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28th/30th September 2000 - Back to Basic Camp at Dorney
We got there at 7pm when it was just starting to get dark. We had trouble setting up our hike tents and then the rain came down. The next morning we were woken by our patrol leaders who told us that we wouldn’t eat unless we got up NOW ! We laid in for 10 minutes and then found that they hadn’t even lit the fires. We had to cook on charcoal, which we hadn’t done before, it wasn't easy. We continued the day with training exercises. Some patrols went for a hike. In the evening Sue Clarksons Thailand team leaders cooked us a good meal of Thai food - no it wasn't cow-pat!
Then retired for bed. As we’d all got to know one-another quite well by now - we had quite a lot of laughs - and not much sleep !
Sunday came with more rain, and lots of training exercises. We had to move our tents and pitch them in a square measuring 20 x 18 - which is the area we'll have in Thailand. It was a bit difficult because the tents were wet, but we made it. It was a very enjoyable weekend.
At the end, when our parents arrived Sue Clarkson told us how their own fund raising was going and showed us the things they have for sale. The Badges, some sweatshirts, t-shirts, pants and knickers as well as Christmas cards. If anyone wants any of these, please contact us for details. (report by Lee)


August 2000 - Meeting the Berkshire Group
We were all contacting one another by e-mail and checking out the jamboree web sites but hadn’t actually got together. So, Sue Clarkson, our unit leader, arranged for us all to meet. There are 36 Scouts in our Unit from all over Berkshire.
We had a days meeting in Reading where we were put into our new patrols. Philip was made a PL. Oliver and Lee are in the same patrol. Chris and Luke are in different patrols. We did lots of activities to help get to know one another. We're all getting along really well and the girls aren't so bossy now. We also had a competition to design the unit badge. These badges are for sale at £2.50 each from the Berkshire Unit, as we have to raise money for them as well as ourselves.
During the summer holidays, some of the patrols met up and talked about our fund raising to try and help one-another with ideas. We're all talking about Thailand and the activities we'll be doing. We won't go hungry because we know how to ask for rice - it sounds like you ask for some "cow-pat". (report by Lee)


June 2000 - Meeting the others from Maidenhead
13 Scouts were originally selected from Maidenhead. Jane Taylor organised a meeting for all of us to meet with all our parents. We discovered that we already knew some of the other Scouts from joint activities we have had we other groups. We had our photograph taken by the Maidenhead Advertiser. Jane Taylor outlined the fund raising we'd need to do and told us that the Maidenhead District would be able to pay £500 to every Scout towards the total cost of £2,600 each. This includes paying for 3 patrols from a Commonwealth Country who are unable to make any payments. Also we will subsidize sending groups of Scouts from poorer countries. (report by Lee)