Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we had heavy rain for most of the weekend. A big THANK YOU to all of the parents who stayed to help get the tents set up on Friday night despite the rain and who came on Sunday morning to help get everything packed away.
Friday night was busy with everyone arriving, getting tents set up and equipment put away. We reviewed camp rules and talked about what to do in the event of an emergency. The girls were then sorted into their Houses and given their House scarf to be worn all weekend. We had a sing-song, snack and then a trip to the washrooms and bed.
Saturday started off with breakfast and patrol duties. We then headed over to an empty group site for our challenge event. The girls were told that Professor Dumbledore had fallen victim to a powerful spell and the only way to wake him was to gather the items needed to make a powerful potion. To gather these items, each House had to undertake a series of challenges:
1. Find the names of three mini-fantastic beasts (use field guides to identify three bugs)
2. Gather some unicorn hair (obstacle course)
3. Get a Common Welsh Dragon Egg (follow a string trail blindfolded and then get past a troll)
4. Mix a potion (under a left-handed curse that made their right hands useless, cut up a lemon and mix water, drink mix, food colouring and lemon)
Everyone had fun doing this! After using the potion to revive Professor Dumbledore, we played Quidditch (Muggle version).
We then went back to the site to make lunch. After lunch, we were all ready for some quiet time. Some girls lay down, others read or talked quietly for nearly the full hour. In the afternoon, the 3rd year Guides were split into 2 groups. One group planned the campfire for Saturday night, while the other group planned Guide's Own for Sunday morning.
Following quiet time, it was time for a Transfiguration lesson (crafts) - which was well-timed as it began to rain heavily part-way through! We made magic wands, golden snitches, mini broomsticks and dragon eggs.
We paused for a snack, and then it was time for our next lesson - Potions, where we made the ever-popular Slime!
Each girl was then given her very own personal potions kit containing a portable cauldren (plastic container with lid) beozar (stone), magic crystals (blue & clear gems), and magic powders (coloured glitter layered in tiny bottles). The girls also received 'textbooks' for the planned subjects - Transfiguration, Potions, Muggle Studies (camp skills) and Astronomy.
Supper and patrol duties followed, as well as more planning for campfire and Guide's Own. The girls had lots of free time to talk, play, read, etc. and later on we had a sing-song campfire while the rain continued.
Sunday morning was frantic as usual with breakfast, packing and cleaning. Once everything was packed up and most of the cleaning done, the second group of 3rd year Guides led Guide's Own and then it was time to go home!
Everyone had a good time despite the rain and we were very thankful for the on-site pavillion and the quality of our tents, which remained dry.
