Nord2017 Day 8

That's it. The last day of camp, if not our trip.
Today was market day. The idea is that each group does something to showcase their country or region. The Scouts are given camp "currency" to spend on the various stalls. Its a great way for them to meet and interact with other Scouts.
We chose to make and sell fresh Welshcakes which proved so popular that we had to send out for more supplies.
Once the market closed it was time for a quick dinner (pan fried reindeer) before heading to the main stage for the closing ceremony.
This time, the technical errors had been sorted and we had English subtitles. There was a real party atmosphere.
With the camp officially closed its time to pack up. The Norwegians don't waste any time. Massive pioneering structures come down in minutes and the campsite is rapidly emptying as local groups and those with early morning flights start to head off.
We're flying later in the morning but the logistics mean we'll be getting up at 5am.
Tomorrow night  will be the first time we've seen a sunset since leaving Cowbridge!

Nord2017 Day 7

Today was a bit different.
For the first time this week, the Scouts had scheduled activities in the morning so had to be up on time.
With breakfast out of the way, the Scouts set off while the leaders got on with their own tasks.
Most of the leaders spent the morning hunting down badge swaps for Tor Inge, one of our Norwegian hosts.
The remaining two set off to walk into Bodø, stopping at the Finnish Sauna on the way to book the Scouts in for later.
Shopping, admin and sauna dealt with, we had lunch then all headed back down to Bodø to spend the afternoon in the fascinating aviation museum.
After getting caught in a particularly heavy shower on the way back to camp we dried off and ate before the older scouts set off into town again. This was a trip to the cinema organised by the camp management for Patrol Leaders and assistants.
The remaining Scouts in our troop were treated to hot waffles before having a couple of hours free time to enjoy before the PL's returned.
It's all quiet on camp now as everyone recharges ready for the last full day.

Rachels Blog. Norway Day 4

Day 4

In the morning I was awoken by the boys shouting to each other and a few minutes later they poured water on me to make sure I was awake?!  Anyway, I got up and packed my bag and even though I was not technically in the campsite you know what I had for breakfast?...Sandwiches! Next I went to the beautiful stream to fill up my water bladder and then we took down our tarpaulin and left, simple as that.

Next we went on the hour long hike back to camp which was ok. I mean we saw really cute sheep and some more awesome landscapes, but all in all it was the same hike I did on the way there but the opposite way round. Although I might have fallen into a stream, maybe. 

Next we waited in the car park for 2 hours and I met this nice rover who gave me a stroop waffle (she was from the Netherlands), and when it finally came, some people had to get out of the bus because there were not enough seats.

Next when we were back, we went to the shops or the market and watched somebody beatbox? It was good, and after we rested for a bit before the midnight activity.

In the midnight activity we did our land art. A sheep made with flowers and dirt, it took us five hours.

Next in the night some of us had a jacket potato. It was tasty! Then I went to bed,
Until next time
Rachel 

Ps I also collected a ton of cool badges

Rachels Blog. Norway Day 3

Day 3 

In the morning I woke up to Ellie poking my head and the leaders shouting at everyone to wake up. Ahh, a scouts beautiful morning! At breakfast we had the dreaded sandwiches, seriously I should be making a blog about what I put in my sandwiches since I have had so many of them! It was raining outside which was great since it stopped getting me homesick because it was exactly like our home weather.

Next I needed to prepare for the big hike with my patrol the ospreys, so we got out our map and started planning the hike whilst getting told off about not bringing the survival bag(accidents happen). Next we got our bags out and prepared for the hike. I brought my clothes, a bladder and my sleeping equipment with took me around forty-five minutes, oh the pain!

Next we had lunch, and as you probably had guessed we had sandwiches, again.

After dinner I was still hungry so I went to the little store to buy some crisps and a drink, and just when I was about to sit down a young girl around 10 asked me to sign my name in the girl with the same eye colour as you box on her sheet. We ended up talking for a bit, mainly about Wales, before we left. 

