Page updated : 30.07.10 21.38 UK time
For Emergency Contact with contingent only:
01353 861303 or 07704 800473 (Diane Philbey)
Brex campsite office: Tel: +49 02 622 / 82 658 (not 24hours)
Germany is one hour ahead of UK Time (9 pm UK = 10 pm Germany)
Rhineland Adventure 2010 [24th July to 4th August]
Ely Scout District's contingent of Scouts & Explorer Scouts has started its journey to
Friday 30th July 21.35 UK time
The weather is much brighter today and the sun is out. We were up early to visit the lovely castle Eltz which was enjoyed by everyone. The history of the castle was fascinating and the boys particularly enjoyed looking at the armour and weapon displays. Now travelling to Bernkastell Kuse for town trail and lunch.Arrived Bernkastell Kues at 2pm (German time) for lunch and then Scouts & Explorers off to get souvenirs. Very picturesque town in wine growing region in Mosel valley.Mariana texts: Today we went to a beautiful castle. It was very interesting to see the thousand year old artifacts that were once used by quite important people long ago. It was really fun.Thursday 29th July (09.45 UK time)
Today the Scouts are on a coach trip to Vulkan Park (educational site). There will be an activity in the evening linking with other international Scouts on the site. More information later.Typical wet start to the day, on the coach to Vulcano park at Andernach. Spent an hour in the educational centre with information about volcano geysers then on a boat ride along the Rhine to see the tallest cold water geyser. Scouts doing Titanic photo poses from the railings of the boats top deck!Wednesday 28th July
Today the Scouts are having an on-site pioneering and Scoutcraft day followed by an activity in the evening.Chloe B texted to say: The weather has been brilliant today. Rain all morning whilst we were going ape treetop style, it was great fun but scary. Hot dogs and soup for lunch then a walk in the woods.Tuesday 27th July (17.55 UK, 18.55 German time)
Last night when the contingent arrived at Brex it was to find that the advance party of Explorers and Leaders had worked throughout the day to pitch 35 tents plus 2 large party tents around heavy rain. They also found time to shop and prepare a late meal for the main party, what wonderful people.Today Tuesday a late breakfast was followed by a surprise tent inspection. The Scouts/Explorers then explored the 3km site.This afternoon they walked the 3km into Sayn village to explore with 4 Leaders. The weather is good and the suntan lotion had to make an appearance!Monday 26th July (19.33 UK, 20.33 German time)
08.55 UK time: Main party arrived safely at Dover, waiting to board 09.55 Sea France Ferry.
11.45 UK time: Main party depart Calais after a very smooth journey.13.55 UK time: Making good progress, just past Brussels, stopping for a break in an hour. 291km to go!16.30 UK time: Now in Germany, at Aachen with 150km to Brex, weather sunny. 19.20 UK time (20.20 German time): Arrived safely in Brex, unloaded and settling in, rain possibly on the way. Managed to just keep within the drivers time limit! Telephone tree for main party activated.Sunday 25th July (18.30 UK, 19.30 in Germany)
08.10 UK time: Explorer contingent arrived safely in Cologne.
10.25 UK time: Advance party of Leaders arrived safely in Calais.
13.55 UK time: Explorers have just left Cologne for Koblenz.
15.50 UK time: Explorers have arrived safely at Sayn and are awaiting leader team who are about one hour away from Brex.
18.30 UK time : 19.30 in Germany - Explorers and advance party of leaders all safely arrived at Brexbachtal. Telephone tree (for Explorers) activated.
No further updates tonight.
Saturday 24th July
20.00 UK Time: Rob Lyon, Regional Commissioner, has confirmed to me that our 16+ Group (of 13) Explorers have successfully checked in - are on the coach awaiting departure from London Victoria Coach Station to Koln (Cologne). Rob commented that he thought they seemed to be a very capable group. Thanks Rob, Martyn & David for taking time out to make a detour to London Victoria Coach station. David, Contingent Leader.
