East Grinstead District Scouts

The wait was finally over, Matterhorn ESU were off to WINGS2009. Saturday 1st August 6 Explorers arrived at Copthorne scout hut loaded up the last bit of kit and off they went.

They were on their way to Windsor Great Park for WINGS2009 where 6,000 people were expected. This would the biggest jamboree any of them would have been to.

The day was sunny which was good for putting up tents, then early evening the rain came bringing along with it a leaking tent! So a mad dash back the scout hut to pick up another mess tent to use was the mission for two leaders. Everyone else went to the opening celebrations.

This had promised to be a high octane event. We all waited on very wet ground which we had to sit on for some reason even though it had just finished raining (not the best idea anyone has had!!) The opening started and a cheer went up as we had been sat there for a good hour waiting for something to happen, and then. Well nothing much happened. A lot of talking on stage which not very many people were interested in listening to as they were cold and bored from sitting about too long, All they wanted to do was to get up and dance, which eventually happened YAY!!

The next day was to be filled with as much excitement as the first! It was Subcamp Sunday! We had to miss most of this as we had to put up our second mess tent! After lunch the Explorers went off and joined in the subcamp activities which included

• Games
• Sports
• Elizabethan area – including a period style wood worker.

Our subcamp was Harrington, all the subcamps were named after famous inventors that had made a difference in the world today. Harrington. for those that don’t know invented the first flushing toilet!! (We sure know how to pick em!!)
The evening entertainment was a scout band playing on the main stage and Harrington hosted a cultural evening.

Monday morning saw the start of proper Wings activities. There were ten zones in total which the Explorers would be completing through out the week.

• Adventure Zone
• Global Development Village
• Entertainment Zone
• Craft Zone
• Outdoor Skills
• Physical Zone
• Eureka Zone
• Hot Air Zone
• Water Zone
• Windsor Exploration.

The Explorers would be doing one activity in the morning and in the afternoon. Each zone had quite a few activities to take part in so there was a lot to see and do.

Plus peace and quite for the leaders till lunch and then again till dinner!!

In the middle of the week Matterhorn took it upon themselves to mend the subcamp gateway. This had been blown down and broke almost hitting one of the subcamp team!
It took about 4 hours to complete the new gateway but it was worth it in the end!! Everyone on the subcamp was invited to sign the revamped gateway as a way to remember all who had been on the camp.

There was lots of different evening entertainment both on the subcamp stage and the main stage. The camp even held it very own “Wings Factor”

The week stayed mostly dry but we did have the occasional deluge of rain at night or in the early evening. Some of us even got sunburnt! (That was a leader!!, should have taken sun cream like the Explorer’s were told too!!).

Finally the week came to an end and it was time for the closing celebration, again everyone was waiting for a big finale! Again there was a lot of waiting round to do – oh joy!! Lots of talking happened on the stage with not a lot else going on but then the disco and fireworks started YAY!!

Saturday morning and time to pack up camp! Oh what a mammoth task as we had, food to take back with us that we didn’t have when we arrived. The extra mess tent, where was this all going to go?!?! We finally managed to pack everything away and in to the van, somehow! (Just don’t open the doors; otherwise it might all fall out!!)

We arrived back to Copthorne and put everything away, put up the tents that were slightly wet and then we had lunch. We had done all that and it was still only lunchtime! We were all pleased to be back as it meant we could sleep in our own beds, woo ooh!!

Overall we all had a very good experience on camp. We had made new friends and tried new activities. Now, we are looking forward to the next Windsor International Guide and Scout camp but this will have to be a long wait, it’s not until 2014! How will they top Wings 2009?