Loughborough Students Scout and Guide Club
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!)
A group of 13 SCOGUI members headed over to Drum Hill Campsite, Derby, for a fun filled weekend of camping in a barn (or well equipped hut!) … with one person choosing to sleep in a badly pitched tent (thanks to Lisa’s tent skills).
Weekend activities included abseiling expertly led by qualified instructor Jamie Shirra, some rather competitive attempts at the low-ropes-course and assault course and a night hike around the countryside.
SCOGUI were certainly very well fed over the weekend, thanks to the culinary and raving expertise of Mark Harrop. Overall it was a very enjoyable and value for money weekend! Extended thanks to James Shirra and Mark Harrop for arranging camping barn 2009!
The 2005 autumn rally was held at Bradley Wood camp site near Huddersfield on bonfire weekend and 16 members of Scogui attended. The fun bus left about 6:30pm and we were all treated to firework displays all around on the journey and a game of text eye-spy between the minibus and Daz’s car. We arrived at a reasonable time, especially as people from other clubs were arriving up until 4am!
There was a small camp fire on the Friday evening (rumour was that there was no wood to burn!) and a sober Scogui started off the singing.
Despite the weather forecast, Saturday got off to a bright start. The camp site was woken up at 7:45 for breakfast and although the early birds had to wait a while before the food was served, we were glad we didn’t come down late and have to queue up for an hour! After breakfast the activities began and, unusual for me, there were two activities to choose for morning and afternoon. Scogui was well represented at the ‘Extreme Pub Quiz’ held in the afternoon in Brighouse (probably called extreme because the walking around was around 6km!). All of the pubs visited had character, be it the ‘Retro disco with Daz’, the Ukrainian satellite TV or the church organ in Weatherspoons and it was a really great afternoon out.
The evening meal and barn dance was held on site and members of staff from the camp site served us copious amounts of alcohol throughout the evening. The food was very nice: chicken of some sort followed by pie for desert. The barn dance band were good as always and the accordion players seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot. The highlight of the dance was when 3 members of Scogui started dancing Saturday Night to the barn dance music, only to find after a revolution that all 227 dancers had decided to copy them. Afterwards they proceeded to start a conga round the building which at one point emptied the dance floor.
Unfortunately the fancy dress competitons were not won by Scogui although many people commented that our miner’s strike costumes were excellent.
After the music stopped, everyone made their way down to an improved camp fire where much singing took place (often being run by Scogui and Medic Mike) and almost record breakingly long renditions of Chicago department store and a song about animals..
Sunday was showery which meant all our kit had to be packed away wet and covered in bits of forest. Many people did not make it to breakfast so everyone that did turn up got seconds, and thirds and the rest was served up as extra lunch. After an exciting EGM where the new SSAGO constitution was approved, silly games took place in which many people ended up getting very wet, very blue and very floury. The closing ceremony was held afterwards with many thankyous being said and modified mascots being returned before we all set off home. After an excellent weekend, it was nice to be able to have a nap on the bus home!
Written by Pete Everett
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin
This rally was my 1st and defiantly not last sago Rally (also mine), Let’s see a few words to sum up the camp ummmmm here’s the report because a few words aren’t good enough.
For me the rally started a few weeks ago when we decided that rocky horror was our theme for the barn dance and subsequently ended up with my legs getting partially waxed the Tuesday before camp, but we shall get to that later on. (Having not seen rocky horror show, I happily agreed to it, finding out later how little people actually wore! No wonder the blokes were so keen on it, or did they just want to cross dress?)
