25 Jun 2006 - Scouts' Winston Weekend

Over the weekend of 23 – 25 June the 21st and 22nd Troops held a joint weekend camp at the 22nd’s regular campsite at Alwent Hall Farm, Winston.

On the Friday evening a rescue mission had to be launched to disentangle a duck discovered by the Scouts, which had become tied by one leg to a clump of thistles by a length of fishing line. 
 

Saturday was spent building and operating a camp sauna, built from ideas found on a continental Scout website and also in a survival handbook.

The structure consisted simply of a domed framework of willow wands, with a central supporting leg, at the centre of which was a small pit big enough to hold a dixie.

This was shrouded in plastic sheeting and old groundsheets, weighted to the ground around the bottom edges with rocks. Stones were heated in a nearby fire, and loaded into a dixie which was lowered into the small pit.

Then it was simply a case of sitting in it and sprinkling the hot stones with a little water, with the Scouts making use of the sauna in small groups, followed by a cold shower or dip in the stream.

Sunday, which had the better weather forcast, was cold and damp. With ceaseless drizzle or rain from getting up on the morning until departure on the afternoon. With tentage being so wet that it was left standing, to be taken down later when dry.