Family camp took place at Gladstone Training Centre, Hawarden on 14th , 15th and 16th May. (Now contains all photos)

A successful camp with damp start followed by perfection. We were sharing the site with a working party of Flintshire Explorer Leaders who had given up their weekend to carry out some improvements to the Centre.

Camp was set up on Friday evening and kicked off with a wide game of Cluedo (it was Major Brown in the lounge but I forget the murder weapon) followed by supper and bed. It was a cold night but Saturday was sunny and warm and packed with activities. After a cooked breakfast the first base was Pioneering where we built a couple of tripod structures with cross beams. A short break then onto Axe and Saw taking us up to lunch. In the afternoon we started with a shelter building competition – 3 teams, 3 shelters and 3 winners. How does that happen? We finished off with Fire Lighting, always popular, gives such a warm glow. After tea there was some free time where the obstacle course was one of the areas used. We lit the campfire early so that we’d have a good fire by the time we started our singing. The Exploreres made use of the climbing wall and invited us to have a go. They then came and joined in the campfire and taught us new songs and made the evening exta special. Thanks for that.

On Sunday we took the tents down after breakfast while the sun shone and before it rained (the rain never came and Sunday’s weather was ideal). We went for a hike nearly as far as Hawarden Castle and back, saw some rabbits and pheasants and a deer was also spotted (must have been a roe deer?) Sporting activities took place next – shot put, discus, target ball, sponge and bucket, tug of war.

After lunch we all left for home having had a successful camp.

Thanks to Mark and Keith for their photos.