FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Back to Camp Booking

Why Book Online?

It’s quicker & easier to make a booking online and if events are over subscribed we can easily see the order people booked.

Can I just tell you that I want to come on a Scout event?

If you make a verbal booking please follow this up with an online booking or an email to confirm and I will then send you the relevant permission forms. A lot of people talk to me before and after Scout meetings and unless I am able to write it down I am not always able to remember who asked to book on a certain event.

How Do I Pay?

Deposits must be paid within 14 days of booking to secure your place.

If you wish to pay by cash or cheque please hand payment to a Scout Leader in a envelope with the Scouts name and the camp(s) written clearly on it along with the completed permission form.

If you do Online banking tick the box and we will send you our bank account details so you can transfer the money direct to our account. Please use your surname as the reference and email us to say you have done the transfer and we will check and confirm it has arrived.

Can I pay by Instalments?

Yes. We now offer paying by instalments for Easter, Summer and Winter camps as these tend to be more expensive. If you wish to do this please check the box on the booking form and put in the comments field how you would like to pay. There will often be an example at the bottom of the camp infomation page (click on the camp name to see this)

As long as we have collected enough to send off for the relevent booking fees and received the full payment before the camp we can offer this.

If you plan to do regular payments, we must know in advance and we would prefer if you set up a standing order to our camp account rather than paying with lots of cheques.

All payments for Easter & Summer camps must be paid in full no later than 4 weeks before the camp without prior agreement.

Are Permission to Camp Forms still issued?

Permission forms will be emailed to you shortly after you have booked online. You can also receive a Scout kit list if you request one.

How do I find out about future Camps & Events now?

When we propose to run a camp we will announce it at the end of the meeting and put up details on the noticeboard. A list of camps for the current year is often on display on the Scout leaders room door.

Further information can be obtained on the website from the Calendar and the Scout Online Camp Bookings page.

What about Parents and Scouts who do not have Internet access at home?

Parents may have access at work. Most Scouts have access to the Internet from a PC at school. Internet Access is available at the Library. However, Leaders will provide printed permission forms on request.

Why is the number of places available on camps limited?

Some activities require a high level of Leader supervision and camps are limited based on the number of Leaders who are available for the event. Others are limited due to the facilities available.

Shouldn't all of the Leaders be at every camp?

It would be nice if we could. The Leaders are unpaid volunteers who enjoy teaching Scouting skills but they also have other commitments such as family and work.

How is it decided who gets to go if the camp is over subscribed?

We decide based on the following:

  • The first Scouts to book online and return their forms & deposit/payment.
  • Then we look at the Scouts attendance records and behaviour.
  • Some camps are by invitation only and the criteria for these is having enough experience, high attendance and good behaviour.

Can I book after the deadline?

For local camps at Phasels this may be possible but for longer trips futher away bookings must be made before the deadline.

The booking deadlines are published on the permission forms and in the online booking. Reminders are also put in the website calendar below the Thursday programme. The dates are also on display on the noticeboards at the hut.

If you miss the deadline you can ask to be put on a waiting list in case a place becomes available.

Can I book on other camps if I have not done a Basic Skills camp?

You can book Easter and Summer camps as long as you do a Basic Skills camp first. If you are already booked on a Basic Skills camp that is before the Easter or Summer camp that you want to go on you can book it straight away.

Why aren't the permission forms available to download off the website?

The permission forms often contain details of the location of the camp and we think it unwise to publish this on the internet.

Basic Skills Camp

All Scouts should go on a basic skills camp as their first camp. We teach the basics of tent pitching, fire lighting, cooking, the correct use of our lanterns and petrol cookers, axe and saw knots and first aid. We aim to run two of these camps each year with one in March and the other in October.

International Camps

To be eligible you MUST have done at least one Easter or Summer camp in the UK with us.

Will it rain at camp?

As part of our new balanced programme we have arranged for it to rain at
least one day every camp so all Scouts can experience both wet and dry weather!

What happens at the end of the camp?

It is normal for all Scouts to come back to the Scout hall after the camp to help unload the trailer and put the kit away. If the tents need drying we hang them up to air and all meet up again in the evening to pack them away and tidy up as the hall is hired out on Monday mornings.

What do I bring my kit to camp in?

It depends a lot on what camp you are going on. For Easter & Summer camps you will need a day bag big enough to fit your lunch, water bottle, warm top, waterproof top and bottoms, emergency rations and other items such as camera, sunglasses and wallet when we go out walking or cycling. We suggest something around the 30 litre size.

For backpacking camps you will need a much larger rucksack around the 65 litre size as you will need to fit in more food, your sleeping bag and mat, cooker and part of the tent.

The rucksack size is also determined on how bulky the rest of your kit is. All rucksacks should have a padded waist strap and when possible the Scouts should try them on in the shop before buying.

On all camps apart from the backpacking camp we suggest that you bring the main bulk of your kit in a squashable kit bag as it will be easier to transport and store in the tents.

What sort of sleeping bag and mat do I need?

For most of our camps a 3 or 4 season sleeping bag will be suitable. In colder weather you can always add a fleecy liner which make it feel warm when you get in and adds about 1 season to the bags rating. Please note it does depend a bit on whether you are a warm sleeper or a cold sleeper as to which bag to go for.

Synthetic bags are cheaper than down bags but heavier and bulkier in pack size. Down bags are much lighter for the same warmth but do not work well if they get wet so it generally better to go for synthetic.

All sleeping bags should be stored loose and not kept in their stuff sacks as it will damage the insulation over time.

Sleeping Mats. There are two main types foam or self inflating. The foam mats are ideal to start with as they cost very little and offer the best insulation. The self inflating ones are far more comfortable but aren't as good in the cold so if you have one of these you will benefit from bringing a cheap foam one and using both if you come camping with us in winter. Air beds are not suitable for bringing on our camps and neither are camp beds as the feet will damage the tent groundsheet.

 

What do I do if I don't like a certain food?
Will there be a choice in food?

Any dietary, religious or medical requirements should be put on the permission form and if serious discussed with a leader in advance so we can plan suitable menus. A vegetarian option and beef alternatives are common. Please do not wait until you drop your child off at camp to tell us as the shopping will have already been done and it will be difficult for us to find an alternative.

Our menus for weekend camps, Easter & Summer camps are planned to ensure that everyone gets enough energy for the activities that we will be doing as well as hopefully tasting nice. Apart from the requirements mentioned above we do not offer a menu to choose from. Scouts are normally included in the menu planning process for longer camps and also get to buy the food of their choice for their patrol on one of the days.

Home made cakes are welcome on some of our longer camps but we discourage Scouts turning up with carrier bags full of sweets as these tend to get eaten instead of the food we buy. If excessive quantities of sweets are brought the leaders will look after them and issue them in sensible quantities after mealtimes.

 

 

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