Selection Weekend was AMAZING!
This is the kit before we went, neatly packed bags, clean boots, badges sewn on, lemon drizzle cake and brownie made and tents borrowed from scouts. We had practiced our knots (bound to come up), packed mini fire lighting kits (cotton wool prepped with vaseline) and knew that we would have to get stuck in straight away! Not going to lie - we were nervous, we knew no one else going and had been put in separate parts of camp. BUT if we wanted to be in Korea with 40,000 scouts from all over the world then 150-200 scouts at Caddihoe campsite in Devon was where to start.
So this is us on arrival, tagged and ready to go. The number matters, do things well over the weekend and the leaders allocate points to your number, points mean prizes, in this case more chance of selection! We had been registered and after this photo Mum and Dad headed back to the carpark (more on that later) and we went to put up our tents and get set up. James made friends with the chap in the tent beside him, Sophie got to know some of the scouts in her camp, they spent some of the evening setting up the kitchen as their leader was missing due to covid so it was time to pitch in.
Each day started with Wakey Shakey, challenges were set, pipes, water, holes, knots, tasks at camp - all were assessed. Top tip from James, smile every time you saw a leader. Top tip from Sophie, volunteer to help even if you are tired!
Lots of scouts on a site that has had lots of rain meant things got muddy - very very muddy! But Devon Scouts love Mud so no problem!
So did we mention the mud, turned out the carpark at drop off was muddy too and it was crammed, think roadblox with scout parents pushing out the cars. While this was going on Mum got chatting to a parent who knew someone on the last WSJ to the USA - turns out it was £4k each. She made sure Dad was sitting down when she told him! In retrospect we possibly should have found this out sooner.....
So Sunday came, two nights and two days of fun, making new friends, interviews and challenges and we went home tired but happy. We took a lot away from the weekend - phone numbers, memories and lots of MUD!
Post weekend the leaders had to go through all the points, talk to the scouts who couldn't attend the weekend due to Covid and allocate the 72 places. Two units from Devon, 36 Scouts in each. Best outcome we both get chosen, next best neither get chosen, hardest option one can go and the other can't. We made a pact, if that happened we would support each other all the way. Now we just have to wait for the letters to arrive!
No comments:
Post a Comment