This evening, we all returned from our Summer Expedition to Zedelgem – just South of Bruges, in Belgium.
That’s 27 Explorers, 42 Scouts and 14 Leaders – so a big trip for the 3rd.
We all had loads of fun – check out what we got up to here.
And now for a well-earned Summer rest!
And so to Sunday, the final day of our Summer Camp 2014. We all rose bright and early, cleared up and loaded the vans, before breaking camp and setting off back for our lunchtime Channel ferry-crossing. We made good time into the port of Calais, but alas there were some delays with the boats, so we sent 3 minibuses on the first boat, while the remainder traveled on the following one. A quick lunch on-board, then back into the buses and onwards towards home.
And for the leaders… BED!!
Our final full day of camp took us back into Bruges to have a final look around our local town, do some last minute souvenir shopping, and take part in some more activities from those we missed earlier in the week due to rain.
We also took the opportunity to explore a little further afield, by hiring what amounted to a “fleet” of bicycles(!) and taking them for a ride around the outskirts of town, seeing the canals, architecture and the windmills.
Back home in the evening we spent a little time packing up ready for tomorrows return trip – as it’s an early start – then we had a movie night, took some camp photos, and had a little free-time before off for a good nights rest.
Another glorious day dawned this morning for our day trip out to the Netherlands. We’re all back together as one group again for activities now, and so after a short journey over the border, we all arrived at the quaint Dutch town of Sluis, with its canals, shopping streets and windmills. We spent some time looking around, ate some lunch, then popped back into Belgium to spend the afternoon at a man-made beach and lake waterside centre. Everyone donned their trunks and played on the beach and water slides while water-skiers passed by on their speedboats.
The fun didn’t stop there – Friday night is PARTY NIGHT! This years theme was the circus, with many of us bringing fancy dress or make-up. So we donned our party gear, had a BBQ and took part in the evenings activities, capped off by a great disco, before retiring to bed quite late, and quite ready for the rest!
(more photos to come soon..)
And so to the second day of our Activity Centre, Land Yachting and Tyne Cot visits.
Today the weather was HOT! In fact so hot, that unfortunately there was no wind either – which meant the Land Yachting had to be cancelled. The Scouts didn’t miss out though. In fact they got to take part in an inflatable rib boat ride, and played games out in the sea between 2 boats. They thoroughly enjoyed it.
The afternoon took them back to the original plan and saw them paying their respects at Tyne Cot cemetery, as part of our “Lest We Forget” .
Meanwhile the groups from yesterday now tried their hands (and feet) at the Activity Centre activities: Climbing the high ropes and wall, Kayaking in the river, BMX riding, Zip riding down the slide, and shooting the breeze on the Archery Range.
We all met up again at the end of the day, for another of our pre-catered 3-course meals and took a little time to relax and reflect on a glorious day.
