In icy and frosty conditions with temperatures below minus five degrees, the first camp of the year for Woking Explorer Scouts took place over the weekend of the30th and 31st January, where over 46 Explorer Scouts aged 14 to 18 and leaders from four units in the Borough camped at Woking Districts’ own campsite in Wisley.

On the Saturday morning they carried out a 4-hour navigation exercise, walking from south of Guildford carrying all their equipment arriving at the site in time for a pioneering exercise, where in teams they had to construct an obstacle course and challenge the various explorer units to complete in the fastest time. This was followed in the evening with a glow in the dark Ultimate Frisbee tournament and ending the day with a blazing campfire. Sunday had the scouts taking part in navigational skills such as ‘spiral searches’ which they would possibly use when hiking in wild country.

The scouts had to cater for themselves, and on the menu were succulent dishes such as chorizo sausages cooked in a pesto sauce, with olives and mushrooms and pasta, followed with a dried fruit stew and custard. All cooked on methylated spirit Tragia stoves.

The weekend was the part of their on going training for the 2 and 3 day Expedition section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. After completing the course the scouts will carry out their ‘Qualifying ‘expeditions in the Black Mountains in Wales in May.