I soon saw some more of my scout group in jumbo burger and we sat down on the big table and talked and shared nachos and my packet of crisps. We had to have some sort of food anyway since in 1 hour we would be on the hike getting rained upon by the clouds. After that we walked up to our camp then on to the buses then on the hike. 

The hike to the camp was absolutely amazing. The scenery was beautiful, we were walking by a river with waterfalls and pretty rocks. Since we were walking up high there were beautiful landscapes. Along the way one of us might have fallen in a ditch but apart from that and a dead bird it was a really nice walk. 

Next when we finally got to the came site(sorta) we needed to make shelter, so we got the tarpaulin and poles, then we put the shelter up after a few failed tries. Oh, and not to forget it was tipping it down💧💧 

Next we needed to eat so we got our our cool freeze dried food and after a few tries we got the kettle to boil and got our food sorted. After that we got out our sleeping bag and well, slept.
Until tomorrow,
Rachel 

Rachels Blog. Norway Day 1

Day 1

Yay we are now at the camp after a day of traveling. it's an amazing place, so many people, they have a cafe and a market place.

The leaders forgot to order breakfast so we had rations and leftovers from the Stavanger scout group, it was sandwiches.

We needed to make a table to cook on, we worked hard into mid-day getting 3 metre long logs into the camp from 100meters away uhhh. We got sap all over our clothes and the logs were soooo heavy it took 3 people to carry them. After that we took three hours to put together a flag pole and table.

Finally we had lunch, sandwiches again, then we took of to explore the camp. There are so many places, there are cafes and shops and a stage.

At dinner time it was my time to cook, we made Mexican tortillas. It was fun and messy, we ate it quickly and then went to the main stage where the opening ceremony began.

At the start a bird jumped off a helicopter by a cord and two fighter planes flew above us. I can not tell you too much about it since there was not a word of English spoken, but there was a load of great bands playing for us.

At ten o clock I went to bed and/or lost my charger, sorry.

All in all it was a great day, can't wait till tomorrow.

Nord 17 - Day 6

With last night's activities going on til 2am there was a real lie in today. The Scouts were woken for breakfast at 10am and then had a few hours free time before the days activities started at 2:30pm.

Some of the leaders took advantage of the free time to visit the Sauna run by the Finnish contingent. It's a genuine wood fired tent sauna set up in the woods with a nice pool nearby fed by a seriously cold arctic stream for an invigorating plunge.

Activities this afternoon included making popcorn and learning about Viking history. While one patrol took their turn cooking dinner, the others carried on getting to know other Scouts, mainly using the international language of football. After dinner, more activities including first aid training, drama and making a distillery to get drinking water from sea water.

On returning from activities we joined out hosts, Madla Speidergruppe around their campfire, sharing songs in 3 languages, Norwegian, English and Welsh.

Tomorrow is the last day of activities as Friday is market day where each group gets to show off something off their culture. We're planning to make Welsh Cakes.

Nord 2017 - Day 5

Well that was an interesting day!

With none of our Scouts on site, the leaders were treated to a lie in followed by a leisurely breakfast and even had time for a visit to the leaders only shower block. There was an apology earlier in the week for the delay getting the showers working. They were definitely worth the wait.

The rest of the morning was spent exploring the campsite and visiting other groups.

We'd not long had lunch and were waiting for the first group of hikers to return when the phone rang. One of our Scouts had fainted on the hike. Of course, it turned out to be a simple case of not eating or sleeping properly causing an energy crash but it certainly created a stir.

All three groups came back in due course, tired but happy and with a justified sense of achievement. How many other kids this age can say they've wild camped inside the arctic circle?

With everyone rested and fed, it was time to head out again for some midnight activities before tucking into a supper of fire cooked jacket potatoes.

Not a lot of encouraging was needed to get the Scouts off to bed tonight!

We'll be letting them lie in a bit in the morning. I think they've earned it.