WINGSPAN Monday, August 3 2009
Issue 3
Now the fun begins BY SOPHIE MADDOCKS
Scouts enjoying a day on the climbing wall
IF you thought the pace of WINGS2009 had already left you breathless, then think again. Monday sees the starts of activities and the pace can only increase. Split into ten different areas, activities will enable participants to capitalise on their existing skills, learn some new ones and
already spent time with. “We haven’t mixed the teams up a huge amount but hopefully what we have achieved is a great balance between participants meeting new people and being able to depend on the same team members over the course of the week.” The three hour sessions for activities are another deliberate ploy. Jamborees can only give participants a taster. The team are trying to encourage participants to go back to their Troops and Units thirsty for more. It’s the reason why participants won’t be able to do the same activity twice: “We’d love everyone to have a go at their favourite thing time and time again, but it’s more important to us that everyone tries everything. That’s the way they’ll get the most from their WINGS2009 experience and that will help them make a difference back home at the end of camp.” Malcolm adds before moving into fifth gear himself and dashing off.
Calling all Leaders hopefully make a difference to their lives and those of the communities in which they do and will live in the future. Malcolm Fillingham, Deputy Head of Activities, can’t wait for the teams’ hard work to start in earnest: “we’re now moving from third gear to fifth and the ride promises to be exhilarating”. The ten zones within activities mean each participant will be able to spend half a day in each. By splitting the 4500 participants into ten groups, Guides and Scouts will get a chance to meet and work together in a smaller, but different group to those they might have
Leaders! Do you have a spare half day or even better a day? Are you willing to give up this spare time to help the participants make the most of their WINGS2009? If so please visit the Programmes Team in the Arena and give your name to helping run an activity the night before you will be free to help out. Many of the Activity’s are short staffed. The Programme Team would like to thank anyone who is willing to help ensure the activities can go ahead as planned for all the participants. Go on – Make a difference.
Today’s Highlights Page 2 - Sub Camps De Haviland and Harrington
Page 3 - Sub Camp Bell, Archimedes and Morland
Page 4 - Cultures unite at Scouts Own
Page 2
Monday, August 3 2009 - WINGSPAN
Sub Camp day of adventure De Haviland enjoy day of Planes, Rockets and Licorice BY KATE SMITH-CRALLEN AFTER an exciting Sub Camp opening ceremony where each group greeted the rest of the De Havilland, participants spent the morning exploring and meeting the other groups. Each Guide Unit and Scout Troop brought activities, games and very popular food from their local area. The huge range of activities allowed everyone to get involved with their neighbours, get to know international guests and eat a fair number of sweets and cake. Food was available from around the world, ranging from Shropshire Gingerbread Men from 1st Wem Guides to Salt Water Taffy from Troop 195 from Massachusetts and Troop 712 from Denver. There were also traditional British puddings at 3rd Thatcham Guides to Huckleberry Liquorice from Girl Scout Troop 2551 from Spokane in the USA. Other food on offer included Rhubarb Cheese at 47th Wakefield Guides to Saffron Bread at 1st Newquay Guides.
There was plenty to snack on while getting to know people and getting involved in the other activities. Enjoying the Towcester Cheesecake at Green Norton Guides campsite were Jenna, Krystal and Rachelle from the United States. “We love the music here, the disco was awesome!” Jenna told me. Rachelle said: “we’ve been meeting loads of people from all over the UK, its great”. There were plenty of eager badge swappers making friends and trading, including Katherine and Courteney of 2nd Thatcham Guides. Lawrence from 7th Orpington Scouts was teaching people to play Mancala at his campsite. He said “I am teaching people but they keep beating me!” I caught Theo and Adam from 3rd Newbury Explorers playing in the sand 1st Newquay brought all the way from Cornwall. On the edge of De Havilland, 28th Ottawa scout group were bringing Guides and Scouts together in a
Sharing sweet cultures with Troop 2551 from Spokane, USA.
game of Hockey. Preparation for the afternoon rocket competition was also under
way, Amy and Sarah of 9th Tilehurst Guides were sure their rocket would win, while Peter, James and Michael
of Apsley Guise Scout group were figuring out a rather technical launching mechanism!
Harrington get “Caught in the Act” BY KATHI HAMILTON
All wrapped up, inset, having fun out and about.
