Last weekend was Valentine’s Day. Now, this is something my wife and I don’t really celebrate – we’re not fans of the commercial side of it. So, I knew asking to go on Scout camp that weekend wouldn’t be a problem.

So, alongside two other leaders- Scott and Craig, we braved the cold weather and took 14 Scouts off to Paccar Scout Campsite for the February Scout and Explorer camp, also known as Freezer Camp—and let me tell you, it lived up to its name!

Why Freezer Camp? Because it’s EASY for Leaders!

Having done Freezer Camp several times in the past, I’ve learned one golden rule—let Paccar handle the catering. No question about it. A 100% yes! It’s hands down the easiest camp for a Scout Leader. But more on that later.

If you’ve never been to Freezer Camp at Paccar, you need to add it to your bucket list. It’s not just local Scouts and Explorers—groups come from all over England. I had a chat with a group from Wimborne in Dorset, who told me this was their fifth Freezer Camp!

What’s on Offer?

The activity list is absolutely packed:

🧗‍♂️ High Ropes, Zip Wire, Crate Stacking, Gladiator Challenge, Quick Drop, Abseiling, Climbing
🚀 Bungee Trampolines, Laser Maze, Quad Bikes, Laser Tag, Gyroscope, Segways
🎨 Craft Tent
🎶 Live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights

Setting Up Camp

Since Paccar is a local campsite for us, I arrived early at lunchtime, signed in, and found our allocated pitch. I quickly set up my own tent and our group’s base camp—our Coleman FastPitch XL shelter. Now, I’ve got to say, this version is so much better than the old Colemans, where the poles never seemed to slot together easily and properly!

The Scouts were due to arrive between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM, with the other two leaders arriving after the school run with their own kids, who are also in our troop.

We decided to be kind and put the Scouts’ tents up before they arrived, since it would be dark by then. But I had an idea—what if we only put up the outers and left them to sort out the inners? It would save time while still giving them some responsibility to get their own tents up.

Meanwhile, Craig, our Beaver Leader, took it upon himself to light a cosy campfire—which made for a warm welcome for the Scouts and parents.

First of Many Brews & Craig’s First Gadget Reveal

With camp set up, it was time for a well-earned brew. Out came my trusty Vango foldable stove (seriously, love this thing!) and my Kirtley Kettle, my old faithful companion.

But wait, what’s this? Craig had brought along a camping espresso machine—because obviously, instant coffee just wouldn’t cut it at Freezer Camp!

Spoiler alert: This was just the first gadget of many Craig would magically pull from his rucksack over the weekend…

Friday Night – Live Music & Hot Chocolate

Before we knew it, the Scouts arrived, dropped their bags, and rushed off to the opening ceremony and the live band for the night—The Strats.

While the Scouts rocked out, Scott attended the leaders’ camp meeting, where he got all the important info: wristbands, activity schedules, badges, and general camp rules.

The Scouts absolutely loved the band. They covered The Killers, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, and more. After the Strats, 1 of the Paccar Crew got up on the main stage for a spot of Live DJ’ing, which the Scouts enjoyed alot. For some of our Scouts, this was their first-ever live music experience, and one described it as a mini Glastonbury!

After the live music, we grabbed hot chocolate from the stand and headed back to our camp for a quick campfire chat before lights out at 11:00 PM.

Saturday – Craig’s Never-Ending Gadgets & Swedish Torch Fail

At 5:00 AM, our very noisy Scouts woke up Scott. Did I hear them? Nope! I was sound asleep… as was Craig. 😆

At 8:30 AM, we walked over for breakfast—there was a 15-20 minute wait, but it was well worth it. A FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST with unlimited tea, coffee, squash, cereal, and toast.

At 10:00 AM, activities kicked off, and we gave the Scouts some advice: “Skip the woods activities—you can do those any time. Try the stuff that’s only here for Freezer Camp!”

Did they listen? Of course not. First stop? The High Ropes and 3G Swing in the woods. 🤦‍♂️

Meanwhile, Craig asked, “Should we do a headcount? Should we split them up?” You could really tell that Craig is very much a Beaver Leader than a Scout Leader.

“Nope,” I said. “They’ve got responsibility. They know to be back for 12:15 PM for lunch—or face the consequences.”

With the Scouts off, we had another brew. But before I could even take a sip, I got invited into another group’s camp for tea and cake. Scout networking at its finest!

Lunchtime:

After 15 minutes in line, we got served battered chicken, potatoes, spaghetti hoops, yogurt, fruit, and a chocolate muffin—plus, of course, unlimited tea,coffee and squash.

Afternoon Activities & Craig’s DIY Disaster

While the Scouts did Archery, Caving, and Laser Tag, I had a plan: Woggle-making time! I’d brought along some antler offcuts and my file set, so we sat by the fire carving antler rings and woggles—a proper bushcraft session for leaders.

