This Spring bank holiday we returned to the much loved Llandudno for our annual Spring Camp, which involved a number of new activities over previous camps in the town.

Due to a small amount of double-booking at the Church where we held the camp, we finished two days earlier than in previous years, but the acitivity that was forfitted was Ten Pin Bolwing; the camp took place from Saturday 25^th till Wednesday 29^th May.

The events of camp

Saturday

We departed the United Church in Lye fairly early on the Saturday morning. During the trip to Llandudno we stopped off at Corwen as we do each year; later we arrived in Llandudno shortly after midday.

After unpacking and setting up, the Boys spent a good proportion of the afternoon playing on the laptops and games consoles which had been set up in the games room (not to mention the pool and air hockey tables).

Shortly before 5pm we headed out to the Llandudno seafront and pier. On the way we noticed a poster stating that an airshow had been taking place in the town in the day; unfortunately we'd missed the main airshow but the various Armed Forces still had their stalls open, giving the Boys a chance to try their hands with various kit. Thankfully we were in time to witness a display by the Royal Air Force's Falcons Parachute Display team - you can see a video we recorded (on a phone camera) embedded below.

Afterwards we returned to the Church for dinner, after we again headed back out for the Boys to visit the amusement arcades on the pier. Finally in the evening we had our first night's Devotions, which was looking at men in watery situations that had either listened to or tried to ignore God (e.g. Noah and the Ark versus Jonah and the Whale).

The weather for Saturday had been great, with sunshine all day.

Sunday

We began the Sunday with the Boys and Staff joining the worship at one of Gloddaeth United Church's morning services. The photos of the Boys in Uniform were taken outside the Church after the service.

In the early afternoon we headed to the John Nike Leisuresport Centre on the Great Orme. There the Boys went down the dry ski slope on sno-tubes and later down the 750m toboggan run.

Afterwards we headed up the other side of the Great Orme. Some of the Boys had a go at making the Boys' Brigade anchor using stones/rocks on the hillside (something similar was last attempted during Spring Camp 2007).

The Boys again spent a good proportion of the evening in the games room. The weather on Sunday had again been great with sunshine all day.

Monday

The weather took a turn for the wet and windy on Monday. We headed off early in the morning to the Plas y Brenin mountain sports centre in Capel Curig, where most of the Boys (save three of the Juniors) spent the day. In the morning there was indoor rock climbing and abseiling.

In the afternoon we ventured into the wet outdoors to get even more wet on Canadian-style two/three man canoes on the Llynnau Mymbyr lakes. Due to the windy weather we tied the canoes together into rafts comprised of two canoes each. After an initial introduction the canoeing involved various games and a race, with the two rafts being manned by our Boys and Staff as well as a family using the canoes on the same day.

Once we returned back to the Church, after some time in the games rooms most of us were looking forward to a well-deserved sleep.

Tuesday

We had a more relaxed start on Tuesday morning, helped along with some sunny weather. We headed to Anglesey where we rode on a 'Rib Ride' speedboat toward Puffin Island and the nearby lighthouse.

On the island and surrounding water the Boys saw many different types of bird as well as some seals.

Later in the afternoon we headed to the Llandudno swimming baths for an hour or so before heading back to the Church. That evening the Boys again spent a good proportion of time in the games room.

Wednesday

We were of course heading home on Wednesday, but we weren't to miss out on an oppurtunity for another activity on the way home. So we headed back via Porthmadog, where were rode quad bikes are the nearby Madog Quads.

We rode in two groups, with the younger Boys in the first hour and the older in the second. For those of us waiting for our tun, a pair of dogs (Collies, quite possibly Welsh Sheepdogs) belonging to one of the centre's staff provided entertaiment.

Afterwards we headed home, leaving the Sunny weather of Wales for what was a wet West Midlands at the time.

Photos

Graham's photos

Click the play button below to see a slideshow of photos taken by Graham Knight.

You can also manually view the set, by clicking here.

Rob's photos

Click the play button below to see a slideshow of photos taken by myself (Rob Parker).

You can also manually view the set, by clicking here.