The 15th to 17th of May around 20 SCOGUI members ascended upon the Oaks Campsite to lend a hand at the Forest District’s Annual May camp, which this year hosted a party theme! Around 60 Brownies attended the camp – with each SCOGUI member being responsible for a tent of 5-6 of them. The camp was also attended by Forest District Guides – who mainly took care of themselves – and by a bunch of Rainbows as day visitors on Saturday.
(Click continue reading for a detailed report on May camp!)
The Brownies enjoyed a very nice camp fire on Friday night with some expertly led singing from Alice Cannon and Ashleigh with the occasional help from the rather enthusiastic Mark Harrop. The girls were often heard reciting the songs at the top of their lungs throughout the camp (mainly at 6am in an attempt to wake up SCOGUI…. ).
Saturday saw the girls presented with a range of activities – it being up to the girls to decide what they wanted to do and when. The girls enjoyed the Black Hole – a pitch black maze that you can only crawl through- (albeit with head torches) and the jungle trail assault course. Both activities were led by some very helpful SCOGUI who took it upon themselves to make sure that all the girls knew about Geoff - the Black Hole’s resident crocodile!
Also available were a range of crafts in the Clark hut that included party crowns, sparkly hair grips and a party pencil. The girls also went on a bear hunt (we’re not scared!), played scrabble in the woods and some small random games such as sardines. Saturday evening also saw the girls having their nails decorated and painted ready for their party – some male members of SCOGUI also had some very fetching designs on themselves!
Saturday night the girls had their party inside the Clarke Hut – all dressed in their party gear and with karaoke expertly led by Brown Owl Rachel. The girls played some traditional children’s party games –such as musical statues – and then were treated to some of SCOGUIs finest dancing to classic songs such as YMCA.
The weather was unpredictable and completely miserable throughout the weekend – however everyone took in it their stride (apart from a certain SCOGUI member who had forgotten their waterproofs and hence refused to get out of their tent at all on Friday night!)
And quite randomly…. for the first time ever, some ingenious person came up with the idea of using disposable trays and cutlery for the children – meaning no waiting for the Brownies to wash up and dry their plates in much over-used washing up water! Yay!
Somehow the girls were still not worn out and on Sunday some rather sleepy SCOGUI were woken up rather early again by singing Brownies. SCOGUI expertly helped the Brownies pack away their kit and put down their tents. The girls then played games for the day while SCOGUI cleaned the camp site and led the Guides on the black hole and jungle trail.
All the girls said they had a fantastic weekend and would not shut up about how great camp was at their next Brownie Meetings.
Extended thanks go to all the SCOGUI members that worked hard at May Camp – its clear how much all the girls enjoy it. Its clear that a camp of such a large scale would not be possible without the hard work from SCOGUI!
Written by Teddy (AKA Lisa)