Meanwhile, Craig had another idea. He’d brought along a half-built Swedish Torch (you know, those fancy log stoves you cook on).

Well… let’s just say, good thing we weren’t relying on it for dinner. Craig spent 1.5 HOURS trying to get it lit before finally pulling another yet anither gadget to helop him – an air pump gadget 🤣 Well give the man credit- it worked and the Swedish Log was finally lit.

Dinner:

A 40-minute wait for Pukka Pie or sausage rolls with mash, veg, and gravy. By the time we got served? Sausage rolls were gone. But hey, at least the cake and custard was good!

Evening Entertainment & The Ultimate Heated Camping Setup

The Scouts rushed off to another live music session while Scott and I accidentally wandered into the Leaders’ Chill Out Area—which, as luck would have it, had a music quiz going on.

Back at camp, we found Craig looking very smug by the fire. Why?

1. He had a heated gilet. (Fair play, I’ve got one too—absolute game-changer!)
2. He had a HEATED CAMPING CHAIR.

Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he pulled out a solar-powered foot warmer…

At around 9:30 PM, the Scouts suddenly remembered the late-night snack bar was open, offering hot chocolate and free popcorn. In a mad rush, they bolted across the campsite, determined not to miss out. A few minutes later, they returned triumphantly, arms full of steaming mugs and overflowing bags of popcorn. Settling in around the campfire, they swapped stories, laughed about the day’s adventures, and enjoyed their well-earned treats—because what’s a chilly Freezer Camp night without hot chocolate and a snack?

As we all sat around the late-night campfire, we chatted about the highs and lows of Freezer Camp—from the freezing tents to the epic adventures of the day. To keep the fun going, we played a few classic campfire games, starting with “I Went to the Shops and Bought…”, where each person had to guess if the item someone “bought” was correct or not—cue lots of confusion and laughter! We also played the Magical Train Game, which had everyone scratching their heads trying to figure out the secret pattern.

And, of course, Craig couldn’t resist pulling out yet another camping gadget—this time, the campfire magic dust. As soon as he tossed it into the flames, the fire transformed into a dazzling display of blues, greens, and purples, leaving everyone oohing and aahing. It was the perfect way to end the night—warm drinks, good company, and a campfire that looked like something straight out of a wizard’s spellbook!

Sunday – Packing Up & Craig’s Final Gadget Reveal

The Scouts learned their lesson from the previous day about waking up leaders super early. This time, they got up at a reasonable 07:30. The Scouts chilled out at our mini camp base, making sure their tents were tidy and clean, ready for morning inspection.

After another Full English Breakfast, the Scouts had one last chance to do activities before packing up camp.

On Sunday at Freezer Camp, there were activities running from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM. The scouts rushed off to do their favorite activities for the last time of the day. I walked around camp with fellow Explorer Leader Sanjay Chandarana for a catch-up, and we ended up at the 25th Ealing’s base for a cup of tea while avoiding the downpour of rain. Then it was time to head back to camp to start striking camp before lunch.

This is when we discovered Craig’s final “gadget.” It’s not a gadget as such, but a double-sized down duvet to keep him warm during the night! You can tell he’s a Beaver leader, eh?

The Scouts arrived back at base just in time to head off to the closing ceremony of Freezer Camp 2025. Now here’s a tip! The moment the closing ceremony finishes, it’s lunchtime, and there’s a massive race to get to the food hall. Here’s the tip: stand to the right of the stage so you can see the toilet block. The moment they say “thank you very much and see you next year,” it’s time to walk fast to get lunch. Don’t run—it’s muddy and slippery.

Sunday lunch:

A lovely crispy-skinned jacket potato with cheese and beans, a bit of salad and coleslaw, yogurt, a muffin, and yes… unlimited supplies of tea, coffee, and squash.

After lunch, we headed back to base to finish striking camp. We had a surprise birthday cake for one of our scouts who was celebrating her 12th birthday.

And before you could blink, parents arrived, collecting their lovely cherubs and heading back home.

We headed back to the scout hall to unload the few bits of equipment into scout stores. Thankfully, on Sunday it was dry and windy, which meant we had NO tents to dry out.

And Craig? Well, of course, he had one last gadget up his sleeve—a double-sized down duvet to keep him warm at night. Because why wouldn’t he?

Final Verdict:

✅ Success? YES! No injuries, no hospital trips, and no major homesickness.
❌ Will we be back next year? Nope! We’ve decided to do Freezer Camp every other year instead.

Final Shoutout:

Big shoutout to North Cray Scouts, who camped opposite us and said hello!

And that’s a wrap on Freezer Camp 2025! 🚀🔥