Abbeyside Scout Troop Annual Camp Report 2005

4th Waterford Unit

St Joseph's
Abbeyside Scout Group
Scouting Ireland

Annual Camp Report – Adelboden / Switzerland 2005

This being the 75th anniversary of Abbeyside Scouts it was decided to mark the occasion as we have done in the past by holding our annual camp in a foreign country. The country chosen was Switzerland. Although the Troop had been to this country before it was only for two nights, whereas this time the entire duration of our camp was held in the country. The tour/holiday operator JEKA (a non-profit making organisation) were approached in September 2004 and soon meetings were arranged between Jake and ourselves to check things out. Once the level of interest was established among the scouts for this camp it was decided to go ahead with the plans. For this camp adults who had a son in the scouts or who were or had been members were asked if they too would like to attend. The final number for those attending camp were 16 scouts and 14 adults.
During the year several fund raising efforts were held in order to bring down the cost of camp. These activities included quiz nights in Abbeyside national school, a table quiz in the Diplomat bar and bag packing in the local Dunnes stores. The scouts gained personally from these fund raisers in that if they took part in them they received a share of the overall money raised. Most of the scouts did well from this and some did exceptionally well. The cost of camp came to €609. €400 per head went to Jake for accommodation and food, €100 for activities undertaken while on camp and the remainder for return flights and insurance. Fund raising monies went to the individuals concerned as well as to paying €900 for Hallahans bus hire and a little over €300 for Swiss tourist tax. Annual camp paid for itself and no bills are outstanding.
Camp itself began on Friday 22nd of July when we departed Abbeyside for Dublin airport. Photographs were taken at the den with everyone looking well in their uniforms. On this occasion and due to the lack of uniform in the scout shops it was decided that all adults who did not have uniform should wear the following as uniform. Navy blue trousers, black shoes, official light blue scout polo shirts, Abbeyside or camp souvenir neckerchief and navy blue hoodies!
On arrival in Belgium’s Charleroi airport we were picked up by our Jake bus and brought to Adelboden a journey of eight hours, which meant we travelled through the night. Our accommodation for the duration of the stay was a Swiss chalet capable of holding the number in our group. The chalet had a kitchen, dining room, showers and a number of bedrooms. Some of the bedrooms could hold two people while others could accommodate ten people. The chalet was clean and tidy and it was expected by the owner to be that way when we were finally departing for home. Before leaving for camp it was expected that the scouts would as they normally do cook their meals. However due to the lack of much space in the kitchen some of the adults did the cooking with help on some days from the scouts. The food was supplied by Jeka and was counted very carefully with no extras in sight! The quality of food was good although on some days it was a bit bland. Activities on camp were pre-planned by myself and the Jeka rep’ Shaun Taylor and went down well with all campers. Activities included among other things swimming, cable car rides, tobogganing, hiking, cycling, ice skating and scooter rides. No accidents occurred that required medical attention while on camp. This was helped in part to the adults taking responsibility for minding the scouts on particular activities such as cycling.
The adults on camp all played their part in the smooth running of the camp as all took on responsibility for tasks such as cooking, ordering food and so on. The adults including the leaders were free to come and go as they wished if they wanted to see or do a particular activity as long as they informed the group leader of their plans, which they did. To all the adults and leaders on camp I say thanks for all your help prior to and on camp, thanks also to the patrol leaders and scouts also thanks to the unit council and indeed thanks to those who helped with fund raising during the year and who did not attend this camp!
Camp ended on Saturday the 30th of July when we flew out of Frankfurt Hahn airport Germany and landed in Dublin airport just after ten o clock that night. Hallahans bus collected us and we arrived back in Abbeyside at around three o’clock that morning.