URC Fellowship Scouting Camp

On Saturday the first of May, my family and I were invited to the United Reformed
Church Guide and Scout Fellowship camp, which is held every four years or so. Among the
groups there were Girl Guides from Wood Street in Barnet, Cubs & Scouts from 11 th
Caterham, Girl Guides from Croydon and many families of people in the Fellowship.

When we first arrived we were greeted by Lewis McKenzie, a long time family friend,
who was there for the weekend. He took us to flag break, and David Marshal-Jones led
prayers on the subjects of charity, development, the unfair world and Fair Trade. After we
were dismissed we met a few of the influential people at the camp.

We talked with Gillian Bobbett who had organised the first Fellowship Camp back in
1977 and has been instrumental in almost all the camps since. Then we took the
opportunity to talk to Simon Rudiger, who is the present Church Youth Development Officer
for the Thames North Province. He supports churches by giving them ideas for youth groups
and organisations. He is also in charge of connecting churches with different ideas and
organising specific training for them.

After that we had elevenses and then we went to our first activity. Crate stacking
was great fun but I only managed six crates, while the Girl Guides from Wood Street, Barnet,
beat everyone with a total of 13. After this we had lunch and then went indoor rock
climbing, which was a lot of fun. After a quick drink we then went swimming. This was
brilliant fun and afterwards we had dinner and then it was time for the camp fire.

I have since learned from Lewis McKenzie that the Annual General Meeting of the
United Reformed Church Guide & Scout Fellowship was held at the camp on the following
Sunday afternoon. The main topic that was discussed was the re-naming of the Fellowship,
to become the URCGSASAU, the United Reformed Church Guide and Scout Active Support
Unit.

I would like to thank Lewis and all involved in the camp for their warm and friendly
greetings and for making us feel so welcome throughout the day. Anyone who has the
opportunity to join this camp in the future would be well advised to do so, as it is true to the
ideals of both the URC and the Scouting movement.

By Luke Guerin