Scout Troop’s summer campBy Marilyn Burrows
The troop’s destination this year was Llangynog, near Lake Vyrnwy. On arrival, pioneering skills were immediately required: equipment had to be manhandled over an improvised bridge across a stream to the greenfield site, with the Berwyn Mountains as an impressive backdrop. In good conditions the scouts’ day-hike challenge was the summit of Cader Berwyn and adjacent ridges.
Lake Bala proved disappointing for kayaking, so the troop transferred the craft to Lake Vyrnwy, with Mike Addison coaching them. Even as the weather deteriorated, a brilliant time was had by all at an RSPB-managed site on the lakeside, the location for this year’s Springwatch series.
The lads’ raft building was exemplary! Outings were also arranged to Wales’s highest waterfall (with cream teas in the café) and the local slate mines.
In camp the usual skills, cooking and team games were an integral part of the week’s success and the scouts enjoyed a parting gift from our host, pub landlord Dai – ice-creams all round! However nature took revenge! Millions of midges bit the young-and-tender (scouts) and the old-and-tough (Chris and Rick) alike; the Welsh rain fell in persistent downpours and the scout bus, and truck and trailer, got stuck in the ensuing mud! Local farmers were (rather inconsiderately) on a stag weekend away, so it took some time to locate a tractor and driver to pull the vehicles off site!
Our Chairman Bernard Tompkins often says “anyone can camp in the sunshine, but only Lee Common Scouts can make a good fist of it in the rain!” How true!