Friday night
Arrived at the beam engine (I arrived at the other side of the car park, all alone! With piles of stuff) on time and had a bit of a wait while everyone arrived, but once we were all assembled we piled all the kit (except Andy’s Hike Boots) into the van on top of what looked like a model building site in the back of the van. Every one in the bus: exits here here and here in the event of a crash assume this position, that’s all I can remember from the journey as I caught up on sum sleep. (I talked allllll the way there to Ashleigh about nothing in particular) When we arrived at the site and we signed in and started pitching our tents rather randomly in the field. I was then introduced to a very good looking pink elephant who was later sum how entrusted to me (big mistake). (I will add here that Paul’s rather nice bunny rabbit teddy was abandoned and neglected whilst paul looked after then lost the elephant, poor bunny spent the entire weekend in my tent.) Well the bar was open so we started drinking in the hut while everyone else arrived, (with dodgy soup and cold hot dogs up for grabs camp was well into the swing of things) once everyone had signed in it was time to move to the campfire, which was nearly producing heat. Well scogui been scogui we took control of the proceedings around the fire and started singing and continued singing for most of the night apart from breaks to meet and greet people from other groups, (this was bitterly complained about by the Warwick mini bus drivers on the way back from pub crawl) time for bed and I took the elephant with me, who was to know that she wouldn’t be seen till Sunday afternoon. (Ashleigh and I retired to bed somewhat earlier, but the coldness prohibited our sleep)
Saturday
Woke up rather cold due to the fact my sleeping bags zip broke, so what do you do when your cold in the morning? Put on shorts and a kilt. (My sleeping bag was not broke but I was still freezing, my reaction was to wear as many clothes as possible) Once breky was eaten (somewhat disappointing as we only got half a slice of eggy bread and the beans had run out) it was time for a huge wide game unlike anything that I have ever played before just by the scale of it, for the game you had collect items from people hiding in the wood then make a device to propel an egg as far as possible, well my team decided it would be best to just use items found around site i.e. three very long drain pipes hanging from a tree, unfortunately the egg broke in the middle of the pipe and the yoke dribbled out of the end, so surprisingly we didn’t win that game, I think the team who turned one person into a large bird was the best although they didn’t fly very well.(after I found, lost and found my team again we made a plane that looked very pretty but didn’t fly too well.) After lunch, it was time for the activities which for me, meant pub crawl, so time to go back to my tent and put on the shirt and tie along with Taz, Ed, Tom and James, we’re not alcoholics but we do go to meetings. Well it was a very fast pub crawl you only had time to get a drink before it was the five min warning that we would be moving to the next pub so that’s why I was on the doubles with mixer, I think it was a great pub crawl although Taz did win Horis when really the hippo should have been mine to go with the other two that I got. (I enjoyed the general warmth of the pub-crawl, and although my bag gained a few glasses it did mean James carried it for me) Well with the pub crawl over it was time to get back to the site. Well with dinner (very bad dinner which brought back horrible memories of school dinners, arghhhhh) over and done with it was time to get ready for the barn dance why oh why rocky horror. Well with a corset, wig and fishnets you can’t get anymore better looking can you. (I also had a corset and fishnets, but avoided the wig) With the barn dance in full swing it was time for the costume judging well scogui didn’t manage to win the group award but all hope wasn’t lost we did have a winner in the individual competion namely ME. The barn dance then continued with lots of dancing which was great fun especially when you are quite drunk well I had to be to wear what I did. (The barn dance was slightly dangerous, and as Ashleigh experienced dancing with edd was risking death) See the pictures if you don’t believe me. Well once again it was time to go to the campfire, there wasn’t much signing mainly due to the fact everyone was either to drunk or too tired. (Thankfully I rounded up two extra people for our tent to increase the warmth, which worked but not until morning)
Sunday
Woke up to the shout you have 5 minuets to get your breakfast so ran for it, although I actually got my breakfast an hour later. (I avoided breakfast and stayed in bed, as I was warm) The morning was full of silly games including England vs. Wales on radio, which was just silly. Well I did my best to do the silliest things in my team including untying a hanging doughnut with my teeth then eating the string and the doughnut at the same time, also the spider web which was broken so as the last person having a go my gap had disappeared which meant I had to do a half pike summersault through a tiny hole damn did that hurt. Well with other silly games involving rugby with balloons and picking up cardboard with your teeth from off the ground, all the games were not only silly but good fun but I didn’t know that the best way to win was to bribe officials what can I say I don’t cheat unlike some people. (I was generally horrified by the fact that cheating was encouraged, and the unfairness of the fact when we did cheat we got disqualified!) For lunch it was the gadaffy plate challenge set for us by Manchester, The scogui team mike on the beans with a cocktail stick challenge, Simon on the marshmallow challenge, jen smarties with chopsticks oh and also some drunk with a hangover eating cream crackers and getting very badly beaten. Well we lost the challenge and it was all due to the idiot with the cream crackers. Well with that over and done with it was time for the closing ceremony which means that Freda needed to be back in the care of James only problem she had been stolen from the inside of my tent after asking every one on camp where she was she was found kidnapped in the back off someone’s car and not a minuet too soon as I would have had to do a forfeit. Well the closing ceremony came thanks went to everyone who had had a part in making the camp the success that it was, I must say that ssago are a bit strange with all of there little customs and awards that’s why I think I fit in perfectly. Well with all that over and down with it was time for the goodbyes and the hugs and we were on our way, unlucky Taz having to leave your car down there. (Bless) Well camp finally finished in EHB later on with a couple of drinks before I started writing this, if you have got to the end of this then well done because its taken me three attempts.
