Kon’nichiwa, did you hear that interesting music last night, odd right? Well, that was our Scottish friends down in the Shinano subcamp!
Last night the 121st Glasgow Scout Group taught the Shinano subcamp a traditional ‘Ceilidh’ dance. I spoke with Tony, Cupcake and Porridge, the organisers of the night, who said, “the dance is our way of saying thanks. All lads learn the dance in school sport” - what a great way to pass the tradition down to younger generations and for them to then participate in all holiday events. As Tony, Cupcake and Porridge teach all the kids each dance you can see their faces light up, they “feel proud” and “love being Scottish.” The Scout Group said, “No Scotland, no party” “we bring the joy and the party” and they certainly did! “Even though at the start they are unsure about it, but at the end it was amazing” it was a highlight of my night as it was great to see all the kids from all different countries come together and participate in a cultural dance. I spoke with some of the UK Scouts from 1st Stanstead: Abby, Josh, Jake and Harry. They said “it was great to learn about their culture and celebrate it.” “It was a really good experience” and they said that “they will be doing it when they get home” and got inspired to run a “cultural dance night at our unit.”
If that this night sounded good, then imagine what the subcamp would be like during the day. I spoke with Stuart who is on the subcamp team. He said, “we always try to make sure that we are providing a fun atmosphere for the young people” and they certainly have. In the subcamp they “always have the music playing on the stage” that’s right a stage, the stage even has a Torii gate, which is a traditional temple gate in Japan. Next to the stage they have a cherry blossom tree painting, where young people all get to add their own cherry blossoms.
As you walk around the subcamp, you can see the variety of arches leading into the camps, there are 5 different countries in this subcamp: the UK, Australia, Ireland, Germany and the Neverlands. The 121st Glasgow Scottish Scout group have an interactive arch where you can sign your name and where you are from! So, make sure you head over there to sign their arch. “It’s really cool how everyone’s arches are unique and that they have all taken part” there are certainly a wide variety of arches all unique to their groups, it is great to see everyone joining in and decorating their subcamps!
Lola and Nat from South Australia are loving being on the Shinano subcamps and think that “it is the best sup camp because all the Aussies are on it!” they “love that everyone is from different places” also “it’s the best subcamp because our arch way is fantastic!” I also got some insider information that none knows, each day Shinano subcamp get a word of the day and Nat’s “favourite word of the day is fantastic." The Australian Girls are camping with the Braintree Girl Guides and “thank them for being very friendly, nice and accommodating.” Eliza, Elsie and Eleanor-Mae from Braintree say “it’s been very fun camping with the girls” and “seeing that they work very well as a team.”
“I love that there are all different countries and around us we can all play sports together.” – Abby 1st Stanstead. By the sounds of things, everyone is loving the “different cultures” on the subcamp and getting to know each other through the different activities the Shinano subcamp team put on!
