BBS enjoy camp with a difference
Boys’ Brigade companies in Alloa and Dunblane have been keeping the fun alive over the holidays for their young people and the community with virtual summer camps.
In both groups,leaders planned the events for members to take part in from the comfort of their own garden in a year when traditional camps couldn’t be held.
Taking a lead from BB HQ material, Tom Duff of 26th Stirling (Alloa Moncrieff ) contacted boys of the Company Section and set up a week of ‘virtual camp’ activities and challenges for them, which would mirror some of the aspects of what would go on at the annual summer camp, normally held this week in East Lothian.
Meanwhile at 25th Stirling (Dunblane), BB leaders used funding from Tesco Bags of Help to provide goodie bags with equipment for primaryaged children, whether already members of BB or not, with 45 children - boys and girls - taking part over a weekend. Their kit included sunglasses, ingredients for smoothie-making, craft packs and more.
Both groups held some Zoom meetings during which games, jokes, songs and other talents were shared to bring together the community of campers.
Tom Duff said: “The virtual camp is about us keeping in touch and enjoying fun and laughter together as we would normally do at our physical camp. Just as at camp, everyone has to cooperate so the boys needed help from adults to complete some of the daily challenges.”
He added: “Each day saw a different challenge or activity: pitching a tent or creating a den, completing a kit list and camp plan ; tent inspection and table layout with or without uniform and making a record of a family walk or cycle run. Boys had also to complete a local ‘monuments’ quiz and a tent quiz, put together a day’s menu and prepare a meal, and create and complete a potted-sports course.
“Photographic and other evidence was expected, and the week concluded with a virtual camp concert on Zoom.”
In Dunblane, younger children took part and had challenges to take part in during Friday night and Saturday morning Zoom meetings. They made smoothies and s’mores, shared jokes and learned songs, had a keepy-uppy competition with the beach ball from their kit bag and built dens or pitched tents to sleep in.
Camp leader Ann Johnston said the event had been a great success. “It was brilliant to connect with our members during a challenging summer. Our boys had missed their own camp weekend in June, but we and they were happy to welcome new friends from around the community to join our virtual camp.
“We had some excellent feedback from parents and carers and we hope to see some of the new faces again at BB and Girls’ Brigade once the new term starts.”
Stirling and District BB secretary Fraser Boyd said: “It was hugely encouraging to see two of our local companies running these activities for the young people over the summer holiday - and indeed being so good about keeping their members engaged throughout lockdown. I would like to thank them for the commitment and organisation they have shown while face-toface activities haven’t been able to take place.”
The Boys’ Brigade has seven groups across Stirling and Clackmannanshire and more details of their restart dates will be included in the paper in the coming weeks. For more information, check Facebook. com/stirlingclacksbb or call 01786 821387.