The last thing I want to say about the camp is I can’t wait for the next. (Me neither!)
Written by Paul Thompson (comments by Seb)
By a true fresher!
Where to start, I think I can sum up the camp for me in three words: beer, cold, and new. (As opposed to “New cold beer”)
On the Thursday evening before the camp I was thinking to myself what I was expecting the camp to be like. Eventually after much though I decided it was probably best likened to a venture scout camp. Was it? B******s! Noting like it. A SCOGUI camp is individual in the way it is run, the atmosphere and nothing like that I’ve seen before.
Anyway, Friday came. Promptly at 6 I arrived at the beam engine ready to depart on an adventure, my first SCOGUI camp! I was one of the first people to set off for the campsite with Jen driving, on the way she was kind enough to take us the scenic view through parts of Loughborough that even she hasn’t seen! When we arrived at the campsite we were warmly welcomed by campsite people who told us roughly where to pitch the tents. Erection complete, we started drinking around the campfire, at about 10:45 Mike was sent out for pizzas. Now campfire songs! How do people know them all? I’m sure i’ve sung most of them during my years as a Cub but I just can’t remember them! Frolics over, beered up, I resided to my tent.
Jen accompanied Saturday morning with a frying pan and another metal object singing a song to the words of ‘get outa bed’. Good song, but not at that time in the morning! The day’s activities included a trip to watch the rugby at the local student-vil pub, assault course (cleverly called the jungle gym for some reason) and the bouldering wall. After the activities, it was time for food curtsey of Mike and Simon! Thanks both of you for the food it was excellent! Saturday night’s activities comprised of another campfire again with songs. NOTE: Simon + cider = 1 man band!
Sunday had far more of a French attitude to it, laid back! Breakfast was eaten and the tents came down. We also had a game of hunt the flag, slightly more bias towards Kate, as the flag was hidden in the lady’s loo! After that it was a case of pack up and go!
Don’t worry, later we were all found in EHB!
Written by James Richardson
The summer rally is always a different occasion with the weather warm, the campfire not needed for the maintanence of body temperature and the atmosphere relaxed. For my third summer rally, Youlbury near Oxford was the venue which as it was slightly further than the previous two years involved a train journey as opposed to driving. After leaving work at 2, I began my journey from Lincoln at three via Nottingham, Birmingham and Banbury getting there at some point in the early evening.
The rally organisers had thought ahead so the booking in building included a bouncy castle right aside (not advised after more than one Dutch shandy), so after testing the strength of various bones and my stomach I retired for the camp fire. Like all summer rallies it turned into a long night, with singing a major part. Having previously distinguished myself by introducing Charlie had a mongoose, and forgetting the second line of Ogi I once again did so by forgetting the words to “Ilkely Moor” as I was singing them. As the hours progressed more people appeared, and gradually people disappeared off to bed. At 5am the hardcore were still up, so as the sun rose I disappeared off to bed.
