Cub Scout Camp - Sunday Morning

Well after a busy day prior, all the plans for today have been scuttled. First light was to see the Cub Scouts create a raft, about 500mm long. The idea was to lash timber together, however, after a rather slow start it was decided we would not carry this out and have breakfast.

Once breakfast was completed, we gathered the Cub Scouts together to make an invitation to a Mother's Night on the next Tuesday and had them .......

It is funny how you think that boys are not into craft, but these guys are always keen to get into it, it is good to see.

Cub Scouts Camp - The evening

So we arrive back, everyone is showered, the air is cool but the Cub Scouts are reeling from the long day they have had.

Bring on dinner, this was a Luau, where Cub Scouts would get to chosse from a variety of dishes - Pineapple Chicken, Sausage Hotpot, Pumpkin Soup and tropical fried rice.

I have to admit that we had to push most of the Cub Scouts to sample the food before they woud eat it. The Pumpkin Soup was one of those, we had leaders and cubs that said they don't like soup, but they all ate up heaps of it (one cubs - Gavin, had 5 helpings of the soup alone, another leader said they hate pumpkin and would never eat it, but after 2 serves we were sworn to secracy to telling the other half :-) .

As witht he rest of the meal, they all ate way too much but enjoyed what was in front of them.

After cleaning up and realising that desert would be wasted on very full stomachs, we had all Venturers and Cub Scouts watching 'Surf's Up' and 'Puss in Boots' in the main den. It was a very, very, very quiet evening in that den. So much , so that the leaders were able to take time out and chat. IT would be the first time that I have run a camp where the Cub Scouts are so worn out and very quiet - we acheived payback for the night before.

Once the movies were done, it was time for bed, and it certainly was a lot quieter than the night before - Now how do we wake them in the morning ;-).

Cub Scout Camp - the afternoon

So what do you do with 22 Cub Scouts when they have been to the beach. You sit them down to do craft!
With Mother's Day next weekend the Cub Scouts made a picture frame from timber, got to nail and glue them together. They then went about fixing sand and shells collected in the morning.

 

Their Mum's should be pleased with the results as most took extraordinary efforts to make them nice and picturesque.

While waiting their turn the other Cub Scouts were entertaining themselves with games frisbie, football and knock down.

 

Once completed and afternoon tea had, it was upstairs again to ready for downtime. We head off to the beach once more. However, we are no longer quiet puppies as we are now singing loudly all the Cub Scout hiking song. If people didn't know who we were they did after that. This chorus was hears all weekend as we hiked to and from the beach.

Once their all Cub Scout braved the rough water. Those not strong swimmers stayed close to shore or came in with a leader. It was a great way for us all to chill out after a busy day.

 

The walk back was long and slow. We had acheived the result of exhausting them :-). Back for showers and dinner.

Cub Scout Camp: To the Beach

With Cubs well fed, it is now time to get serious. The Cub Scouts are sent to get ready for the beach.

Once ready a short hike to the Burleigh Heads beach is all that it takes to excite the cubs once more. Here we have a chance to get ready for the next activity. The activity is to build a sandcastle, with a moat, bridge, gate and flagpole.

To the sand they head and begin the task. As they come to life those with more adventureous tastes build great castles. However, they seem to be having trouble not keeping dry when fetching water for their moats! Not only that they are struggling to keep the moat full and try many ways to keep the water in. However, when you build so far from the water and the sand is dry nothing will make it stay.

After assessing the designs, we settle that everyone did a great job and delivered to the requirements. So to pack up we have to return the beach to normal by destroying the things we built. Oh did they not like that! ;-).

Once done we head off down the beach to look for shells. On the journey we see different types of shells which are collected for the craft activity later that afternoon. But I think most just want to swim, alas we will have to wait to this afternoon. What makes it worse is a sandbar is exposed and they all want head out to it.

After the tip along the beach and not being able to look at the rock pools due to tide not out far enough, we begin the walk back to camp for lunch. Along the way we stop for visit at the war memorial to look for the marker for the 'Unknown Soldier'. This completes the 'Our heritage, our service' badge for those that attended ANZAC services.

Onward to the camp and food, we earned it. Pizza stacks and sandwiches all around. The morning tea earlier was long burnt off as the Cub Scouts feed well.

