We were proud to celebrate our centenary in 2008. As part of the celebrations, in May of that year, we held our first family camp. The below was written at the time to describe what we did!

The Group has spent the weekend at Kibblestone celebrating its centenary by holding a family camp.
We arrived at the camp on the Friday evening. The Leaders, parents, Beavers, Cubs & Scouts got themselves set up for the weekend and we were ready to start. At the opening ceremony, the Leaders introduced themselves and outlined the packed programme for the weekend. All the parents and guests were then given their own necker with our centenary badge on it.
As this was the first time many of the parents had been to Kibblestone, we went for a walk around the site. After getting back to our site, it was time to start a wide game. This was for everyone on camp, including the parents! What everyone did not realise was that it was a two part wide game and part two was for the following evening! Supper was then served and then it was time for bed.

Saturday morning came around and breakfast was served for over sixty people. After everyone had been fed, we had flag break. The days activities then began. Archery, air rifle shooting, water rockets, rock climbing, abseiling and using the Beaver Assault Course were among the activities completed by the Beavers, Cubs, Scout and their parents!

A break in activities and a rest came at lunch time and then we started again. The Scouts made chariots for the following day’s races and the Beavers and Cubs made helmets and shields. Everyone then got together in their families to complete a scavenger hunt.

After tea came a quiz designed for 10 – 12 year olds which challenged some of the parents. This was followed by part two of the wide game and then the traditional campfire. We then had a surprise from one of the parents who gave a display of juggling with fire! An unusual end to the evening before supper.

Sunday morning came round quickly and after breakfast and flag break we changed the pace of the camp and held our Scout’s Own. We had several special guests including the Church’s vicar who led the Scout’s Own, Newcastle District’s Chairman and several prominent ex members of the Group. As part of the Scout’s Own our newest member, one of the Beavers, was invested.

After the quiet of the Scout’s Own came the chariot races!

During lunch our birthday cakes were cut and then the close of camp came quickly.

Everyone had an extremely enjoyable time and went home happy but tired!

As the camp was a celebration of 100 years of Scouting in Porthill, we made it free for all who came. This was made possible, in part, by a grant from our County Councillor Sandra Hambelton.

We enjoyed the camp so much, we did family camps in 2010, 2013, 2015 & 2017. We were supposed to have another one in 2020!