SUNDAY’S Sub Camp Challenge found hundreds of Harington Sub Camp youngsters rushing around trying the many challenges on offer. Whether watching a Hand Woodworking demonstration by Bygone Country Skills, re-enacting scenes from Shakespeare, or creating toilet paper fashions, the Scouts and Guides were laughing, determined and competitive. “Caught in the Act”, was the Elizabethan theme for the Harington Sub Camp as John Harington, invented the flush toilet during the reign of Elizabeth I. Amelia Hoffman and Charlotte Donnan, Girl Scouts of Western Washington, were spotted finger painting one of many cardboard toilet seats. “I’m painting a toilet seat” laughed Amelia, “I never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth.” The world’s most environmentally friendly fashion show, with wardrobes designed using nothing but toilet paper. Toilet paper was also used to
dress a member of the challenge group up like a mummy. “We are out to coat the whole of Windsor Park in toilet paper”, one of the Leaders declared. To learn more about waste water and drainage systems, the participants played Splat the Rat and “no live rats were harmed in this challenge”. A group of Guides were making a rope out of toilet paper to pull a team-mate in a cart on rails; the winner got sweets, the losers, fruit. Participants were seen and heard warbling at the “Gargling” Karaoke and making and floating a paper boat on water troughs. Oxfam and Water Aid, two international aid agencies, were on hand to share information about their work on clean water and sanitation around the world.. The Hook-a-Duck challenge with three metre-long poles was “Much harder than it looks” according to Rachel Henderson from Edinburgh Guides. “It was also embarrassing to do the forfeit, which was pretending to be an airplane for two minutes.”
Want to see your name in WINGSPAN or dedicate a song on WingsFM Have you a friend with a birthday this week? Is there a song or shout out you would like to hear on the radio or have printed in the paper? Then please visit the Communications Team Base, where you will find a little form to in and we will try and get all your requests on air or in print.
WINGSPAN- Monday, August 3 2009
Page 3
Bell hit the races and learn about communications BY KATE SMITH-CRALLAN IN the Sub Camp named after Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, participants faced challenges on the theme of communication. Guides and Scouts challenged themselves to communicate and succeed in the 10 challenges that faced them. Amongst these was a Ski walk, where a team from 7th Swindon Scouts worked together to cross the course and told me it was hard work but once they got going, it got much easier, and it was lots of fun. Each unit in Bell Sub Camp also
brought along an activity to share with the other members of the Sub Camp. 3rd Garforth Guides were enjoying painting nails and painting faces. Helena and Hannah from 3rd Garforth said: “We’re having a great time at WINGS2009”. They had also managed to complete one of the communication challenges; clambering through a web of string without setting off the bell alarm attached. Scouts from 73rd Reading were thankful for the good weather as they threw soaked sponges at each other. Finley, from 73rd Reading was drenched but having a great
Left: Participants enjoy reading WINGSPAN, Above: Bell host a Steeplecase, Right one of the many communications activities
time: “WINGS2009 is awesome”. After a fast paced race and a nail biting finish in the steeplechase, Elena from 48th Barnsley Scouts won the horse race because she pulled her wooden horse along fastest. Pleased with the result she spoke about other activities she had found including one unit in the Sub Camp where she made a print of her hand.
1st Komoka- Kilworth Scouts from near London in Ontario, Canada told me all about the process of making maple syrup, and were giving out delicious maple leaf shaped maple candies. They also have hundreds of red and white woggles to give away, so if you see them around ask if you can have one, or swap a badge for one.
Morland are told to Active Archimedes residents solve logic problems host Olympic Games day BY KATHI HAMILTON THE blare of the bugle was heard and campers came running from all over Morland to the Sub Camp HQ to be one of the first 10 teams to be able to compete in an instant challenge. They had to run cautiously, as they had all been give an open can of green, red, purple or blue liquid to carry around the entire day. Seven boys from 1st Newchurch on the Isle of Wight were busy tasting their water and trying to figure out how they were going to protect this volatile cargo until 4pm. The instant challenges included eating a doughnut hanging on a string, drinking jelly from a cup through a straw and completing a jigsaw puzzle with gloves on. Units were provided with a number of challenges. The 23rd Bromley Scouts were spotted jumping over benches and crouching under tables. Their task was to attempt to put as much water as possible into three tubes in 15 minutes. The Dursley District Guides were also participating in a water-based challenge. Sorrel Macleod and the Tilbury Sea Scouts struggled to fill a tub with water from cups with holes
in the bottom. The Vivian Fowler Group from Nigeria had youngsters hopping over paper rolls. Josh Tizzard and Stephanie Roberts both got 100 points doing it perfect the first time. “It’s hard when you start and hard all on one leg, as it gets quite tiring,” said Stephanie. Riddle solving was the order of the day for the Hedgerly Scouts. Rebecca Cottrell seemed to get the riddles quickly solved. The riddles were provided by the 46th North Hampton Scouts. Teams were seen scratching their heads as they tried to come up with the answers, even with generous hints being given. Teamwork and timing were the challenge at the Ping Pong Ball Roll. Freddie Hughes of 1st South Ascot Scouts said: “It was pretty cool and it built up teamwork.”
