Tiger Cub Scouts Winter Camp 2025
Date: 19th Feb 2025
Author: Mark Eastman
Eighteen Cubs and four leaders descended upon Polyapes Scout Campsite for our winter camp weekend staying in the Mowgli hall from Friday evening on 7th through to Sunday 9th February. On arrival the Cubs that had already arrived helped unload the equipment from the trolleys into the hall as it was raining. Once all the cubs had arrived, we went through do’s and don’ts, sorted them into who they wanted to share a tent with then into two groups of 9 in each for the activities over the weekend.
They played whilst we finished sorting out as there were some issues with the oven and a blocked vent so the room filled with steam setting off the alarm. Richard did manage to cook us a supper of hot dogs with waffle smiley faces.
Afterwards the cubs helped to clean away the plates etc and we set up the tables for hockey playing a few rounds.
They put the tables away and we handed out their tents to put up and set up for the night. The Cubs excitedly got into their pyjamas and onesies to watch a film of the Jungle Book, appropriate for the hall we stayed in and many of the cubs had never seen it. Richard brought round hot chocolate for them, after the film had finished they got ready to settle down to go to sleep.
The first night is always the hardest to get them to go to sleep as they are still excited and tonight was no exception. From their arrival until we gave them their tents they were constantly asking “are we putting up our tents now”!
Saturday morning the Cubs were stirring around 8am. We chivvied the cubs to get dressed and take their tents down as well as pack up their bags putting them against the wall; some of them have a funny idea if packing! Once all the tents were away we got them to get out the tables and chairs for breakfast starting with cereal followed by a cooked breakfast of bacon, sausage, mini waffles and eggy bread, most Cubs had seconds.
The cubs helped us wipe down the tables; half of the Cubs got their coats on for archery led by Alan with Steve helping. I kept the second group of 9 Cubs in the hall and covered the artist badge engaging them in making treasure maps, then scrunching them up and rubbing them over the floor to make them look old. They also had to make a book cover to hide the map in as well as a letter/card explaining how to use the map.
The groups swapped over after 90 minutes to repeat the activities.
When the group returned from archery they played in the hall and helped to tidy away the paper, card and pencils. This was followed by lunch of making their own filled roll with crisps, frubes and fruit and after cleaning the tables they put on their outdoor clothes, coats and boots and we all went out to the range together to do Angel throwing led by Steve.
After our 90 minute session we returned to the hall and ate a chocolate cake on the verandah then we all went for a walk around the site to see what was there walking in between Explorer tents as there were 80+ camping there for their DofE. We returned to the hall and they got ready for dinner sitting at their tables waiting excidedly for Richard to return with the pizzas, anyone would think they don’t have pizza much!
They polished off the pizzas eating 4-5 pieces each followed by ice cream with sauce drizzled on top. Afterwards they helped with wiping down the tables, putting away the chairs then we set up to do indoor archery and crossbows and swapping over.
The Cubs packed it all away then they put up their tents around 8.30pm and got into their pyjamas and watched a film again of Finding Nemo. Richard brought a cup of hot chocolate around for them to have and when the film ended they got ready to bed down for the night and went to sleep almost straight away.
On Sunday morning around 7am the leaders and some of the Cubs were tidying up their tents. We helped them take down the tents checking the poles were ok and in the correct bags. The cubs continued to pack their bags until it was time to get out the tables and chairs for breakfast.
After tidying up the Cubs put on warm clothing, coats and boots. One group waited outside the gate of the remote controlled cars and the other group waited for Steve and Alan to get bottle rockets set up. The Cubs enjoyed their sessions of driving the cars along the tracks, bridges, rocky mounds and tunnels as well as a seesaw and despite the cold setting off the bottle rockets often soaking themselves in the process. Cake was brought out at half time swapover and devoured eagerly by all.
Once the activities had finished we all went into the hall and the cubs packed any last minute stuff in their bags or in the case of some they didn’t. We had dinner for lunch of a choice if macaroni cheese, chicken in a sauce or bolognese with pasta followed by swiss roll with custard and/or squirty cream.
The Cubs helped clear up afterwards and sweep the floor. They played a game of bingo winning prizes until the parents started arriving. Just after 3pm the cubs joined their parents with their bags and left for home. An enjoyable camp with a good bunch of mostly well behaved children mixing together to work as a team in every task presented to them. Well done Tiger Cubs!
