Tuesday 29th July to Thursday 7th August 2014

Expedition Members Information Booklet

A Message of Welcome from Leo Mindel, District Commissioner, REN District

The 17th of August 2014 is the 100th anniversary of Scouting in Ruislip Eastcote Northwood. To celebrate this Centenary we are holding a grand event, the REN Expedition to Kandersteg, of which you, as a participant, are an integral part.

With over 270 people attending the REN Expedition will be filled with new experiences, great friendship and a lifetime memories.

A huge amount of hard work has gone into organising this event by Neil Lattimer and his team however the key to the Expedition’s success is you. Please help us to help you enjoy the experience. Involve yourself in all that is happening and, whenever you can, lend a hand to help the camp run smoothly.

See you there, Leo

A Message of Welcome from the Expedition Leader, Neil Lattimer

As Expedition Leader I am working with some of the finest male and female Scouting Leaders in the UK and I am honoured to hold this position. Together we have formed what we have called ‘The Core Team’.

‘The Core Team’ and the many supporting Leaders and adults will do their utmost to deliver an exciting, challenging, balanced and well managed camp that represents the pinnacle of 100 years of Scouting in Ruislip Eastcote and Northwood Scout District.

So go on, go out there and enjoy it – Neil

HAVING A GOOD TIME

Here are some important points to remember to make sure that both you and everyone else has a great time on the REN Centenary Camp at Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC)

You are a part of a Scout Expedition. Do your best to observe the Scout Law at all times

The Scout Law

1. A Scout is to be trusted. 2. A Scout is loyal. 3. A Scout is friendly and considerate. 4. A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts. 5. A Scout has courage in all difficulties. 6. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property. 7. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.

Kandersteg International Scout Centre’s Rules

You are a guest at KISC, they have some rules that you must observe. They are as follows

1. Quiet Time is from 22.30 to 07.30 This is not just a KISC rule it is also local law. Making unreasonable noise after 22:30pm, on site or off site, is not permitted.

2. Smoking is forbidden in all buildings 3. All Fire Regulations must be followed.

This includes not playing with or interfering with firefighting equipment, fire doors, alarms etc. Again, doing so not only breaks KISC rules but also Swiss law

4. Fireworks are forbidden from KISC property 5. Alcohol is not to be seen on KISC premises and must be kept to your own campsite or room. 6. Forbidden Areas

You must not go onto the Railway, into the Nature Reserve or onto the East Rock Wall 7. Fires must be raised off the ground and Digging trenches is not allowed

You must also follow any instructions that the KISC staff may give you.

REN Centenary Camp Rules

1. Under 18’s are not permitted to consume or buy alcohol 2. Under 16’s are not permitted to smoke

Staying Fit and Well.

It’s not good being unwell at camp and missing out on the activities that you have been looking forward to.

Hygiene

A dodgy stomach is no fun at camp and even worse half way up a mountain

From the airport onwards make sure that you wash your hands carefully every time that you have been to the toilet and always before you prepare any food.

Safety

Always:-

Take great care on the roads, the traffic is coming at you from the opposite direction that you are expecting it to. Always stop and look both ways before stepping off a kerb or into a road

Do as your activity instructors tell you and follow the safety rules that they give you

Use Sun Protection Sunburn is painful and can cause skin cancer Because you are at a higher altitude there is less atmosphere above you to filter out the sun’s harmful rays. Even on the valley floor the sun is significantly stronger than in England and it gets stronger the higher you go. Use your sun cream. Wear a sun hat. Wear sunglasses if your activity takes you above the snow line.

Adults: Take it easy, don’t overdo it, sadly, you’re not as young as you were!

General

Litter

Switzerland is a very clean and tidy country. Dropping litter or disposing of any rubbish incorrectly breaks the law and you can be fined.

Many people in Switzerland speak English very well. Don’t assume that what you say in English won’t be understood.