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4 contingent leaders visited Germany between 22-24 January to explore the local area and firm up plans for the summer expedition during which the main contingent of scouts & explorers scouts are expected to have the chance to:
Visit the historic town of BernKastle-Kues Visit the traditional Berg Eltz, overlooking the Mosel river
Visit volcano park, (seems topical for some reason) near Koblenz and take a boat trip to the Geyser.
Take part in joint activities with scouts from a wide range of European & Scandinavian countries, make new friends and learn about other cultures. Kletterwald tree top trail
Work towards gaining their Global Challenge & International group Awards. Visit Phantasialand Theme Park
Visit the historic town of BernKastle-Kues Visit the traditional Berg Eltz, overlooking the Mosel river
Visit volcano park, (seems topical for some reason) near Koblenz and take a boat trip to the Geyser.
Take part in joint activities with scouts from a wide range of European & Scandinavian countries, make new friends and learn about other cultures. Kletterwald tree top trail
Work towards gaining their Global Challenge & International group Awards. Visit Phantasialand Theme Park In addition the 16+ Explorer Group will:
Undertake some site conservation work
Visit the historic City of Koblenz
Setup a town challenge of Bernkastel-Kues for the scouts/younger Explorers.
Plan take/part in a supervised overnight hike/camp
Make Sunday lunch for 100, to include at least one new friend that each of them have made in Germany.
Locate and see a film in English, with German subtitles.... (in Germany !)
Have an evening out in a German Restuarant
We are very grateful to Rainer Brink, our Brex contact, for his local knowledge and the help given in finalising the finer details for our visit, and to Tam Pearce, British Scouts Western Europe for the contribution being made to our programme.
Important Departure information
16+ Explorers : Departure - 24 July 2010 [download size 84Kb]
Main Contingent Departure 26 July 2010 [download size 499Kb]
Thank you to Martyn Milner, Scout Association Field Development Manager, for agreeing to meet up with the 16+ Explorer Group at London Victoria coach station on the outward journey today (24 July) and to Fred Wurm, in Germany, for agreeing to be an emergency contact in the Koln area on Sunday 25th July.
Main Contingent Departure 26 July 2010 [download size 499Kb]Thank you to Martyn Milner, Scout Association Field Development Manager, for agreeing to meet up with the 16+ Explorer Group at London Victoria coach station on the outward journey today (24 July) and to Fred Wurm, in Germany, for agreeing to be an emergency contact in the Koln area on Sunday 25th July.
Key Dates
| Date | Who's this for? | Details |
| 26th July (Monday) | Contingent members | 0500 All Ely & Fenland contingent members to be at Littleport in full uniform 0515 Coach departs Littleport 0540 pick up at Milton (by Nokia, was Symbian) Then to Dover for ferry to Calais 18.00 (approx) arrive at Brex (Germany) |
| 4th August (Wednesday) | Contingent members | Main Contingent returns to UK |
The District Contingent
- Scouts: 1st Ely Troop (6); 2nd Ely Troop (2); Haddenham Troop (3); Littleport Troop (6): Sutton Troop (7); Witchford Troop (2); 14th Cambridge Troop (6).
- Explorers: District Explorer Scouts (10); March Explorers (9); 14th Cambridge Explorers (6).
Leader Team
Contingent Leader: David Briston (District Commissioner)
Admin Manager: Ian Weatherall (Scout Fellowship)
Team: Explorer Scout Commissioner - John Wells; Explorer Scout Leaders - Louise Smith (Ely); Jono Harwood & Michelle Blunden (March); Scout Leaders - Michelle Palmer (Littleport); Elaine Chamberlain, Charlie Hale & Jared Fortin (Sutton); Liz Dowler (Doddington).
All contingent members were asked to take part in fund-raising events to help raise £2,500 to cover activities/excursions in
Archived material is being moved to:
Information & Booking Forms
All contingent enquiries to Ian Weatherall, Admin Manager (Germany expedition): email: district-secretary@elydistrictscouts.org.uk
Personal kitlist - April 2010 [download size 114Kb]
