Follow The Bear 2007

Issue 15

The next few posts you will read will be from the people CTT is actually about - the Scouts and Guides. Other than perhaps correcting spelling, I have put in everything they have written about the camp, which they have done entirely off their own backs. And, apart from posting the final edition, this will be the last word.

“C.T.T has honestly been the best scout camp I have ever been to. It took us 5 hours for us to get and i wouldnt of missed it for the world”

- CT from Knutsford.

“This camp has been great because the activites have been fab and the Service Crew have made it better. Pllus every night there are activities and thingsto do. It is an excellant camp and i would definately come back again”.

- CD from West London

“I would like to come back because it’s really fun to do different activities every day. It’s really fun and i would love to come again next year”. 

- RB from Beddington

“This week I have had a great time. The activities are great. The best one was swimming because the diving boards were open also the was a giant inflatable it was great CTT is great,  I can’t what for next year.

- GW from Maldon

“I have really enjoyed my stay at Tolmers! There are lots of things to do including archery, canoeing, rifle shooting and much more! I have really enjoyed coconut climb and rockclimbing but my favourite activity has to be canoeing because when you get the hang of it, it is really fun! Hopefully we can come again because I have had so much fun!

- CC from Beddington            

“I think that Tolmers is the best camp i’v been to so far!!! I like the range of activities(theres something for everyone). I also like the camp because there are lots of activities for the evening!”

- AL from Beddington

“I think this campsite is fab! I loved all the activities that I did!  I would definately come here again!”

- AE from Beddington

Well, thats it for another year.

As per usual, my sessions were among the first to fill up - so in 25 minutes from now, I will be working with the last set of journalist for this year. By the end of the first session, the area to my left where the campers sign on will be taken down and that will be that for another year. Its been one of the most physically demanding CTT’s I have done and it has been rather ordinary compared to some of the others. Still, you could have offered me all the riches of the world and I still would not have wanted to be anywhere else. Here is today’s issue.

 Issue 14

in 24 and a quarter hours from now, CTT 2007 will effectively be over. Sure, we’ll have flag down and the disco, but there won’t be any more activity sessions. By then, I will have produced my last paper for this year and also by then, this rather untidy room (see below) will be mostly cleared away and that will be that.  The sense of gloom that descends over me when I realise that cannot be explained.  Then on Saturday morning will come that final flag break and that will be it for another 50 weeks. Oh dear!

Well, here is issue 13

 Issue 13

follow-the-bear-cover.pdf

This file contains the front and back covers for people to make bound editions with.

The front pictures shows the scene at flagbreak on the 1st August when we all renewed our Promise at 8 O Clock. The back shows the special Tolmers badge and also the Norwegian special badge they did for this camp.

 follow-the-bear-cover-back.pdf

ctt-2007-issue-12.pdf

Since yesterday, I have been trying out a new format for flagbreak - the Breakfast Show on CTT FM.  Basically, I DJ a breakfast show live from the stage!

Its a very simple format. Bit of chat and a few interviews with the campers interspersed with music in very much a Radio 2 style. We are also doing the same thing in the evening with a ‘flag time’ show, although I am not presenting that.  What with the Breakfast Show and Walk of Shame/Glory, I think the campers will get fed up with seeing me!

Nevertheless, the new format seems to be going down well with the campers, who felt that our previous morning format needed changing.

 So Issue 11 then, the first one written entirely by this week’s campers - and rather good it is too. 

One reason for FTB’s success is that it gives youngsters a method of feeding back to their leaders information they might not welcome. One camper came in totally fed up with his leader for buying Tesco Value mince for dinner, and so wrote about it in a humorous way - but also in such a way as the leader should get the message. Another was severely brassed off that their leader made them miss half hour of Journalism to finish the washing up - when the leaders could have finished it for them. Now, without a paper, grumbles like that would build up in a week long camp and probably end up with the leader and child having an almighty row. But with a bit of humour and a light touch, the message gets across and the grumbler feels an awful lot better.

Enjoy!

 ctt-2007-issue-11.pdf

The second full week of activities has begun. I have nine reporters in the office - all trying to write a story slating their leaders for giving them extra duties! They are all laughing, I am expecting a lot of humerous articles.

Whoops! Sorry about that, forgot that I had not posted it.

 Issue 8

Sorry for the delay in posting these issue, but I have been out this weekend.

Saturday saw me in Chelmsford to watch ’Freemasonry and Scouting’ - a centenary dialogue that told of the remarkable but entirely coincidental similarities between the aims of both Scouting and Freemasonry.

Baden-Powell was never a Mason, but I am one of many modern Scout Leaders who are, and the show interspersed dialogue with old camp fire songs and numbers from Ralph Reeder gang shows to tell a fascinating story in a stirring and often very moving way.

Then today I visited the World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park in Chelmsford. To describe it as overwhelming would be something of an understatement. There was not much to physically do as such, but there was much to see and I met Scouts and Leaders from more countries than I care to recall. Amazing!

The second week’s campers are in now. There are about half of them, with a good number being new campers. This is good, because you can have some kids turning up year after year. And, whilst its great to see them, after a while they get bored. Hopefully, this lot will have a ball!

Issue 9

Issue 10