This was then followed by an unorthodox Scout’s Own Service based around teamwork – a theme which would continue throughout the rest of the week. 'You can get it if you really want' and 'Here comes the sun' were beautifully warbled before a team building exercise. Everyone got a small square picture card which was a segment of another picture - but zoomed in slightly. And, without showing anyone else one’s picture, everyone needed to get into an order so the person with the most zoomed out picture was at one end of a line and the person with the most zoomed in picture was at the other. This simple task which sounds complex was executed within minutes to the astonishment of Mark and other leaders.
Whilst jacket potatoes cooked at the side of the fire for lunch, everyone partook in a game of football which filled the rest of the morning. During the lively, tiring and violent game, there was a dirty tackle which Joey Barton would be proud off. One of the new Scouts was kicked in the wrist which had only recently recovered from a previous injury. After an analysis from the first-aid trained leaders at camp, the Scout was taken to A&E where the nurse told the leaders truly awful news: the Scout didn’t have to wash-up for the rest of the week – despite there being nothing serious wrong with the wrist. Just for precaution, a wrist-support was applied anyway.
When the Scout heroically returned to camp three hours later a number of gadgets had been constructed in the three kitchens which, in the words of Alec: "Make camp a more pleasant experience."
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| Poppy and Jenel building a billy rack |
The Seniors made a cutlery holder, corner unit (including a washing up bowl holder and drying rack), water carrier carriers and even a gate. Scouts aimed to achieve mastering simpler gadgets such as tables, kettle holders, washing lines for tea towels, frying pan racks and billy racks.
The afternoon weather was decent apart from a brief shower mid-afternoon.
Ex-leader John Hopwood and ex-committee leader Russ Wilkinson showed up for a chat and a cuppa. Before leaving, John proudly boasted a variety of American bird ringtones on his phone which, from a distance, were authentic enough to fool some of the Scouts and Seniors.
After a hot Thai Chilli for tea it was time for the first round of the Volleyball Tournament where the four teams would play each other. (Two Scout patrols: Badgers and Squids, the Seniors: Mallory, and the leaders.) In the opening matches, the Seniors wiped the floor with the opposing team every game they played – even the leaders!
On Sunday evening a brief plan was also conjured up for 'The Camp'; a short documentary about Summer Camp 2014 being directed, shot, and edited by the Seniors and a few Scouts. The film will be from the point of view of Scouts and include interviews with people from all sections of the group speaking about the inimitability of the 8th Darlington Scout Group summer camps. It will also include footage of some of the highlights of the week. The youngsters making the film hope it will teach Sir David Attenborough a thing or two about making outstanding documentaries – however leaders just hope it would be something appropriate that they can use as a PR tool.
Sunday was rounded off with cheese and crackers for supper before the Scouts hit the hay and the Seniors retired to their food shelter for endless card games.
