Every day is an adventure!

Its been an active week at Poacher 2022. The team from Best of Fest have been busy visiting as many  activities as possible to share the adventures our participants can take part in. Here is a  summary of many of the adventurous activities. 

Driving and Vehicles

Activities such as the simulator gave the thrill of being in a Formula 1 race car and feeling just what the drivers of the sport experience throughout the season. Not only that but there was the opportunity to experience driving for real with the driving school, new for Poacher 2022; Participants got behind the wheel and experienced the joy of learning how to drive with brilliant driving instructors. Jay from 40th Leicester Scouts, staying in Circus Fest, said he “would try again” and that he now knew how to “start a car and shift up gears.”

Argo Cat is an all-terrain motorised vehicle that can go on land and in water. Fire and rescue services often use it as it can travel in any condition. Participants drove the vehicle around a circuit using a simple steering system. “They’re something a bit different and out-there,” said Charlotte from 6th Gainsborough Sea Scouts, Circus Fest, “especially if you want to drive.” The Hovercraft was strictly for campers over 14. Participants were taught by an instructor and then did two laps of the track by themselves.

Power Turns are vehicles with two engines on the back that are great for doing doughnuts, 360s and figures of 8. Participants do a short slalom course and practice some tricks. “It was really fast! It was fun because it was something I wouldn’t normally be able to do,” said Ciara from 1st Morton Guides, Folk Fest.

If you think that driving a tank would be the coolest thing ever, then Tank Heroes was your activity. The mini tanks are controlled and levers instead of pedals, but they drive the same as a full-size tank. Riders had to be over 1.4 meters in height to ride so they could see over the vehicle’s top! “I really enjoyed it, and the team were very helpful,” said Alfie from 19th Doncaster Scouts, Wild West Fest.

Young People practised their steering with the Micro Quads, mini quad bikes that drive around a track. “Great fun,” according to Putnoe Scouts. At Go Karting, you got a helmet, a briefing, a brief stint on the practice lane, and a race on the real track.

BMX Biking allowed participants to choose between a bike or a scooter and practice their skills on various ramps, mini-spines and jump boxes. Next door, the KMX Karts were a cross between a bike and a go-kart and went surprisingly fast. “It’s really fun because they’re not something you see every day,” said Antonia, 23rd Middleton Scouts, Wild West Fest.

Back to basics

There were also the more traditional Scouting and Guiding bushcraft activities like; how to light a fire; learn how to use a Kelly Kettle (a kettle that can boil water in 3-5 minutes); how to make a shelter; how to use woodland resources or even have a go at swing braiding.

Trek Carts first appeared at Poacher in 2007, but the history goes back to when Scouts used them to get all the gear to scout camps. At Trek Carts, young people had to work as a team to take apart wooded carts, get them over obstacles then put them back together. The leader of the activity, Lucy, said, “it is a great teamwork building exercise”.

Caving

Tree Top Adventures involved climbing ropes and ladders high into the trees using caving techniques; their longest ropes can go up to almost 40 feet in height! The Cave Challenge involved going around a circuit built from scaffolding, plywood, and pipes that represent some obstacles someone might face while down in a natural cave. Lincoln Scouts Caving Club ran both activities. “I love to see all the different people coming to take part, not always knowing what the activity is but just willing to have a go and do something different,” said chief caver Brian.

The caving didn’t end there; the cave bus was all about the challenge of facing tight spaces. The bus had five layers of zig-zags to navigate through to get out. At the end of the challenge, it gives an adrenalin rush from the achievement of climbing through the mock cave.

Heights

When first confronted with the climbing wall, many participants faced personal challenges. Thankfully, there are different climbing walls which take different levels of skill to complete – it was up to the young person which wall they climbed; all tested coordination and concentration as they scaled their way up the sheer wall.

What comes up, must come down. The first nerve-wracking step over the edge caused many young people to pause at the abseiling tower. Those who faced the initial fear of climbing over the edge to touch down onto the solid ground got a sense of relief like no other. Then they glanced back up at the tower’s full height and got a sense of accomplishment flood through them. The Zip Line, where groups of you climb up the 80ft tower before flying down the line, provided a similar thrill.

Crate stacking required different skills to complete the challenge - how high can you stack the crates? Participants hung onto each other while people on the floor stacked crates for them to climb. While climbing, young people were relying on themselves and their strength; with crate stacking, participants worked as a team with people you don’t know.

After playing a starring role in the opening ceremony, the Hot Air Balloon was available for young people. A typical flight was around 45 minutes to an hour, plus a safety briefing. It went up to a few hundred feet in the air, and young people enjoyed the stunning views of Lincolnshire!

Ad hoc

Water Zorbs gave you the chance to run on water in either a giant plastic ball or roller. The team gave out challenges to try, or participants were occupied with the challenge of trying to stand up!

Another popular activity was Clay Pigeon Shooting. You had to be 12 or over to be able to shoot. On Tuesday, they had around 900 participants; by Wednesday lunchtime, they had over 500 young people coming through the activity. It wasn’t the only to test your aim as Archery was also available.

Campers got the opportunity to practice their circus skills, from basic skills such as juggling and plate spinning to more significant challenges such as unicycling, tightrope walking and stilt walking. “It’s fun even though I can’t do it!” says Charlotte, 1st Steeple Bumpstead Scouts, Carnival Fest. Another challenge if you work well under pressure was the escape rooms, where you work as a team to escape the room before time runs out.

One of the popular activities enjoyed by young people and adults alike was Wheelchair Basketball. Test your basketball skills and reflexes with the fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled activity. “We’ve had people returning over and over again, and some have told us that it’s their favourite activity,” said team leader Richard proudly. “The kids are a little bit nervous to start, but they get very confident in their chair very quickly.”

“I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it, but I went with my friend, and we really liked it,” says Freya, 5th Beverley Scouts, Quest Fest. “It’s really energetic and fun.”