I would like to thank all the leaders involved volunteering their time, giving up a week of work, as well as the camp site team at Linnet Clough making our camp a truly enjoyable one, and not to forget our youth members good behavior and keen spirits which was a great combination for a safe, enjoyable, memorable group summer camp. A Summer Camp without tents!
Friday 27th July 2018
Meeting promptly at 9am at the Dartford Masonic Centre car park, were we loaded the last few pieces of cake and kit on to the van whilst we allocate folk to the three minibuses and managed to leave before half past. With a short pit stop at Newport Pagnell, we arrived at Linnet Clough camp site at 15:30, six and half hours later. Without any canvas to pitch, we quickly moved in to our allocated bunks along with the kitchen-diner. We then embarked on to a summer camp favorite of Ready Steady Cook with the three Explorer and three Scout patrols having £4 per head to produce a two course meal for the judging of presentation, taste, menu design as well as the clearing down afterwards.
Saturday 28th July
After a good breakfast, we departed for the historic village of Hayfield with a few of the leaders enjoying the pleasantries and ambience of the town along with a cream tea at Millie’s tear rooms & Chocolatier. The younger scouts were provided an introduction to Hill walking by Del, Andy, Kevin & John around Kinder reservoir whilst the older Scouts and Explorers undertook the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass walk. The trespass walk is a 12.8 km challenging stroll where you can take in the breath taking scenery, where we experienced all the weathers one can expect on a summer day from bright sunshine, overcast, mild breeze to a gale on the top where we had to take shelter from the wind to dark clouds coming over the horizons with lighting strike accompanied with a clap of thunder followed by rain & hailstones for twenty minutes before the sun came out again. Arriving back at camp we had time to shower and change for one of our favourite meals, a combination of Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala or Beef Madras before we started the evening Archery competition.
Archery Scores – Individual
Scout 1st – Owen W
Scout 2nd – Danny B
Scout =3rd – Jon.P & Jake.M
Explorer 1st – Angus G
Explorer 2nd – Henry M
Explorer 3rd – Callum R
Archery Scores – Team
Scout 1st – Jon P
Scout 2nd – Ryan S
Scout 3rd – Joe T
Explorer 1st – Angus G
Explorer 2nd – Henry M
Explorer 3rd – Chris R
Sunday 29th July
In the morning the weather against us with a gentle drizzle set in for the morning we looked to make time to sort and tidy our lodgings, before we honed our carving and whittling skills with an ambition to bring the individual produce to create component for traps that could be triggered, which resulted in various success of trip ropes, counter leavers and dropping baskets. With the weather finally breaking, field games were actively pursued. A fine evening meal of Shepherd’s Pie was enjoyed prior to the evening Target Shooting competition using the camp site’s new Gamo scoped rifles at 8m.
Shooting Scores – Individual
Scout =1st – Jon P & Lucas S
Scout 3rd – Thomas R
Explorer 1st – Megan O
Explorer 2nd – Henry M
Explorer 3rd – Ben C
Shooting Scores – Team
Scout 1st – Joe T
Scout 2nd – Ryan S
Scout 3rd – Jon P
Explorer 1st – Henry M
Explorer 2nd – Angus G
Explorer 3rd – Chris R
Monday 30th July
With an early, light breakfast and doubled packed lunch we departed camp in our 3 minibuses just before 8am and headed south…arriving at Alton Towers for opening time, once we gained entry the patrols with their assigned leader went their different ways navigating their way around the different rides of their choice (including the new Wicker Man). The day soon disappeared with the park closing at 6’ and the hour travel back to camp, where free time was enjoyed until the evening meal of Pasta Bake was consumed with a healthy appetite.
Tuesday 31st July
A lie-in and a late start was enjoyed after all the energies that were spent the previous day. After a leisurely breakfast we headed to Hyde Leisure Pool with its warm waters, wave machine and flume were enjoyed for several hours.
An exceptionally early dinner of Spaghetti Bolognese was eagerly devoured, followed by a 45 minute journey to Alderely Edge, Cheshire where we meet up with Derbyshire County Scout Caving Team who provided a 2 1/2 hours guided tour of the ‘Wood Mine’ which was first dug early in the 1830 for copper.
Wednesday 1st August
The younger scouts took on the challenge of the Low Ropes course during the morning whilst the Explorers and Older Scouts prepared for the overnight expedition, and in the afternoon enjoyed fishing at the local lakes with sausage mash and beans for tea.
The intrepid explorers finally departed camp and headed straight to the local Asda store to stock up for their travels with their DofE training coming in to practice with £5 per head for breakfast and dinner. Provisions were quickly purchased and we set off for the Goyt Valley, with the Explorers starting at Pym Chair walking the ridge way, taking in Cats Tor, Shinning Tor, passing the Cat & Fiddle and then navigating to Cumberland Cottage the overnight Bothy. The Older Scouts were transported to Clough House and helped open/clean up the Bothy before making a saunter up to the Shutlingsloe trig point enjoying the evening view of the country side below. The evening meals were quickly rustled up on the bothy gas cooker and as darkness fell a fire was lit and the dark history of the 1780 hunting lodge read and discussed.
Thursday 2nd August
After a refreshing night sleep the expedition folk, breakfasted of fruit and porridge pots and departed across the moors to Buxton, meeting the rest of the party in the Pavilions Gardens at Buxton. All were issued with £2.50 for lunch and the remains of their camp bank to buy souvenirs and present during the afternoon shopping and sight-seeing in Buxton.
To celebrate the last evening of the camp a BBQ was enjoyed and with a fire lit the evening quickly slipped away with chatter of recent exploits and future plans.
Friday 3rd August
A final breakfast was cooked from the contents of the fridge: Cereal, milk, porridge, bacon, fish-fingers, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggy-bread, potatoes, fried eggs, baked beans and not much else was consumed a lot faster than it was cooked. After cleaning down all the rooms of the Barn Complex there was time for a final cup of tea, provisions for packed lunch were given out for the long drive back home, finally arriving at 19:20 with parents eager to see the tired scouts, and the scouts looking forwards to going home after an exhausting week.
With the advance forecast looking somewhat inclement, it was decided that we would switch from our usual pitch at Thriftwood to ‘The Village’, comprising of a large permanent marquee with refrigeration, gas range, lighting and running water, together with 5 x 6 person bunk sheds and 1 x 4 person, the extra cost was well within contingency and given that it included all the gas we needed and saved us the fuel to transport all the tentage, tables, benches etc., was money well spent. The bunk rooms accommodated the Scouts, leaders and for the first time, 4 selected cubs from the Phillips Pack. The Explorers braved the elements in their tents, but with the experience they have gained from years of camping, they were snug as a bug.
uting at the Dartford Masonic Centre for their Craft Fare. Always lots on offer so please come along.
37 hardened adventures from the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Johnston ESU, Earley & Burne Scouts descended on Gilwell Park to attend the 2018 Winter Camp. Amongst our number were 6 leaders and two Ventures, Tara & Nora, from Dublin, who had linked up with us in a joint venture with Scouting Ireland. All the young people had a great time and new friendships were formed, which we hope will see a trip to Dublin in the not too distant future. 
Family Camp 2017 – A Centenary of Scouting
mboree on the Trail Saturday 13-05-2017