Scout Camping on the Underground

A guide for Scout Troops in Greater London

When the original idea was raised of Scouts in London being encouraged to have a real camping experience by Underground train we hadn’t added the even more exciting reach of the Zip card using buses, trams, Overground and the Elizabeth Line. The aim of this list and map is to help volunteer leaders to run a camp without the need for a minibus, ambitious programme, gourmet menu or big budget; for Scouts in small groups to travel to camp of an evening carrying their tent, sleeping bag, stove and food. To cook a meal, camp, cook breakfast and return home with time to bath and do their weekend homework! And all for £10.

Training

Some of these campsites are just a few hundred metres from public transport, so an 11-year-old could walk this carrying all their kit without stress. Some journeys require changes and perhaps an hour's walk. Training on the safe and responsible use of buses and tubes will be required, as will strict guidance on packing minimal personal kit and troop night practice cooking the meals and items you need to guide them to bring.

Safety

Your risk assessment and Nights Away Notification requirement will be no different to any other. You cannot avoid accepting a risk of children getting separated on crowded platforms and mistakingly getting on or off trains which may lead you to keeping tube-travelling to one adult responsible for 4 or 5 named children.

We therefore urge: clear instruction and preparation on responsible travelling etiquette and manners, with obvious Scout scarves. Children may have very limited experience of public transport or walking on roads, so Scouts must pack 'light & tight', be agile boarding buses and tubes uncluttered by carrier bags, rollmats etc. There are no short-cuts to safety.

Get-up and GO!

Leaders need to investigate exactly how the Oyster Zip card for Scout-age young Londoners works, and ensure parents and children purchase these and top them-up with sufficient money before the camp. An adult may have to step-in with a contactless card in an emergency. Remember, this is not exactly 'hike camping' or 'backwoods camping' or 'lazy camping', it is Camping on the Underground!

Notes on kit

Parents will need to be engaged here, especially to keep back packs very light by avoiding taking 'spare clothes', towels, wash kits and large torches. One bar of soap and toothpaste could be carried by an adult to share, a child could take a J-cloth 'towel' and if every child brings and uses a good waterproof top and trousers they need not get their clothes wet. Scouts bring one deep eating bowl, mug and knife/fork/spoon. An adult might carry a large tarp to suspend from branches for all to shelter under. Also some salt, ketchup, cooking oil, sharp knife, tin opener, (sweeties?) to back the kids up.

Notes on food

The basic idea is for each pair or 3 to have practised safely using a Trangia-type cooker. For their evening meal they could manage pasta with an individual Sauce each. Boil in bag rice, Or Smash, with tinned creamed chicken, meatballs or fish. They have plenty of time so a longer slow cook is better than a quick fry-up. For breakfast, individual Cereals with milk poured into the packet saves washing-up and scouts can bring ready pancake mix, flour & water dampers, tins of sausages and beans or London grill. Sausages. Hot chocolate sachets etc.

Keep calm and in control!

There need not be a rush, maybe time for a wood fire? Perhaps avoid games and football until all scouts have eaten, cleaned-up and packed-up ready to leave. Accidents often happen, damaging both kids and kit when we all get too relaxed. We need to resume our safe travelling etiquette and vigilance all the way home, even during cancellation waits! With only smiles, good manners, and our scarves on show to the public.