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The River Reader

Elmer's got some competition... - A trip to Ganges Subcamp

5:19 PM on Tuesday 30th July 2024
By: Kaitlyn Lafferty
A purple elephant standing outside Ganges subcamp hub.
Photo by Ian Guy

Namaste, let's travel today to India, not only home to one of the Girl Guide world centres - Sangam - but also home to the Ganges subcamp!

When you first notice this subcamp all you can see is the wonderful arch way leading you into a subcamp full of beauty. Steve, the subcamp leader, said “it looks lovely at night when all the lights are lit up" but even during the day, the arch is lit up with colour.

But of course, Steve isn't the only member of staff down at Ganges subcamp, as Steve said, “this is the best team, full of friendship and happiness”.

Steve showed me around their hub and what they had to offer. Inside, the team have set up a comfy area “for the young people to relax” along with an all-different activity where the kids can get to know each other. And did you ever think there would be a stage in your subcamp? Well at Ganges they have one!

Inside the Ganges subcamp hub - there are colourful drapes hanging from the ceiling
Photo by Ian Guy

As we travel down the Ganges River, we come across a few of international friends from Ukraine, Japan, Canada, Finland, Ireland and Kenya. I spoke to Annie, one of the contingent leaders from Kenya, who thought “the subcamp is very beautiful and supportive”. She's “supper happy” with the subcamp and everyone who is helping them have an amazing Jamboree and loves “the organisation and support from the international team”, thanking them for all the help along the way. The kids are “super happy and are having a lot of fun” - we are all glad to hear that the international contingents are having a great time.

A colourful gateway on Ganges subcamp.
Photo by Ian Guy

I spoke to Alice and Zoe from Hertfordshire Guides, who are loving being on the Ganges subcamp. Both girls find the subcamp “quite cool, really decorative and different”.  They love getting to know new people, especially from abroad “it is really nice to meet people from different countries.”  “it’s cool to see that every camp is different." The girls also love seeing all the different arch ways when they walk around camp, it is “very beautiful.”  They both said that “all the leaders are really nice” especially their leader who crocheted decorations for the arch. “We love the music”, did you know Steve and the team put songs on to walk to their activities? Fantastic!