No complaints despite the weather

Winter camping is wonderful '“ that's what the Guides, Senior Section (ages 14-26) and leaders from the Meon Valley and Fareham areas think.
HAPPY CAMPERS Girlguides spent an action-packed weekend at Gilwell ParkHAPPY CAMPERS Girlguides spent an action-packed weekend at Gilwell Park
HAPPY CAMPERS Girlguides spent an action-packed weekend at Gilwell Park

So the second weekend of January saw a large group on their way to the 2016 Wintercamp at Gilwell Park in Chingford.

Snow would have been nice but instead they got rain and more rain.

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Everyone arrived expecting the worst from the weather and muddy conditions, but hoping for the best.

Katie Povey of Meon Valley Ranger Group said: ‘We spent the weekend in a pool of mud, which wasn’t helped by the heavy rain on Saturday evening, but were we complaining? Of course not!

‘With a huge amount of different activities to try, everyone was too busy having a great time, trying new things and getting stuck in (sometimes quite literally).

‘As members of Girlguiding we were not going to let that stop us, we can do extreme camping just like the Scouts!’

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So while the Guides and Rangers were off white water rafting, driving tanks, doing archery, going in a cave on a bus (yes, it really was a bus), going on fairground rides and doing all the other wonderful activities, the leaders could be found eating doughnuts in the leaders space, although some of the more adventurous ones could be found having a go at the zip wire.

Claim to Fame moment: the camp was visited by the famous YouTuber Alfie Deyes who even joined in on some of the camp activities.

Obviously the girls were very jealous after some of the leaders got first glances of him and decided they needed to seek him out.

Katie continued: ‘The weather was kind for us to strike camp on Sunday morning, mud conditions still not brilliant but we did our best.

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‘Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to a few of our very well-loved tents but as Guide leaders we all love a bit of tent shopping!

‘After another morning of activities the now exhausted and very muddy girls boarded the coach for the journey home, while some of the leaders still had a bit of packing away to do.

‘The weekend was brilliant and we look forward to next time.’

For more information about how to get involved in Guiding, search our website at girlguidinghantseast.org.uk.

Units stretch across 12 divisions from Warsash in the west to Hayling Island in the east and up to Bordon in the most northerly division.

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