Every year Explorer Scouts attend a week conservation camp at Epping Forrest, called Project.

The camp allows the Explorers to work towards their Environment badge, and also have the chance to conserve the Environment.

It is also for them to meet people from all over the country with many explorer groups attending the camp, it is a chance to make new friends and links.

Project 816
At the end of August last year, a party from West Leeds District again headed south to take part in the annual Scout Conservation Project at Epping Forest. With the age range lowered to 13½, Scouts from the 8th New Farnley, 17th St Bart’s and 1st Pudsey were able to take up the challenge, which with the addition of our Explorers and Leaders made the party up to 15.

This under canvas annual camp is essentially a week of hard work in the open, organised evening activities to keep everyone on the move, a day out for a change, and central cooking to keep the spirits up. With around 75 on camp from all parts of the country and the Environmental Award badge at stake, the work started with enthusiasm.

Up to their knees in water the “Scouts” cleared out “Cuckoo Pit Pond” and completed a path-way around the pond edge, and then on to another pond which they created in a nature area at Fairmead Campsite, complete with itsown bridge. On dry land they felled trees to open up a bridleway and spent hours removing thick secondary growth from around some 200 year old trees.

The day out at Gilwell Park was perhaps a change but certainly not relaxing with activities that included archery, shooting, crate climbing, a rotating climbing wall and a trampoline. After all that you would expect that most would have had enough, but not so. Many have already applied to be part of the Epping Forest Conservation Project next year.

Project is as much about FUN as it is work, so if you are interested and are 13 or over, then get in touch with Janet Reid by clicking here. Or, you can visit the Project Website, at www.explorersproject.org.uk, theres loads of info and photos from previous Projects there aswell!