URGENT UPDATE: Over 700 Scouts and Guides gathered this past weekend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Frost Camp at the Bentley Copse Activity Centre. The milestone event, held on January 30, 2023, was a vibrant showcase of teamwork, adventure, and skill development, despite the milder but wet weather.
This year’s Frost Camp attracted participants from 1st Brookwood, Pyford Scouts, 1st Goldsworth Park, 1st Knaphill, and 8th Woking, among others, marking a significant increase from the inaugural camp in 2006, which had just 200 attendees. The event has become one of the most anticipated annual gatherings for young people in the region, with only a brief pause in 2021 due to health restrictions.
Participants engaged in a plethora of exhilarating activities, including climbing, abseiling, and a highly popular new attraction known as the bag drop. This thrilling challenge involved leaping from a tower onto a giant inflatable, quickly earning rave reviews. “I felt my life was flashing before me before landing safely on the wet inflatable bag,” said Rory, an 11-year-old Scout from Woking, reflecting the adrenaline rush of the experience.
The weekend was packed with excitement, offering a variety of challenges such as a gladiator inflatable, Jacob’s Ladder, crate stacking, and zipline rides. For those preferring ground-level fun, activities like air rifle shooting, archery, tomahawk throwing, and fencing kept spirits high.
Evenings were filled with community bonding, featuring a film night and a lively campfire on Friday, followed by a silent disco and nighttime zipline rides on Saturday. “I liked all the activities because they were fun to do and made us work together as a team,” said James, another 11-year-old Scout from Pyford.
Frost Camp plays a crucial role in instilling #SkillsForLife in young people, providing opportunities and challenges that many local groups cannot offer. The event’s growth over the years illustrates its importance in fostering skills, confidence, and camaraderie among youth.
As Frost Camp wraps up its celebratory weekend, organizers and participants are already looking forward to next year’s events, eager to build on this year’s success. Stay tuned for future updates as the Scouts and Guides continue to inspire and empower young people across the region.
