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.