Wistaston Scout Group headed to Wales for Summer Camp 2026, and what a week it was! From early mornings and wet tent pitching to climbing, canyoning, beaches, circus skills and plenty of food, the week was packed with adventure, laughter and memories that will last a lifetime.
Saturday – Arrival and Camp Setup
We woke up bright and early, ready for camp. Unfortunately, the Welsh weather had other ideas, and we had to put up our tents and dining shelters in the rain!
For tea, we cooked curry before heading into the marquee, where everyone sat chatting and catching up. There was even time for some people to get their hair done before we eventually headed to our tents. After plenty of chatting and laughing, we were definitely ready for a good night’s sleep!
Sunday – Hiking and the Beach
Sunday started with the famous camp breakfast – bacon, eggy bread, beans, potato waffles and black pudding – before we headed out on a short hike.
The route took us through forests, along roads, across fields and down to the beach. There was plenty of time for some fun along the way, including digging holes and burying each other in the sand – although quite a lot of that sand ended up in our shoes!
Monday – Climbing and Canyoning
Monday started bright and early at 6.30am, ready for another exciting day.
We gathered our equipment before making the rather steep walk to the rockface. After putting on our safety equipment, we began our ascent. Once we reached the top of the climbing wall, we abseiled back down.
Then it was time for canyoning, with plenty of opportunities to jump from rocks into the water and slide down natural rock waterslides. The final challenge was a zip line which took us straight into a large pool of water!
Tuesday – Farm Visit and Foot Golf
On Tuesday morning, we visited a local farm, where there was plenty to see and do. The quad bike trailer was a particular highlight, along with the massive inflatable pillow that everyone enjoyed playing on.
There were plenty of animals to meet too, with the cows proving to be a particular favourite. And, of course, there were ice creams – three in one day for some!
Later, we tried something new with a game of foot golf. Back at camp, we cooked chicken stir fry for tea, which proved to be a firm favourite of the trip.
Wednesday – Sports Day, Circus Skills and a BBQ
Wednesday saw the Explorers take charge as they ran a camp-style sports day, featuring everything from sleeping bag races to limbo.
After toasties for lunch, Dan the Circus Man arrived to run an afternoon of circus skills, including diablos and hula hoops. We finished the day with a communal camp barbecue, enjoying burgers and halloumi skewers. Despite the rain, it was another brilliant day.
Thursday – High Ropes and the Circus
Thursday was a definite highlight of the week, packed with activities and surprises.
We started with the high ropes, before splitting into groups. Half the group took on the free-fall activity while the others tackled the giant swing, before swapping over.
When we finished, there was a surprise waiting for us – the leaders had been to the chippy and returned with sausage and chips for everyone!
But the biggest surprise was still to come. We headed to the circus, where the hilarious clown Yuri entertained us throughout the show. Dan and Lucas even got the chance to go on stage and become part of the performance.
After the show, we stayed behind and sang along to Hey Baby by DJ Ötzi. What a day!
Friday – Beach Day and Patrol Cooking
We woke up to lovely blue skies on our final full day and enjoyed bacon butties for breakfast.
While the Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders headed out shopping for the evening’s patrol meals, everyone else stayed on the minibuses, enjoying some music and relaxing.
We then headed to the beach for a swim before returning to camp to light the fires and prepare our patrol meals.
Each patrol cooked their own meal, with one patrol serving halloumi skewers with sweet chilli sauce followed by macaroni cheese. It was delicious!
Saturday – Homeward Bound
All too soon, the final morning of Summer Camp 2026 arrived.
After such a brilliant week, we had the less exciting job of taking down the tents and packing everything away. Once camp was cleared, we started the journey home – accompanied, of course, by Venga on the bus for what felt like the one billionth time!
Everyone was sad to leave Wales after such a fantastic week. From the activities and adventures to the food, laughter and time spent together, we made so many memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank You
A huge thank you to all our Scouts and Drake Explorers for making Summer Camp 2026 another fantastic week away.
The biggest thanks must go to our incredible leadership team, whose commitment before, during and after camp makes experiences like this possible. Their hard work and dedication are second to none.
And if you want to see the whole week for yourself, you can now watch ‘Summer Camp 2026 – The Movie’ on YouTube!