[Scouting World Badge]

9th Ramsbottom
(St. Philips) Scouts


 [Ramsbottom District Badge]
We are the 9th Ramsbottom (St. Philips) Scout Group and this is our report on the superb camping jamboree we went to over the weekend of the 26th to the 29th May 2000.

Along with around a thousand other scouts and about the same number of Beaver and Cub Scouts who visited during the day, we enjoyed a weekend of activities and games to mark the new millennium for the Scouting Association.

The jamboree was held at Ashworth Valley, near Heywood. The camp itself was divided into four ‘villages’; Croal, Roch, Irwell and Medlock and was attended by Scouts of all ages and backgrounds, both able bodied and disabled. We were in Irwell Village.

Despite some dodgy weather at times (and some very dodgy headwear worn by some of the leaders who really should know better) over the weekend, there was a really good camp spirit and new friendships were certainly made.

Anyway, here's our report. . . . .

North 2000 Jamboree ~ Camp Report

Friday 26th May - Mud, mud, glorious mud!

Our intrepid band of Scouts arrived safely in our leader's Space Cruiser at Ashworth Valley Camp Site at 19:00hrs. The more traditional colour of ‘Scout-Association-Green’ was very soon to be replaced (completely) with a very fetching (other descriptions may include sticky, gooey and slimy and some from Elliot that I'm afraid we can't repeat) shade of ‘Ashworth-Valley-Brown’. Additionally, the age-old saying of “Where there's muck - there's brass” was to be replaced with “Where there's mud - there's Scouts!”

[Canoeing is always a popular sport in Scouting - boys just love getting wet!]“Just follow that Landrover lads” was the call from the security team leader, pointing through a gate into a field “He's got the hang of it - the mud's not too bad yet.” With the sight of three cars already being pushed out of the bog we collectively thought ‘no way’ we may be in a ‘Space Cruiser’, but we sure weren't keen to ‘boldly go where no man had gone before (except for the driver of that Landrover)’!

With a bit of persuasion, the security team eventually let us use the access road and we were on site - nearly.

We next faced the challenge of getting our trailer tent through a locked 5-bar gate. “I thought the camp challenges didn't start until tomorrow?” said Liam. “I'm afraid that we can't open any of the gates,” said one of the organisers, “so you'll just have to lift your kit over.”

[They may have smiling faces, but the dark clouds above are looking pretty ominous.]Diplomatic negotiations that would make Henry Kissenger envious then took place for what seemed like an eternity, but was in fact a couple of minutes and eventually the gate was opened.

Our tents were soon put up and a brew put on, despite the best efforts of Mother Nature, who decided to soak us just as we started to unload all our kit.

“There's a disco on tonight lads” said Keith (all hail to our glorious and most merciless, sorry, merciful leader). Joe, however, pointed out that he had only seen six girls, so with odds of approximately 197:1 against ‘pulling’, 9th Ramsbottom decided to give the disco a swerve, at least for the first night.

[The dark clouds were determined to try and spoil the camp.]The lads were instead resigned to keeping out of the rain and quite happy to watch Keith's gas-powered television. The only problem was that Barrie had forgotten the bottle of argon gas and the special BBC gas-regulator to power it, so no TV! All retired to bed by 22:00hrs with only one of our gallant band questioning where to purchase BBC gas regulators.

Saturday 27th May - Lets get Fizzical!

(Also subtitled as “I shot an arrow in the air - and lost it” - or - ”There's no way I'm attempting to do mouth to mouth resuscitation with him!”)

After a hearty breakfast, a bright and blustery morning saw Joe leaving before the other three with a busload of other scouts from other groups to visit the local TA Headquarters in order that he could do his Mechanics Badge.

The other three members of our group; Elliot, Daniel and Liam went off to do some serious pioneering work.

The lads built a working catapult from pieces of timber, lashed together with rope. Whilst it didn't fire the farthest, it certainly looked the best.

Once they had finished this activity, they were able to try their hand at archery.

Elliot and Liam hit the targets, with Liam scoring a bull with one of his shots. Daniel, having watched ‘Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves’ far too many times sent his arrows sailing over the target - and the safety netting and on into the wild blue yonder - ten points for distance, but nil points for style or accuracy I'm afraid!

[Dry stone walling was one of the fascinating activities laid on for the youngsters.] With so many scouts on site, each scout was allocated certain activities that they could try. The other activities included dry stone walling and backwoods cooking/survival. Strangely enough, no one saw any of the backwoods survival group ever again!

After a hearty lunch, our entire group was able to visit the ‘Scout Dome’. There were over 20 activities to look at and take part in and demonstrations including circus skills (ooh, that unicycle really chafes), corn dolly making, leather branding, and resuscitation.

During the afternoon, the Mayor visited (complete with wellies - very smart) although the VIP's did bring bright and sunny weather with them. I'll spare you the one about the Mayor and the Unicycle for another time and move on!

[Keith busy doing jankers - that's peeling spuds to the rest of us.] Evening dinner for 9th Ramsbottom was a camp special - ‘Spagbol’ (that's spaghetti bolognaise to the rest of us) with a yummy rating of 10/10, however after a joke about zits and custard from Joe, the custard remained in the packet.

There was a fabulous ‘parade of lights’ on site, followed by a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night, although as their chances of ‘pulling’ had not significantly improved, the disco was given another wide birth and the lads hit the sack.


The story continues into Sunday . . .

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