Link Camp 2004

Thirteen Cubs arrived at Park Farm Campsite in Banstead on Saturday 3rd April 2004 for the District Link Camp. This is a camp organised for older Cubs to give them a taste of Scout activities. The Cubs came from six Packs in the District: 1st Wallington, 11th Wallington, 14th Wallington, 2nd Carshalton, 6th Carshalton and 9th Carshalton.

The weekend started with the allocation of Patrols (the Herons and the Kestrels) and then a quick tour of the site. After flag break, the Cubs pitched their Patrol tents and changed out of uniform.

The next task was to light Patrol cooking fires and to cook lunch: burgers and beans. This provided an opportunity for the Cubs to learn techniques such as grading the wood in woodpiles and soaping the outside of billies.

After lunch, the Cubs set out on a short hike that included some map reading and compass work. On their return, the Cubs made sedan chairs, a chance to practice their knotting and lashing skills, and then raced with them around the field.

(Click on any picture to see a larger version)

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The Cubs ended the afternoon by making mini-pioneering catapults and firing ping-pong balls at the leaders. After dinner, each Patrol wrote and performed a short sketch and there was an inter-Patrol game of Blockbusters. The evening finished with a campfire (in the rain).

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Sunday morning started with exercises around the site, breakfast and Scouts’ Own. After a short walk to see the goats in a nearby field, the Cubs were split into four groups for a series of skills bases, including axes and saws, lamps and stoves, site layout, first aid and safety at camp and shelter building.

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The tents were then packed away and, following lunch, there was time for a quick game before a talk on the Scout Law, the Scout Promise and the Scout Badges. Finally, the Cubs were each presented with a certificate, a badge and an Easter egg and the flag was lowered to mark the end of the camp.