Scouts Brave the Elements at Winter Camp
12th January 2003
Freezing temperatures did nothing to deter the enthusiasm of a cast of more than 1100 Scouts at the 15th Annual Winter Camp at Gilwell Park, Chingford (10th -12th January). The highlight of the weekend was the handing over of £45,000 raised by Scouts throughout the UK to help Commonwealth Scouting charities.
Staged at the National Headquarters of The Scout Association, plenty of action was on offer to those who braved the elements camping over the 'Hollywood and the Movies' themed weekend.
On Sunday morning a group of young people, representing half a million UK Scouts presented a cheque for £45,000, the proceeds of a special Badge worn by Scouts last year to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee 2002. The funds from the 'Make A Difference Jubilee Appeal' are earmarked for a variety of charitable Scout projects in Commonwealth countries including India, Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia.
Accepting the cheque, Richard Butler, a Trustee of The Scout Association and County Commissioner for Norfolk, explained that Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of UK Scouting had specifically requested that links to the Commonwealth be an integral part of Her Jubilee celebrations.
"It is highly appropriate therefore that Scouting in the UK should support projects making a significant difference to the lives of young people in Commonwealth countries", he said. "I would like to thank all the young people and their Leaders and parents who purchased the Badges and assure them that the money they have raised will be much appreciated and put to very good use."
Richard played a key role in developing Scouting events to celebrate the Jubilee.
Sale and distribution of the Badges was handled by Outdoors, The Scout Association's trading subsidiary and official retail outlet.
The Gilwell Winter Camp is the first national Scout Camp of the year and regularly attracts over a thousand young people. All come to have a good time and demonstrate that modern Scouts are not put off their love of adventure by the risk of adverse weather conditions. The event has become infamous for its extremes of weather - snow, ice, rain and hail have all made an appearance at previous events.
Campsite Manager Skippy Roberts said: "Part of the challenge is for young people to cope with the cold, as well as testing their camping skills. People know camping in January is never going to be easy and that's definitely one of the appeals for the event.
Young people, aged between 14 and 18, gathered for the action-packed weekend, some travelling from as far afield as South Wales, Walsall, Bristol, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Surrey and East Sussex as well as Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent and Middlesex. More than 400 adults also joined in the fun!
