Isle Of Wight Venture 1998

Venture Report

Easter 1998 - a superb success - a gathering of 160 Venture Scouts from around the country, come to renew old friendships, some to make new friends made for a weekend of fun and frolics.

This the 4th annual Isle Of Wight Venture evolved from 1st Shanklin experience at European Venture - they wanted to continue the friendships and fun they had experienced in 1994. The 1st Isle Of Wight Venture saw many of these reuniting together with Helen Strigner, the leader from Black Site.

This years camp continued with many new faces but still some of the originals, some of whom are now either leaders themselves or who have joined the Fellowship. Isle Of Wight Venture ‘98 theme was ‘The Smile Of Wight’ as shown in the logo of a Mr Man ‘Mr Happy’.

A brief opening ceremony was held where the units presented their flag and the Island Commissioner Paul Rock welcomed them all.

The days were filled with activities, Friday saw Judo, Wight Waters and Archery, Saturday Aerobics, Clay Pigeon Shooting and Abseiling, Sunday 5-a-side competition a Bouncy Castle and Head Hunters, a laser shooting competition to capture the enemies flag in the woods. Despite the atrocious weather conditions throughout the country, the weather on the Island was good enough for all of the activities to continue as arranged.

A total of 160 Ventures from 20 Units from as far afield as Cheshire, Merseyside, Birmingham, Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire and Kent, not forgetting Isle Of Wight Venture Units spent four nights under canvas. The first two night entertainment’s were disco’s, the third night was Race Night combined with games and at the end of the evening was an auction with prizes, and the final night rounded off with a Karaoke. Every evening was rounded off with a camp fire which many people stayed up until daylight.

At the closing ceremony awards were presented to the characters of the camp and with no prompting from our ADC Cedric Hart, the hall erupted for the camp to continue next year, as we paused to take a breath - the plans for the fifth 1999 camp were already forming.