KidsOutdoors

The weekend of the 15th of February, 50 scouts from Harlow attended Belchamps Campsites, annual Winter Camp in Essex. There was 200 scouts and guides from both Essex and Kent, ready to brave the cold. And boy was it cold!

We all thought Friday night was cold but by the time Saturday night came we knew what cold was. But during the day, my unit, Harlow District Explorers, did many activities like the rest of the young people there. We did climbing, abseiling, archery, pistol shooting, football, table tennis and there were many more. We needed these activities to keep ourselves warm

As the sun set, the frost set in. We all went to the Disco to try and stay warm and keep the blood flowing, unlike the water which was slowly freezing. Even at 6pm the tents had frost on them! As time went on the temperature continued to drop as the skies stayed clear, this would lead to the coldest night of my life in a tent! The temperature dropped to around minus 8 and we all felt it was time for bed.

Morning camp and everything including the outside of my sleeping bag was frozen! The water tap had frozen and all around was big chunks of ice, it was amazing. As everyone woke up we all had a sense of achievement that we had survived through the coldest night of the year so far, in a tent in the middle of Essex!