Cub Scout Camp - the next morning

After a late night and little sleep, the cub scouts are awake at 5:15, no thanks to Dingos alarm going off. So here we are with 22 Cub Scouts eager to kick on. Out they go and start playing footy and frizbie throwing around 6:15. But we had forgotten the no noise rule before 7, kept the night one though.  Thanks to the kindly neighbours who reminded us of our duty to the time. Oh well early start gets a good days work done earlier ;-{

So into the den we go, poor Venturers got a rude wake up call. A few games were played until curfew was lifted and then Bagheera sets the next challenge. A game called stranded.

The object here was to pretended you were stuck on a desserted island and have to build shelter,  find water and make a fire. This task was meant to take 45 minutes and not get completed. To our surprise it was done in half that and very well done too. Some had never tried lashing and did a good job impromptu.




After pullng down it was breakfast time. Eggs, bacon, toast and cereal. A big meal to kick start the next activities.

Cub Scout Camp - Arrival

Camp is finally here! The Cub Scout have arrived and are located their rooms upstairs. Each Cub Scout was  allocated a room with a sign on the door. Each sign has a name on it that represented the name of one of the Hawaiian Islands - Maui, molandi , Big Island..

This set the tone for the weekend. We did not tell the Cub Scouts what they were, only that it had to do with the camp theme and there was a clue on the doors. Alex L was the first to guess them and earnt a badge for that effort.

One of the first things to greet the Cubs was a shark called Lani. He was there as the weekend mascot and protector of the kitchen. One little munchkin that dropped of their brother got a right fright and would not go near him. Too real for her :-)

Once settled we held parade and went the rules of the camp. We also told them that they had to solve 3 puzzles.

1. what the names on the doors meant
2. what country Hawaii belonged too (none got it without taking a lot of blind stabs, we had Russia, Asia and plenty more until Kalb guessed it late Saturday)
3. who was killed thee who had ties to Australia? Captian Cook. Alex H got that one on parade.

Once parade was over it was upstairs to change into costume for Campfire. The grass sjirts and loud shirts, plus silly Venturers added to a funny sing-a-long campfire. This was the first time we had run it on opening and we will do again, but have things more prepped as it had no skits. Still it was a good one and the Cubs learnt all new songs.

After campfire it was off to the beach for a ramble and hopefully find sand crabs running along the beach. Alas, the tide was in and no crabs to be found. However we were privileged to see floating lanterns being released. Apparently this is an annual event for an Asian ceremony of remembrance. It was a great spectacle and amazing to watch as the floated by on the night wind.

On returning to camp, it was time for bed - yeah right - lots of late night chatting and a few grumpy leader moments saw them quieten down around 1am.

It was a good start for a weekend that would be loaded with activities.

Cub Camp 2012 - 'Life's a Beach' and then some!

The Beenleigh Cub Scouts camp for 2012 was a great hit. You know it has been a good one when you talk about it all the way home and with others in a positive light for hours after  There is so much to cover that I have had to break it down into several posts. So keep reading and you will see how amazing this group of Cub Scouts have been this weekend. The Venturers should be proud of their efforts, Ryan, Jaiden & Jakob truly stepped up and were amazing help over the weekend.

Thanks to Quokka for her wonderful meals, you know it is good when Cub Scouts that wont eat soup come back for more - one 5 times. Even after a tough first night, she was able to pull together some really good food, with what we had to work with. Rama was also a great help in cooking on the BBQ all weekend.

To Paul & Katrina for putting on a really fantastic nippers session and learning all about rips.

A big thanks also goes out to Emu and Anne Cowan for the help to clean up the accommodation block, and assist in packing the trailer,  it helped get us leaders home earlier.

And finally, to my team of Cub Scout Leaders, without your help and support we would never get this working and send our Cub Scouts home in a very happy state. Thank you all.

From me, thanks to everyone for holding on one extra hour as we were having trouble 'herding the cats' back to base. Your patience's as we were trying to finish up was really appreciated. I can only hoe that they were talking all the way home, or sleeping.

 If I have to sum the camp up with one photo, and how we hope the Cub Scouts were at the end it is this camp is the one of Ryker tired, exhausted but still having fun!.