Following our Activities from Home

There will be many ways for those who are back home to follow the Expedition and to see what we are up to. All are accessible from our website, www.renscouts.org.uk including:-

Daily Blog www.renscouts.org.uk

Twitter @renscouts

Facebook www.facebook.com/renactivities

Instagram renscouts

KANDERSTEG VILLAGE MAP

CAMP SITE MAP

THE FOOD PAGE

The Menu

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Tuesday Packed Brunch from Home -- Hot Dogs on arrival Spaghetti Bolognaise Magnums

Wednesday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch Chicken Fricassee Angel Delight

Thursday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch Sausage and Rösti Linzer Torten

Friday Continental Breakfast Swiss Day

Saturday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch Turkey Supreme Eton Mess

Sunday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch Spaghetti Carbonara Mohrenköpfe

Monday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch Bami Goreng Berliners

Tuesday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch Chilli Con Carne Fruit Fritter

Wednesday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch BBQ Yoghurts

Thursday Continental Breakfast Packed Lunch

Continental Breakfasts

Meats and Cheeses with bread. Eggs will be available some mornings

Packed Lunches

Cured meats and cheeses with bread and fruit

Special Dietary Needs

All special dietary requirements that have been notified to us on the PAGI form will be catered for.

Cooking

Meals will be prepared and cooked in the individual sub-camps.

THE MONEY PAGE

Withdrawing your Money from Camp Bank

On our arrival day at camp, Tuesday 29th July, a standard withdrawal will be made for everyone and the money will be distributed during the evening. The standard amount will be 20 Francs for young people and 40 Francs for adults.

There will be 3 further opportunities to withdraw money

Thursday 31st July

Monday 4th August

Tuesday 5th August

Requests to withdraw money must be made to your sub-group Camp Bank representative before 8:00 am on the day of withdrawal. You can do this on the previous evening if that is easier.

Money will be distributed via the sub group representatives during the evening of the day of withdrawal. You will be required to sign a record sheet to confirm that you have received your cash.

The smallest amount that can be withdrawn from Camp Bank is 5 Francs, which is a coin.

At the end of Camp

Any money that you have left in the Camp bank will be converted back into pounds sterling and returned to your Group once we are back in the UK. Your Group will then return your money, if any, to you.

What’s it Worth?

At the time of writing, £1 is worth very approximately 1½ Swiss Francs. There are notes for 10, 20, 50 and 100 Francs, and coins for 1, 2 and 5 Francs.

The table below gives a rough idea of what a Swiss Franc is worth in Pounds and pence:-.

Swiss Francs 1 2 5 10 20

Pounds and pence (to the nearest 10p)

70p £1.30 £3.40 £6.70 £13.30

The approximate conversion factor from Francs to Pounds is 2/3:-

To obtain an approximate conversion, Francs to Pounds

Example

Take the amount in Swiss Francs Say 15 Francs

Multiply by 2 15 * 2 = 30

Divide by 3 30 / 3 = 10

Approximate equivalent of Swiss Francs in Sterling So 15 francs is approximately £10

THE ACTIVITIES PAGE

Outline Programme

Morning Afternoon Evening

Tuesday Travel, set up camp etc.

Wednesday Local Activities such as

KanderTrail

PhotoChallenge

Swimming

Free time

Opening Ceremony International Disco

Thursday Activities from list C: Rafting; Chocolate and Cheese Tour; Adelboden Adventure Park

Race the world

Friday Swiss Day

Saturday Activities from list D: High Ropes; Mountain Biking; Climbing

Sunday Free time Local Activities Zip Wire; Crate Staking Some Overnights Start

Monday Overnight Hikes for Most Groups

Tuesday List B – Zip Wire; Crate Staking Overnight

Wednesday District Day at Oeschinensee Lake and Closing Ceremony

Thursday Return/Travel home

Above is the overall programme for Groups. Explorers, Network and a few others will be doing some activities on different days to fit with availability.

You will remember earlier this year sending in your preferred activities – you will do one from each list, exactly what you do will be confirmed by your leader nearer the camp date.

All Activities whether run on site or off will be attended by at least one REN Leader. They may not take part due to space but will supervise the young people taking part. Everyone will have had their equipment checked before we go to camp so will be ready to get the most out of the expedition.

As far as possible, all young people will be undertaking an activity with at least one other person from their Group.

The activities start early in the day so we will encourage you to get plenty of sleep the night before especially when you are due to do the more adventurous activities and overnight hikes.

During “free time” your leaders will offer you challenges to complete which could lead to a Kandersteg Award; encourage you to meet Scouts from other countries and maybe have a game of football – there will be plenty to keep us all busy.