2nd Onchan held its 50th Birthday Camp at the Crossags Camp Site in Ramsey, over the weekend of the 23. – 25. September 2011. During the weekend we had twenty two Beaver Scouts, thirty five Cub Scouts, thirty three Scouts, six Explorer Scouts and eighteen Leaders on site.

Leaders and Explorers started things early by taking equipment out and setting up the Patrol Tents on Thursday evening. Most Leaders were also out on Site early Friday evening waiting for the Cubs and Scouts to arrive at 19:30. Some Scouts had brought their own tents and in challenging windy conditions set these up. The Cubs were being accommodated in the giant Ark building at the top of the camp site. It was getting dark quite early and Flag break was held in near darkness with just the flag area being illuminated by lanterns. During Flag Break everyone was presented with a special yellow and gold 50th Birthday Woggle to wear and as a keepsake. The Cubs and Scouts then headed off on a short night hike to Albert Tower and back. By the time they were back on site soup was ready and the camp fire was lit. Everyone was in bed for about 23:30 and the site was quiet around midnight. The high winds were still with us and it got worse through the night with the rain starting at about 02:00.

By early morning the wind had dropped but the rain stayed with us for another hour. Breakfast was served in the Ark and Inspection followed. After Flag Break where the day’s instructions were given out, the Cubs and Scouts were set twenty challenges to complete, these included climbing to the top of the mobile climbing tower, making a cup of tea on a Trangia Stove, changing a wheel on the trailer, launching a paper rocket and racing a homemade chariot around the field. The sun was now fully out and the warm weather was with us for the rest of the day. After lunch the Cubs headed off to Mooargh Park where they met up with the Beaver Scouts who had travelled up on the tram from Douglas. They spent the afternoon enjoying the parks attractions, playing crazy golf and on the boats on the lake. The Scouts split into their Troops and had an afternoon hike, with the Moddey Dhoo Troop hiking to Maughold Church and the Phoenix Troop hiking from the Mountain Hut down the Millennium Way back to camp. Everyone was back on site for a barbecue tea around 17:30, which went down very well, especially the specially created black and yellow birthday cake, which we all got a slice of. In the evening some of the Scouts went swimming in the sea, while the Beavers and Cubs had a Scavenger Hunt and games back on the site. We had supper round the camp fire followed by a few wide games before everyone headed off to bed.

On Sunday it was another early start, the weather was still dry but rain was forecast for later in the day. After breakfast, which had the bonus of bacon sandwiches, inspection and Flag Break, the whole camp walked into Ramsey where the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts were split into two groups, the first went ten pin bowling and the second did a Treasure Hunt around Ramsey Town. After an hour the groups switched over. In the meantime the Explorer Scouts were kept busy taking down tents and packing the Group’s Trailer for the homeward journey. Everyone was back on site for 12:30, where they were served lunch outdoors. After lunch it was a case of packing up and making sure we left the site clean and tidy. We finished the camp off with a formal Flag Down and prize giving before everyone headed off home just as it started to rain.

A big thank you to all the Leaders who made the camp possible and to our Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers who made our 50th Birthday Camp so memorable.