Warning : You are advised not to read this article unless you want to hear about the most amazing expedition abroad with unprecedented levels of fun, activities and international friendship.
The beginning – So there I was in September 2008 having just taken The Hatters to the Centenary Irish Jamboree at the end of our first year thinking, “Well, that’s going to be really hard to equal.” In organising that trip, one of the most successful aspects had been hiring a van for the kit to go by sea whilst the unit travelled cheaply by Ryanair. I searched the International Scout site along with Ryanair destinations from Stansted and up popped Houens Odde International Activity Centre in Denmark. A long drive for the van, but possible. I immediately knew that this was it! http://houensodde.dk/
Itinerary – The van was hired for 2 weeks as they needed an extra 24 hours travelling each way; the unit flew out to Billund (30 km transfer by coach) for the 12 day trip. Houens Odde runs a weekly “centre camp” during the summer manned by a Danish and International team. We planned to join this for a week and fill the extra days with trips and our own activities.
Houens Odde – The site is an 85 hectare peninsula projecting into an inland arm of the sea on the east side of Jutland. The walk from one end of the site to the other is nearly 3 km and there are a couple of islands offshore. It’s HUGE! It is environmentally protected by the Danish Government with many sensitive habitats and a great deal of natural deciduous woodland. It is utterly beautiful and tranquil. Camp sites are small individual clearings in the woods for each visiting group and well apart – it feels like the place is your own. Our site was also on the edge of the sea (which is more akin to a lake) with the waves lapping gently and a tidal height of only a few inches. Each site has facilities for fires and indeed most of the Danish groups were amazed we took gas. Each site also has an enormous supply of pioneering poles with rope freely available from the centre. Again all the other visiting groups on arrival immediately built their own dining benches etc (back to basics!).
Activities – The many activities are all included in the camp fee of about £6 per night!!! Sailing, canoeing, kayaking and sea rafting are all available with the opportunity of overnight expeditions. Swimming and raft building. Archery and two headed axe throwing (very Viking). Climbing takes place on purpose built structures and in trees. Pioneering of course! Ancient crafts – working with wood (cut trees) to create anything from a spoon to a seat, using axes, adzes, saws, sheath knives … Leatherwork, pottery, woollen crafts (from their own sheep) and natural cosmetics. A blacksmith’s forge to create your own knife blades. Environmental education – with pond dipping, small mammal traps, tree identification … Hiking expeditions, orienteering and team building exercises. There was enough flexibility to carry on with anything even if you had booked a specific time.
International – During our stay there were groups from Germany, France, Ireland and of course Denmark staying. Every day there was flag break in the camp centre square with all groups attending. An introductory camp fire helped everyone to meet the service team and the other groups. Each week they had an International Day. Participants were mixed into teams and visited bases manned by leaders from all the groups. We ran a base teaching rugby with a version of sevens being played. It was so successful that some of them came back to play more later in the week. The day finished with an enormous barbecue in the main square and each group took it in turns to entertain. There was another camp fire and a late night wide game with groups being transported by power boat up the coast, being captured and interrogated and escaping to find the components of a machine.
Days Out – In the end we only had one day out to Legoland (about £26 per person) as there was so much to do on site. Our coach driver who also did the airport transfers was kind enough to take the scenic route and show us some other places on the way.
Summary – Probably the best camp I have ever been on. Some of the unit had been to Kanderstag and reckoned this was better! A great learning experience with so much being gained particularly with traditional skills (we pioneered a wonderful gateway to our site that could be climbed and had a bridge across). Food is expensive and we shopped off site although you could buy food there. The final cost per head including absolutely everything was £320; I think that is exceptional!
Steve Ward – ESL
The Hatters Explorer Unit