BY SOPHIE MADDOCKS FOR one day only, Guides and Scouts from Archimedes Sub Camp transformed into Olympians, and faced a monumental task: to participate in five Olympic challenges with a twist, plus running their own events and trying out at least 10 run by their neighbouring participants. Archimedes displayed a dazzling array of activities. From 1st Binfield Scouts’ brick making, to a kooky coconut shy, where traditional bean bags were replaced with frisbees – Canadian Pathfinder Heidi delivered an impressive performance, knocking down three consecutive coconuts. Nestled along Zeus Avenue, 3rd Salisbury guides’ finger painting and Wokingham guides’ face painting were a tranquil, more sedate alternative to the Olympic challenges. Cheshire senior section provided refreshments, with an impressive selection of cheeses; but the camp doughnuts drew an even bigger crowd. Helen, 14, was looking nervous: “I’m really worried about the mini Olympics – I detest sport”. Scouts Dave and Marcus, on the other hand, were limbering up for the later challenges and pretty confident about their chances:
“I’m a golf pro! The Olympics won’t be hard; the twists in the challenges will make them easier”. The most competitive of the Olympic challenges was definitely the steeplechase; a three-way leap frog, it tested the speed, agility, and
teamwork of each challenger – with the top scores changing by the minute. Network member Alex said: “we were winning first, until I stood up and celebrated too early” and the verdict from Westbridgeford Rangers, “the steeple chase was mint!”. The equestrian event, (due to an obvious lack of horses) was effectively a high octane piggy back race; which alongside the steeplechase drew a boisterous crowd. The javelin was no ordinary Olympic event, with straws instead of javelins, this task proved too challenging for most scouts.
They had a little more success with the tea bag shot-put; with Hannah, from Westbridgeford rangers reaching an impressive 4.6 metres: “it was really fun but it’s too hard going against the wind”. The winners of the steeplechase, from 20th Mayo scouts couldn’t get enough of the brick making, and are looking forward to the Archimedes toga party. Yet Ross and Killin were less than complimentary about their achievements…”Archimedes is cool, the Olympics were
great but we suck” Deputy Sub Camp leader, Tim, said: “It’s all gone really well with no hiccups, touch wood!” From the calm to the exhilarating, the breadth of activities and the enthusiastic participants all contributed to the community spirit and warm friendly atmosphere of the Sub Camp.
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WINGSPAN - Monday, August 3 2009
Daily Round Up
Meet the servers of the 700 BY RICHARD SHEPHERD
FOOD glorious food, hot butter and cocoa!
The catering team at WINGS2009 have really got their work cut out feeding the 700 staff, visitors and activity helpers this week. The logistics of such large numbers requires careful organisation. With loaves of bread coming into camp 200 at a time, along with 160 large tins of baked beans used for the breakfast rush, catering managers Phil Addington and Peter Rowden said: “Good planning, good preparation and excellent organisational skills are essential.” Working together they head up a team of 25 willing volunteers and professional caterers that chop, mix, blend and taste from 5am to gone 9pm and, with 1,000 pieces of fruit to prepare every day and the same number of sausages to cook, they are working their socks off. Volunteer Pat Jenkins enjoys the buzz: “We work well together as a team” she said “it’s a very good team!” Pat, along with her catering comrades,
A moment of reflection
vary their days by taking different tasks in the kitchens. Chopping tomatoes is followed by preparing speciality meals for the 31 vegetarians, dairy and wheat intolerant customers and those requiring halal menus. But Pat did comment, after a stint on the chopping boards, that: “If I never see another pepper in my life I don’t mind!” Pro chef and fine dining specialist David Hatherall has come along for the week to help add a little finesse to the proceedings. Last night’s roast chicken and spaghetti bolognaise went down well with the staff team and tonight’s beef and vegetable pie, pork chops, pasta Provencal and apple crumble covered in custard promises to be a veritable feast! Chef David Hatherall holds particular affection for his custard-making equipment capable of handling up to 200 litres of the stuff. The equipment is all designed to cope with huge demand and has been specially hired in. Catering manager and chef Peter Rowden believes sourcing food and equipment from local companies is as important as feeding the hungry mouths. “All our fruit and meat for both the sub camps and staff catering comes from a local Reading-based business.” Gary Dudman the fruiterers are making daily deliveries to site in their special fruit lorries and have been working hard to source as much produce from the UK as possible.
