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Last weekend, Sophie and I went on our very first Girl Scouts camp. Even when I was a Brownie and Girl Guide, I never went on camp, so it was a first for me all round! We have been having beautiful summer days and we were all very excited about a weekend at the DaQian Ranch in Sheshan, about an hour on the outskirts of Shanghai. Even while we were waiting for our somewhat delayed bus ride, we were basking in the glorious sunshine. However (yes, you can guess I am sure)....rain was to come.
We arrived at camp with a bus load of 50 girls and adults, ranging from 5 years to 12 years, it was already past 6.30pm so we had a quick dinnner of hot dog and corn before all trekking off to find our cabins. Yes, it was a little bit of luxury for our camp, no tents thank goodness but wooden huts. A good job too, with all the rain and the mossies! After we had dumped our stuff, we headed back to the central pavilion for a campfire which was a little out of control. We had been promised S'Mores, however, and we were
all determined to make the most of it. For those of you, like me before last weekend, who have no idea what a S'More is, it is a marshmallow toasted, put in a sandwich of special digestive-like biscuits with a lump of chocolate...just delicious! It started to rain not long after so we headed back to our cabins to try and settle down for the night. I was Troop Leader for our group of 11 girls from 4 different schools, with my assistant, the lovely Ms Chu, Sophie's teacher from last year who has very kindly offered to give up her weekend to join us! We made a great team and had lots of fun with the 'Awesomeinators'....yes that was our group name and I spent all weekend trying in vain to pronounce it properly! It's just not right in a British accent!
Anyway, sleep came at around 11.30pm after ghost stories and cajoles, then threats.....and Chu and I sat chatting with some fizzy pop and chocolate that we had smuggled into camp! Unfortunately, morning came all too soon, with an emergency phone call from next door at 6am as they had blocked their loo! The day was not
a sunny one, but constant heavy drizzle carried on until at least lunchtime! We all put our best smiles on, however, and headed off to breakfast, complete with team bandanas and got enthused up for our day of activities.
Unfortunately, some of our activities had to be scaled down a little or relocated, but we all got on with it as best we could. I have to say one of the most exhausting things about the whole experience was keeping the positive vibes going. At lunchtime, I managed to get dragged into getting on stage and leading a singalong...which was soon revisited while we were waiting for our dinner later on that day! It was during this second experience that I think Ms Maddi and Ms Chu decided having kids might be a very scary thought.....wondering where all my energy came from they concluded that it must be from the fact that us mums just carry on.....we get home from school having looked after our classes all day and then take on our own. I think all those mums who are teachers out there will know exactly what I mean!
So, our activities continued during the day, including
archery, making dream catchers, knot tying, making tents and shelters, a boat ride on a distinctly dodgy bamboo boat around a scary mini monkey island and also performing songs. Some girls even got to go zorbing....you know, the hamster wheel thing on the water? The ranch was just beautiful, even in the rain....this huge lake in the middle and green just everywhere. It could have done with a little upkeep to be fair....the rain mixed with the mould on the path made for very slippery walkways and I believe our Soph managed to wipe out quite spectacularly ......she was carried from the front door to the shower on arrival home!
At 4pm, the whole camp got together to do 'Swaps'.....this is a lovely activity where girls have made badges made from recycled materials and they swap them with their new friends. The whole camp was full of brilliant learning opportunities and all girls (and even mums) came away with positive comments. The exhaustion factor was huge, however, returning to school at 7pm.....Chu came back for a couple of glasses of wine to wind down with and sleep came not long after she left!
It was a totally amazing
experience in all...there were around 300 girls and mums on camp, from schools across Shanghai. All girls under 7 had to have their mum come, which was lovely for both girls and mums.... a bit of bonding time! We also had some extra adults come....some mums and 3 other teachers who were very kind (Ms Maddi, Ms Tonia and Ms Chu, we love you!) to spend their weekend with us all in the rain. I love my Girl Scouts and, even though it has been hard work and exhausting at times, I have been lucky to share such amazing experiences with all of them.
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Carlyle Reid
non-member comment
Do you have the address?
I'm with a SCIS Student Council and we're looking to hold an event at this location, is there any chance that you have the address or the contact information for the camp? Thanks so much! -Carlyle Reid