Beavers, Cubs & Scouts enjoyed a week of camping at Thriftwood Scout Campsite in Brentwood alongside the 4th Southgate Scouts during the last week of August this year. With the Scouts trip to Austria being postponed till 2022, this camp took on an international flavour, the theme being a Dutch one with the group being garlanded in orange scarves, cycling around the site and trying Dutch cuisine such as Hagelslag and Poffertjes.

With the exception of a few light showers on the first day, the campers were blessed with dry weather, enabling the group to enjoy the week’s activities, the highlights being a canoe trip down the River Chelmer and a day trip to Southend-on-Sea.

As has become tradition with the 4th – 14th Southgate joint summer camps, a volleyball tournament was hosted with a mixed 4th – 14th Scout team narrowly losing in the finals to the 5th Dartford. Rest assured, the Scouts shall be busy practicing for next year where they shall face international opposition.