On
Friday 19th April, fifteen excited Beaver Scouts from three Colonies
in South Ribble, descended on Waddecar for the first ever, South Ribble District
Sleepover and the very first Beaver Scout Sleepover to be held at Waddecar.
Although they could only stay for less than 24 hours, the beavers (and
their leaders) were determined not to waste a minute.
Once they had stowed their sleeping bags and other
gear, they set off on their first adventure - a wellie walk round the campsite
in the dark. Back in Helme Lodge,
it was off with the wellies and out with the paints as they began a work of art
- self-portraits to hang on the wall. That
done, it was time for some games before supper. Then after consuming loads of
hot dogs and chocolate biscuits, they gathered round the indoor campfire for a
singsong. They didn't realise they
knew so many songs and certainly taught their leaders some that they didn't know
before.
Time
for bed! In their pyjamas and
snuggled down in their sleeping bags, they listened to a story before lights
out. Many of the beaver scouts were
determined to stay awake so as not to miss a minute of their first night away
from home and at least one group were planning a midnight feast. However the events of the last few hours had caught up with
them and they were all fast asleep at midnight.
By
7.00am next morning, the beaver scouts were already washed and dressed and ready
to start the first activity, a series of action stories, which ensured that even
the sleepiest leaders were soon fully alert.
The games made the beaver scouts hungry for breakfast and vast quantities
of cereal; bacon, beans and waffles disappeared in the blink of an eye.
They didn't have time to waste when there were still so many things to
do!
Out
on to the field for 'post-box', uniforms on for flagbreak, then wellies on for
the next adventure - down to the river to search for gold.
Having soon emptied the river of its treasure, they squelched back up the
hill for elevenses. Time for
another craft activity - to design their own flag from the fabrics provided.
The
sleepover was nearly over, but there was just time for some more games, this
time with the parachute out on the field, before everyone received their
certificates in the closing ceremony.
No one wanted to leave, but mums and dads were
waiting and the still-excited beaver scouts had to go home.