Last weekend I had the good fortune to partake in a group camp held by 17th Purley Scout Troop at Frylands Woods, the first event of its kind for the contingent since the emergence of that scourge of all social interaction - the pandemic. After a two-year hiatus, over 90 Scouts, Cubs and Beavers joined together for an event throughout which camaraderie, merriment and adventure were ubiquitous thanks to the meticulous preparations undertaken by the leaders.

Attending as a Young Leader for the Scouts (to clarify, Young Leaders are Explorer Scouts that help the younger sections; the adult leaders organised and ran the camp) , I was greeted upon arrival by the cool embrace of an autumnal evening. To the relief of us all, the Scout leaders had shown sufficient mercy to set up the tents, so we were spared the chaos and frustration that doing so invariably entails. Unfortunately, the subsequent notice to prepare for an imminent hike provoked a distinctly frostier reception. Nevertheless, stimulated by sweets and led by a team of Young Leaders whose number included an experienced and erudite navigator who only took unnecessary detours on a handful of occasions (your correspondent cannot confirm or deny responsibility), the Scouts completed the trek under high spirits, returning in time for a bite of cake, a chat and ‘sleep’.

Concerning slumber, those of us old enough to appreciate its virtues were rather displeased to have it curtailed at the unholy hour of 5.00am by a few of the more vocal Scouts, who thought it wise to serenade their companions with a high-pitched rendition of ‘I’m a Barbie girl’. It was not particularly shocking to uncover their identities: the older boys. Despite this abrupt awakening, restorative bacon sandwiches provided all the fuel we needed for an activity-packed day ahead.

To the detriment of my knees, the group of Scouts I accompanied first participated in tunnelling, which included a time trial and a game of hide-and-seek. Once that ordeal concluded, hand-eye coordination was subjected to the test of angel and tomahawk throwing. Many Scouts showed great prowess - I showed an inability to stick anything in the target. This was followed by what was perhaps the highlight of the day: sumo suits. These ludicrously oversized body suits allowed for a series of comical duels which delivered hilarity and entertainment by the truckload. The incongruous sight of a Scout leader - a black belt in both judo and ju-jitsu - bouncing about under layers of synthetic fat left us in stitches.

The emergence of the afternoon heralded fresh adventures. First, the Scouts navigated the perils of an assault course seemingly designed to inflict as many friction burns as possible, with the high-velocity slides being the primary instruments of torment. After finally conceding that the low-lying monkey bars were insurmountable, we proceeded on to the final activity: air rifle shooting. Here, I assured myself, was an event I should finally be competent at, being both a Cadet and the reigning camp champion. As my final shot landed diametrically opposite to where it was intended, I concluded that my marksmanship was yet another victim of the pandemic.

Following a round of burgers for tea, we gathered around the flag-pole to offer our gratitude to all those involved in organising and overseeing the camp, before conducting various formalities, including the induction of a pair of Cubs, a Cub leader and a Scout. We were fortunate enough to have in attendance the Assistant District Commissioner of Scouting for Croydon, who presented a Chief Scout’s Silver Award - the highest attainable award for a Cub Scout - to a hard-working young fellow who she credited as one of the few to accomplish the feat in the past 18 months. Once these proceedings finished, we rendezvoused in a nearby field for a spectacular fireworks display. Despite the wind’s best efforts to disrupt the occasion, it provided a fitting send-off to a fantastic day.

Sunday morning brought with it a full English breakfast, a traditional camping staple. Alas, so too did it bring conflicting duties which necessitated an early departure on my part. After helping disassemble and repack the tents (a chaotic and frustrating process) I took to the road, giving up the opportunity to partake in zorb balling.

I nearly missed this fantastic experience, being more inclined to enjoy the last days of respite before a return to the arduous exertions of studying for GCSEs. I must confess that it was only through much coaxing, cajolery and coercion from my father (the latter strategem being by far most prevalent) that my natural adolescent inertia was overcome, but his endeavour was certainly not in vain and provided me with yet another opportunity to witness the tenacity and diligence of the volunteer leaders bear fruit. One feels obligated to pay testimony to these community heroes who have dedicated innumerable hours and immense effort to the provision of a seemingly interminable deluge of opportunities for us, the youth, and I pray that the troop and others like it may continue to flourish and prosper for generations to come.