Space camp was planned for our scout group at Herstmonceux to commemorate 40 years since man went to the moon when those fateful words were spoken by Neil Armstrong. Other great space anniversaries were celebrated and the week of the camp it was announced that the first british astronaut would join the European agency.
Our own efforts might seem more humble but we made up an ambitious programme once more and invited other groups to do the same. We included doctor who, star trek and star wars as well as real life rockets, a planetarium and horolory. Special camp fire songs were commissioned and of course spaceships and even the TARDIS were put under construction.
Months of planning lead to Blackland farm being chosen to host the event as they have bungee trampolines, aeroball and other great activities that would add to our jedi training. Of course this is not just a show me show me camp Water rockets and on site making of things spacey were planned.
With April in sight it all looked a bit slim on the take up from other groups. Ashdown has a combined might of nearly 1000 members and yet the bookings for the camp totaled less than 30! We campaigned strongly to get other groups along and by the start of Space camp we had beavers from Crowborough, Hartfield,Ticehurst,and Uckfield, cubs from Ticehurst and scouts from Groombridge, Hartfield, Rotherfield, Ticehurst and Uckfield that set the event alive
The great thing about leaders in scouting is that they make that extra effort for those that come along to events not those that don't. Joining in is fab but not everyone can do everything and we are lucky enough to have a lot to do in our district. |
From the beginning of the space camp to the end it was non- stop action with separate programmes for beavers, cubs and scouts. fantastic costumes, brilliant static displays at Starbase 69 and of course a real live 15 foot long rocket helped a bit. But the main point of the exercise was happy young people. We mixed up the scouts so that they were not always with their friends and this meant that they made new friends for the weekend. the beavers tracked down the lost TARDIS and joined with the cubs for a rousing campfire. The scouts were not always as loud at the campfire but armed with water balloons became a formidable army chasing down our own blue alien and making mincemeat of the evil empire star destroyer.
Space hoppers and water rockets made a very impressive centre of the field event with rockets heading into other fields tents and trees with incredible force. Meanwhile the scout pioneering challenge consisted of a race into space with a sedan chair rally.
The space shuttles were expected to be static all weekend but proved surprisingly mobile.
The south east rocketeers put on a staggering show with their variety of solid fuel rockets which flew up to 600m before returning to earth on parachutes for firing again.
After a final huge swim session we cleaned out in record time and were off site by Sunday afternoon much wiser for the experience.
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