Back to what Cubs do best

Arriving bright eyed on the Friday afternoon, the Cubs eagerly completed a number of tasks over the next few hours: arranging their kit; pitching their tents, playing some wide games and familiarising themselves with their new tent mates. Camp fire lit, hot chocolate drunk, snacks and cakes consumed – with the initial uncertainties vanquished, the Cubs experience their first night away from familiar surroundings for two years around a fire under the stars.  With all this excitement, bedtime comes late and the chitchat, giggles and gossiping finally dies down about 01:30.A new day dawns, unfortunately this is considerably earlier than expected at 04:30 (for Good Morning Vietnam! fans, we all know what the “0” stands for), but as consolation there is a spectacular sunrise through the tree line.

The order for the day is set with Cubs cooking their own full English breakfast on the campfire, with the tasks being shared amongst them. Clearly this takes longer than they hoped and they are eager to eat the results – which were fantastic!

After more games, comes time for all budding open firelovers to learn how to prepare and make a fire safely with the wood skills class.  Using Bow saw; Hand axe and Penknife for the 3main types of fire wood, lessons on the “fire triangle” and how to prepare the fire for lighting.
 
After lunch comes more games (football, the bottle game, manhunt…).  With a bit of energy burned, the tasks turned to making a camp gadget out of items scavenged from the fields, hedges and wood store.  With Cubs split into 2 teams they got learn some valuable skills about planning and working as a team.  Some excellent outcomes were achieved and some inter-relationship hurdles over-come.  One team managed to make an awesome functioning ladder with some excellent rope work (albeit held up on either side by Cubs)!

No time to rest, the preparations for tea-time get under way with the Cubs cooking spaghetti Bolognese on the open fire.  With some amazing Cub attention to ensure things did not get burnt, the meal was a success – not everyone however, likes the sauce - lesson learnt for the leaders there! The campfire becomes the focus once again with the camp fire stunts and some excellent skits (one even involved making a guy that Cubs planned on their own, in advance, bringing the materials with them) and fun for all.  Obligatory marshmallow roasting signalled the end of the day for those Cubs that awoke earlier than others and a relax by the fire those that remained.

With clear skies embracing a new day the Cubs wake (much later) and after breakfast start their tasks of dismantling the camp. Kit is removed and checked and Leaders teach the Cubs how to safely dismantle the tents, ensuring they are dry before carefully packing away.

With litter picks done and jobs successfully completed in good time means the Cubs have extra play time, culminating in a new favourite “screaming game” that is sure to make it to every camp going forwards.


Three o’clock signals the end of the camp as parents arrive to collect their amazing Cubs, with all involved having formed new / stronger relationships and learnt something new to take away.  A very enjoyable experience for me on my first Cub camp (as an adult), feeling all warm and fuzzy (that could be the lack of sleep) at my full baptism into the Scouting family.  Thanks to all involved.Three o’clock signals the end of the camp as parents arrive to collect their amazing Cubs, with all involved having formed new / stronger relationships and learnt something new to take away.  A very enjoyable experience for me on my first Cub camp (as an adult), feeling all warm and fuzzy (that could be the lack of sleep) at my full baptism into the Scouting family.  Thanks to all involved.

8^th May 2022 Matthew Spendley (Bagheera)