Have a look at some of our recent trips
Every term each of our sections has a camp or full day out, additionally Scout also have a full week camp.
Rotterdam Trip – July 2024
It’s been 25 years since 73rd Derby Scout Group last camped abroad. In 1999 the 73rd “Adventure Scouts” crossed the water into Europe. So, this summer (2024) it was extremely exciting for our Scouts to venture back into Europe for a week-long camp.
The destination was Scout Centrum Rotterdam in the Netherlands and, after an early 2am start, all 28 young people and 8 leaders arrived in Dover for our crossing to Calais. We were travelling using our 2 minibuses*, affectionally named “Elaine” & “Brenda” and our trailer “Gerald” along with “Rosie”, a double cab van we had hired from another Scout Group.
After a smooth crossing and clear European roads, we arrived at our destination 2 hours ahead of schedule. The weather was a glorious 28 degrees, making for warm work setting up our camp! A total of 2 tonnes of equipment plus Scouts’ bags were unloaded and set up on base camp, and of course, the Scouts got their eagerly awaited camp hoodie and t-shirts. We soon realised that the 73rd don’t travel light!
Scout Centrum Rotterdam would be “basecamp for the week”. The centre, has a number of water ways (or dykes) running between pitches which allowed for water-based “free time” activities such as dyke pole vaulting and ‘capture the raft’. There were also boats available, enabling the Scouts to enjoy the water. The leaders also had a great time blackberry picking by canoe – returning with a haul of berries which were made into a crumble for everyone to enjoy at dinner in the evening.
The waterways were also used for planned activities such as water orienteering, Moi Goleki (a water assault course) and raft building, allowing the Scuts to develop their fundamental Scouting skills, whilst having fun falling into the water.
Alongside scouting activities, we had daily sightseeing trips, including a Rotterdam city walking tour, a visit to Mini-land, a beach hike, laser tag and swimming in the fantastic water park at Duinrell. We even managed to squeeze in climbing at a local 18m wall! There were 10 belayers to 28 young people which made for a hard 90 minutes of climbing for our Scouts. However, it was our visit to a local Gouda Farm, which was the favourite experience, where the Scouts were able to make their own Gouda (the local cheese) to bring home for sampling.
Evenings were spent with the Scouts cooking their own meals They particularly enjoyed the “ready, steady, cook,” where each group went to a local supermarket to buy ingredients before returning to base camp to cook. On several evenings we had a campfire, song and Smores and ended the final night with a camp fire glow light party, with our final song of the evening being the legendary Sandstorm.
Sadly after 7 days packed with activities it was time to return home. The journey initially started quietly, as most of the Scouts caught up on sleep. After recharging their batteries and navigating customs with some Scouts and a leader wearing Clogs, the scouts happily sang their way along the motorways all the way home, with the favourite camp songs bellowing out. ‘Brenda’ developed a motto of “Speed and power” (being very lacking in power with the trailer attached), which the Scouts would shout encouragingly, whilst “come on ‘Elaine’” became the theme tune in another bus; ‘Rosie’ bringing up the rear with an eclectic mix of Disney songs!
‘Brenda’ and ‘Gerald’, ‘Elaine’ and ‘Rosie’, all arrived safely back at the Scout Group to Cotton Eye Joe, blaring out with the Scouts on max volume! We were welcomed by parents, who cheered us in. With a resounding “we made it” and “what a trip” echoing around the hall, a slap-up chip meal was provided for the Scouts, whilst the parents helped pack away, before our grand finale of the presentation evening. Here the parents watched a video of some of the activities followed by the presentation of camp certificates and badges, including presenting our GSL (Elaine Bond) and DC (Pete Loftus) with a framed souvenir from the camp and the Scouts inviting all the parents to try our homemade Gouda!
The Scouts were a credit to the Scouting family, and we had a fantastic time on this international camp – so much so that we certainly won’t be waiting another 25 years before the 73rd venture back into Europe or maybe even further…… planning is already underway for 2026 – but the destination is currently secret!
