Ardennes Adventure
Summary
This is a week-long activity trip organised by the County Adventurous Activity Teams specifically for the Explorer Scout Section. Explorer Scouts will choose three activities out of five on offer, and spend two days on each activity – with a “day off” in the middle of the week. Some events will be in the form of a journey away from base.
What's happening this year?
We will travel by minibus and car, leaving Lancashire early evening on Friday 1st June and arriving in Mont-
Godinne in time for breakfast. Saturday will be spent preparing our camp for the week, recovering from the
journey, buying our food from local supermarkets. Sunday to Saturday will be the three adventure phases finished off with a wide game on the Saturday evening with local Scouts. Our journey home will start after breakfast on the Sunday morning with arrival back in Lancashire planned for early evening on Sunday 10th June.
Visit the Ardennes 2012 page here.
Who is it for?
The tripis only for Explorer Scouts, so if you're not in the Explorer Scout Age range (14-17) then you can't come I'm afraid!
Where is it?
The event will take place in the Ardennes region of southern Belgium, midway between Bruxelles (the capital city of Belgium) and Luxembourg. The Adventure will be based in the pretty village of Mont-Godinne in a property that belongs to the Belgian Catholic Scouting Association.
Activities
You will be asked to select three out of the following five activities. Two consecutive days will be spent on each. The exact “mix” will depend upon numbers participating.
The activity days are Sunday/Monday, Tuesday/Wednesday, Friday/Saturday. Thursday is a “Rest Day” (but see below!). The following activities are planned – subject to finalisation and flexing “on the day” due to weather...
Canadian Canoeing
From a drop off in HOUYET, the canoeists will canoe down the River Lesse, through a few rapids, to an overnight camp just before its confluence with the River Meuse. The following day we continue into the Meuse, one of the major rivers of Western Europe, possibly in expedition kayaks. After portaging around two barrages, we will arrive at a take-out point near Yvoir, only 20 minutes from our base.
Mountain Biking
A wide ranging circuit is planned: from country lanes to forest trails…… with a bit of local culture in the city of Dinant and visiting some war graves. If possible the route will be planned to meet up for an overnight camp with the canoeists where we will find our tents & other kit.
Rock Climbing
Two different days are possible, dependent upon experience and weather. The first being predominantly single-pitch climbing at a place called Mozet – 30 minutes NE of our base. The second day we will go to an area 20 minutes to the East called Dave (!) for some multi-pitch climbing.
Caving
Again, two different days are possible. On the first day we have an early start to travel to Liège to visit a fairly long cave, La Grotte St Anne. Options for another day include more “sporting” caves closer to our base: Trou d’Eglise and Trou d’Haquin. There may be opportunities in the evenings, and the show caves in the area are quite spectacular and are always worth a visit either on a caving day, or on the “rest” day.
Hiking Expeditions
Two days away from base... Platinum Award/DofE Bronze standard. Plan your own route in the comfort of home. We will probably specify the campsite. Training expeditions and preparation requirements must also be met before the event. You must be registered with the DofE scheme for the expedition to qualify. Three-day silver expeditions can be accommodated using the “rest” day.
Pre-Event Training
We would wish to see that every participant has experienced his or her chosen activities prior to departure. For
instance, it would be very wrong for somebody to experience caving for the first time on the event, only to find
that you’re allergic to dark damp narrow holes in the ground... or that you can only paddle on the left hand
side!!!!
So there is usually a traiing weekend in April, based at Great Tower Scout Activity Centre in the Lakes, to get the Group together, to meet the activity leaders and to participate in half day sessions in each of your chosen activities... and to receive final briefings for the event. The weekend will be on the same camping/self catering basis that we will operate in the Ardennes….. a small additional charge will be made to cover camp fees and hiring specialist gear. Parents are invited to join the Friday night briefing which kicks off the weekend.
Activity Leaders
There will be about twelve specialist Activity Leaders with us drawn from the County Teams – most multidisciplined.
All will be fully authorised by the Scout Association to instruct and lead on their activity, and most will
have relevant National Governing Body training and qualifications. All are First Aid qualified. A Leader will have
special responsibilities for organising evening activities when at Base.
Activity Equipment
You will need to supply your basic personal equipment (boots, rucsacs, etc) for which a kit list will be provided.
All specialist activity gear will be supplied (e.g. canoes, life jackets, climbing helmets, harnesses, caving suits,
mountain bikes, etc.). Sizes will be requested nearer the time.
White Water on the River Lesse
"Rest" Day
This is a bit of a misnomer! We don’t DO “rest”! On the Thursday you will be offered various alternative activities. Options include spending time in the local medieval town of Namur, where there is a swimming pool and an excellent climbing wall, a day in the capital city of Bruxelles (45mins by train), a visit to the European Space Centre (1 hr down the E411) or, for those who haven’t chosen caving a visit one of the stunning local show caves. Dossing in yer pit in camp will NOT be an alternative!!!!!! As there will be a free choice for these rest day activities, any costs incurred must be borne personally.
Accommodation
Participants will be self-sufficient as regards camping (personal gear, tents, stoves, etc). A continental breakfast will be provided each day to enable activities to get off to prompt starts. But part of the international experience will be to buy and cater for yourselves for lunch and for your evening meal. You should budget an absolute maximum of £5 per day for this. Much less if you pair up!
Cost
The cost of the event is expected to be around £295.00 (exact cost to be confirmed) . This includes travel to and from Mont-Godinne in Belgium, internal transport to/from the activities, eight nights’ camp fees and breakfasts at the Mont-Godinne Scout Centre, all specialist activity equipment and instructors/leaders, travel and activity insurance through the Scout Association, a souvenir event polo shirt and an allowance for contingency. Not included are lunches and evening meals, which are on a self catered basis, snacks during the journeys, rest day trips out and spending monies.
Useful Info
Take a look on http://www.courriere.be the Courrière International Scout Centre website