Summer Camp 2014 - Day 7

Flag break followed day break on Friday. It was the last day of inspection so it was even more thorough than usual. Patrol's performances that day would determine whether they went down in 8th history and won the prestigious camp trophy or not.

Sadly, the Summer Camp commonwealth games needed to be cancelled because of bad weather. Instead, one of Neil’s iconic quizzes took place in the marquee with the Squids preparing questions for the Badgers - and vice versa - and the Leaders preparing questions for the Seniors – and vice versa. These quizzes are notoriously known for a fair amount of controversy and this quiz was no different. Many of the Senior’s and Leader’s answers were questionable and the Badgers only won because they knew everyone who Suarez had bit.

Camp soup is usually watery, tasteless and basically vegetables swamped in water however due to some unknown factor it was different on the lunchtime of Friday. The soup was desirably delicious and many Scouts even returned for more of it… a camp first!

That afternoon, news almost as bad as Lishman’s kidnapping hit the Scouts; the leader’s made the decision to cancel PL’s choice on the grounds of the weather being too wet. Instead, the Seniors offered to cook enough Chilli for the whole camp for a communal meal in the marquee later that day. Scouts and leaders could still dress up if they wanted to.

Dressed in all sorts of wacky outfit ranging from an escaped convict to a furious Viking, everyone piled into the marquee for the feast. The two leaders each Scout patrol had invited to dine with them for PL’s choice earlier in the week were still allowed to dine with them on their table.

After everyone was full, the PLs of each patrol stood up and made touching speeches. It was Sam and Maddie’s last Summer Camp as Scouts so they spoke about their enjoyable time in Scouts and thanked the leaders.

Doing the huge amount of washing up was a group effort. The Badgers took plates, knives and forks, the Squids took bowls, plate-warmers and spoons, and the Seniors washed up whatever was left. Mike’s mess tin caused quite a stir though as Scouts struggled to define it as either a plate or bowl so they argued about which patrol should have to wash it up.

A last, last minute change of plan occurred to the evening schedule due to the Seniors persuading the leaders to allow them to have the traditional camp fire outdoors. This was the original plan however the wood collected specifically for the campfire had been returned to the woods prematurely when it looked like the weather wouldn’t improve. When the Seniors heard that they had the go ahead for an outdoor campfire they jumped into action and started to dismantle all of their gadgets and the kitchen walls so everyone could fit in the area. At 9:30pm the fire was built up and the Scouts, Seniors and Leaders circled it for warmth as they roared into song.

Camp favourites such as ‘Lion Hunt’, ‘Green O the Rushes’, ‘Cow kicked Nelly’ and a harmonised version of ‘Camp Fire’s Burning’, ‘Merrily Sings the Donkey’ and ‘Animal Fair’ were perfectly performed. The two Scout patrols even prepared a stunt. The Badger’s amazing extract from ‘Phantom of the Opera’, sung and acted by Holly Carter, was unbeatable and Sam Wear’s portrayal of a candle in the background was a first class performance. The Squids also did a song.

The evening was concluded with ‘Good-night Campers’ where all sections of the group could have their moment in the spotlight before going to bed.