On Good Friday this year, around 100 Explorer Scouts and Networkers arrived at Gilwell Park at 9am for the annual County Endurance Camp. This camp is now in its 11 th year. Upon arrival all 33 competing teams (3 scouts per team), were registered, had their kit checked and weighed, and set off on their route for the day, which involved 4 walking legs and 5 bases. Also at check in all competitors put their watches forward an hour, in order to be working to the now famous ‘Camp Time'.

The theme this year was James Bond, and so all the bases involved activities (loosely) derived from James Bond films, such as Bomb Disposal, Phone Tapping and Ballroom dancing. At the end of the day, when all teams had returned dinner was served, and the teams all took part in a dance off, as a prelude to the evenings disco. The watches also went forward again an hour at this point, meaning that when the first teams had to leave for the days activities at 08:50 on Saturday morning, they were really leaving at 06:50!

Saturday saw more of the same, with 5 walking legs and a further 7 bases, involving activities such as Prusicking, Laser shooting and Computer Building. The evenings activity saw the Storm Hut transformed into ‘Casino Royale', with all the teams trying to make as much money as possible from Roulette, Craps, Poker, Blackjack and the Human Fruit Machine. The evening also saw the clocks go back one hour to meet normal time, and give teams an extra hour in bed, or an extra hour at the disco, depending on their preference!

Sunday was a slightly easier day, with a short walking leg in the morning followed by the finale, which involved rafting over the bombhole. However, by this point most teams shunned the raft and dived straight in and walked across! The event was won for the second year by an Explorer team from Unit M in Romford and a Network team from walthamstow, before all teams left for home and some well earned rest, along with the 55 leaders who gave up their Easter weekend in order to run the event.

Photos | Andy Rich | County Explorer Leader