Despite the distractions, the Scouts maturely sorted out the mess and then continued to cook bacon and eggs for breakfast. This was followed by a brief inspection just to ensure standards were being retained although the leaders had stopped awarding inspection points. Camp was then slowly dismantled. The flag descended for the final time at camp at 1:45pm and the site was left just the way they found it by the time they departed from the field at 2pm.
Before Scouts could return to their warm houses and comfortable beds, everyone needed to give one last effort. Personal kit was unloaded, equipment was taken back to the Quartermasters store, and damp tents were hung up in the small hall to dry over the rest of summer.
The Scouts, worn out, then lined up in the main hall for a few words from the leaders. Mark and Erika confirmed everyone’s theories that the Squids had won the Summer Camp trophy – a special triumph for Maddie and Poppy as it was their last Summer Camp as Scouts. Alec then thanked the Leaders and Seniors for their hard work over the past week.
Sam, PL of the badgers, then had a going up ceremony from Scouts to Seniors. He was described by Erika as one of the group’s ‘characters’ and the Seniors warmly welcomed him into their section.
Poignantly, Sam then lowered the flag at the den to mark the official end of the brilliant week. And with the words “8th Darlington Scout group at Summer Camp 2014 in Hexham. Group, group dismissed” from Alec, everyone was finally allowed to go home with fresh memories of the joy of camping in their heads and the stench of smoke in their hair.