What’s On Today
Today the main activity zones are open and its a chance to take part in the global development village, adventure, challenge and water activities. Don’t forget, the Communications Team have a raft of photographers out and about across the site all day. And if you want to buy any of their pictures you can. Just go to retail to choose and then collect and pay for them in the Info Centre.
Today’s Forecast Sunny Intervals The environmental footprint of WINGS2009 has been carefully calculated. The 12,000 plates and 36,000 pieces of cutlery used for service are biocompostable. All 100 litres of eco-friendly washing up liquid are washed away with a minimum of impact on the Great Park. So when you’re queuing for lunch or
WINGS Say
popping a slice in the rotary toaster at breakfast spare a thought for the volunteers beavering away behind the scenes and the supply chain of delivery drivers, fruiterers and washer uppers keeping the staff teams and participants fed. As David Hatherall puts it: “It’s all hands to the pump but we still have a good laugh and sing along to WINGS FM!”
Temp 22
Tomorrow’s Forecast Light Rain Showers
What are you looking forward to this week at WINGS2009?
Temp 23
Tonights Ents Main Stage Neon Disco
Culture exchange with buddist prayer group.
BY SARAH PAGET THE team at GDV opened their faiths and
cultures tent yesterday morning to anyone who wanted a quiet moment in their very own Scouts Own and quite a crowd turned up. The Scouts Own opened with a moment’s reflection on what and who we have left behind as well as what all of us here can offer each other. A hand shake was passed around the circle of the 75 or more people who were present. This symbolised the link between the 50 or so million scouts and guides world wide. Through their participation, the youngsters forged the beginning of friendships that echoed around the area. The participants had the opportunity to make their own Buddhist Prayer flags, which will be attached to string so they can flutter in wind throughout the week of WINGS2009. For those who weren’t there, you can make your own prayer flags when you visit GDV and aid them in their challenge to have 5,000 prayer flags flying by the last day. The short reflection ended with a song from a group of Egyptian Scouts, the lyrics of the song sent a message of encouragement to ‘plant peace from a seed’. The song was written in 2007 to celebrate Scouting’s new centenary. A reading from ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’ was given. This reading highlighted that by accepting our failings we can find away round all our difficulties. This echoes the idea that Scouting and Guiding teaches us all in our support for each other. When asked why he came, Stephen Read of Tacheam Hundred, in Berkshire, on Bell Sub Camp, said “It’s an experience to come. I enjoy mixing with other people from other cultures.”
Rachel Ellis, 17, 1st Magheraculmoney, County Fermanagh
“Just the pure excitement of the international camp.”
Amy Blunden, 10, 1st Bray Guides
Alice Ripley, 12, 30th Reading Guides
“Rock Climbing, rowing at the lake, the arts and the Illuminous Party.”
“Everything!”
Andy Payne, 15, Lodden Explorers/ 99th Reading
“Doing lots of activities like at EuroJam.”
Matthew Cox, 14, 2nd Woodley Scouts
“All the great activities and the food!”
Parthenon Music/Disco Acropolis Disco Bell Cinema Night De Havilland WINGS Factor Auditions Morland Noisefest Harington WINGS Factor
Happy Birthday to.... John Foxter-Roderick, 15, East & South Explorers, Cardiff
“Having a good time and meeting people from many different backgrounds.”
Samantha Hall, 16, Woolrich Scouts
“I’m looking forward to the water sports, learning new skills and meeting new people.”
Jack Graham, 12 1st Burnham & Hitcham Scouts
Kamila Farney, 17, 43rd Kangitoka & 30th Nic, Poland
“After preparing for a year, meeting new people and seeing what all the activities are like.”
“Spending a great time with my friends from Poland and getting to know people from all over the world.”
Jonathan Cope, 12, 1st Binfield Scouts
“Meeting someone from Japan who is really good at the DS. Getting patches from France or Germany and swapping information.”
Martin Steers, 30 of Brunel “Happy Birthday Old Man from the Radio & Comms Team” Robert Jones of Harrington “Happy Birthday from S.A.D.E” Marie & Stella Harrington, 17 & 15 of Harrington Analise Miller-Wells, 13 - “Happy Birthday from Kendra & Peyton”
WINGSPAN was bought to you by Antony Weller, Sarah Paget, Emma Parker, Sophie Maddocks, Richard Shepherd, Kate SmithCrallan, Kathi Hamilton, Justin Mullender, Katherine Broomfield and Matt Robinson. Photography by Becky Smith, Becky Tompkinson, Graham Smith, Claire Holland, James Hage, Dave Brooks, Cheryl Stewart, Ed Jackson and Andrew Hawke.