Josh's explorer party, boys and girls turning 10, Sat 28th January 2012

A four hour adventure in the countryside.  Scroll down for diary.



We went through the grumpy man's garden and were in a beautiful wide valley, sun shining. We find a geo-cache box and take out and put in 2 things.  (Geo-caching is a world wide treasure hunt.  You swap something you have with something in the box).  We walk on, kids enjoying trying to break each others sticks.  We stop at an ancient hollow oak for biscuit and carrot snack. Some enjoy throwing sticks for Rosie the dog.  Some try to get into the hollow tree.  Sophie got stuck in the tree! George had gone ahead to cut fresh hazel.  Everyone had a walking stick... or a weapon.  The children play-fought.  Charlie ate a sloe berry... without making a sour face.  A competition followed with most children having a go.  Boys run after Rosie, hunting her with spears.  "It's like being Vikings really," Joshua.  We went through a swamp!  Climbed up the side of the valley, had a biscuit snack.  Leo and Ollie are keen to get going.  Joshua led a game jumping down the hill, "WOO HOO!".  Kaylun, Caleb, Charlie and George test whether an ant hill has any ants left in it. Rabbits are around here - we can see by their droppings.  "Camp is so close, I can feel it." Caleb says.  At last we arrived at camp.  George, Pablo and Leo got the campfire going.  Rachel put up 2 rope swings.  Lucy organised a woodland feast of sausages, bread, ketchup and cheese.  Play settled into swinging, sitting up in a tree chatting, peeling sticks, blowing the fire and exploring sun filters through the trees.  A buzzard meows overhead.  The peeled sticks are turning white.  Grace and Gabe warmed up sausages over the fire.  We cooked gluten free sausages for Sian.  We toasted marshmallows.  With a charcoal stick from the fire we painted our faces like warriors.  "I'm just having my make up put on," someone said!  We walked back in the sunlight.  "Oh no... I just stood in a cow pat!"
Best bits:- Leo - umm... probably the camp; Gabe - going through the mud; Joshua - carving; Rosie - the throwing stick; Ollie - probably in the woods; Lucy - umm... umm... laughing, i don't know... uhh; Sian - watching the kids play; Kaylun - umm the camping; Caleb - the same as Kaylun; Grace - the swings; Sophie - umm, probably at the camp, umm, you know the bit with the swinging; Pablo - I'm not completely sure, I think I enjoyed everything... actually the carving; George - everything; Charlie - face painting
Camp:- Dead wood camp; Leaders:- Lucy, Rachel, George and Rosie (the dog) ; Parents:- Sian