53rd St Barnabas Scout Group
Explorer Program Summer Camp Platania 2009
Day 1
On Friday 21st of August all the explorer scouts arrived at the scout hut at 6:30 to load the trucks for summer
camp. We finished loading by 8:00 and were soon on our way to platania. We arrived at the camp site around
11:00 and after unloading the trucks we started setting up the tents and camp beds. By the time all the
equipment was arranged in the stores it was lunch time so we all went down to the lunch room for a nice plate
of lentils with chips!! Yumm! First day! Delicious!! After that all the explorers started working on our pioneering
and building the tower. We finished with that in a couple of hours and were extremely satisfied with the end
result. We then got busy with the shelters and decided to throw the camouflage nets on top. We then had a
break and got ready for dinner, fish fingers and potatoes. And it was camp fire time!! We had the only sketch
that got a decent laugh out of all the scouts! Later on, when the camp fire was over, all the scouts went to bed
and we stayed up a little longer before deciding to follow to our beds and finally relax and enjoy a nice night
sleep.
Emilios ( Explorer )
On Friday 21st of August all the explorer scouts arrived at the scout hut at 6:30 to load the trucks for summer
camp. We finished loading by 8:00 and were soon on our way to platania. We arrived at the camp site around
11:00 and after unloading the trucks we started setting up the tents and camp beds. By the time all the
equipment was arranged in the stores it was lunch time so we all went down to the lunch room for a nice plate
of lentils with chips!! Yumm! First day! Delicious!! After that all the explorers started working on our pioneering
and building the tower. We finished with that in a couple of hours and were extremely satisfied with the end
result. We then got busy with the shelters and decided to throw the camouflage nets on top. We then had a
break and got ready for dinner, fish fingers and potatoes. And it was camp fire time!! We had the only sketch
that got a decent laugh out of all the scouts! Later on, when the camp fire was over, all the scouts went to bed
and we stayed up a little longer before deciding to follow to our beds and finally relax and enjoy a nice night
sleep.
Emilios ( Explorer )
Day 2
Saturday 22nd of August, was the day that three of our explorers were blindfolded after lunch, which was more satisfying than the day
before. Each one of them were given cane to help them walk even though they did manage to run into a few people on the way. Laura, Dalia
and I were guiding them and taking them around camp, practicing locations and generally help them get used to being blind. In the flag
area, we played a game whereby one of the blind ventures had to point out or find where the other ventures/leaders were hiding. They had
the help of their cane and sound. This game was pretty fun although I could imagine it was hard for the blindfolded people. Anyhow we got
a good laugh out of it. I realised the leading a blind person is not as easy as it seems, I had to warn them when there were steps,
constantly warn them of obstacles and generally always be aware. After the game we made our way to the leaders room were we taught
them how to play braille uno and also blind Kim’s game. On the whole the day was tiring but also enlightening as I experienced how a
disability really affects a persons life.
Anna (Explorer )
Saturday 22nd of August, was the day that three of our explorers were blindfolded after lunch, which was more satisfying than the day
before. Each one of them were given cane to help them walk even though they did manage to run into a few people on the way. Laura, Dalia
and I were guiding them and taking them around camp, practicing locations and generally help them get used to being blind. In the flag
area, we played a game whereby one of the blind ventures had to point out or find where the other ventures/leaders were hiding. They had
the help of their cane and sound. This game was pretty fun although I could imagine it was hard for the blindfolded people. Anyhow we got
a good laugh out of it. I realised the leading a blind person is not as easy as it seems, I had to warn them when there were steps,
constantly warn them of obstacles and generally always be aware. After the game we made our way to the leaders room were we taught
them how to play braille uno and also blind Kim’s game. On the whole the day was tiring but also enlightening as I experienced how a
disability really affects a persons life.
Anna (Explorer )
Day 3
A third day on camp, we woke up, had breakfast and got into full uniform. This day was spent with the parents, I went to the picnic site with
mine. We spent a couple of hours there and then made our way back to the camp, where the parents refused to leave. Later on, we had
loads of free time and then we set up the lunch room with a projector and chairs for the movie that we watched together with the 280 troop.
Katie ( Explorer )
A third day on camp, we woke up, had breakfast and got into full uniform. This day was spent with the parents, I went to the picnic site with
mine. We spent a couple of hours there and then made our way back to the camp, where the parents refused to leave. Later on, we had
loads of free time and then we set up the lunch room with a projector and chairs for the movie that we watched together with the 280 troop.
Katie ( Explorer )
Day 4
We woke up really early and did exercise, breakfast and flag break. The day then began with a hike around mount
Olympus, and then we went to the Troodos visitor centre where he told us about all the different types of animals
and plants. We watched a short movie clip about the Troodos district and its unique habitats that are endemic. I
was surprised to see that Trodos was a protected area and it showed me how much we take things for granted.
