Jul 30

Today the rest of the camp was to be torn down. After a quick cereal breakfast for the Scouts they were all packing their gear back up into their backpacks. A few items missing the whole camp were found and packed up. Since I had a train to catch in the morning I wasn't able to see what all went on but as I was leaving there was a complete flurry of activity with the final sub-camp tents coming down.

Last evening all the home-stay envelopes had been handed to the contingent leaders, so this morning the last of the envelopes were handed to the Scouts. Inside their envelopes was a letter to the Scottish Scout parent detailing the name and travel arrangements required for their international Scout, which normally was a date and time that the Scout needed to be at a train station nearby to where the Scottish Scout lives. Also in the envelope was contact information for the entire contingent, and locations of all the home-stay Scouts within the contingent. Plus of course the train ticket pre-booked by the camp and some other instructions for the Scottish Scout parents.

This brings the blog to an end. I will not be seeing any of our Scouts before I get back to Canada. I will make an effort to email all our Scout parents with some contact information for the homestays. For those of you interested in my own travels after camp I think I might keep a journal of what I am doing at http://brianrodenukireland.blogspot.com/. However, being that now I am on “vacation” I won't be making as much effort to keep the new blog up to date every day.

Jul 29

Since this is the last official day of camp (just packing up and then leaving tomorrow) there is a tradition at Blair Atholl to have inspections go extremely badly, on purpose of course.

There was a variety of strange and unusual clothing worn, as well as several standing in their sleeping bags. It was really fun for the Scouts and they had a good time trying to be creative.

The inspection itself was rather brief and cursory, so the Scouts could show off other antics within their tents and campsite.

After getting properly dressed the Scouts were off to something called Athollantics, which was essentially the final games of the camp. There were probably about 30 or 40 “bases” or stations where a different game was played.

The Scouts were split into smallish groups (about 10) but within their sub-camps.

Each base had a pair of teams competing against each other. After about 2 minutes or so of competing the winning team would get a point and the two teams would split off going in opposite directions. 

I don't recall which sub-camp actually won the games but the whole thing was a lot of fun and there were some great game ideas to take back home for the Scouts to play at our own camps.

After the games the Scouts had a lunch and started on camp tear down. All the structures built during the camp had to be disassembled, from the dining tables/shelters, to the camp entry ways and the fences. All the pits used for dishwater had to be filled in. The supply tents had to be taken down. The only sub-camp tents left standing were the sleeping quarters for the Scouts and sub-camp leaders.

All afternoon everyone was helping tear down the camp, with the exception of a the teams still active on duty, such as the admin team madly organizing home stay, and of course the quarter master and staff dining teams.

In the late evening was the final campfire, which was the official closing of the camp. There were the usual campfire songs, with what I thought was an especially good song from the Namibians. I wish I could remember the words. The campfire was put on rather late, but all the better as the effect of the closing ceremony was that much more pronounced.

The Camp Chief John Kennedy lit a torch from the fire, who then lit the torches of the sub-camp Aunts and Uncles, who then lit the candles on the front row of the Scouts. The Scouts then lit each others candles and the flames made their way back slowly through the crowd until everyone had a candle lit.

That looked pretty cool in the dark, but if that wasn't enough, JK asked the crowd to put out their candles as he walked past the front. As he did so each Scout in line with the chief blew out their candle, so a wave of darkness came over the gathering as he walked along the front of the crowd. This ended the campfire and everyone left for their sub-camps silently.

Very impressive end as far as campfires go.

With the campfire running a little late and everyone feeling a bit sad and reflective there were some sub-camp fires still burning well past the normal curfew.

JK himself gave a little farewell speech at about half eleven (11:30 for you non-Scottish readers) at the staff club and then we all cleared out of there when they turned off the lights at midnight. I think more than the usual number of staff stayed up for a while chatting and reminiscing about the camp.

Jul 28

I stopped in MacDonald sub-camp while some of the Cobble Hill patrols were lining up for lunch. Some of them took on the Global Development activity this morning.

http://www.jamborette.org.uk/activity.htm#c07 

 I was a bit surprised by their interest in that subject, but they also said it was fun so they must have done a good job with that particular activity for it to be educational and fun. Individual Sports was also participated in this morning, which I have heard of others doing. The Sumo suits were especially fun I here. http://www.jamborette.org.uk/activity.htm#d08

And as I was running some errands around camp I came across a few of them doing the circus activity in the Kastle.

I think I posted a link to the weather around here but apparently every web-site related to weather in Scotland is pure fiction. Two days ago the weather forecast for today was heavy rain. Yesterday they changed it to light rain. This morning it said it was raining here but it was beautiful and sunny. We had a very brief sprinkle. Hardly enough to get your hair wet. All this afternoon we have had sun and cloud, but decently warm. Good weather for the last day of activities.

The big event of the day was the Robbie Burns dinner. All the Scottish leaders were to wear a white shirt and kilt, while the international leaders were in full Scout uniform. We were led into the mess hall by a piper and seated at specially prepared tables. There were an address to the guests, followed by piping in the haggis. After the meal there was a non-traditional but very funny skit put on by one of the staff and two of the Network scouts (Rover equivalents).

There was a short burst of rain for a minute or two during our dinner in the mess tent, while the Scouts were all in their sub-camps preparing their dinners. It was a special meal for them as well. The sub-camps all ate together at tables and benches set up in rows or circles so they could all eat together. I think the rain had come and gone before they were ready to sit down and eat.

Up in MacDonald sub-camp after the Scouts had eaten their haggis they got into singing a bit at the table. It was quite entertaining as it appeared our two Cobble Hill patrols were trying to outdo each other.

A little later in the evening after all the tables had been cleaned up and put away the entire camp, leaders and Scouts, were invited to join in and do some ceilidh dancing. It really looked like great fun, and there was a lot of people dancing and a lot watching. It was too large of a crowd for me to see all who made it there from our group, but I did try to get a few pictures of some that I saw in the fading light outside.

After the dancing the Scouts had more than an hour to socialize before lights out. In the meantime the Duncan leaders went to the staff club for a coffee while the Cobble Hill leaders went down to the Roundhouse on the River Tilt for a beer. The bar was totally inundated with leaders in full uniform (as you have to be any time you go off-site) so they were pretty backed up at the bar. There were a couple traditional Scottish songs played which were sung to by the crowd, as well as the Loch Lomond song, which had everyone dancing and singing just before they booted us all out.

Jul 27

I popped by at lunch today to see what everybody was up to. A couple were away on the all day water sports. A few tried out their circus skills. Another tried the electronics, which is a project to make a flashing LED woggle. And others tried their hand at some of the crafts.

My impression of today's activities is that word has been spreading that some of the activities were fun and others wanted to try them out. There was also a repeat trip to Pitlochry for a couple of them. I guess they haven't been getting their shopping fix.

Personally, I went on a distillery tour of Edradour today so I was sequestered in the Staff Club for a while after I got back. Strict alcohol policy here about interacting with youth after anything to drink. As it should be. http://www.edradour.co.uk/index6.html

Tonight the Scouts have Kastle Keilidh for the evening activity. It is a subcamp competition that usually involves some Scottish dancing, but it is really just a big party. Most of our Scouts stayed in sub-camp to socialize.

For “supper” at 9 pm all the Patrol Leaders are invited into the staff club for the one and only opportunity for any Scouts to enter leader only territory. The best of the best acts from the International talent night are also invited into the staff club to perform for the patrol leaders. 

 I think the PL's I talked to were pretty impressed with the staff club with it's chandeliers, fancy draperies, wood floors and such. It is pretty deluxe compared to just about everywhere else in camp, which is strictly grass for floors, including the Scout tents. They put tarps down as a ground sheet for sleeping but have to fold it up half way each day for inspection, and apparently so they don't kill the grass.

Jul 26

I saw a few Scouts heading out for their activities this morning. There was the entire Duncan group going to water sports, which is an all day activity, and they had a lot of fun. Most of the Cobble Hill group went out for the camp newspaper called the “Kastle Kurrents”, and they were pretty bored by it all. However, look in tomorrow's Kastle Kurrents for one of their articles. 

Other activities today that I heard of was pioneering, and some sports stuff, which inevitably ends up with some minor scrapes. Nothing to write home about. So they are definitely getting about trying a wide variety of the activities.

I previously mentioned the official Blair Atholl website for updates on the daily photos, but you can also download the daily Kastle Kurrents newspaper at http://www.jamborette.org.uk/kk.htm.

And speaking of the news, the camp was in the news at http://news.stv.tv/scotland/188364-huge-scout-event-begins-in-perthshire/.

I was going through some photos on the website myself and came across a couple. The Kelowna group that met up with us in Inverness is in a photo from the fair. http://www.jamborette.org.uk/gallery10/jul24/DSC00980.html You may have to go through a lot of photos to see one of our Scouts, but it will show you a lot about what is going on.

The weather today was cloudy and cool until early afternoon when we had a quick rain shower followed by sunny and warm weather. Then after dinner back to cloudy, cool and showers. Sounds like pretty typical weather for Scotland this time of year.

The home hospitality pairings are almost completed. I think all of the Canadians have been done. Which means the Scottish Scouts have all invited all of our Scouts to stay with them for a few days before heading back to Glasgow for the last evening before the flight home. From now until the Scouts leave camp we will be busy arranging travel from the home stay to Glasgow the day before the flight. With a few exceptions of course, the Scouts who have family over hear and will be visiting instead of home stay.

