1st Daviot Oldmeldrum Scout Group

Click here for a copy of the PDF flyer circulated to all parents & carers in December 2011.

Daviot Oldmeldrum Group has a lot of previous experience in organsing and running camps overseas. Since our first overseas camp to Holland in 1947, more recent camps have included visits to the Channel Islands, Italy, Iceland and Switzerland (and Orkney if you want to stretch a point!). One of these (Italy) has been an "off the shelf" package holiday with transport and activities run by a commercial company, the others have been "self-organised" with our leaders planning the logistics, transport and activity programme where we either run activities ourselves or buy-in to commercial providers. Some have been to purpose-built, commercial holiday centres with tented villages (e.g. Italy) some have been to, permanent scout camps (e.g. Switzerland), some have been to large scouting jamboree-type events (e.g. Iceland) and others have been on traditional greenfield sites (e.g. Channel Islands and Orkney).

Click on the Photo Galleries link in the menu on the left to see lots of photos from our previous overseas camps.

For 2013 we have four/five options for you to consider - Southern Norway, the Benelux region, Northern Italy/France and Ireland. Please have a look at the summary descriptions below. Costs for the "commercial package" options (Norway & Italy) are reasonably well known as the companies have published 2012's prices and these are not expected to rise by too much in 2013 (we hope!). Costs for the "self-organised" options (Benelux and Ireland) are not so precise and we will need to gather more information before an accurate price can be announced although we are reasonably happy that we won't exceed £500 (give or take a bit either side).

We expect to book the camp for the last part of July or the early part of August 2013.

Please can you let Mike Bidgood know by e-mail which options you would like in order of preference (e.g. 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice etc.). If you decide you don't want to take part in camp 2013 please also let Mike know as the information will still be helpful.

Verbal commitments will be needed by the end of January 2012 and we will require a minimum of 20 young people to proceed further with planning. Prices are likely to be slightly lower the more people who sign up for the camp, both in terms of economy of scale and that the commercial companies will charge a supplement if coaches or accommodation is not filled.

A formal commitment to attend with a paid deposit will be required sometime around Spring 2012. In the past we have been able to receive payment from parents in installments. As for previous camps we will be running an intensive fundraing programme where money raised will be paid back in the form of subsidies proportional to the effort families put into these fundraing events. There will also be a discount where there is more than one young person from the same family attending the camp.

More detailed descriptions of the various options on offer...

This trip - organised by Adventure Abroad - involves flying to southern Norway, probably with Ryanair from Edinburgh. The accommodation is in a series of teepees, each sleeping 8 people. The price includes full-board catering and a budget for activities although we haven't planned the programme yet. Activities available include:

• White-water rafting
• Climbing forest (high wire)
• Climbing & abseiling
• River canoe trip (guided)
• Lake canoeing
• River kayaking
• Archery & tree climbing
• Beaver & Elk safari
• Trekking & fishing

Cost of trip: approx. £900

Company website: http://www.ventureabroad.co.uk

2. Benelux Region

This trip invoolves a self-organised journey to link up with a local scout group with whom we already have a leader contact, probably in Belgium where we would base ourselves and then organise a series of trips, visits and events to suit ourselves. We would probably hire a coach and drivers from the UK and take the Hull-Zeebrugge ferry, or one of the Channel ferrys. Any activity programme will be planned later. Equipment would be provided/hired from the local scout group.

Cost of trip: approx. £500

3. Northern Italy or France

This trip - organised by Acorn Adventure - involves coach and ferry to northern Italy or to another of their locations in France (the Ardeche region). The accommodation is in a tented village, each frame tent sleeping 4 people on camp beds. The price includes full-board catering and a fixed programme of activities which includes:

• White-water rafting
• Raft building
• Canoeing / Kayaking (lake)
• Climbing & abseiling
• Gorge scrambling
• Trekking
  
• High ropes
• Excursion to Mt. Blanc and Aosta

Cost of trip: approx. £600

Company website: http://www.acorntravelgroup.co.uk/adventure/

4. Ireland

This trip invoolves a self-organised journey to link up with a local scout group where we would base ourselves and then organise a series of trips, visits and events to suit ourselves. We would probably hire a coach and drivers from the UK and take Stranraer-Larne ferry. Any activity programme will be planned later. Equipment would be provided/hired from the local scout group or may have to be taken with us.

ARTICLE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION