What a weekend!
Our young people headed off for another RUSH 2The DEN camp weekend, and the British weather certainly made sure they got the full outdoor experience. We had wind, rain, clear skies and sunshine – sometimes giving us exactly the weather we needed for whatever was planned next!
There were games in the dark, kites in the sky, a countryside walk, plenty of food and, of course, lots of time spent playing with Bug.
Friday Night Means Torchlight Games
Friday night at camp means one thing: torchlight games!
Think Grandma’s Footsteps, but in the dark. Instead of Grandma simply turning around to catch anyone moving, the torch comes on and suddenly everyone is caught in the light.
With clear enough skies for a bit of stargazing too, it was a brilliant way to start the weekend before everyone settled down for their first night under canvas.
A Saturday Packed With Activities
After breakfast on Saturday, there wasn’t much time for sitting around. The young people got straight into games of Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek Tag, giving everyone plenty of opportunity to run around and burn off some energy.
Then it was time to make the most of the wind.
Out came the kites, and there was certainly enough breeze to get them flying! After lunch, everyone could choose between playing cricket or taking things a little easier with bubble wands and Bug, our four-legged camp companion.
The sunshine even helped us find a few rainbows in the bubbles.
When The Weather Had Other Ideas…
After dinner, the weather took a turn for the worse.
But a bit of rain was never going to bring camp to a halt. Everyone headed into the mess tent, where the evening continued with games of Wink Murder and Heads Down, Thumbs Up.
Once the 8-10-year-olds had headed to bed, the 11+ group got to stay up a little longer for a quiet game of Ninja.
Camping isn’t always about having perfect weather. Sometimes the best memories come from adapting the plans, piling into a tent together and finding another way to have fun.
Camp Food Always Tastes Better
All that running around meant there were plenty of hungry campers to feed.
Our youngsters definitely missed Vixens’ famous fire beans this weekend, but the cooked breakfast still went down very well.
And then there was the famous camp pasta bolognese. A firm favourite, plenty of hungry campers and exactly the sort of hearty meal you need after a busy day outdoors. Yum!
A Sunday Morning Adventure
After breakfast on Sunday, it was time to explore a little further afield.
The young people and some of the leaders headed out for a walk through the surrounding countryside to Kelmarsh Tunnel, enjoying one last adventure together before it was time to head home.
Meanwhile, some of our leaders stayed behind at camp to begin the less exciting part of the weekend: taking down the tents and getting everything packed away!
When the young people returned, there was still a job to do. Everyone got involved with a litter pick, helping to make sure we left the area clean and tidy.
And then, finally, they were allowed to concentrate on the really important business of playing fetch properly with Bug and his Nerf gun.
They may have enjoyed themselves a little too much with that one, as poor Bug was thoroughly worn out by the end of it! 🤣
More Than Just A Weekend Away
Camp is great fun, but weekends like this offer our young people so much more than a packed timetable of activities.
They get opportunities to spend time outdoors, strengthen friendships, build confidence and try things they might not usually get to do. They practise teamwork during games, independence while camping and responsibility through simple things such as helping with the litter pick.
There is also something special about simply having the freedom to run around, get muddy, laugh with friends and enjoy being young.
A Huge Thank You To Our Volunteers
While our young people arrive ready for a weekend of fun, camp actually begins long before they turn up.
There is a huge amount of work happening behind the scenes. Activities need planning, food and equipment need organising, everything has to be packed, the trailer needs loading and unloading, tents need putting up and the whole site needs preparing.
Then, while some leaders are taking the young people off on adventures, others are cooking, clearing up, organising the next activity or – as was the case on Sunday – taking the tents back down again.
And when everyone goes home, there is still unpacking and tidying to do.
A massive thank you goes to every single leader and volunteer who gave their time and energy to make the weekend happen. It really does take a team, and our volunteers are absolutely top-notch.
Until The Next Adventure…
To all our young people: you were awesome!
You embraced everything the weekend threw at you – including the very unpredictable weather – and got stuck into games, walks, activities and camp life.
There were kites, bubbles, cricket, torchlight games, countryside adventures, plenty of food and one very tired dog.
Another RUSH 2The DEN camp weekend done, and plenty more memories made.
Same again next time?
