Larch Hill, 31st July to 10th August 2006

Our International Deaf Camp was very successful last which our 191st teams work hard to make it a happening for all Deaf scouters and leaders.

Deaf Scout’s Camp, was possibly the largest Event in Ireland for first time for the Deaf community. The camp is aimed primarily for Deaf scouts, guides, and scouters ages from ten to twenty years. It is ten actions – packed days of new challenges and new friends dated from 31^st July to 10^th August 2006 at Larch Hill International Campsite, Ireland last.

Herein the report below

The 191 st Dublin Deaf Scout Group International team began working on the project some three years previously. The aim of this camp was to bring together Deaf Scouts and Leaders from as many countries as possible to exchange ideas on games, programmes, culture and of course to have the craic (fun). Six countries, Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Holland, Ireland and Switzerland attended the camp. The visitors were met at Dublin airport and brought to the campsite by mini bus. Europe at the time was very warm with temperatures, for example, in Prague, reaching over 35 0 whilst in Ireland it was in the low twenties. We explained that Ireland is a fully air-conditioned country nobody accepted that.

Scouting Ireland s Chief Scout, Mr. Martin Burbridge, officially opened the International Deaf Scout camp on Monday 31 st July at the assembly area of our National Campsite, Larch Hill, County Dublin. He encouraged everyone to have an enjoyable camp, have great fun and most importantly to make as many new friends as possible. His speech was interpreted into Irish Sign Language (ISL), International sign language and then into the sign languages of Holland, Belgium, Great Britain, Czech and Switzerland. We think this speech translated into different sign language is a first for Scouting, unless you know better. Each participating country introduced themselves and told us about their Deaf Scout Group. The Chief Scout was presented with a Dublin crystal vase as a memento of this special Scouting event. Everyone adjourned to the marquee for refreshments and this gave the Chief Scout a chance to meet the scouts and leaders and have a chat. Commemorative tee shirts and caps were given to all the participants

A large marquee was hired to serve as a community meeting area and we borrowed camping equipment from several Scout Groups in the Dublin area. The Irish Deaf Scouts arrived at the site two days earlier and worked really hard to get all the patrol, leaders, and mess tents erected so everything would be ready before the scouts from abroad arrived. They also built various pioneering gadgets including a gateway, altar fires and flag poles. We desperately tried to fill a small paddling pool with water but it kept spilling out due to being on a slope. Larch Hill didn’t get its name for being flat

All off site activities began at 1000. A 53 seat coach and an 18 seat mini bus met our transport requirements. The breakfast was community based. A typical Irish breakfast consisting of fried eggs, bacon, and sausages etc, known as a fry didn’t appeal to the scouts (including the Irish) who preferred bread and jam, corn flakes, rice krispies and other cereals. The problem of lunch was overcome when each scout made their own sandwiches before setting off. Tables were laid out with bread, butter, meats, cheeses, salads, eggs, fruit and the essential cheese and onion flavoured crisps and the scouts helped themselves. The leaders brought along the drinks in 25 litre containers

The programme consisted of swimming and great fun at the National aquatic centre with water slides and tidal waves

Trip to Dublin zoo

Visit to a Viking village recreated to show life in Dublin 1200 years ago

Canoeing in the beautiful Blessington lakes

Hiking around the historical area of Glendalough and Powerscourt waterfall,

A trip to the GAA museum, the home of Irish football and hurling where everyone had a go at the highly skilled game of hurling

A tour Kilmainham gaol where many of the Irish rebels were executed in 1916. The scouts tried out the cells and some cringed at the very realistic displays.

Thanks to the Malahide Sea Scout group we spend one evening trying our hand at sailing and canoeing.

On the campsite the scouts enjoyed archery, rock climbing, abseiling, bouncing castles, gladiators and water slides.

The evening campfires proved very popular. Deaf scouts don’t involve themselves with campfire singing but with mime, drama, sketches and exchanges of jokes.

Each group took it in turn to cook their national dish and shared it with everyone. The Belgium dish consisted mainly of chips (French fries) was very popular with everyone.

All the leaders had a meeting on the last evening to exchange views on the camp. In order for the scouts to meet each other again it was suggested that the camp should be held every two or three years. It was hoped that the present scouts might become leaders in the years to come and that way there would be sufficient Deaf Leaders to provide the scout method for Deaf children in the future. The closing ceremony was held around the main campfire in Larch Hill. Participants were presented with a certificate of attendance. Badges and other scouting items were, as usual at an international event, swapped.

Czech Republic will possibly host the 2 nd International Deaf Scout Camp in two years time.

Sixty four participants took part into the ten days events, the list of countries below were...