Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan Scout Network

:: Network Campsite Project ::

The Network Campsite Project (NCP) is an ongoing site service initiative started by the Scout Network of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The team meets monthly at the area's local campsite, Jubilee Fields, to carry out site maintenance and conservation work.

In May 2006 The Area Executive granted CATVOG Network £3,000 towards the Network Campsite Project to carry out the minor improvements to the site and more major projects such as the provision of a small shower block and assault course and planned for the future.

What is Jubilee?

Situated between St. Fagans and Peterston-Super-Ely, this campsite offers the chance to get back to basics camping. It has a large camping field with a gentle slope, a nature area and a small wood. There are 3 taps offering mains water and 2 flushing toilets. Please note that pit fires are not allowed and cooking should be on alter fires or with gas, provision of areas for backwards cooking are available.

What can I do?

Typical NCP tasks include:

standing knee deep in water to dig out a drainage ditch
Getting gloved up to clear brambles from a water point
Clearing the public footpath of overhanging branches
Clipping sapling hawthorn tress from the pathways
Dragging and carrying wood to the woodpile
Cleaning and painting the car park railings
Building a bridge across the stream
Sawing up fallen trees for firewood
Shoring up the stream banks
Levelling the car park
Burning things!

There's plenty of opportunities to work as part of a team, or be alone with nature, still within shouting distance of other team members. You can take on 1 task for the whole weekend, or just pop over for an hour to lend a hand to an ongoing piece of work

Dates of planned site service events are on the Area message board
http://www.catvog.org/forum/index.php?f=39

What happens on an NCP weekend?

A typical weekend starts with members of the team turning up after work on Friday night. We pitch tents, make a campfire and if there is enough light walk over the site, see what jobs needs to be done.

Saturday morning starts around 10am, with bacon butties and hot drinks (normally on a Bring Your Own basis) After a hard morning of work there's time out to have a chat with other group members and decide if you want to swap tasks or get the job done in the afternoon. Around dusk work stops for the day and the tools are put away before the light fades. After hours on Saturday night you might like to go to a pub in the village for food, or settle down with a beverage and a boil in the bag meal.

Sunday is a more relaxed start, finishing off jobs from saturday or sweeping the site for litter.

What do I gain?

NCP provides a great escape from the city, and an active service opportunity for those who enjoy the outdoors. NCP is a greener version of the gym (without the ugly trackie or sweaty old men) Helping out at NCP can also count towards the Environment Group award and the Service section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

More about Jubilee Fields (including travel directions) available at http://www.catvog.org/jubilee/