What a weekend! I’ve just rolled through the door from our incredible district all-section camp, and I’m buzzing with excitement (despite the fact that my 5 AM alarm is going off in a few hours for work- the joys of Scout Leader life!).

Picture this: 400 young people plus a whole army of adult volunteers all gathered together for a weekend of pure scouting magic. The energy was absolutely electric, and I couldn’t be prouder of how everything came together.

Fire, S’mores, and Sticky Fingers

I had the absolute pleasure of running the Cub Fire lighting and S’more making base, and honestly, it was one of those experiences that reminds you why we do what we do. Watching Cubs master the art of lighting fires (safely, of course!) and then seeing their faces light up brighter than the flames when they bit into those perfectly toasted marshmallow creations was just priceless.

The feedback has been fantastic, which is always music to a Scout Leader’s ears. There’s nothing quite like seeing young people discover new skills and gain confidence – even if half of them ended up covered in mud!

Semi-Catered Bliss

Can we talk about how brilliant semi-catered camps are? What a game-changer! All we had to sort was breakfast for our group, Dinner was taken care by the Disitrct Camp Organisers, They hired in a Mobile Chip Shop Van!! Genius decision to hire that in – crispy chips fresh from the van with a chocie of a tasty Hotdog or Burger. Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures that make a camp truly memorable.

The real heroes of breakfast were Scott and Nuno, who absolutely smashed it with a proper fry-up that had everyone coming back for seconds and some sneaky scouts trying to get thirds! Nothing beats the smell of bacon cooking in the great outdoors!

Saturday Night Fever (and K-Pop!)

Saturday night brought the disco, and let me tell you, watching Scout Leaders attempt to keep up with the dance moves was entertainment in itself! The highlight for me was the impromptu K-Pop sing-along with my Girl Scouts to “Golden” who knew Demon Hunters could be so catchy?

But here’s where I have to confess my latest camp obsession: I’m absolutely desperate for us to get a silent disco setup! After experiencing one for the first time at the Gilwell reunion a few weekends ago, I’m completely sold. Imagine the possibilities – different music channels, no noise complaints, and the hilarious sight of everyone dancing to their own beat. It’s a real shame we didn’t have a silent disco on the District Camp, but I’m going to suggest it for the next district all Section Camp.

Windy Weather and Battle Scars

Mother Nature certainly kept us on our toes with some seriously wild winds on Saturday. Despite our Coleman shelter being properly secured with guy lines (we’re not amateurs!), the weather had other plans. One of the corner legs buckled and snapped – a battle scar from our weekend adventure. Note to self: add “shelter repair” to the Quarter Master’s to-do list!

Special Moments and New Beginnings

Some moments from the weekend will stick with me forever. Having the honor of breaking the scout flag at the camp’s opening ceremony was incredibly special, and then bringing our SeptemberFest camp to a close felt like completing a perfect circle.

We also had the joy of investing Nuno as our new Cub Scout Leader – what a fantastic addition to our leadership team! Plus we welcomed a new Scout into our group. There’s something magical about watching someone make their Scout Promise, whether they’re six or sixty.

Already Planning the Next Adventure

You know you’ve had a good camp when you’re already planning the next one before you’ve even packed up! We’re getting excited about our February freezer camp (yes, we’re slightly mad, but that’s half the fun) and a special Patrol Leaders only camp in December. The planning wheels are already turning!

The Scout Leader Reality Check

As I sit here writing this, desperately needing that bath and with a 5 AM work alarm looming, I can’t help but chuckle at my own reminder: “it’s only 2 hours a week, Mark!”

Famous last words, right?

Between weekend camps, evening meetings, planning sessions, and yes, tommorows Scout meeting where we’ll finally solve the Great Egg Mystery (someone’s going to confess to that egg theft!), it’s definitely more than 2 hours. But honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Magic of Scouting

Weekends like this remind me why we all volunteer our time, energy, and sanity to the Scout movement. Seeing 400 young people having the time of their lives, learning new skills, making friendships, and creating memories that will last a lifetime – that’s what it’s all about.

From Cubs discovering they can light fires to Scouts mastering new challenges, from Scout Leaders singing (badly) to K-Pop to the simple joy of sharing stories around a campfire – these moments are pure gold.

So here’s to semi-catered camps, chip vans, broken shelters, 5 AM alarms, and the beautiful chaos that is Scout camping. Roll on the next adventure!

Now, where did I put that bath bomb…

P.S. – Silent disco hire companies, my DMs are open!