Scouts from Mitchelstown made the most of the unexpected fine weather last weekend, with their first camp of what will prove to be another busy season.

Scouts have a saying that "there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes" and with four seasons in the one day in Ireland, that is something that needs to be taken on board. The Scout section were camping in Glenshelane Lodge in Cappoquin and the Venture section were running an event with their fellow Ventures from Mallow, in Galty Castle wood.

The beginning of the camping season sees all sections from the youngest Beavers and Cubs through to the older members in the Scout, Venture and Rover sections dusting off the tents and gear from last year's events and preparing for long weekends and camps spent outdoors. This gives them the opportunity to put the skills they learned throughout the year into practice.

The weekly meetings are fun, action packed evenings for all ages, both boys and girls, learning skills such as tent pitching, cooking, first aid, knots, campcraft/pioneering, axe/saw-manship, as well as leadership, teamwork and problem solving through games and other team building activities.

Saturday morning saw the flag-raising ceremony formally opening camp, followed by the construction of camping gadgets such as kitchens, dressers, dinning tables etc out of staves (long, thin pieces of timber) as the leaders put the finishing touches to a high rope walkway among the trees. Lunch packed, hiking gear on and the scouts took to the trail along the valley up to Mount Melleray, the spiritual home of scouting in this area, onto the Knockmealdown Mountains to the cross above the Abbey.

This pleasant hike helped the scouts practice their hill walking skills, using map and compass to follow their predetermined route. On returning to Mount Melleray, the scouts joined their friends from St Paul's Scout Group, Waterford who were celebrating 45 years of scouting recently, for rock climbing, simulated rifle shooting and the assault course.

Sunday saw the scouts learning how to create their own cooking stoves out of drinks cans. Delighted with the results, they enjoyed refreshments cooked on their stoves, a useful skill to have in the event of gear going missing.

If any boy or girl from the age of 7-21 wishes to join the Mitchelstown Scout Group, or any adult who would like to volunteer, please contact Mitchelstown group leader, Willie Ahern. Every week, the scouts meet in the Mitchelstown Scout Hall, with Beavers meeting on Tuesday, Cubs on Thursdays and Scouts, Ventures and Rovers meeting on Fridays.

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