Kathy's
Camp June 2004
KATHY'S
CAMP
Being
a Brownie Guider, I always swore that I would never camp -" it's
not my thing" - but when I was co-erced into(sorry, asked to)organise
a craft activity at Kathy's Camp I reluctantly decided to have a go.
I arrived on Friday evening with pictures in my mind of everyone sleeping
sardine-fashion on hard, lumpy ground in a green ridge tent and having
to use a lat. Not a bit of it. I slept on an airbed, in my own pod, sharing
a frame tent with only one other guider. Sheer luxury!! I had been warned
about cold nights so I left my t-shirt on under my fleecy p.j.s and wore
socks(everyone else knew better and wore a tracksuit) and awoke Saturday
morning, surprised that I had had a good night's sleep (apart from a cold
nose!) and to find a welcoming cup of tea waiting for me, made by early
riser Pam Andrews. Guiders continued to arrive and set up tents of all
sizes during Saturday morning and were then arranged into patrols and
given their duties for the week-end (wood, water and health). The activities
were well planned and everyone went off to do the physical outdoor things
or the quiet indoor crafts and these were then discussed or shown off
at break times. Meals were superbly cooked and served indoors by Jeanne
Wain and her team( another shock as I was prepared for the char-grilled
burger-type meals we produce at our annual Brownie cook-out!) and coffee
and cakes came at regular intervals all week-end. Saturday evening finished
with singing round the camp fire (a real bonfire compared with our Brownie
effort) and the odd glass of something to help us sleep.
I had survived my first camp at 50-something and went home Sunday afternoon
feeling tired but really pleased with all my new achievements, which included
being part of a colour party and helping to strike camp.
I have my plate bag, and several items I didn't take this time, ready
for the next camp so I hope that Kathy and Nancy have a date and venue
in mind for next year. Who knows, a few more sceptical guiders like me
and we could perhaps take over the whole camp site!
Janet Locke Stopsley South Division
Page last updated August 9, 2004