Blair Atholl Jamborette 2008 Ayrshire Training Camps

The first Training week-end took place over the week-end of 16th - 18th November.

What a difference from 2005 when we held the first training week-end at the same time and the temperatures were well below zero. This year whilst it was not particularily warm, it was a grand night and ine could see the lights of Whiting Bay, Lamlash and Brodick across the water.

Due to an intial mix up of dates we had only 13 of the 14 participants for the Friday night and Saturday due to other committments that the missing member had.

We must emphasise the importance of the attending of the two remaining week-ends by All participants - There will be a lot of trasfer of information, but more importantly the two 'patrols' require to bond and work as a team in preparation for the Camp in July.

The youngsters were split into 2 patrols and set to work pitching tents for the night. On Saturday morning they were shown the style of camp table that they will be expected to build on their arrival at Blair in July - and then set about building.

As well as having a chat about Blair Atholl next year, the group spent part of Saturday afternoon planting some hedging plants around the boundary of the site. This was part of the Scouting Centenary, inconjunction with the Woodlands Trust who donated the 850 plants.

The pictures will be held in Galleries this year, one for each camp. By clicking on the thumbnail, you can view a larger image.

Training Camp One - 16th-18th November

The second training week-end was something else!

Friday night was not to bad, and the sleeping tents were soon pitched, but th eweather forecast was not good for the following day.

Saturday morning was wet, well that is one way of putting it. The first two pictures are of breakfast and the third pictures shows the water feature which we had to build through the marquee. After the late breakfast, the camp tables were built and as a counter measure to the weather a large tarpalin was erected between trees to give some protection from the rain.

The rain did ease up in the afternoon and the group posed for Tree Planting project which had been carried out at Culzean over the past few months - the Blair Atholl squad had taken part in this during the first week-end.

Evening meal was soup, mince and tatties and rice, fruit and custard and this was followed by a chat about Blair Atholl and the various aspects of the two week-camp including a doscussion about Unit 'T' shirts for the camp.

Sorrty about the lack of photographs this time round, the weather was not helpful on this front, and I had another engagement on the Sunday, hence the lack of pictures from that day.

Training Camp Two - 7th - 9th March

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