[Scouting World Badge]

9th Ramsbottom
(St. Philips) Scouts

 [Ramsbottom District Badge]
North 2000 Jamboree continued . . .

Sunday 28th May
“Don't look Down Elliot, too late!”

(Also “You didn't say our raft had to actually float.” And “O-O-O-Of c-c-c-course I-I-I-I-I'm n-n-n-n-no-no-no-not c-c-c-c-co-cold, the w-w-w water's l-l-l-lovely and w-w-w-warm!”

[Raft building didn't prove to be one of the 9th Ramsbottom's strong points]The lads got off to an early start with a morning of activities at the Burrs. Elliot and Liam went climbing on the indoor climbing wall and abseiling off the bridge over the river, whilst Daniel and Joe went canoeing and raft building. Other scouts tried their hand at some Canadian open canoeing on the canal and orienteering.

Why is it that as soon as you tell a Scout not to do something, he invariably goes right ahead and does it? The famous line “To avoid being frightened by the height, don't look down lads.” was immediately followed by twenty scouts all looking down together and gasping “Ooh, it's high, has anyone plunged to a hideous death off this bridge?” “Not yet, well not since the group who were here yesterday.” came the reply.

Elliot overcame a long-held fear of walking backward down very high and very vertical walls and successfully completed the abseiling course, twice. Liam showed off a bit and leapt about like Spiderman with ants in his pants!

Joe and Daniel went canoeing and raft building. Whilst they both really enjoyed the canoeing, the raft building was not quite as good.

[The boys after their gallant attempt with the raft.]The raft they built was looking really good, right up the very point of it being moved towards the water, when to quote another scout; “everything went to pants!” The lashings holding it all together came loose and the barrels and logs all went their separate ways.

After a quick shower, the lads returned to camp for lunch.

Sunday afternoon was spent at the Awareness Experience. The lads had the chance to investigate Scouting around the world and problems and issues that affect people across the globe, such as health, special needs, irrigation and sign language for the deaf.

They also had the chance to explore the Word Wide Web. Daniel made contact with a boy in Brazil and had a long ‘chat’ with him about Scouting.

[Colin was concentrating hard on getting to grips with making a corn dolly.]Whilst the lads were off at the Awareness Experience our leaders had the chance to experience some of the activities themselves. Colin was seen showing off making corn dollies, whilst Keith took a look at the Birds of Prey demonstration, but only because the firemen wouldn't let him play with their hose! Colin later set up his own Kite Clinic, helping a number of scouts to turn bits of plastic and string into high flying works of art.

The menu for dinner on Sunday night had to change at short notice when the first choice of corned beef hash got a resounding thumbs-down. Mashed potato topped with grilled cheese became the order of the day and was scoffed with great gusto.

Despite a rumoured busload of ‘babes’ from nearby Heywood arriving on site, the lads saw no evidence of this. Additionally, as the ‘pulling’ odds would only narrow to a calculated 120:1, the lads left the disco early and went to bed. (I think the real reason was that they were all suffering from too much fresh air and an ‘activity overload’.)

Monday 29th May, Scout Challenges and Closing Ceremony.

(Also “Champione-champione, o-a-o-a-o-a” and “Look out for that ball, Joe.”, “What. . . Ba . . . oof!” and “Haven't we been here before?”)

Despite totalling only four in number, the lads teamed up with others from the Irwell ‘Village’ and tried their hands (and feet) at volleyball, 5-a-side football and Earthball ~ and won!

[Earthball proved an exciting activity, although slightly hazardous if you got in the way of a fast-moving globe.]There was a slight casualty however when Joe was a little slow at avoiding the Earthball, a very large inflatable sphere, as shown, which ran him over, hurting his neck for a time.

After a brief rest however, all the lads were able to attend the closing ceremony.

The final brew (I think it was about the 400th of the weekend and an unofficial new camp record!) was supped and the tents came down, somewhat easier than they went up it has to be said and we were soon ready to depart.

What followed could only be described as ‘anarchy with woggles’, with what appeared to be a free-for-all to strike camp and get off site. “I'm sorry but we can't open that gate to let you off with your trailer tent, just carry your kit off like everyone else” (haven't we been here before?). But soon common sense prevailed and we were off the field and onto the access road, just in time to come face to face with a hundred cars full of Mums and Dads trying to get on to the site to collect their little darlings. (It has to be said that these same Mums and Dads took one look at the state of their ‘little darlings’ after a full weekend's camping in the mud and tried to beat a hasty retreat without them, only kidding!)

[9th Ramsbottom St.Philips camp village at the Millennium camp.]We were soon away however and without a single raised voice or cross word, which is typical of Scouting and Scouts in general, leaving only footprints (and tent-prints) and having taken only photographs, but having bought and consumed twice their own bodyweight in sweets from the tuck shop!
(N.B. If tuck shop shares ever become available from your stockbroker, from the evidence of the never decreasing queue, I would strongly recommend buying some.)

This report can only provide the reader with a snippet of the overall superb experience that was the Greater Manchester North Scout County North 2000 Jamboree, as seen from the eyes of the 9th Ramsbottom Scout Group. In all we counted 72 different activities and demonstrations on offer; what did you do over the weekend?

If you live in the Ramsbottom, Stubbins, Chatterton or Edenfield area, are aged between 11 and 16 years and fancy coming to see what we do, or better still, joining our Scout group, we meet on a Thursday night between 7.30pm and 9.30pm at the Scout Hut, next to St.Philips Church in Chatterton. Hey, it's got to be better than sitting at home watching the telly (argon-gas powered T.V's excluded here), or just sitting around with your mates in a bus shelter somewhere!

If you just want more information, you can contact Keith on 01706 824334 or Colin on 01706 211647

And finally . . . . two of the 9th Ramsbottom Scouts, who will remain nameless at this time, still owe me a liquorice sherbet wand for washing the dishes for them, don't you Elliot and Liam?

Barrie, one of the camp helpers for the 9th Ramsbottom (St. Philips) Scout Group.


Back to the Main Page

©Copyright. 9th Ramsbottom (St.Philips) Scouts. 2000. All rights reserved.Designed by Spread the World, Tel. +44 (0)1706 825896.Designed by Spread the World
Valid HTML 4.0![Bobby Approved (v 3.1)][Universally Browser Friendly. View in the browser of YOUR choice.]