.

The Jabberwock is slain.

Did this look like fun to you? Well.... next year we will be Vikings (or was that Ancient Egyptians?) See you there.

Family Camp 2019 - Pirates

Family Camp is always a highlight of the Scouting year. A fun packed weekend of Scouting magic.

This year found us back at the 2nd Hellesdon Campsite for a pirate camp. As ever, the camping families were full of enthusiasm and invention, and 3 pirate ships suddenly appeared out of nowhere, complete with everything a pirate could possibly need. We had warm sunshine too which was a bit of a contrast to last time.

We searched for treasure, climbed impossible high cliffs, shot arrows and rifles. We put on pirate plays, sang sea shanties and dressed up in daft outfits.

The Patrol Competition was keenly fought and was very close between three evenly matched teams. In the end it was a draw between the top teams which we think is a first for Family Camp. Simon was the winner of the Most Promising Parent Award.

Thank you once again to Evan and his family for organising the event and for bringing such enormous enthusiasm to the camp. See you all next year.

Here are some photographs:

Studying the Treasure Map

The Treasure is found and a big pile of pallets - so building the pirate world can begin.

A
Patrol gets stuck into the pallets

Knocking pallets into shape


Above - The Cake Competition offerings were brilliant this year. Marc was the judge and the prize went to the treasure chest cake. Then we ate them and some of them sure were sticky. Right - Tom lighting the camp fire using the traditional Scouting method of heating it with a blow torch. It was certainly effective.

Toasting marshmallows round the camp fire.

That moment when you lean out from the top of the tower is always the hardest.

	Climbing and shooting

Evan looks like he might have been shot but we think he was just resting. Right - Trying out Pirate food.

Painting the mermaid figurehead

Pirates

Is that a treasure map on your shirt?

Costumes

Pirates on parade

This treasure chest costume was the winner of the costume competition. It was possible for the wearer to vanish completely inside leaving just a closed chest on the ground.

This is what happens when you all shop at Amazon

Cooking breakfast

Breakfast time with sausage, bacon and blueberry pancakes

Eating limes

Another Pirate Food Challenge - eating whole limes.


	Left - Best under 6. Above - Best Beaver
Above - Best Cub Right - Most Promising Parent

Family Camp 2018
Family Camp is always a highlight of the Scouting year. This year, Evan organised the camp for the first time, and since he is our American Leader, the theme had to be The Wild West.
So our motley crew of Wild Westerners assembled at the 2nd Hellesdon Camp Site and somehow built the Wild West in a single day. There was the entertainment of The Saloon, The Bank which suffered a robbery and a posse had to find the culprit, and, of course, The Jail where he ended up.
The Covered Waggon Races were a highlight of the camp with three fantastic wagons, built on site, racing for the coveted points and the glory of their Patrols.
There was lots more action too as you can see from the photographs:

By the camp fire



	On the climbing wall
The Cake Competition is always good Above - The bank robber is put in jail by the posse Right - "Don't do it Cowboy"

	Some of the fantastic costumes on display
	The one above left is dressed as tumbleweed

The covered wagon races

Family Camp 2017

The Family Camp was back again by popular request and the theme was "Superheroes". This year we were back at the Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre at North Walsham.
This year, three Patrols of Heroes fought for every point to claim the glory of being Winning Patrol of the Year while the Parents vied for the honour of becoming "Most promising Parent 2017"

Of course, Superheroes save the World on a regular basis and we were no exception, saving it no less than 3 times during the camp. Gotham City was saved twice as well.

The September weather could have been a bit drier, but a bit of rain has never prevented our Heroes getting into the action. Here are the pictures:


Above - cooking breakfast in the rain and kayaking Right - We had to put a shelter over the shooting
	The Leaders were out in kayaks too
	Left - Long distance speaking powers
The only Beaver we know who will crunch her way through a whole iceberg lettuce.	Decorating Superhero masks and pants

Above - X-ray glasses in action.
Right - Nigel as Meccanoman with a flapping
bat on his head.

Just some of the super costumes on display

The cake competition was as keen as ever.
The cake competition was as keen as ever.

	Terry prepares the world for its fall into the lake

A raft sets out to save the world from the lake.

Family Camp 2016
Once again we were back at the 2nd Hellesdon HQ Campsite in lovely September sunshine. This year, the theme was Ancient Greece and many a Greek temple appeared out of nowhere as the Patrols hammered pallets into shape. There were some brilliant costumes as well.
Of course, we held our version of the Olympic Games, complete with the 12 horse chariot races. We completed the Labours of Hercules, found the Golden Fleece and much more.

Here are some pictures:

A chariot tackles the slope during the Olympic Games

Above and Right - Cooking Breakfast
	On the climbing tower Left - Painting Greek Temples can be messy

Tom's Paracord table was as popular as ever.

On the shooting range	Can't bear to see another goat sacrificed
Acting out the story of Perseus - The three witches who only have one eye between them.	Mixing Plum Duff

Some of the younger Greeks

Above - Nigel looking daft as ever.

Right - More costumes

The themed cakes were good this year.

Family Camp 2015

For 2015 we were back at the Mike Thurston Water Activities Centre for our "Thunderbirds" themed Family Camp. As ever, the campers were unbelievably inventive in their costumes and the things they made. This year we were joined by the 1st North Walsham Scouts who eventually won a very close fought Patrol Competition.
Here are some pictures of us just doing the daftest things. Family camps are great fun as you can see.