Henry's explorer party, turning 8, Sat 12th Nov 2011

A group of children walk down into the valley and then back up to deadwood camp.  Scroll down for photos.

We ate the very, very, very last blackberries of the season.  We tiptoed through the grumpy man's garden and came into a steep, green valley.  We found a geo-cache box, put in a poppy and Henry chose a silver dolphin/  Daniel put in 5p and took a chinese charm.  On we went.  It is misty.  "It's a hollow oak tree!" "He's in! He's in!" Are there bats in there?  It is dark inside.  CLive was the first to venture in - up to his waist.  Everyone else had a go - "It looks really scary."  On we go, after Fruit and Biscuits, stopping to taste sloe berries - without making a 'sour face!'  "Ever since we got into the wild it's been really good fun," Joshua.  A boggy bit, "Now that is horrible".  Up we climbed up to the misty camp.  "serious explorers, we are on a mission."  We cut from a hazel tree a long pole.  "W are surviving!" "keep going".  At last we got to dead wood camp.  The boys played 'serious explorers, series 2, junior explorers'.  There are 2 rope swings, a hammock and a camp fire made by the parents.  George and Finlay made a base, with an escape route.  There's a pile of bombs (imaginary).  There is a lots of swinging.  Slaves brought hot dog sandwiches to joshua relaxing in the hammock.  We had a feast of sausages, cheese, bread and ketchup.  Daniel and Georgia had a den with criss-cross of brambles to stop others getting in.  Clive made cheese toasties.  Andy made a carved end to sticks the children had peeled.  Swinging continued.  Catherine helped some to decorate sticks with coloured threads.  The sun came out.  We toasted marshmallows.  Put on war paint - like stone age.  We left and walked on.  The children are 'a tribe', there are Indian war cries.  George gave Finlay a piggy back.

Best bits:- Daniel - rope swing and making the spears; Georgia - I liked the rope swing and playing with Daniel; Joshua - when we were making the spears and stuff and when i banged into the rope swing; Andy - the sausages! sharpening the sticks; Finlay - making the den; Catherine - the fire, watching the children being o relaxed; Henry - making my spear and playing on the swings; Harry - going inside the hollow tree and making the fire ... and making the flag; Clive - the campfire possibly, I haven't lit one of those in 25 years; George - when me and Finlay made a den

Leader:- Rachel; Camp:- deadwood camp; Parents:- Clive, Catherine and Andy