In the space of two hours with the colour of my tent magnifying the light I was awake, and I decided to get up. After a relaxing wonder, I located breakfast and got fed. The morning was an exploration of Oxford, based loosely on Monopoly. Each base could be visited multiple times, and the idea was to collect as many cards as possible or something like that. By the end of the morning the evening before was catching up, so the lunch break at one of the colleges was much appreciated.
The afternoon was as usual spent on activities, having changed at the last minute to the canoneing I was regretting that when I realised I could not actually get into one due to my large bum. Fortunately one of the Bangor girls had the same problem so were given a Canadian canoe, and after finding a helmet that fitted we took to the water. After viewing from a distance whilst the kayakers chased around, we got involved big style when we got to the weir. Having been instructed to go at 45 degrees, we went at gusto to find out when we hit the weir we were supposed to have gone straight. I hurtled out one way, and she went the other way and the canoe followed. After a couple of more close encounters with the Thames, we returned to the base to find that there were no showers so smelling slightly we disappeared back to site – only to find someone was hogging the shower. After a shower, tea there was yet another GP challenge with team Scogui beating Leicester 4-1 in a football match. Prior to the barn dance I disappeared off to the reps meeting now as SAGGA liaison, before getting on the minibus.
A nearby village hall was the venue for the barn dance, and the return of Rannygazoo. The theme for the evening was board games, and we had just played football Subbeuteo was the obvious answer. As a referee in real life, I became the referee for the night. In an exceptionally warm building, with usual playground annex the barn dance progressed in usual fashion with Warwick and Leicester winning fancy dress awards. At 10.30 Auld Lands Syne rang out and the return to the campsite began. As the previous night the expedition to the far side of the site, and the fire began albeit with fewer people for singing. In the early hours I disappeared off to bed.
Sunday followed the usual pattern for silly games (and some frankly strange ones), and a lot of water. With a long train journey awaiting I left prior to the closing ceremony, but this was the best rally that I’ve ever been on was absolutely superb food.
Written by Martin Whelan
Date: 14th – 20th June 2003
Site: Hallowtree Campsite
Location: Ipswich
Present: Daz, Sharon, Chappers, Cat, Steve, Charlie, Simon, Mike, Amy, Andy, Em, Barry, Haze, Antz, Jen, Kate & Tom
Saturday
We all met at the Union for 10am and set about packing the minibus roof rack with the aid of the Mountaineering Club tarpaulin. We managed to leave Loughborough by 11:30 and didn’t stop till we got to the Cambridge services where we had lunch in Burger King. We then continued our journey towards Ipswich and arrived at Hollowtrees campsite by mid afternoon. After we had pitched our tents people started making dinner whilst some of us went about using spare pallets to make a kitchen table and benches. After we’d finished the curry we headed off down to the estuary and walked along the beach until we had a good view of the Orwell Bridge. We then turned back as the sun set to meet everyone back at the campsite.
Sunday
Breakfast was being cooked by 9am and by late morning we were packed up and ready to head for Thetford Forest. After quite a long drive in the minibus we arrived and were keen to stretch our cramped legs in the forest. We walked to Grimes Grave Flint Mine where we stopped for lunch before looking round the visitors centre and then heading down into the cool dark mines to see the mysteries explained. Upon resurfacing into the temperatures above we didn’t have to wait long before Barry returned with the minibus and we made the return journey to the campsite. Dinner consisted of Spag Bog and after our food had settled we made use of the onsite assault course and climbing wall. As the evening drew in we started a campfire and proceeded to drink and sing into the night.
Monday
The morning activity consisted of a visit to the Sutton Hoo Saxon Burial Ground which we walked around and then checked out the visitor centre. We then had our picnic lunch on the hexagonal benches outside before heading off to visit a place called Woodbridge. There we wandered around the shops for a while (where some of us bought water pistols) before going to a mill for a milkshake. On our return to the campsite we made good use of the water pistols during a water fight before having dinner (Risotto). We spent the evening sat round the campfire again (although I spent a fair while up one of the nearby trees looking down on everyone unawares) and then crept into our tents in the early hours of the morning.
