The crafts were set up so that groups could come as they finished setting up and work through them in any order. We made a Wand, Lightning Bolt Bookmark, and Owl Letter Holder.
Before the end of the evening, we had a change to go over Camp Rules and Safety Information, before enjoying our Snack (Rice Krispie squares and chocolate milk) and then getting ready for bed and settled for the night.
For the weekend, the Guides and Guiders are split up into a number of different Patrols. Guiders generally don't have any of their own Guides in their Patrol, and the Guides only have 1-2 other Guides from their own Unit. This means everyone has a great chance to make new friends!
Saturday Breakfast was waffles with berries and whipped cream, cereal and juice. After we had eaten and washed our own dishes, it was time to do our Patrol Duty for the day. Duties include planning Sunday's opening, Guides' Own, and Campfire, cleaning the lats, wiping down tables, filling dish basins, cleaning the LDU screen, etc.
Our first activity was for everyone to get their Wand License signed by Albus Dumbledore so that they would be able to use their wand for the various sessions throughout the weekend.
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A snack of watermelon, and then it was time to head to our first session, Care of Magical Creatures. Here, we found out that:
Hagrid has been called away to Romania to care for his dragon, Norbert, and now all of his magical creatures have disappeared! Dumbledore contacted the Ministry of Magic and found out that the creatures have been trapped in photographs by Voldemort!
Our mission was to find the photographs and use the information each creature has to solve the first puzzle. Once all the creatures were found, we had a batch of letters that were used to find a spell (Alohamora). The spell was used to determine the number code for a locked box, which contained two more locked boxes and some envelopes. By solving a 'Who Am I?' puzzle, the right envelope was chosen and the small box opened to reveal another clue (Black). This clue was used to solve the combination to the final box, which contained a wand. The wand was used to cast the Redicio spell to release the creatures from the photographs! |
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Our second station was Charms, where we learned about different spells and proper wand movements.The Guides were also paired up and had to create a new spell to teach the rest of the group. We then played a game where the Chamber of Secrets had been breached and two monsters were on the loose! If a monster caught you, you were petrified (frozen) and had stand with your arms stretched straight up in the air. To be unpetrified, another player must stand in front of you and sweep their wand down in the air from your head to your stomach.
After finishing these two sessions, it was time to break for Lunch, which was sandwiches, fruit, veggies and a colourful potion to drink (dry ice with food colouring, Sprite poured over it).
The afternoon saw us heading to Herbology, where we potted Mandrakes. To make the screaming part of the mandrake, a hole is punched in a plastic bottle cap with a needle and a string put through it and fed out the hole in the bottom of the clay pot. When the string is wet, and you pull your fingers down it, it makes a squealing noise - for better effects, wear a plastic glove! The mandrakes themselves are made by filling a knee high stocking with a bit of grass seed and gravel (making a grass head). Then orange raffia is tied around the knot in the stocking and the whole thing place din the pot. If watered and cared for, the mandrake will sprout grass like a chia pet!
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Our final session of the day was Potions, where we had a demonstration of Regenerating Snakeskin and created Hues of Effervescence.To Regenerate Snakeskin, powdered basilisk skin (powdered sugar) and horn of bicorn (baking soda) were mixed together, packed into a tiny cauldron (medicine cup) and inverted into a glass dish. Before the cup was removed, dragon drool (isopropal alcohol) was poured in. The cup was removed and the drool lit on fire. As it burnt, the snake skin was regenerated! To create Hues of Effervescence, each Guide was given 6 tiny cauldrons (medicine cups) and placed a small amount of horn of bicorn (baking soda) in the bottom of each one. A few drops of food colouring were then added to create the colours of the rainbow. Vinegar was then squirted into the cups in a line creating a very messy rainbow!
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Everyone then had some free time to rest, read, spend time with friends, and finish up crafts until supper time. Supper was tacos-in-a-bag, rice and pickles, with Sorting Hat Cupcakes for dessert.
Evening Program was a round-robin of 5 different activities:
- Pin the Scar on Harry
- Ministry of Magic Mailboxes - Guides were divided into teams and had to launch paper airplanes through labelled holes - the smaller the hole, the more points scored - but if a plane went through the other teams mailboxes, they would get the points!
- Quidditch - Played with balloons, where each team tried to get their 5 balloons through the other teams goalposts without them touching the ground.
- Hermione's Closet - Relay race to dress up (skirt, shirt, tie, cape) and then return everything to the line for the next player.
- Ravenclaw Bingo - Harry Potter-themed bingo
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The day ended with a Campfire, snack and bed!
On Sunday morning, we began packing as as we got up, then enjoyed a breakfast of cereal, fruit and leftovers before returning to our site to pack up the tents and remaining gear. Camp ended with a Guide's Own in the Reflection Circle. We had a great time and plan to go back to Tekarama in the future!
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