I don't know what the Scouts had for dinner, but I can tell you it wasn't as good as the Chili and Rice, or tortellini main dishes served to the staff. Mmmm... very good. I do know the Scouts had fruit cake and hot chocolate for “supper” at 10 pm.

The evenings entertainment in the castle tonight was an international talent show. The Victoria Explorers contingent did some square dancing, line dancing and a human pyramid made of half Canadians and half Scottish. I'm sorry I missed that. Actually, most of our contingent missed that. There was a sub-camp “football” tournament on after dinner. Some of our Scouts participated, some watched and some cheered. Others just hung out and chatted.

It seems that our group is really having a good time with the Scottish Scouts in their patrol pairings as well as many of the international patrols. In fact tonight some of the Danish kids were teaching some of our Scouts a Danish dance. And while I was up there this evening John was having a long conversation with one of the Americans from Georgia and one of the Scottish, about all things from science to sports to economics. From a grade 8 perspective of course. I think there might have been a little friction with some of the Americans at first but I don't think so any more.

Just 2 more activity days left. The final day has something called “Atholantics” followed by dismantling of the camp. I presume everything but the tents they are sleeping in that evening after the final campfire.

Jul 25

This morning the Scouts were allowed to sleep in. Although it's doubtful many of them actually did as the camps looked pretty active early anyway. Breakfast and flag break were also pushed back a half hour. But this morning after inspection the Scouts had to line up for flag break as they were being paraded out of the camp grounds by a pipe band and all the flags up to the Blair Castle for Scouts Own.

I have a video of the parade, which was 6 or 7 minutes long just for all of them to walk past me along the side of the road. But I also took a few photos. Besides all the Scouts and Leaders from the camp, there were Cubs and Leaders from the satellite camp and many other guests, including the public.

It was a nice day for the Scouts Own, mostly sunny and warm, so they were all comfortable sitting on the grass. The Castle itself stood as a nice backdrop for the event.

Near the end of the event the camp chief John Kennedy was awarded the Silver Wolf, which is the highest honour in Scouting. He has been involved with this camp for 30 years, and of course involved with Scottish Scouting that entire time. This is his last Blair Atholl as camp chief. The camp chief for the 33^rd Jamborette is number two at this camp “learning the ropes”, but he has also been involved with this camp for some years already.

After lunch the camp was to participate in some international games which were organized by the international contingents. It was pretty informal and there were a variety of games going on in and around all the subcamps.

Starting at about 4 pm the Scouts were sent out of their sub-camps to do various activities. Some camps went for a walk. Some were just allowed to wander around and were seen forming small groups sitting down on the grassy hill overlooking the camp. As long as they were not in their sub-camps because all the sub-camp Aunts & Uncles and Cousins were assigned the task of preparing a large BBQ for the sub-camps. 

The Aunts and Uncles are leaders assigned to the camp as their job here and are pretty much always present in sub-camps. The cousins are all the other people who run the activities, or administration/reception, or site services, or any other job I think. Except that tonight was staff catering night off, and the Scouts too. With all the adults in their assigned sub-camps there were many many more hands than were really required to feed a subcamp of 200+ people, so it was pretty light work.

The evening activity in the Kastle was another canned music dance with DJ but with a pirate theme. Some of the Scouts drew mustaches on their faces. Most wore there neckers as bandanas on their heads. Many of the Scottish Scouts brought pirate costumes with swords, eye patches, and even a fake parrot.

Besides the music there were also other pirate activities in the castle tent as well as outside. There was a course set up on the grass with ropes and pilons and 4 wheel ATVs. Not very pirate like obviously but there was a pretty large queue for it. The pirate ship that the Scouts were building is also nearing completion so Scouts were allowed to go up on the ship and have a bit of fun. Some of ours were up their with some Scottish Scouts doing the Time Warp and the Macarana.

There was also a volleyball net getting quite a bit of use and a few of us were just horsing around playing catch with a ball and having piggyback fights, which incidentally are probably not allowed here, at least with leaders involved, due to the regulations of leader and Scout interaction.

For the leaders there was a trivia game going on in the evening at the staff club, which some of the leaders did attend. By 11 pm the camp was pretty quiet again for lights out.

Jul 24 Campfire

With as many people as there are at camp you cannot have a campfire in the traditional way we do campfires. The Scouts participation was limited to their sub-camp cheer, and singing along with the songs led by the campfire chief and sub-camp uncles & aunties.

Also, the public was invited to attend and a few hundred did. Most likely family and friends of the Scouts that had also been at the Country Fair. But at a few points they were also expected to participated and did.

The fire didn't work out all that well and had to be stoked a few times with parafin to keep it burning. A lot of smoke and not much flames. Wet wood and other construction issues. They should have left it up to Trevor to make a huge raging fire.

The campfire was actually not that long. Maybe a little over an hour. Then the Scouts had a half hour to blow off a little steam before lights out.