The Scout Association asked for as many members of the movement to camp under canvas over the Whitsun Bank Holiday in May 2000 to celebrate the new Millennium.

Therefore the 11^th Devonport Scout Group held a Millennium Camp for all members of the group at Foxcove Scout Campsite near Wembury. The group decided to hold it's own group camp rather than attend a larger camp so that it could build on the groups strong sectional links.

It was also decided to set the theme of the camp very strongly on the 'OUT' in Scouting by providing a programme that was jammed full of Scouting and outdoor activities.

 In total 53 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venture Scouts, Leaders and Parents attended our camp (almost the whole group !).

The camp proved a huge success as the reports below show.

End of Camp Group Photo

After three months of planning, it was time for the camp to happen.

The day started early with buying the last of the food before loading the van and trailer borrowed for the weekend. I met up with the GSL and collected the last of the kit and tents from the Scout Hut before we headed off to Foxcove to start transporting all the gear we needed for the camp. A lengthy task at the best of times but even longer this time due to the sheer numbers attending.

Everyone met at the hut at 6pm, after loading everyone in to the parents cars it was off to Foxcove, some via a more longer and interesting way I believe. Once we were all at the site, it was time for the camp ground rules and programme to be explained. After this it was the task of pitching camp - a lot of tents were erected !

Once all the tentage had been pitched we had a wide game with Cubs, Ventures and Leaders against the Scouts. Then it was time for supper, Soup followed by the first of the birthday cakes - today was Penny's birthday.

All that was left after this was to turn in for some sleep.

After a full cooked breakfast with cereal it was time to collect wood for the camp fire. At this point the Beavers and their parents arrived and were set the task of pitching their tents.

It was an early start today because the Beavers were up and out of their tents making a lot of noise close to the Leaders tents - it would not happen again !!

As with all Tony's camp fires this was one that will be remembered for it's songs and there actions - we also learnt a lot about Tony's friend 'Cecil' - don't ask !!

We complied with the request from National HQ to camp under canvas and I believe we lived up to the Scouts motto of 'Be Prepared' because we were ready for everything the weather could throw at us, it didn't effect our camp.

I also think we definitely put the 'OUT' back into Scouting during the camp.

Camp Leader

The following reports are from those who attended the camp.

On Sunday it was yet again the job of the arsonist, sorry Venture Scouts, to make the camp fire for the camp sing song. As usual the Venture Scouts performed excellently as the fire was "Hot & Wild". After we had the fire flaming sufficiently Tony Lane (ACC Cub Scouts) came to the camp to run the sing songs. I felt that this went very well.

Overall I felt the whole camp was a great success.

Andrew Hoskin - Venture Scout

Archery was my favourite activity even though I only got 1 arrow on the board after 6 go's. I didn't care really, I just had a good time.

After archery I wanted my own archery set, but I don't think I'll get one.

I love archery.

Aimee Taylor - Scout

We all gathered in the hut two weeks after the camp to talk about what we liked about this camp. We all liked sleeping in our tents this was even after one Beaver moved tents the second night after getting wet on the first. One even sent his dad out of the tent to talk with the leaders because he wanted to sleep on his own.

We discussed about the activities throughout the weekend and archery was voted the most popular by far followed by the water slide. None of us had done archery before so this was something different and exciting even though we were not strong enough to hit the target never mind the bull it was still exciting hope we can do this again. The water slide was great fun because we could get wet without being told off and get others wet as well.

On the Saturday we cooked our own dinner on an open fire, sausages on sticks, twists and egg in a potato yum yum even our parents enjoyed this. We were lucky we had two camp fires indoors on Saturday (raining boring) and Sunday outside they were both good fun. We had bases we liked making a stretcher and carrying each other on it, the rope one when we were tied in a knot and had to undo and the one we followed blind folded and of course getting wet again collecting gold fish. Monday afternoon came to quick and we all had to go home.

Beaver Scout Section.

The best bit of the Millennium camp was the archery and doing all the games like wide games and the assault course. Also the water games that the Scouts and Beavers provided.

The camp fire was really great and a laugh seeing the GSL making fun of himself, trying to sing !!

In all the whole camp was good fun.

I hope there will be another camp where the whole Scout Group can go together again. It was good to meet the Beavers and Cubs and hopefully they will wish to join the Scouts when they are older and do the things they saw us doing which they are too young to do like lighting the fires etc.

Scott Davis - Scout, PL

This was my first camp and it made a good impression of camp because the food was nice and the Activities good. I liked the games we played on the last day and doing the backwoods cooking because it was something I have never done before. That was only the second time I've slept in a tent. The best thing was the camp fire because I learned good songs and good stories. There were no worst bit because it was all good.

I will definitely go again.

Andrew Soper - Scout

I had a brilliant time at camp, I liked getting wet and muddy while doing the assault course. We done lots of other things at camp like archery where out of the 12 arrows that I shot, I think I only got 4 or 5 on the target board. I had fun playing wide games on Friday night and enjoyed making emergency shelters. We also cooked on an open fire. The weather could have been better, but I can'' wait to go to the next Scout camp.

Cassie Soper - Scout

The first day I was really excited about everything. When it was time to build the tent we all went in and unpacked and set up the sleeping bags. Then it was time for us to explore the forest this was after our parents went home, the forest was great fun and lovely, but before we went into the forest we had the rules explained;

1. Stay away from the beach.
2. Stick to the path.
3. Don't mess around.
4. Don't eat anything in the forest.
5. Don't pick anything in the forest.

After this we played games outside and then it was time for supper and then we went to bed. The first night in my sleeping bag was very exciting, I woke up at 5 o'clock the next morning, but I was too tired to go out and it was raining anyway. When the adults came to wake us up and tell us to get dressed, I was already dressed. They told us to go up to the hut, then we breakfast which was cereals and sausage, egg and spaghetti and it was delicious.

We then talked about what we had seen so far. After washing up everyone collected wood, Glyn asked us to fill the pile up to the tree and we did it. At this time the Beavers and their parents put up their tents. The Beavers then joined in helping to collect wood. After we collected the wood we did some backwoods cooking, this was great fun. After lunch we done the A-Z hunt, collecting creatures and plants that began with A-Z or have that letter in. Then it was time for a game of tag, this went on for a long time, and the cubs and beavers caught every one of them.

Then it was time for dinner, and talked about what we liked about Foxcove and talked about the camp fire. The fire was originally planned for that day, but had to be postponed because of the bad weather but we put a fire inside and lit candles all around us. We were told not to touch passed a circle or we would be sent home, because it was dangerous and you might get burned. We sang some songs then it was time to go to sleep.

On the Sunday we were woke up by the birds at 5 O'clock, we had a lovely breakfast and then some free time, I didn't know what to do with my freetime, so I tidied the tent ready for inspection. We got 10 points for how tidy our tent was.

We were told that we were doing archery later on that day, I was excited about that. Then we had some sandwiches and cake for lunch and it was time for tuck. After this we did the assault course and then it was time for archery, this was fun. Then it was time for the campfire, this was lovely, it was like men dancing around a candle, the flames were going really fast. We sang lots of songs around the fire and then we went to bed.

On Monday morning we got up really early and the weather was beautiful, I went for a short walk before breakfast on my own. After breakfast we spent some time doing some activities. This lasted until lunchtime, which was more like a party. Then the parents picked us up. The camp was brilliant; it was a good experience, building, making, exploring and cooking. I really enjoyed myself and I am looking forward to going camping again.

THE END

Jake Paget - Cub Scout