Groby Explorer Scouts Survive
Groby Explorer Scouts (Mixed 14-18 year) travelled to Beaudesert Park on Cannock Chase for their week long annual Summer Camp.
We slept in tents, prepared and cooked our own food on wooden fires and participated in a variety of old and new activities.
Throughout the week, when not busy on other activities, the “Special K” project ran. This allowed each of the Explorers to build and craft their own personalised unique bush craft tool – many hours were spent filing, sanding and carving whilst sitting around the fire chatting.
Sunny Sunday was spent Geocaching (a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game) in the local area, using GPS to find caches hidden by other people from a set of GPS coordinates and cryptic coded clues. On finding the cache, you sign the paper inside and leave a trinket in exchange for one from the cache.
Monday was spent on a day hike across Cannock Chase. Our camp fell during the week when as a nation, we remembered the start of World War One, so we held our own “Lights Out” event. This was based around a format provided by the Royal British Legion, lighting a candle of remembrance, readings and singing of ‘Its a long way to Tipperary’ and ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’.
On the Tuesday, the promised rain for the week finally arrived – its timing could not have been better, as the Explorers were about to disappear for over 24 hours on a Bushcraft Survival Course.
Their instructor Mick served in the Army for over 23 years, completed his Survival Instructor training with the Special Forces, and put what he learned into practice in many parts of the world both in training and on operations. He became his unit’s Combat Survival and Escape and Evasion Instructor. He is passionate about Social Forestry and teaching Bushcraft & Survival in the outdoor classroom. He has even apparently shared a snowhole with Bear Grylls (Chief Scout) and borrowed his book !!
In his introduction, he explained how the downpour of rain would change their priorities in terms of Fire, Shelter and Food before they departed.
Whilst away they covered:
- Theory of Survival and Bushcraft
- Bushcraft and Survival (Ray Mears vs Bear Grylls)
- Priorities; (Protection, Location, Water and Food). Rule of three’s
- Fire
- Safety, fire triangle, tinder, kindling and fuel, small v large fire.
- Firelighting with flint & steel and alternate methods of firelighting.
- Shelter
- Shelter types demonstrated
- Group construct own shelters for overnight sleeping
- Food
- Wild food explained
- Game preparation
- Social gathering around camp fire – stories!
The next day the rain stopped and did not return, but the Explorers did, having had a very rewarding educational experience and full of stories to tell. Mick told them and us (their Leaders) that they were one of the best groups he had ever had and that they were a credit to both themselves and their leaders – a nice compliment to be paid by somebody with his experience.
The day was completed with Orienteering around the Beaudesert Estate.
On Thursday was Crate Stacking, involving them building the tallest stack of crates whilst standing on them – helped by others passing the crates up or belaying the stackers. This was then followed by Greasy Pole – a pillow fight whilst sitting astride a pole above a pool. Somebody was going to get wet – well everybody actually did, as fun was had by everybody.
In the afternoon, we took the opportunity to visit the nearby National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. It is a very sombering place to visit and would really recommend it to everybody if you have not been. For the Explorers, they would have been able to see the name of Christopher Gray from Ratby, a pupil from Brookvale & Groby College, who was only 19 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan in April 2007.
Via Ferrata
The penultimate day of camp started with Via Ferrata based in the local quarry, consisting of exposed climbs, traverses around the quarry rock faces attached to steel cables, crossing rope bridges and finishing on a zip wire. These are often found in the Alps and are great for promoting self-confidence and helping individuals to challenge themselves.
The afternoon provided another opportunity to get wet despite people efforts to stay dry. This activity was coracling on the lake. Traditionally this watercraft were designed for the swift flowing streams of Wales in order to enable fishermen to go out for the day in a lightweight craft that they could carry home easy. Mixture of games or just simply having two people in a coracle, provide that sinking feeling to howls of laughter.
Coracles
Our traditional last night BBQ completed a very enjoyable week with a great bunch of people and provided the leaders with a relaxing holiday away from work.