Tuesday
We awoke to find that it had been raining and after a late start we headed into Ipswich to see the town and do a little shopping. We had lunch in the park where Simon and Barry went about collecting chestnut shells for their little scheme and then split up to follow our own agendas. On our return to the campsite we had sausage and mash for dinner whilst all squeezed into the mess tent to avoid the rain. That evening we jumped on the minibus and headed for a pub in Ipswich to avoid the rain.
Wednesday
Once we’d made the necessary preparations we headed for the seaside. We set about digging a hole, with the aim of fitting all of scogui in it. Once we’d taken photos of our accomplishment we then set about filling in the hole with the chair persons past and present in it. Once there was nothing left but their heads to be seen we left them to struggle free as we changed our clothes and headed down the beach. We stopped on the Pier for a light refreshment and then headed back to the minibus to meet everyone. We dropped Charlie off at the station and then went to Tescos for some more shopping before returning to the campsite. Whilst everyone settle down to cook chilli for dinner I went for a meal with Amy and her dad (who was passing through the area) in a local pub.
Thursday
I awoke to the smell of eggy bread and after filling myself with much breakfast we jumped in the minibus with the intention of going to the Zoo. On arrival the majority decided it wasn’t worth the entry fee and we headed into Colchester where we had lunch in the park and then went into town to do some more random shopping. In the afternoon we went to the local water park where we shot down the water slides, bathed in the Jacuzzi and drifted round the lazy river. We then went back to the campsite to cook a concoction of bacon and pasta and blow up 100 balloons to fill Em, Chappers and Cats tent with. After a bit of tidying up we sat round our last campfire of the week and chatted over the weeks events and the plans for our
Friday
We awoke to the feeling of relief and sadness on our last day: Time to return to reality. We packed away all our belongings and then loaded the minibus up. The return journey wasn’t too bad and many people took a well deserved nap. Back in Loughborough we said our farewells and went our separate ways for the summer break. That was until the Oxford Rally, but that’s another story.
Another great summer camp with many a quote worth remembering 
Written by Andy Brewer
Friday
We all arrived at the Oaks campsite on a cold Friday night to be hosts of the bear Rally chaired by Simon with a committee of Cat, Zoe, Brewer, Chappers and Martin oh and not forgetting Scogui bear the font of all knowledge. First job was to put up our tents and unload all of the food from the van (I have never seen so much bread in my life). Then to prepare for the arrivals, my job for the evening was first stint in the car park, where everyone got parked on the now frozen grass with no accidents, whilst this was going on the rest of Scogui were directing from the top of the drive, booking people in and making soup and coffee (a very important job). After booking in it was time for the campfire, which included the full version of the Scogui/ yogi bear song then time for bed in the now frozen tents.
Saturday
Everyone dragged themselves out of their frozen tents some in time for breakfast some not, then got ready for a day of fun. First to happen was the morning incident hike, though I got the nice easy job of sitting on a base in a warm car with Antz for the morning. After the hike onto Nanpantan Scout hut for hotdogs and organising for the afternoons activities. After lunch people left on a variety of activities including, the hike, skittles in the swan, a trip on the steam railway and many more. I went off to the Space centre in Leicester and had a great afternoon exploring and playing on the kiddie activities with Barry. When back in Loughborough we met up in the Union and all headed up to Cayley Hall for tea and the barn dance. Food was enough to revive some of the now very tired Scogui members but it took me a trip home to my nice warm shower to be awake enough to participate in some of the barn dancing and looking at people’s insane costumes. Then back to site to light the fire for the evening and await the return of the rest of SSAGO! After which more singing followed and lots of sleeping on my part.
Sunday
Everyone was up for breakfast again and then most of the morning was spent having a SSAGO AGM followed by the closing ceremony attended by the Mayor of Loughborough at which Simon was presented with a bear factory bear!!!! After lunch came the job of taking down all the tents and clearing everything up ready to go home, though some clubs were delayed due to the kidnapping of various mascots. Then we all departed the campsite after a fun rally and met up later in EHB for tea and the wide-awake people even stayed for the quiz.
Written by Jen-E
The Bear Rally Website can be found >> Here
