Each summer, we try to give our Scouts a different camping experience. Over the four years they tend to be with us they get the opportunity for: a land activities camp, a water activities camp, an International camp, and Lochearnhead. This year it was land activities and we spent a week camping at Plas Pencelli near Brecon. This is an activity centre owned by Swindon Education Authority, but we only made use of the toilets and showers, plus their excellent instructors.

During the week, the scouts did: two all-day hikes (one in the pouring rain), a day kayaking and canoeing, two days on an expedition including wild country camping at altitude; and a day rock climbing on the Gower Peninsula’s sea cliffs. Add to that basic camping and it’s a pretty full on week.

When we got back I asked them to let me have a paragraph with their thoughts. Here are two of them:

“Our trip to the Brecon Beacons was an action packed, week long adventure. We did many activities including rock-climbing, hiking, kayaking and shooting. My favourite activity was the high camp, where we camped in the hills miles from any sign of human life. At high camp, we had to pitch our tents that we had carried 2km up the mountain! We cooked our own food – soup, couscous, ginger cake and custard for tea; porridge and hot chocolate for breakfast.  Waking up in the morning to the sound of the stream was wonderful.

“The week in the Brecon Beacons was an exciting one, and it will certainly be one I’ll never forget.”

“Toby (Collins)”

“I had a great time at summer camp. I especially enjoyed the bit when we went walked up Pen-y-Fan.  It was tiring but I`m happy I did it as it was a big achievement for me because this is the first mountain I have ever walked up! By Friday the week was almost over and all the scouts got to go the seaside for rock climbing which was fun and it was a great end to the week.

“Thank you for everything”

“James (Franklin)”