Amazing Accrington - Spring 2019

prides itself on being an inclusive training centre... Bowley, in the SCOUTING TRADITION

...welcoming young people of all abilities, race and creed – to gain #SkillsForLife

Can you tell us more about a couple of the activities? I haven’t heard of Bushcra before. Bushcra is really what it says on the tin – cras in bushes! This can range from shelter building, knife and axe work, and fire lighting to wild food collection, water purification and learning international distress signals. Bushcra takes participants right back to basics and teaches survival skills without the use of modern technology such as phones, water filters, central heating etc. My favourite type of activity to teach and get involved with would be the water sports. We do kayaking and ra building at Bowley. They’re both very much a teameffort and rely on the participants working together and learning how important it is to be able to work well as a team. What other facilities do you have on offer at Bowley? Is it just the training base side of things? We have a lot on offer at Bowley –more thanmeets the eye. While we do have a wealth of activities we also have accommodation, a campfire circle, training and conference facilities and a chapel. The chapel is based on a field in the centre of the campsite and offers a serene and tranquil place for visitors; it’s the perfect seing for a Sunday service or a place to reflect. We have four different training and conference room facilities available so can cater for a wide range of needs. The campfire circle is one of the favourites amongst visitors, past and present, as it’s a special experience – a group of people, siing round a campfire, toastingmarshmallows, singing songs. The circle provides a real sense of community and togetherness. Frommastering basic fundamental skills required to participate in group activities and exercise to learning how to appreciate the importance of teamwork, I’d say there are a lot of benefits people get fromaending Bowley activities. The camp definitely acts as alternative education, offering a different approach than siing in a classroom. Each activity we do has some involvement of transferable skills – leadership, motivation, time management, delegation, listening, communication – to name but a few. However, it’s also very important to consider the fun factor! To put it simply, Bowley Scout Camp offers an incredibly exciting experience. What we have been doing for over 100 years is developing #SkillsForLife with young people who use it from learning right through to later life. What is one of the most important lessons Bowley will teach children aending? #SkillsForLife - Teamactivities help children understand that everyone has different abilities and it’s about working together to achieve the desired outcome, as well as learning that things will not always go ‘their way’. Tolerance of other people, working with people of different ages What benefits do children get from aending Bowley? Not just kids, adults too!

We spoke toMark Harrison, County Commissioner of East Lancashire Scouts, to find out more about Bowley Scout Camp. Why was it decided to open the camp up to people outside of the Scout and Guide Movements? The Scouting tradition is one based on inclusivity, regardless of ability, race, creed, background, age, and so on – which is the primary reason it was decided this site would be opened up for people outside of the Scout and GuideMovements. We decided it was important to work with like-minded partners with similar objectives to us, helping young people develop #SkillsForLife. This is done in a very managed way taking into account safeguarding and child protection rules, so at present we do only allow other community groups into Bowley Scout Camp to make use of the facilities and activities on offer. Partnering with compatible organisations, such as Accrington and Rossendale College, has allowed us to take amore active role in the local community. What type of activities do Bowley Scout Camp have available for people to partake in? Well there’s a question...a lot! Frompioneering and orienteering to water sports, clay pigeon shooting, grass sledging and Bushcra, to name but a few. I’m sure the name of the site will give this away, but we also have a campsite service and various other accommodation on site, available for use to local community groups and organisations.

Bowley Scout Camp Great Harwood

and backgrounds, working in the area with other faiths and beliefs, brings people together. For more information about Bowley Scout Camp or to book your group session visit www.bowley.org.uk Please note that Bowley Scout Camp is not open to the general public – bookings must bemade via the website for groups and organisations wishing to use the facilities, camp site or activities available.

Bowley Scout Camp was originally established as a training base for members of the Scout and Guidemovements over 50 years ago. The camp, based at the heart of East Lancashire in Great Harwood, now also provides specialist outdoor skills training to hundreds of young people and adult leaders, as well as acting as a host to schools and colleges for both weekday and weekend courses. Bowley Scout Camp is a hub of activity hidden away amongst 47 sprawling acres of beautiful meadow land, offering numerous opportunities, facilities and activities to various community groups in the area.

Opposite: Visitors have their choice of activities to take part in at Bowley Scout Camp. Above: The campfire circle brings a feeling of community and togetherness. The camp has numerous

indoor training and conference facilities on-site.

Camp amongst 47 sprawling acres of beautiful meadow land.

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