We then made our way back to the camp to get ready for the adventure centre where we were to go do paintball
and rock climbing in a joint program with the 280 troop. By the time that was over we were all exhausted as we
played paintball before rock climbing. Not the best idea we’ve ever had... Then we got into the cars and back to the
camp we headed. As we were so tired we didn’t do much after that and just relaxed and had a nice rest. So then it
came to lights out.
Katy - Emilios ( Explorers )
We woke up really early and did exercise, breakfast and flag break. The day then began with a hike around mount
Olympus, and then we went to the Troodos visitor centre where he told us about all the different types of animals
and plants. We watched a short movie clip about the Troodos district and its unique habitats that are endemic. I
was surprised to see that Trodos was a protected area and it showed me how much we take things for granted.
We then made our way back to the camp to get ready for the adventure centre where we were to go do paintball
and rock climbing in a joint program with the 280 troop. By the time that was over we were all exhausted as we
played paintball before rock climbing. Not the best idea we’ve ever had... Then we got into the cars and back to the
camp we headed. As we were so tired we didn’t do much after that and just relaxed and had a nice rest. So then it
came to lights out.
Katy - Emilios ( Explorers )
Day 5
Rise and shine! Today we didn’t do exercises as all the scouts were at Loumata camp site and it would be silly to
have four people running around. We had breakfast and went for flag break to be followed by some pioneering.
We built a catapult! Another success for the explorers even though we broke a frying pan in our attempt to splash
Skip with an oversized water balloon. When that was finished and the water balloons wasted breaking on our
own feet we went for lunch. After that we went to Kakopetria local swimming pool for a couple of hours and got
back to the camp around 4:30 to have dinner and prepare for a night hike to the waterfalls. Most of us ventures
were responsible for five new cubs coming up to scouts but I was all the way at the back singing “100 green
bottles hanging on the wall” with Dalia and a couple of scouts. To be honest we got to zero by half way.
By 11 o’clock most of us were in bed.
Emilios ( Explorer )
Rise and shine! Today we didn’t do exercises as all the scouts were at Loumata camp site and it would be silly to
have four people running around. We had breakfast and went for flag break to be followed by some pioneering.
We built a catapult! Another success for the explorers even though we broke a frying pan in our attempt to splash
Skip with an oversized water balloon. When that was finished and the water balloons wasted breaking on our
own feet we went for lunch. After that we went to Kakopetria local swimming pool for a couple of hours and got
back to the camp around 4:30 to have dinner and prepare for a night hike to the waterfalls. Most of us ventures
were responsible for five new cubs coming up to scouts but I was all the way at the back singing “100 green
bottles hanging on the wall” with Dalia and a couple of scouts. To be honest we got to zero by half way.
By 11 o’clock most of us were in bed.
Emilios ( Explorer )
Day 6
We woke up about 6:30 am and went down for breakfast. Once we had finished breakfast we went for flag break. Then we went to the village of Kalopanayioti to see a
museum which was in the monastery which lots of unique art work. After that a new Explorer joined our group, Lawrence. Then it was time to collect some fire wood for
the 53rd party. We finished collecting fire wood and headed back to camp. At camp we set up campfire and prepared for the party. After that we had the party were we
danced the night away. And then it was time for bed.
Katy ( Explorer )
We woke up about 6:30 am and went down for breakfast. Once we had finished breakfast we went for flag break. Then we went to the village of Kalopanayioti to see a
museum which was in the monastery which lots of unique art work. After that a new Explorer joined our group, Lawrence. Then it was time to collect some fire wood for
the 53rd party. We finished collecting fire wood and headed back to camp. At camp we set up campfire and prepared for the party. After that we had the party were we
danced the night away. And then it was time for bed.
Katy ( Explorer )
Day 7
On the 27th of August, 4 of our venture scouts went to the village of
Spilia to see the caves that were used into Cyprus to hide the EOKA
fighters in 1955. I didn’t go and I stayed to camp to help the cubs with
their star and badge work. When the ventures came back we had lunch
and then, we prepared the place where we were going to play paintball.
We put up some dustbin bags for the scouts to use as targets. After that
we had diner and then the camp fire. After camp fire we all had showers
and went to bed.
Anna ( Explorer )
On the 27th of August, 4 of our venture scouts went to the village of
Spilia to see the caves that were used into Cyprus to hide the EOKA
fighters in 1955. I didn’t go and I stayed to camp to help the cubs with
their star and badge work. When the ventures came back we had lunch
and then, we prepared the place where we were going to play paintball.
We put up some dustbin bags for the scouts to use as targets. After that
we had diner and then the camp fire. After camp fire we all had showers
and went to bed.
Anna ( Explorer )
